ELLENTON, Fla. (AP) -- After 146 years, the curtain is coming down on "The
Greatest Show on Earth." The owner of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
told The Associated Press that the show will close forever in May.
The iconic American spectacle was felled by a variety of factors, company executives
say. Declining attendance combined with high operating costs, along with changing
public tastes and prolonged battles with animal rights groups all contributed to
its demise.
"There isn't any one thing," said Kenneth Feld, chairman and CEO of Feld
Entertainment. "This has been a very difficult decision for me and for the entire
family."
The company broke the news to circus employees Saturday night after shows in
Orlando and Miami.