On Friday it was announced on Ringling.com's website that after 146 years the Circus's final performance would be in May, 2017. The company cited high cost to operate and declining sales, especially after retiring elephants from the Circus last year.
It is sad that such a long-standing entertainment media that has delighted millions over several generations and future generations will not have a chance to enjoy for themselves "The Greatest Show on Earth", but understand it is hard for such a traveling show with so many performers and set up costs to stay profitable when the try to compete with the world of on-demand entertainment we live in today.
From an article in USA Today, the show started when five sons of German and French immigrants decided to put on a vaudeville type of show with several acts in Mazomie, Wisconsin in 1882. They took their show on the road, added acts and in 1907 bought out P. T. Barnum's circus
In 1967 promoter Irviin Feld (and later taken over by his son that runs the company through today)bought the organization, improving standards and eliminating "freak shows". It also started a "Clown College" to train future clowns. It was tuition free and had personality profiling on is application and graduates were awarded specific attire and makeup for their character.
It also had more animal acts, which were popular in the beginning, but later came under fire from animal rights activists as being cruel forcing animals to perform and hard on them with all of the traveling and I do see there point, but still sad to see the end of era.
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