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Small Circus poster vintage poster for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus featuring an iconic snarling leopard head graphic. This design was created around 1941 by the Norman Bel Geddes Studio and became one of the most recognizable circus posters.
History
Merger: The Ringling Brothers purchased the Barnum & Bailey Circus in 1907, operating them separately until they officially merged in 1919 to become the "Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows," billed as "The Greatest Show on Earth".
Closure and Revival: The circus stopped touring with animal acts in 2016 and closed entirely in May 2017 after a 146-year run, due to declining attendance and high operating costs. It was relaunched in September 2023 as an animal-free, human-powered spectacle. |
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