John and Buddy North

John Ringling North was quite the socialite and casual man about town spending most of his time in Europe. He was not a "hands on" type owner as we see today, when the show was in Sarasota during the winter he would reside at the John Ringling Towers and after arising at the crack of noon he might be driven out to the quarters, ride his horse for a while, entertain a few people in his railroad car, stop by the office to sign a few papers and maybe even watch rehearsals but I'm sure he didn't meddle, that's what John Murray Anderson was paid for and who probably wouldn't have listened anyway. Then it was back to the Ringling Towers and after dining with friends they would all make an entrance into the Mme. Toto Lounge well after midnight when the flotsum and jetsum had departed and spend the rest of the night in recreation. Pat Valdo was the man responsible for hiring talent both in the U.S. and abroad. After the dress rehearsal in Madison Sq. Garden, Mr. North and entourage all formally dressed would depart for the Stork Club where he would then do his act and in so doing managed to induce such people as Balanchine and Stravinsky to become involved with the show. After the Ringling Show closed under canvas in 1956 and became successfully established in buildings, North sold the show to Roy Hofheinz and Irvin and Israel Feld in 1967. He then returned to Europe, resumed his usual lifestyle and eventually outlived all three.