Barnum & Bailey Circus – 1903
Frozen in Time. Frederick Glasier took this terrific photo of the Barnum & Bailey trains unloading, probably in Brockton, Massachusetts in 1903. Note the detail, and this is without a telephoto lens! -Chris Berry (Original negative at The Ringling Museums in...
The Great Adam Forepaugh Show – trade card – ca.1884
Collecting trade cards was a popular hobby in the late 19th Century, and although it wasn’t the primary method of advertising, circuses did respond to the craze by issuing a number of fine cards to promote their shows. This particular card was printed by the...
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey – 1966 – Philadelphia
The Greatest Show on Earth arrives in Philadelphia, March 29, 1966. After Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey went into buildings, and prior to “The Spectrum” opening in September 1967, the circus would play the Convention Hall in downtown Philadelphia. -Chris...
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey – 1955 -NYC
In 1955 the Ringling-Barnum herd consisted of 52 elephants traveling with the show and three at Sarasota winter quarters – an astounding group of 55 elephants. The magnitude of this army of elephants was captured by New York Times photographer Patrick Burns as...