HISTORICAL NOTE
The Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus was created in 1919 when the surviving Ringling brothers, Charles and John, consolidated their circus with the Barnum and Bailey Circus which they had acquired in 1907. The combined shows remains the largest, longest running, and most successful circus operation in American history.
In 1929 John Ringling (Charles died in 1926) purchased the Peru, Indiana based American Circus Co., their largest competitor. This acquisition added five show titles to their already impressive lineup including Al G. Barnes, Hagenbeck-Wallace, John Robinson, Sells-Floto, and Sparks Circuses. In addition, several subsidiary companies were acquired including the Barring Outdoor Advertising Co., Circus Supply and Hardware Co. and Circus City Zoological Gardens Inc. Though many smaller shows still existed, the purchase left John Ringling as the owner of virtually every large-scale circus in the United States at that time.
With the death of John Ringling in in 1936 John’s nephew, John Ringling North, who had worked for his uncle in a variety of different capacities since 1926, became president and director of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows Inc. His brother Henry Ringling North joined him and served in various capacities over the next several decades including vice president, treasurer, director and operations chief. John Ringling North would remain president of the circus for the next 30 years with the execption of 5 years between 1943 and 1947 when his cousin Robert Ringling (Charles and Edith Ringling’s son) was president of the corporation.
In the 1930s, trapeze artists Arthur (Art) Concello and his wife Antoinette were one of the main attractions of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. By the late 1930s, Concello was managing the careers of more than 50 aerialists, many of whom were hired by the Ringlings. Concello was appointed the circus's general manager in 1942. The next year, however, John Ringling North lost control of the business to his cousin Robert Ringling and for four years Concello ran his own very successful circus operation the Russell Bros. Pan Pacific Circus (also known as the Clyde Beatty-Russell Bros. Circus). In 1947, when North had the opportunity to buy back the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Concello provided North a loan of $100,000 to purchase the show. Within a week, Concello was reinstalled as general manager. Over the next decade, Concello made the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus the most efficient and profitable show in America, and in the late 1950s oversaw the transition from performing under the big top tent into arenas and outdoor fairgrounds.
In the early 1960s, against Concello's advice, John Ringling North decided to take the show on a tour of Europe, as Barnum and Bailey had done at the turn of the century. North, however, was distracted by an active social life during this time and development of the show faltered. When the circus opened in France, it was unsuccessful. Concello returned to New York to prepare a reduced one-ring show there for Ringlings, but on arrival was told he had been fired. He was still owed $40,000 in wages and had to sue the circus to recoup the sum.
The circus remained in Ringling family hands until 1967 when it was sold to Irvin Feld (1918-1984). Feld, who started his career as a pharmacist and a producer of Rock and Roll acts, had been working for the circus for ten years as a promoter and manager. Feld had been largely in control of the circus since the mid-1960s but did not own the operation outright. The Feld family retains ownership of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus to the present day.
The Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus was created in 1919 when the surviving Ringling brothers, Charles and John, consolidated their circus with the Barnum and Bailey Circus which they had acquired in 1907. The combined shows remains the largest, longest running, and most successful circus operation in American history.
In 1929 John Ringling (Charles died in 1926) purchased the Peru, Indiana based American Circus Co., their largest competitor. This acquisition added five show titles to their already impressive lineup including Al G. Barnes, Hagenbeck-Wallace, John Robinson, Sells-Floto, and Sparks Circuses. In addition, several subsidiary companies were acquired including the Barring Outdoor Advertising Co., Circus Supply and Hardware Co. and Circus City Zoological Gardens Inc. Though many smaller shows still existed, the purchase left John Ringling as the owner of virtually every large-scale circus in the United States at that time.
With the death of John Ringling in in 1936 John’s nephew, John Ringling North, who had worked for his uncle in a variety of different capacities since 1926, became president and director of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows Inc. His brother Henry Ringling North joined him and served in various capacities over the next several decades including vice president, treasurer, director and operations chief. John Ringling North would remain president of the circus for the next 30 years with the execption of 5 years between 1943 and 1947 when his cousin Robert Ringling (Charles and Edith Ringling’s son) was president of the corporation.
In the 1930s, trapeze artists Arthur (Art) Concello and his wife Antoinette were one of the main attractions of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. By the late 1930s, Concello was managing the careers of more than 50 aerialists, many of whom were hired by the Ringlings. Concello was appointed the circus's general manager in 1942. The next year, however, John Ringling North lost control of the business to his cousin Robert Ringling and for four years Concello ran his own very successful circus operation the Russell Bros. Pan Pacific Circus (also known as the Clyde Beatty-Russell Bros. Circus). In 1947, when North had the opportunity to buy back the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Concello provided North a loan of $100,000 to purchase the show. Within a week, Concello was reinstalled as general manager. Over the next decade, Concello made the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus the most efficient and profitable show in America, and in the late 1950s oversaw the transition from performing under the big top tent into arenas and outdoor fairgrounds.
In the early 1960s, against Concello's advice, John Ringling North decided to take the show on a tour of Europe, as Barnum and Bailey had done at the turn of the century. North, however, was distracted by an active social life during this time and development of the show faltered. When the circus opened in France, it was unsuccessful. Concello returned to New York to prepare a reduced one-ring show there for Ringlings, but on arrival was told he had been fired. He was still owed $40,000 in wages and had to sue the circus to recoup the sum.
The circus remained in Ringling family hands until 1967 when it was sold to Irvin Feld (1918-1984). Feld, who started his career as a pharmacist and a producer of Rock and Roll acts, had been working for the circus for ten years as a promoter and manager. Feld had been largely in control of the circus since the mid-1960s but did not own the operation outright. The Feld family retains ownership of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus to the present day.