Bailey Circus

To most people, the elephants performing at the Baltimore Arena are the biggest stars of the circus. But to Del. John S. Morgan, they are dangerous, mistreated beasts.The Howard County Republican has proposed legislation in the General Assembly that would ban the use of elephants in public or private entertainment, including circuses and carnivals. "I believe you cannot make animals perform in circuses without abusing them," Morgan said.He said that 36 people have been killed by performing elephants worldwide since 1990.

An incorrect telephone number for the Baltimore Arena appeared in an item about Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in Live's family calendar. The correct number is (410) 347-2010.The Sun regrets the errors.Pub Date: 3/08/97

Where do you find cavorting clowns, ponderous pachyderms, leaping lions, terrifying tigers, amazing acrobats and jolly jugglers all under one roof? Anyone who has ever experienced "The Greatest Show On Earth" knows the answer -- Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.The 126th edition of the ever-changing show for all ages rolls into Baltimore next week for a 12-day run, starting March 12. Circus officials promise a spectacular series of 19 performances that will astound audiences with the amazing feats of a variety of animals and artist/athletes, including Airiana the Human Arrow, who flies with the aid of the world's largest crossbow.

What do you call a singing insect that can't remember the words? A humbug -- and that's what I've got to say about tonight's tepid TV lineup.* "Disney's Christmas Fantasy on Ice" (8 p.m.-9 p.m., Channel LTC 11) -- This repeat from December 1992 offers a chance to catch a solo performance by Nancy Kerrigan before the hype and scandal. CBS.* "All I Want For Christmas" (9 p.m.-11 p.m., Channel 2) -- Speaking selfishly, all I want for Christmas is to see fewer TV dramas such as this 1992 repeat.

Comedy Care '94, a comedy concert to benefit Health Care for the Homeless, played to a standing room only crowd of more than 1,000 at Goucher's Kraushaar Auditorium. Nationally known comedians Paul Rodriquez, Jeff Marder and Lani Frazier had folks rolling in the aisles.The festivities began with a pre-concert reception for nearly 300 VIP guests, which included Jackie Gaines, executive director of Health Care for the Homeless; Coles Ruff, general manager for United Artists Cable of Baltimore; Mike McCarthy, WMIX radio; Sandra Pinkney, WJZ- TV; Francis Smith, National Business Archives; Dr. and Mrs. Richard Berkowitz; Dina Klicos; Anne and Roger Powell; and Pam and Allan Malester.

Henry Ringling NorthCircus owner, managerSWITZERLAND -- Henry Ringling North, 83, a former owner and manager of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, died Saturday in a hospital near his home in Begnins, after a long illness."

... 1/8 TC There is something thrilling, yet so innocent, about a circus coming to town. We know an artist, now retired, who spent his vacations following circuses throughout the country. To him, circuses and the people associated with them offered a dose of magic not obtainable anywhere else. He felt reinvigorated after a couple of weeks of animal acts, clowns and trapeze wizardry.Fans of all ages have cause for celebration because the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is back in Baltimore for the first time in five years.

Past a small woman delicately balancing eight spinning plates on the ends of long metal rods stands Mark Oliver Gebel, holding steadfast to the only rope keeping two acrobats suspended 20 feet from the floor during morning practice.The only son of animal trainer Gunther Gebel-Williams, Mr. Gebel has had the task of taking the reins after his father's early retirement from circus performance in 1990. Now, in the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus' first visit to Baltimore in more than four years, he takes part in nearly every aspect of the show's preparation.

Baltimore School for the Arts graduate Tonya O'Dell learned 0) to laugh when things go wrong in the circusSome of Tonya O'Dell's best friends are clowns, jugglers and trapeze artists.That's what happens when you spend six years with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, traveling from town to town with the likes of the Human Volcano and the Globe of Death.But while most people become kids again under the big tent, Ms. O'Dell says the circus has turned her into an adult."It's definitely a place where I grew up," says the 25-year-old East Baltimorean.

The Baltimore Arena is operating in the black for the first time in recent memory, but the city still paid $332,000 last year to the firm that manages the facility.That fee, however, is a far cry from the $1.2 million the city-owned arena cost taxpayers before its management was put into private hands in 1988.Under a complex 1988 contract giving control of the 13,000-seat building to Centre Management, the city will pay a fee to the company until the arena's profit tops $484,000. But Centre management is obligated to cover any losses above $650,000.