Hard times filled circus king's last years
Circus king, art collector, developer and businessman John Ringling at the peak of his life, circa 1925.
PHOTO COURTESY SARASOTA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY
from: heraldtribune.com
By JEFF LAHURD Correspondent
Sunday, July 28, 2013
SARASOTA - On Dec. 2, 1936, Sarasota awoke to the news that John Ringling, the last of the circus brothers, had passed away at his New York City apartment.
The banner headline in that morning's Sarasota Herald informed its readers "JOHN RINGLING DIES IN NEW YORK." Feature stories, along with his photograph, recounted Mister John's illustrious circus career, his varied interests outside the big top, even an article recalling his "love for trees and flowers," intoning that the Australian pines he planted were his pets.
Circus king, art collector, developer and businessman John Ringling at the peak of his life, circa 1925.
PHOTO COURTESY SARASOTA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY
from: heraldtribune.com
By JEFF LAHURD Correspondent
Sunday, July 28, 2013
SARASOTA - On Dec. 2, 1936, Sarasota awoke to the news that John Ringling, the last of the circus brothers, had passed away at his New York City apartment.
The banner headline in that morning's Sarasota Herald informed its readers "JOHN RINGLING DIES IN NEW YORK." Feature stories, along with his photograph, recounted Mister John's illustrious circus career, his varied interests outside the big top, even an article recalling his "love for trees and flowers," intoning that the Australian pines he planted were his pets.
PHOTO COURTESY JEFF LAHURD
The resting place of John and Mable Ringling, and his sister, Ida Ringling North, at this nondescript plot on the grounds of the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. They were not buried in the tomb designed for them under the statue of David.
The flag atop the American Legion War Memorial in the center of Five Points in downtown Sarasota was lowered to half staff, as was the flag at the circus winter quarters. A wreath of flowers was laid on the steps of the John and Mable Ringling Art Museum, and Mayor Earnest A. Smith sent a wreath to Ringling's New York residence.
The great man had died and Sarasota was in mourning.
John Ringling's final years were not enviable. The great showman, king of the circus world, avid art collector, successful businessman, developer and promoter of Sarasota, and considered one of the wealthiest men in the country had fallen on hard time — the slings and arrows he suffered during his last six years were almost endless.
PHOTO / DEPARTMENT OF HISTORICAL RESOURCES
A young and beautiful Mable Ringling, the love of John's life. When she passed in 1929, he said he would never be happy again.
His first wife, Mable, the love of his life with whom he shared the trappings of his triumphant rise in fortune, died in 1929, leaving him despondent.
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http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20130728/ARTICLE/130729680/-1/news?Title=NEW-Hard-times-filled-circus-king-s-last-years
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