Dubbed “The Greatest Show on Earth,” the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus was a force to be reckoned with when the two acts merged in 1919.
Sarasota became the winter quarters for the Ringling Circus in 1927, which began to cement the area’s nickname as the “circus capital of the world,” according to the Visit Sarasota County tourism agency.
The Ringling Circus paved the way for other acts in Sarasota, like the Sailor Circus Academy, which originated as a gymnastics class at Sarasota High School in 1949. The youth circus, currently featuring students ages 8 to 18, even received approval in 1952 from the Ringling Circus to use the slogan “The Greatest ‘Little’ Show on Earth.”
The local circus industry has transformed over the decades – eventually leading to the Ringling Circus’ closure in 2017. Audiences didn’t have to mourn the loss of the show for long, as it was announced in 2022 that the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will return this fall.
The new show will reportedly remove all animal acts. This lines up with the circus’ 2016 decision to stop its use of elephants in the show, following both protests from animal rights activists and recognizing the need to keep up with a modern audience.
The Sailor Circus Academy, however, is still performing. It is the longest-running youth circus act in the U.S.
As both shows find new ways to modernize their acts for changing audience interest, step right up to see how they fared in their early years with these historic photos.
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey
Exterior of the big top for the Ringling Bros./Barnum & Bailey in 1921. The Ringling Archives. Tibbals Circus Collection of Photographs
Crowds fill the main entrance of a venue to see the Ringling Bros./Barnum & Bailey Circus perform. Sideshow banners on the right advertise performers. The Ringling Archives. Tibbals Circus Collection of Photographs
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Famous Auguste clown Lou Jacobs putting on makeup in 1938. An Auguste clown is a character-type that is often a joker or a fool. The Ringling Archives. Tibbals Circus Collection of Photographs
The silhouette effect of a circus aerialist in 1976. Manatee County Public Library Historical Digital Collection
An act featuring polar bears in a cage in 1979. Manatee County Public Library Historical Digital Collection
A costumed performer with the Ringling Brothers/Barnum & Bailey Circus looks out into the crowd. Manatee County Public Library Historical Digital Collection
A man performs with a tiger in 1976 for the Ringling Bros./Barnum & Bailey Circus. Manatee County Public Library Historical Digital Collection
Performance rehearsals in 1977 for the Ringling Bros./Barnum & Bailey Circus. Manatee County Public Library Historical Digital Collection
Aerialist Josephine Berosini performs on a bicycle on the high wire in 1954. The Ringling Archives. Tibbals Circus Collection of Allen J. Lester Photographs
A performer standing on an elephant leads the around-the-ring parade at the circus in Venice. Manatee County Public Library Historical Digital Collection
Children and adults dance and perform in the ring for a large crowd in 1976. Manatee County Public Library Historical Digital Collection
A person performs an equestrian act in 1979 Manatee County Public Library Historical Digital Collection
A 1950s photo of a sideshow sword swallower. The Ringling Archives. Tibbals Circus Collection of Photographs
Two lines of working elephants walking side-by-side on a brick sidewalk in a rail yard in the 1940s. Onlookers are gathered around. The Ringling Archives. Tibbals Circus Collection of Allen J. Lester Photographs
Sailor Circus Academy
Aerialists perform at a Sailor Circus Academy showcase. The academy is a circus arts training program for 4th-12th grade students operated by The Circus Arts Conservatory of Sarasota. Manatee County Public Library Historical Digital Collection
A person performs for a crowd during the DeSoto Celebration. Manatee County Public Library Historical Digital Collection
Performers from the Sailor Circus execute an aerial act in 1977. Manatee County Public Library Historical Digital Collection
Acrobats from the Sarasota Sailor Circus perform during the DeSoto Celebration in 1969. Manatee County Public Library Historical Digital Collection
A woman performs with a pony during an act for the Sarasota High School’s Sailor Circus in 1977. Manatee County Public Library Historical Digital Collection
This story was originally published June 14, 2023 at 5:50 AM.
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