‘Greatest Show on Earth’ stages final act after 146 years

The clowns, animal acts and acrobats of Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus held their last performance at an arena in New York on Sunday, with a space-themed balancing act kicking off the farewell performance of the “Greatest Show on Earth” after nearly 150 years. Capping a legacy that stretches back to 19th-century showman PT Barnum, the circus bade adieu at a series of shows this weekend at the newly refurbished Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale on New York's Long Island. “It's incredibly heartwarming to see all of you that have come out for the final performance,” Kenneth Feld, chairman and chief executive of parent Feld Entertainment Inc, said at the show, which was sold out and live streamed on the Ringling website. He said more than 250 million people had seen Ringling's shows and added: “It's the people, it's the spirit, the dedication, the perseverance of everyone that you'll see here tonight that makes the impossible possible.”