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Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus embarks on final tour

The Ringling Bros.' first female ringmaster Kristen Michelle Wilson performs during the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus at the Philips Arena in Atlanta on Feb. 15, 2017. The performance is part of the final tour of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus, after it was announced they would cease performances in May 2017, after 146 years.
The Ringling Bros.' first female ringmaster Kristen Michelle Wilson performs during the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus at the Philips Arena in Atlanta on Feb. 15, 2017. The performance is part of the final tour of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus, after it was announced they would cease performances in May 2017, after 146 years.
Erik S. Lesser, European Pressphoto Agency
A woman rides a horse during the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus show at Philips Arena in Atlanta. The iconic circus declined in recent years due to high operating costs and long, costly legal battles with animal rights groups, such as the one to eliminate elephant acts.
A woman rides a horse during the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus show at Philips Arena in Atlanta. The iconic circus declined in recent years due to high operating costs and long, costly legal battles with animal rights groups, such as the one to eliminate elephant acts.
Erik S. Lesser, European Pressphoto Agency
Actors perform during the Feb. 15 Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Actors perform during the Feb. 15 Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Erik S. Lesser, European Pressphoto Agency
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus performers entertain the crowd in Atlanta. The company's two circus shows, Out of This World and Circus Xtreme, have 30 shows left, including appearances in Atlanta, New York and Boston.
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus performers entertain the crowd in Atlanta. The company's two circus shows, Out of This World and Circus Xtreme, have 30 shows left, including appearances in Atlanta, New York and Boston.
Erik S. Lesser, European Pressphoto Agency
Clowns are a staple of the circus. The Greatest Show on Earth got its start with some of the smallest shows on Earth. In 1882, five sons of German and French immigrants put together a vaudeville-like troupe in tiny Mazomanie, Wis., singing, juggling, joking and entertaining. The Ringling brothers' first performance launched on Nov. 27 of that year..
Clowns are a staple of the circus. The Greatest Show on Earth got its start with some of the smallest shows on Earth. In 1882, five sons of German and French immigrants put together a vaudeville-like troupe in tiny Mazomanie, Wis., singing, juggling, joking and entertaining. The Ringling brothers' first performance launched on Nov. 27 of that year..
Erik S. Lesser, European Pressphoto Agency
Clowns perform during the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in Atlanta.
Clowns perform during the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in Atlanta.
Erik S. Lesser, European Pressphoto Agency
The final Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus shows are May 7, 2017, at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence and May 21 at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y.
The final Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus shows are May 7, 2017, at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence and May 21 at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y.
Erik S. Lesser, European Pressphoto Agency
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