CRANSTON, R.I. (TND) — It’s official: after Ringling Bros. and
Barnum and Bailey Circus shut down in 2017, it will be returning.

Ringling’s website notes opening night is planned for September
2023.

The iconic traveling circus halted performances after more than
140 years in operation due to dwindling ticket sales and years
of controversy for its continued use of animal in performers. The
announcement was made Wednesday.

The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus show dates back
to the mid-1800s when Phineas Taylor Barnum joined forces with
the five Ringling brothers to create the modern circus. They ended
the show’s legendary run in New York on May 21, 2017.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Four years after the “Greatest
Show On Earth” shut down, officials are planning to bring back
the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus — without animal
acts.

An announcement is expected sometime next year, according to
Nicole Zimmerman, a spokesperson for Feld Entertainment Inc.
of Ellenton, Florida.

The three-ring circus shut down in May 2017 after a 146-year run.

Costly court battles with animal rights activists led circus officials
to end elephant acts in 2016. Without the elephants, ticket sales
declined. Officials also blamed increased railroad costs, and the
rise of online games and videos, which made the “Greatest Show
On Earth” not seem that great anymore.

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 company broke the news to circus employees Saturday night after
shows in Orlando and Miami.

Circus Boy is an action/adventure/drama series that aired in prime time on
NBC, and then on ABC, from 1956 to 1958. It was then rerun by NBC on
Saturday mornings, from 1958 to 1960. Micky Dolenz began his television
career in the series as the main character, young Corky who was adopted
by Joey the Clown (Noah Beery, Jr.), and the whole Burke and Walsh Circus
family. Dolenz was billed at the time as Mickey Braddock. He was later hired
for the role as the "drummer" in NBC’s sitcom The Monkees.

George Michael "Micky" Dolenz, Jr. turned 71 in March.

“Weary Willie”

Emmett Leo Kelly (December 9, 1898 – March 28, 1979)

Circus performer Emmett Kelly created the memorable clown
figure ‘Weary Willie’, based on the hobos of the Depression
era. His circus career spanned 55 years and he notably
portrayed the role of ‘Willie’ in Cecil B. DeMille‘s 1952 classic
The Greatest Show on Earth. He began his circus career as
a trapeze artist and clown in the early 1920’s but didn’t start
working as a clown full-time until 1931. Kelly envisioned the
hobo clown character while working at an art firm long before
he got into the circus.