GLOOM AND DOOM #2

BE031650, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. From Chris Berry When John Ringling North announced on July 16, 1956 that "the tented circus is a thing of the past", Ed Sullivan immediately seized the opportunity to capitalize on the big news in hopes of attracting viewers to his Sunday night television show. Within a few days Sullivan had arranged for his own big top to be raised in a New York parking lot and on the night of July 29, 1956 the Ed Sullivan Show not only originated from under canvas - but included about 11 Ringling acts that he booked for the night, including Emmett Kelly and Pinito de Oro. None of the Ringling animals were used in the show, but Howard Sueusz' Clyde Bros. Circus provided elephants, horses and camels which were positioned for the cameras, though they did not perform on the television program. This publicity photo for the show was provided to newspapers with the following caption: "New York: Two famous sad-faced notables, circus clown Emmett Kelly (left) and Ed Sullivan exchange poker-faced poses during a break in television rehearsals here. Kelly, along with other members of Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus, will appear on the July 29th Ed Sullivan Show, which will be televised from a large tent in a New York parking lot. Sullivan said that he could "out-sad-face" Kelly."