1999 Death Bill Ballantine, clown, Ringling Brothers Clown College, dies at 87 1993 Death Henry Ringling North, circus owner (Ringling Bros Circus), dies at 83 1956 Event Last Ringling Bros, Barnum and Bailey Circus under a canvas tent 1944 Event World's largest circus tent catches fire at Ringling Brother's - Barnum and Bailey 2nd performance, 168 die (Hartford Conn) 1944 Event 170 die in a fire at Ringling Bros Circus in Hartford, Connecticut 1934 Birthday Gunther Gebel-Williams, lion tamer, Ringling Bros Circus 1907 Event Ringling Brothers Greatest Show on Earth buys Barnum and Bailey circus 1903 Birthday John Ringling North, circus director, Ringling Bros 1897 Birthday Robert Ringling, circus master 1884 Event Ringling Brothers circus premieres
