Ringling Bros circus ends ‘Greatest show on Earth’ after 146 years
Company executives cited high operating costs and declining ticket sales after the travelling American circus retired its popular elephants as reasons for drawing the curtain
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus has announced it will host its final show in May, ending The Greatest Show on Earth after 146 years.
Company executives cited high operating costs and declining ticket sales after the travelling American circus retired its popular elephants as reasons for drawing the curtain on a celebrated spectacle that traces its origins to politician and showman P.T. Barnum’s first show in 1871.
Animal rights groups cheered the move as a success story following decades of activism against the use of animals in the circus.
Kenneth Feld, chairman and CEO of show producer Feld Entertainment, said he and his family came to the “difficult” decision to end the circus “after much evaluation and deliberation.”
“Nearly 50 years ago, my father founded our company with the acquisition of Ringling Bros,” he said in a statement on the group’s website.“
“The circus and its people have continually been a source of inspiration and joy to my family and me, which is why this was such a tough business decision to make.”