Ringling Brothers: Kings of the Circus

From a one-ring show in Wisconsin to a worldwide circus monopoly, the Ringling brothers were a true rags-to-riches story. Ringling Brothers: Kings of the Circus outlines the rise of the five siblings -- Al, Otto, Alf, Charles, and John -- to superstardom. Started in 1884, the first Ringling circus only needed nine wagons. It lacked all the flair of later shows like elephants and wild animals. But, the brothers persisted and every year grew stronger and more popular. In 1919, the clan purchased their major competition and became Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey. Tagged "The Greatest Show on Earth," the traveling spectacle employed over 1,200 people and required 100 railroad cars. They were eventually bought out in 1956 after the death of several Ringling brothers. But, their history is the history of the circus in all its colorful incarnations.