John Ringling North

American circus manager

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July 21, 2026

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John Ringling North was an American circus manager who led the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. He took over the circus after his uncle, John Ringling, died in 1936. North sought to modernize the circus, drawing inspiration from Broadway and motion pictures. In 1938, he introduced "Gargantua the Great," a lowland gorilla, and used an extensive advertising campaign to make the animal a star, which helped rescue the circus from bankruptcy.1

The circus faced challenges, including financial struggles during the Great Depression and competition from television in the 1950s. Despite a temporary closure, it resumed operations under new management and continued to evolve, eventually phasing out animal acts due to animal rights concerns and changing audience tastes. The circus ceased operations in 2017 but resumed touring in 2023 with animal-free shows.21

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Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
John Ringling North takes over
In the 1920s the circus thrived under the direction of the last living Ringling brother, John, who moved its winter home from Baraboo to Sarasota, Florida, in 1927. Two years later, for $1.7 million, he purchased the American Circus Corporation,…
Read More
In the 1920s the circus thrived under the direction of the last living Ringling brother, John, who moved its winter home from Baraboo to Sarasota, Florida, in 1927. Two years later, for $1.7 million, he purchased the American Circus Corporation,…
Read More