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

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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)
Trainer Edward Healy and an elephant during the 90th annual Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus in New York's Madison Square Garden on March 31, 1960.
(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)

Clown Emmett Kelly picks up a toddler during a circus parade in New York on April 9, 1945.
(Image credit: (AP Photo/Anthony Camerano))

An audience at New York's Bellevue Hospital watches circus elephants on April 21, 1950. Thirteen acts were presented during the one-hour show.
(Image credit: (AP Photo/Tom Fitzsimmons))

Ilonka Karoly, 17-year-old ballerina, performs in New York on May 12, 1956.
(Image credit: (AP Photo/Robert Kradin))

Fred Johnson puts the final touches on huge circus museum banners in Wisconsin on July 14, 1959.
(Image credit: (AP Photo/Edward Kitch))

Animal trainer Trevor Bale growls at one of his tigers in New York on March 31, 1955.
(Image credit: (AP Photo/Marty Lederhandler))

The Loyal-Repensky troupe of riding performers on two cantering white houses during dress rehearsal at Madison Square Garden on April 4, 1944.
(Image credit: (AP Photo/Anthony Camerano))

An elephant walks out of a train in the Bronx railroad yard on April 1, 1963.
(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.