Barnum Bailey

Send in the ClownsIt was in 1793 that Philadelphian John Bill Ricketts gave us the very first circus -- a one-ring horse and clown show. Now, 200 years later, we get to enjoy the extravagance of the three-ring circus of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey complete with horses and clowns as well as trapeze artists, lions, tigers, elephants and those guys who can walk a tightrope without a net. Because the circus' biggest fans are children, it is fitting that this edition of the big-top event promises to showcase young performers, most of whom are between the ages of 6 and 16. Kids of all ages should also enjoy watching circus stars perform on the Globe of Death and the Wheel of Death.

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.

THIS PAST WEEK I saw a fascinating and exquisitely detailed 1/8 - inch scale model of a 1930s circus on exhibit at the Baltimore City Life Museums.The model builder, Joseph F. Schmitt Sr., lived in Ferndale from 1961 until his death in 1989. Schmitt's family donated the circus model to the museum last year, and it will be on display there through April 12.The model, called The Bozo Brothers' Circus after the family dog, Bozo, is an intricate world of miniatures made almost entirely from scratch with scrap materials and more than 33,880 pieces.

h, Childs, I can just picture you and your fellow Gilman grads sitting around in your sweater vests and toy pipes, discussing how you much you loved Bert Blyleven's infamous "I love to fart" T-shirt. But let's not confuse Cooperstown with a Barnum & Bailey exhibit here. With the exception of Dave Kingman, there's only one eligible player with at least 425 homers who isn't in the Hall of Fame, and by this time next year, Andre Dawson ought to consider filing criminal charges. You know how many other players hit 400 homers and stole 300 bases?

RINGLING RETURNS: After a four-year absence, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus returns this week to the Baltimore Arena. Shows are scheduled Thursday through Sunday, this week and next -- 21 performances in all.But if you just can't wait for the opening performances at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Thursday to see a little circus action, you can at least see a few of the animals and perhaps some clowns as the menagerie takes a stroll to the Arena about 6...

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.

At Towson, festival ends with 'Circus'Towson State University's 1995 Maryland Arts Festival concludes with five performances of Theatricks' "Circus Berserkus" in the Studio Theatre in the Fine Arts Center, Osler and Cross Campus drives.Maryland-based Theatricks specializes in innovative family entertainment and features company co-founder Tom Dougherty, a former Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus clown. Show times are 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. July 29; and 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. July 30. Tickets are $7. For more information, call (410)

The zebras made a run for it. Spotting a door ajar, three striped members of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus broke out yesterday from their temporary home in Baltimore's 1st Mariner Arena. But they didn't get far. Evidently bewildered by the bustle on Hopkins Place downtown, Mali, Giza and Lima -- geldings born in Missouri seven or eight years ago -- allowed themselves to be corralled by trainer Karin Houcke and two handlers within half a block of their exit point. No need for a lasso, since each animal wore a bridle.

Elly Annie Schneider, 90, who was known for many years in the circus world and on the big screen as Tiny Earles, and later as Tiny Doll, and who played one of the Munchkins in The Wizard of Oz, died Sept. 13 in Sarasota, Fla. Ms. Schneider was born in Stolpen, Germany, and came to the United States in 1925 to join two sisters and a brother, all of short stature. She was 39 inches tall and never weighed more than 46 pounds. She became an American citizen at age 21. At first the siblings used the name Earles, the last name of the man who brought them to America.

Friday morning, light rail cars will be filled with 3- and 4-year-old children from St. John's Co-Operative Nursery School, their brothers, sisters, parents and teachers for a trip to see the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus at the Arena in downtown Baltimore.The children are getting pretty excited about this ride, according to Jane Soverns, the school's director. They plan to wear their nursery school T-shirts and are busy making silly circus hats, just for fun.Soverns said that the circus is sending a clown to meet the children as they board the train at Cromwell Station at 9:15 a.m. He will ride with them, escort them to the Arena and lead them to their seats.