Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus Will End May 2016
HARLOW: For pretty much 100 years, some version of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus has entertained crowds and bid top tents across America, but not so much longer. Loved by many but fiercely criticize by animal rights groups. The owners of the Ringling Brothers circus have said they are pulling up the stakes for the very last time in May. Fredericka Whitfield explains.</s>FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's the end of the road for the greatest show on earth. In just four months, the curtain falls on the one and only Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus, an iconic road show that defined the circus experience for generations of children. In the end, CEO, Kenneth Feld, said the circus was simply too expensive to produce. His family has owned the show for the past 50 years. But ticket sales were declining and the circus's fate was likely sealed last year when it retired the popular elephant show. Feld said then it was inevitable.</s>KENNETH FELD, CEO, RINGLING BROTHERS AND BARNUM AND BAILEY CIRCUS: There is a saying, and it has been around for a long time, you can't fight city hall. And we found that's to be the case in this situation.</s>WHITFIELD: For years, the elephants and their dance routines were a big draw for circus fans but not at all popular with animal rights groups which deplored their treatment, and repeatedly criticized, picketed and sued the company for its treatment of animals. In 2011, the circus paid a fine of more than a quarter million dollars for alleged violations of the animal welfare act. And last year, it retired the elephants to a conservation center in Florida. After closure was announced, people for the epical treatment of animals declared victory while admitting it is as against other wild animal exhibitors including marine amusement parks lie Sea World is far from over. The last performance of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circuit will be on May 21st in Union Dale, New York.</s>WHITFIELD: Something else to remember, Poppy. School kids have been taught a few favorite coin praises linked to circus co-founder PT Barnum (ph) like get the show in the road and throwing their hat into the ring after a candidate for office did just that at a Ringling Brothers circus while announcing he was running for political office. Praises outliving that American past time under the big talk - Poppy.</s>HARLOW: Indeed. Fredricka, thank you so much. Coming up, rallies held from Maine to California as Democrats wants to send a big message to Republicans on healthcare.</s>B. SANDERS: You are going to have to worry about millions of people who are standing up, who are fighting back and who demand the day when healthcare will be a right of all people, not just a privilege.