Circus shows have been a part of human entertainment since ancient times. The ancient Greeks and Romans originated this form of entertainment in their open-space amphitheaters. However, the circus we know today —the one with large tents that tour around different places— has a beginning that can be traced back to the 18th century. Circus shows first became popular in Europe. The staple acts were acrobatics, clowns, and animal performances. It was only in the 19th century that Americans fell in love with the colorful and artistic spectacle, and it has remained popular ever since.
Ringling Bros & Bailey Circus Tickets:
Tied with the history of circus in the US is the company of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, established in 1871 and was closed in 2017. Due to public demand, they returned to the scene a few years back. For many people, they were the company with “The Greatest Show on Earth,” and many can attest that they still hold that commendation. They have daring and mind-blowing performances you will experience from the greatest in the circus business. That is why it is an excellent opportunity to come and see their spectacular shows at the T-Mobile Center this November. People of all ages are invited to witness their incredible extravaganza!
“We’re creating something that we believe you won’t be able to experience any place else on the planet.”
– Kenneth Feld, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Producer
“Nice wholesome fun for the whole family.”
-New York City Theatre
The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus have their roots in the early 1800s, forming due to mergers from different companies. Among the earliest circus shows in the US was created by Hachaliah Bailey, who got a hold of an African elephant he trained to perform in his circus shows. This act was very popular at the time and inspired others to establish circus shows as well. Among these people was Phineas Taylor Barnum, who worked as a ticket seller for one of Bailey’s shows at a young age. He then created the Barnum’s American Museum. This museum showcased educational materials and strange spectacles, which people grew to love. The establishment was shut down in a series of unfortunate occurrences, and Barnum decided to retire as a showman. However, he was persuaded to offer his expertise and resources to make the “P.T. Barnum’s Great Traveling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan, and Hippodrome.”
Then came the competing company led by James Anthony Bailey, who worked with James E. Cooper to establish the Cooper and Bailey Circus well into the 1860s. At some point in time, they started to outperform Barnum’s show. As a response, Barnum merged with Cooper and Bailey, forming the “Barnum and Bailey’s Circus.” Among their most popular attraction at that time was an African elephant they named Jumbo.
Meanwhile, the Ringling brothers established a miniature circus show in Wisconsin in 1884. During this period, “Barnum and Bailey’s Circus” was at their peak popularity in the country’s Eastern region. Deciding to dominate the Midwest and the North Eastern states, the siblings moved from town to town until they grew more prominent. As time passed, they began to move further than before and could haul the circus on a train. They started to dominate the business as well and competed with Bailey. This resulted in Bailey pushing their circus show to the Rocky Mountains for the first time in 1905. Sadly, the showman died a year later, and the Ringling Brothers bought the Barnum & Bailey Greatest Show in 1907.
“One of the most generous spectaculars from the circus empire in some time.”
– Lawrence Bommer, Stage and Cinema
During the first several years of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, they were running separately. They merged the two in 1919 due to difficulties in operating them separately. In their first year, they advertised it as “The Ringling Bros. World’s Greatest Shows and the Barnum & Bailey Greatest Show on Earth are now combined into one record-breaking giant of all exhibitions.” With all powerhouse circus companies combining, their pop culture relevance also skyrocketed. This led to them dominating the 1920s. They bought the American Circus Corporation in 1929 to continue their influence and attract more demand. The corporation ran five circuses and was a massive leap in the growing Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Ringling Bros & Bailey Circus History
In the 30s and 40s, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus suffered from the Great Depression, the world wars, and a fire accident, leading to years of lawsuits. In the 50s, they were repurchased. Changes were implemented to fit the circus shows to a changing audience. They rebranded, eliminated freak shows, and made the acts more family-friendly. For the next two decades, they began to retrieve their past prominence.
In the 70s, Mattel bought the company. However, they sold the company to Venture Out in America, Inc. in 1974. In the 80s, longtime manager Kenneth Feld repurchased the company and remains so today. By the 90s, the company was already a staple circus company to watch. They were receiving considerable attention but were smaller than before. However, they began to receive flack from animal rights activists and journalists for alleged animal cruelty. In 1995, they formed the Center for Elephant Conservation (CEC).
The company continued their performances in the 2000s and early 2010s. In 2016, they ended their use of elephants in their shows. At the same time, they began to slow down their operations in preparation for the company’s closure. They ceased the shows in 2017.
In 2021, Feld Entertainment announced that the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus would return in 2023. Animal performances will not be included in their acts, boasting fresh performances people have never seen. They started auditioning performers in 2022, and the final dates were announced during the fall of 2023.
Among the first venues to experience the renewed and reimagined spectacular performances from “The Greatest Show on Earth” will be at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. The company will perform at the arena on November 11 and 12. Prepare to be amazed and enamored! Tickets for these performances are now on sale. You can reserve yours as early as today by clicking the “Get Tickets” link above.
