From Barnum & Bailey to Feld ─ The Creative Evolution of the Greatest Show on Earth

Circus aficionado and historian Albrecht chronicles 138 years of the creative evolution of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s The Greatest Show on Earth (1872-2010)—the promoters, managers, animals, performers, designers, composers, and ever-changing themes. Balanchine choreographed, theatrical and industrial designer Norman Bel Geddes streamlined and unified, Igor Stravinsky composed (the elephants hated frequent changes of rhythm in their ballet), and Gunther Gebel-Williams transformed lion and tiger taming, eliminating the need for Clyde Beatty’s whip and chair. There are 12 chapters: before there was Bailey (1871-1880); Barnum & Bailey (1881-1891); Bailey stands alone (1892-1906; enter the Ringlings (1907-1918; combined shows (1919-1932); Sam Gupertz: the man from Dreamland (1933-1937); John Ringling North’s first try (1938-1942; Robert Ringling, “a true Ringling son” (1943-1946); John Ringling North and 51 Percent (1947-1967); new blood: Irvin and Kenneth Feld (1967-1984); Kenneth Feld looks to the future (1985-2003); the new circus: a sister act (2004-2010). There are chapter notes, a bibliography, color plates, and black-and-white photographs. Annotation c2014 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)

Ernest Albrecht is the editor/publisher of Spectacle, now a free, online magazine devoted to reviews and features of the contemporary circus. He is also the author of three previous books related to circus history.