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End of 'Greatest show on Earth'

Here are the most stunning photos from the history of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus

It may be the end of the line for the so-called "Greatest Show on Earth", but the legendary circus lives on in these stunning photos from its heyday

THE world-famous Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus has announced that it is closing after 146 years of showstopping performances and death-defying feats.

It may be the end of the line for the so-called "Greatest Show on Earth", but the legendary circus lives on in these stunning photos from its heyday.

Photos from its history show why animal rights campaigners took issue with the circus
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Photos from its history show why animal rights campaigners took issue with the circusCredit: Getty Images
Acrobatic feats and daredevil stunts used to be enough to draw in huge crowds
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Acrobatic feats and daredevil stunts used to be enough to draw in huge crowdsCredit: Getty Images
Attractions included some of the most unusual people to ever walk the planet
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Attractions included some of the most unusual people to ever walk the planetCredit: Getty Images

Photographs from throughout its history have captured some images of the circus which seem unimaginable today - from stunts which defy all health and safety rules to cruel animal tricks.

The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, once a must-see spectacle for American families, was founded in 1871, when entertainment was a world away from what we're used to in 2017.

One photo shows handlers riding a giraffe, whilst others depict elephants and lions performing stunts as their tamers lapped up applause from the crowd.

Horse riders numbered among the least controversial animal acts on display
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Horse riders numbered among the least controversial animal acts on displayCredit: Getty Images
This stunning shot depicts a rider perched atop a tamed giraffe
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This stunning shot depicts a rider perched atop a tamed giraffeCredit: Getty Images
Unusual characters and surprisingly creepy clowns were a staple of the popular show
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Unusual characters and surprisingly creepy clowns were a staple of the popular showCredit: Bettmann

Endless battles with animal rights campaigners are among the reasons why the circus has struggled in recent years, and many modern viewers will have little sympathy for the complaints of animal handlers at the show.

But the "Greatest Show on Earth" also boasted many more attractions, as these stunning photos show.

Iconic images of lion tamers have come to represent the cruelty of animal circuses
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Iconic images of lion tamers have come to represent the cruelty of animal circusesCredit: Getty Images
Clowns and performers of all types would flock to the circus to find work
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Clowns and performers of all types would flock to the circus to find workCredit: Getty Images
The acrobatics weren't even confined to humans - something which irked many recent viewers
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The acrobatics weren't even confined to humans - something which irked many recent viewersCredit: Getty Images
Performers dangled from the ceilings and swung from the walls for sold-out audiences
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Performers dangled from the ceilings and swung from the walls for sold-out audiencesCredit: Getty Images

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In one shot, a sad clown can be seen perched on the circus grounds, whilst another photo depicts a juggler balancing effortlessly on a suspended tightrope.

Meanwhile, acrobats can be seen hanging from suspended ropes whilst showgirls pose for pictures with their fellow performers.

A sad clown looks on as he waits for his performance to start
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A sad clown looks on as he waits for his performance to startCredit: Getty Images
Showgirls can be seen posing in photos from the circus' long history
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Showgirls can be seen posing in photos from the circus' long historyCredit: Getty Images
The circus would travel around America, bringing a taste of exotic lands to the nation's small towns
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The circus would travel around America, bringing a taste of exotic lands to the nation's small townsCredit: Bettmann
Elephant riders would perform alongside horseback riders and giraffe tamers
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Elephant riders would perform alongside horseback riders and giraffe tamersCredit: Getty Images

Horses, clowns and the self-proclaimed "Fattest of Fat Girls" number among the other attractions at the historic circus, which travelled across America by train to bring exotic sights to far-flung audiences.

But as time went on and entertainment evolved, the circus begun to die a slow death, as conflicted audiences became turned off by animal acts and found cheaper ways to spend their time.

The 'Fattest of Fat Girls' was a big draw at the soon-to-be-closing circus
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The 'Fattest of Fat Girls' was a big draw at the soon-to-be-closing circusCredit: Bettmann
A dangling acrobat can be seen suspended from a pair of ropes in one historical photo
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A dangling acrobat can be seen suspended from a pair of ropes in one historical photoCredit: Getty Images
A deft balancing act saw this man walk a tightrope whilst juggling and balancing plates on his head
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A deft balancing act saw this man walk a tightrope whilst juggling and balancing plates on his headCredit: Getty Images

In May, the iconic Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will close for good - after 146 years of operation.

And although the spectacle of the circus lives on in these incredible photos, it's hard to imagine anything like it operating again.

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