Lot 547: L547 RINGLING BARNUM & BAILEY 1942 CIRCUS PROGRAM PETER ARNO ORIGINAL DRAWINGS

Men Women and Children of All Ages we present the Ringling Bros Barnum and Bailey Program and Magazine. Some great old Ads including Coca Cola, Chesterfield, and Wheaties , Article by Milton Berle. Peter Arno original cartoons throughout. A wonderful piece of Circus History presented by the Greatest Show on Earth. *********************************************************************************** HISTORY OF THE RINGLING CIRCUS: A century ago, in the 1910s, brothers John and Charles Ringling decided to invest in the future of Sarasota, two of the five original Ringling brothers who turned a small traveling circus into an international entertainment empire. John Ringling was reputed to be the fifth wealthiest man in the United States when he and Charles bought an estimated 67,000 acres of what is now Sarasota. When the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus moved its winter quarters to Sarasota in 1927, the serene seaside resort became the hub of circus activity. The company was started when the circus created by James Anthony Bailey and P. T. Barnum was merged with the Ringling Brothers Circus. The Ringling brothers purchased the Barnum & Bailey Circus in 1907, but ran the circuses separately until they were finally merged in 1919. In 1957 John Ringling North changed the circus from using their own portable tents to using venues, such as sports stadiums that had the seating already in place. In 1967 Irvin Feld bought the circus, but in 1971 he sold it to Mattel. He bought it back in 1982. Barnum was hailed as an icon of American spirit and was perhaps the most famous American in the world. He was also a writer and author wrote several books including Life of P.T. Barnum in 1854, The Humbugs of the World in 1865, Struggles and Triumps in 1869, and The Art of Money-Getting in 1880. Before he died he gave permission to the Evening Sun to print his obituary so that he could read it. In 1841, he bought the American Museum in New York, then turned it into an exhibition for what he called freaks. This is where you could go to see Jumbo the elephant, conjoined twins Chang and Eng Bunker, Tom Thumb (the diminutive General), and The Feejee Mermaid. It was not until 1871, that Barnum opened a circus labeling it The Greatest Show On Earth. It was in 1881 that he merged with his competitor James Bailey, together they formed Barnum and Bailey's Circus. Though today it is called Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus.**** This is a live auction on eBay in front of live floor bidders in Killen AL -- eBay's clock is the hammer. You can Watch and place bids using our APP on Sunday. WatchNow (link on this auction page below) -- earn coins for bidding or watching even if you do not win. Share with friends (future) on Facebook -- contact us for more information see our section on combined shipping rates also.

L: 8.5 W: 0.25 H: 11.25 LB: 0 OZ: 7

very minor wear to back of cover

From several estates located in Lansing MI picked by our Road Show Picker team.