NPR: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=391018029 Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus en Copyright 2024 NPR - For Personal Use Only Story API Shim 1.2.24 Tue, 19 Aug 2025 01:41:51 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 NPR: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus https://www.npr.org/tags/391018029/ringling-bros-and-barnum-bailey-circus The Name Behind This Year's Most Popular Album? P.T. Barnum The soundtrack to the movie <em>The Greatest Showman</em> is outselling Kanye West, Taylor Swift and Justin Timberlake this year. Critic Rob Harvilla reviewed the album for <em>The Ringer</em> and explains its success. Wed, 04 Jul 2018 16:03:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2018/07/04/625980992/the-name-behind-this-years-most-popular-album-p-t-barnum https://www.npr.org/2018/07/04/625980992/the-name-behind-this-years-most-popular-album-p-t-barnum The soundtrack to the movie The Greatest Showman is outselling Kanye West, Taylor Swift and Justin Timberlake this year. Critic Rob Harvilla reviewed the album for The Ringer and explains its success.

]]> Ailsa Chang 'A Kingdom On Wheels': The Hidden World That Made The Circus Happen Awe-inspiring feats of logistics. Incredible strength of community. As the "Greatest Show on Earth" plays its final act, the cast and crew are saying goodbye to more than just a livelihood. Sat, 20 May 2017 07:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/05/20/528778286/a-kingdom-on-wheels-the-hidden-world-that-made-the-circus-happen https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/05/20/528778286/a-kingdom-on-wheels-the-hidden-world-that-made-the-circus-happen

Awe-inspiring feats of logistics. Incredible strength of community. As the "Greatest Show on Earth" plays its final act, the cast and crew are saying goodbye to more than just a livelihood.

(Image credit: Claire Harbage)

]]> Camila Domonoske From The Big Top Into The Big World: A Ringling Ringmaster's Final Bow Johnathan Lee Iverson, the first African-American ringmaster of "The Greatest Show on Earth," helms the famed Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus for its last performance this Sunday. Fri, 19 May 2017 11:18:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2017/05/19/528672217/from-the-big-top-into-the-big-world-a-ringling-ringmasters-final-bow https://www.npr.org/2017/05/19/528672217/from-the-big-top-into-the-big-world-a-ringling-ringmasters-final-bow

Johnathan Lee Iverson, the first African-American ringmaster of "The Greatest Show on Earth," helms the famed Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus for its last performance this Sunday.

(Image credit: Marian Carrasquero)

]]> Jessica Deahl Ringling Bros. Circus Holds Final Shows Featuring Elephants In the world of animal rights, one activist compares it to the fall of the Berlin Wall. The original plan called for phasing out elephants' role in the circus by 2018. Mon, 02 May 2016 10:09:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/05/02/476446309/ringling-bros-circus-holds-final-shows-featuring-elephants https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/05/02/476446309/ringling-bros-circus-holds-final-shows-featuring-elephants

In the world of animal rights, one activist compares it to the fall of the Berlin Wall. The original plan called for phasing out elephants' role in the circus by 2018.

(Image credit: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds)

]]> Bill Chappell Ringling Bros. Says No More Circus Elephants By 2018 The "Greatest Show on Earth" has been under pressure for years from animal rights advocates over its use of Asian elephants in its 5,000 annual shows. Thu, 05 Mar 2015 13:24:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/03/05/390951839/ringling-bros-says-no-more-circus-elephants-by-2018 https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/03/05/390951839/ringling-bros-says-no-more-circus-elephants-by-2018

The "Greatest Show on Earth" has been under pressure for years from animal rights advocates over its use of Asian elephants in its 5,000 annual shows.

(Image credit: Tamika Moore)

]]> Scott Neuman