Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus on Long Island through the years

Clowns give the audience big laughs during the 146-year-old Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus' final performance, held Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson welcomes the audience to the 146-year-old Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus' final performance, held Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. He became the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey's first African-American ringmaster in the late 1990s.

The Cossack Riders display the horsemanship of Kazakhstan during the 146-year-old Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus' final performance, held Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Trapeze artists embrace after their performance during the 146-year-old Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus' final show, held Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

The Simet Troupe does a "spacewalk" on the Simet Wheel, a three-story rotating wheel, during the 146-year-old Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus' final performance, held Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson, a native New Yorker, welcomes audience at the farewell performance of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, held Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. He became the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey's first African-American ringmaster in the late 1990s.

Intergalactic Queen Tatiana -- played by Tatiana Tchalabaeva of the Cossack Riders troupe -- during the 146-year-old Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus' final performance, held Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

A trapeze artist performs during the 146-year-old Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus' final show, held Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Kenneth Feld, CEO of Feld Entertainment, operator of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, is joined by his family members and ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson as he thanks the audience before the 146-year-old circus' final performance, held Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

The Simet Troupe does a "spacewalk" on the Simet Wheel, a three-story rotating wheel, during the 146-year-old Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus' final performance, held Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Performers embrace during the 146-year-old Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus' final show, held Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Performers embrace during the 146-year-old Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus' final show, held Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Performers embrace during the 146-year-old Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus' final show, held Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson is joined by family members as he thanks the audience and fellow performers and staff members after the 146-year-old Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus' final performance, held Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Members of the King Charles Troupe play basketball while riding on unicycles during the 146-year-old Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus' final performance, held Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. In 1969, the group became the first African-American act to perform with The Greatest Show on Earth.

Performers embrace during the 146-year-old Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus' final show, held Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Performers embrace during the 146-year-old Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus' final show, held Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Dressed as Intergalactic Queen Tatiana, Tatiana Tchalabaeva clasps hands with a fellow member of the Cossack Riders troupe, after the 146-year-old Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus' final performance, held Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Davis Vassallo, center, hugs a member of the trapeze troupe as he holds his daughter Adriana after the final show of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in Uniondale on Sunday, May 21, 2017.

Animal trainer Alexander Lacey performs with lions and tigers perform on the final day of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus on Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale.

Animal trainer Alexander Lacey performs with lions and tigers on the final day of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus on Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale.

Animal trainer Alexander Lacey kisses a tiger during a performance on the final day of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus on Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale.

Animal trainer Alexander Lacey performs with tigers on the final day of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus on Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale.

Big-cat trainer Alexander Lacey performs with lions on the final day of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus on Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale.

Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson performs on the final day of the Ringling Bros Barnum and Bailey Circus, at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale on Sunday, May 21, 2017. 

Big-cat trainer Alexander Lacey performs with a leopard on the final day of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus on Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale.

Big-cat trainer Alexander Lacey kisses with Maasai the lions on the final day of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus on Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale.

Big-cat trainer Alexander Lacey directs lions and tigers on the final day of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus on Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale.

Clowns give the audience a big laugh on the final day of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus on Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale.

Big-cat trainer Alexander Lacey performs with lions and tigers on the final day of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus on Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale.

Big-cat trainer Alexander Lacey performs with tigers on the final day of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus on Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale.

Performers entertain attendees on the final day of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus on Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale.

A kangaroo performs a trick on the final day of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus on Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale.

A general view of the show on the final day of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale on Sunday, May 21, 2017. Known as "The Greatest Show on Earth," the circus performed its final act after a 146-year run.

Animal trainer Katie Azzario-Lacey on the final day of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus on Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale.

Trapeze artists perform on the final day of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus on Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale.

Members of the Simet Troupe perform their "spacewalk" on the final day of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus on Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale.

Trapeze artists perform on the final day of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus on Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale.

Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson, left, and Starseeker Paulo dos Santos perform on the final day of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus on Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

The Cossack Riders perform a stunt on the final day of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus on Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale.

The Cossack Riders enthrall the audience on the final day of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus on Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale.

A clown poses with children before the final performance of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus on Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale.

Kids watch a performance on the final day of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus on Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale.

A clown performs perform on the final day of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus on Sunday, May 21, 2017, at NYCB Live's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale.

Circus comes to Roosevelt Field

A sword swallower impresses the crowds at a Ringling Brother’s Greatest Show on Earth circus performance at Roosevelt Field on June 4, 1954. With reserved seating priced at $3 and $4, approximately 29,000 people attended, although the first day’s main-act matinee was canceled when a ferry responsible for delivering elephants, horses, seating, and the big top was delayed from its point of origin in New Jersey.

Clowns on parade

A drum with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus' motto, "The Greatest Show on Earth," is featured during a clown parade at Nassau Coliseum on Oct. 31, 1972.

Waiting for the show to begin

A performer waits for the opening number at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus at Nassau Coliseum on Oct. 31, 1972.

Closing a show in 1972

A performer poses on a half moon during a Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus finale at Nassau Coliseum on Oct. 31, 1972.

Moving in the elephants

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey elephants parade toward Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale on Oct. 31, 1972.

Traveling by train

A Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey train is parked at Nassau Community College in Garden City on Nov. 1, 1972.

Train life

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus performers eat a meal on their train's pie car during a visit to Nassau Coliseum on Oct. 31, 1972.

Unloading the elephants

Elephants are unloaded from the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey train on Stewart Avenue in Garden City for a walk to Nassau Coliseum on on Nov. 10, 1976.

The Flying Farfans

Anna, Kathy, Tato, and Gino of the Flying Farfans aerial act perform for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus at Nassau Coliseum on Dec. 4, 1981.

Lining up the elephants

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus elephants line up for a walk from the circus train in Garden City to the Nassau Coliseum on Dec. 3, 1981.

The Wozniak Troupe

The Wozniak Troupe from Poland performs at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus at Nassau Coliseum on Dec. 4, 1981.

Elephant tricks

Buffy Gebel-Williams, son of animal trainer Gunther Gebel-Williams, stands on an elephant during a Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey act at Nassau Coliseum on Dec. 14, 1981.

The Quiros Troupe

The highwire act of the Quiros Troupe -- Angel, Robert, and Vincente -- perform a fencing act as part of their show during the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus at Nassau Coliseum on March 22, 1990.

Next top: Nassau Coliseum

On March 12, 1992, an elephant disembarks the train to prepare for a walk to Nassau Colisuem for a 14-performance run of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey's circus.

Time to feed the elephants

The elephants of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus chow down on bread, apples, carrots and tons of vegetarian snacks as children from local schools watch outside the Nassau Coliseum on March 18, 2011.

Uniondale: The elephants from the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus march their way down Quentin Roosevelt Boulevard to the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale March 11, 2008.

Marching down Quentin Roosevelt Boulevard

The elephants from the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus march down Quentin Roosevelt Boulevard to the Nassau Coliseum on March 11, 2008.

The annual walk of the elephants

Ringling Bros. and Bamum & Bailey Circus elephants take their annual walk from the circus train near Stewart Avenue down Quentin Roosevelt Boulevard to Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale on March 16, 2009.

Irish elephants?

Two elephants from the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, wearing green hats in honor of St. Patrick's Day, devour a table full of fruits, vegetables, and Irish soda bread in the Nassau Coliseum Exhibition Hall on March 16, 2010.

Feeding the elephants again

Students from South Bay Elementary School in West Babylon watch as elephants from the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus devour a table full of fruits, vegetables, and Irish soda bread in the Nassau Coliseum Exhibition Hall on March 16, 2010.

Clowning around

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus clowns Joel Jeske and Rob Lok teach children in the Clown College how to hold up their shirts with one hand to walk themselves off stage during their act on March 10, 2012. In front row are Miranda Anguer, twins Kristen and Kirsten Benes and Chris Burney. The camp was held at the Long Island Children's Museum in Garden City, and culminated with the campers performing at Nassau Coliseum.

Learning the ropes

Brothers Chris Burney and his brother Tommy of Greenlawn, do a hat switching act under the watchful eye of clown Rob Lok in the Clown College with members of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus on March 10, 2012.

One of the final elephant marches

Ringing Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus elephants arrive for performances at the Nassau Coliseum on March 2, 2015.

On March 12, 1992 an elephant disebarks the train to prepare for a walk to Nassau Colisuem for a 14-performance run of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey's circus.

The elephants of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus chow down on bread, apples, carrots and tons of vegetarian snacks as children from local schools watch outside the Nassau Coliseum on Friday, March 18, 2011 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Howard Schnapp)

Uniondale: The elephants from the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus march their way down Quentin Roosevelt Boulevard to the Nassau Coliseum on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Howard Schnapp)

Uniondale: The elephants from the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus march their way down Quentin Roosevelt Boulevard to the Nassau Coliseum on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Howard Schnapp)

Uniondale, NY March 16, 2009: Newsday/ J. Conrad Williams Jr.: Ringling Bros. and Bamum & Bailey circus elephants take their annual walk from the circus train near Stewart Ave. down Quentin Roosevelt Boulevard to Nassau Coliseum, Monday March 16, in Uniondale, NY. Newsday/ J. Conad Williams Jr.

UNIONDALE, NY -- March 17, 2010--Two elephants from the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus, seen wearing Kelly green hats in honor of St. Patrick's Day, devour a table full of fruits, vegetables, and Irish soda bread in the Nassau Coliseum Exhibition Hall Wednesday afternoon March 16, 2010. The circus is at the Coliseum through March 21st. (video grab by Kevin P. Coughlin)

UNIONDALE, NY -- March 17, 2010--Students from South Bay Elementary School in West Babylon, which was destroyed in a recent fire, and their parents watch as elephants from the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus devour a table full of fruits, vegetables, and Irish soda bread in the Nassau Coliseum Exhibition Hall Wednesday afternoon March 16, 2010. The circus is at the Coliseum through March 21st. (Photo by Kevin P. Coughlin)

On left, Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus clown Joel Jeske and on right, clown Rob Lok teach children in the Clown College how to hold up their shirts with one hand to walk themselves off stage during their act. In front row are Miranda Anguer , 8, twins Kristen and Kirsten Benes, 8, and Chris Burney, 11. The camp held at the Long Island Children's Museum in Garden City, culminates with the campers performing at Nassau Coliseum. (March 10, 2012) Newsday Photo/Karen Wiles Stabile

Left to right: Brothers Chris Burney, 11, and his brother Tommy, 9, of Greenlawn, do a hat switching act under the watchful eye of clown Rob Lok in the Clown College with members of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus. The camp held at the Long Island Children's Museum in Garden City, culminates with the campers performing at Nassau Coliseum. (March 10, 2012) Newsday Photo/Karen Wiles Stabile

Ringing Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus Elephants arrive for performances at the Nassau Coliseum in Garden City on March 2, 2015. by Howard Schnapp