• Newsletter
• Video History
• Send A Postcard
• Calendar
• Walking Tours

Friends of Mr. John Ringling, of Ringling Brothers, and one of Sarasota’s most prominent winter residents, had never suspected that he was an accomplished author, and were consequently most agreeably surprised to read in the September American Magazine, a most interesting article from his pen, telling of the rise of himself and his brothers from an amateur concert company to the world’s greatest showmen.

Underneath the photographs of Messrs. Alfred T., John and Charles Ringling, the following historical sketch of these celebrated men is carried by the magazine:

“The Ringling Brothers, sons of a harness maker in McGregor, Iowa have become the world’s greatest showmen. They dominated the business, owning the Ringling; the Barnum and Bailey, and the Forepaugh-Sells circuses.

“Originally there were seven of the Ringling Brothers: John, Al, Otto, Alf T., Charles, Henry and A.G.  None of the family had any experience or knowledge in the show business; but Al, the eldest boy, especially, and John, Otto, Alf T. and Charles seem to have been born showmen. The gave entertainments and ‘shows’ in barns, in improvised tents, in halls, when they were children, Al training the younger boys almost as soon as they learned to walk, especially in instrumental music. They went out as a concert troupe before some of them had reached their teens. From the first it was team work that made them succeed. They worked hard, and each bore his share of the burden. Each had his special duties, but all played in the orchestra, and while four would play, the other would rush to the stage to do his act.

“Possibly the most remarkable feature of the family has been their division of work, which has developed each one along different lines.

“John became the route agent, and knows America as we know the front hall at home; Alf T. assumed charge of publicity, and knows practically every newspaper man in the United States; Charles had charge of ‘opposition’, and of the advance billing, the man who made a new language on the bill boards; Al was the producer, who chose the acts and directed the performances. Otto was financial man, and at his death he bequeathed his part of the shows to Henry. A.G. died early in his career.

“When the Ringlings acquired the Barnum and Bailey shows, John and Alf took charge of them, while Charles and Al remained with the Ringling shows; upon the death of Al, Charles assumed full charge, until the recent combine of the two great shows, which reunited the brothers. Only three of the brothers remain; John, Charles and Alf T.”

Probably one of the most interesting paragraphs in the article is the following: “In forty years Ringling Brothers never have quarreled except that they have had some fine, old brotherly rows over matters of policy, not one of which ever left a bad feeling, because we understood that each was working and thinking for the interests of all.”

Another statement that stands out among the many interesting features of the article is the following: “We determined from the first upon tow policies – strict honesty, decent behavior and neatness. Being honest was a matter of conviction rather than of policy. I doubt whether we realized the commercial worth of honesty and good reputation, but we all hated crooks and were determined to keep the show clean.”

Indicative of the bigness of heart of the author is his statement that: “A man or woman enjoys the circus because the child enjoys it. Their great pleasure is in giving the child pleasure. The great pleasure of a circus man is that he gives pleasure to others.”

Altogether the article is well worth reading. It gives the reader almost an intimate acquaintance with the author, and puts an entirely different light of the circus business from that held by many people.

The three remaining Ringling Brothers are largely interested in Sarasota. Messrs. John and Charles Ringling have for several years been making their winter home here, and their winter residences are among the most beautiful in this section of wealthy winter residents and beautiful winter homes.

Mr. Alf T. Ringling has recently purchased a most desirable bay front property from Mrs. Hemmingway, and work is in progress to erect a beautiful home on this property for him.

Mr. John Ringling last year purchased the most desirable hotel site in the city and it has been rumored that he intends to erect thereon one of the most modern and commodious hotels in Florida.

Comments

You must be logged in to leave a comment.