The glory days of the Greatest Show on Earth

The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will take its final curtain call in May, after nearly 150 years in business

Jackie Friedman's avatar
Lauren Hansen's avatar
By ,
Last updated

Three-year-old Richard Caglione sheds tears as a stranger, in this case, Emmett Kelly, featured clown with Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus, picks him up.
(Image credit: The Associated Press)
(Image credit: (AP Photo/Harvey Lippman)Last year, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus eliminated elephant performances. And now, the parent company's CEO Kenneth Feld has announced the circus)

(Image credit: (AP Photo/Anthony Camerano))

(Image credit: (AP Photo/Tom Fitzsimmons))

(Image credit: (AP Photo/Robert Kradin))

(Image credit: (AP Photo/Edward Kitch))

(Image credit: (AP Photo/Marty Lederhandler))

(Image credit: (AP Photo/Anthony Camerano))

(Image credit: (AP Photo))

Lauren Hansen
Lauren Hansen

Lauren Hansen produces The Week’s podcasts and videos and edits the photo blog, Captured. She also manages the production of the magazine's iPad app. A graduate of Kenyon College and Northwestern University, she previously worked at the BBC and Frontline. She knows a thing or two about pretty pictures and cute puppies, both of which she tweets about @mylaurenhansen.