14 Facts About John Ringling

John Ringling was inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame in 1987.

Four years later, the oldest sibling, Al John Ringling died, followed by brother Henry in 1918.

John Ringling would bring the circus troupe across the river from Yonkers, New York, with acrobats and animals to entertain their guests at parties.

In 1929, John Ringling bought the American Circus Corporation, which consisted of the Sells-Floto Circus, the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus, the John Robinson Circus, the Sparks Circus, Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, and the Al G Barnes Circus.

John Ringling bought them from Jerry Mugivan, Bert Bowers, and Ed Ballard, for $1.7 million.

At a prize fight in 1929, Mr Ringling related, he met William M Greve, president of New York Investors, Inc, who agreed to lend him $1,700,000.

Shortly afterward New York Investors sold the John Ringling note to the now bankrupt subsidiary.

That night, despite a fever of 104, Mr John Ringling was put in a wheelchair and brought to another room.

John Ringling was involved in many businesses, including; railroads in Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Texas; oil in Oklahoma; real estate in Florida.

John Ringling lost virtually his entire fortune, but was able to retain his home, the museum and his extensive art collection.

John Ringling was voted out of control of the business in 1932 by its board of directors and Sam Gumpertz was named vice president and general manager of the circus.

John Ringling died on December 2,1936, in New York City.

John Ringling was the last Ringling brother to die, as well as the longest-lived of the Ringling brothers.

John Ringling was the only brother to reach his 70s.