Leaving the life: The final days of the Ringling Bros. circus
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Performers hugging
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Performer and son stepping off train
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Performers having breakfast
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Clown writing in journal
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Circus train on bridge
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Performer carrying son on shoulders
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Clown powdering face
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Clown and son with camel
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Baptism service
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Baptism service
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Performer standing next to son
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Clowns backstage
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Clowns talking in hallway
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Performers warming up
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Trainer performing with white tiger
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Show performance
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Clowns putting on makeup
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Performer being shot from cannon
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Audience members reacting during show
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Clown takes selfie with chidren
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Clown taking a break
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Tiger trainer reacting after performance
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Concessions manager helping customer
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Clown taking video call on phone
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Performer holding clown bible
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Clowns backstage
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Clown hugging son after show
An elephant stretches its trunk through a window to soothe a sick child. A woman gives birth and three months later is back performing on the high wire. A handler of big cats weeps as the beasts lope out of the ring for the last time.
These stories could come only from circus performers, and in particular one famous circus, the one immortalized as “The Greatest Show on Earth”: the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, which is hanging its hat for the last time this weekend.
One of Ringling’s two traveling circuses is scheduled to perform its final show Sunday in New York. The other closed this month in Providence, and with it, the end to a way of life few others have experienced. (AP)
Related: The final days of the Ringling Bros. circus
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