Ringling Bros

I always wanted to be big," he says. "I always just had some vision in my head that I would be huge." The voice is huge: "Ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages ... Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey's the Greatest Show on Eeeeeaaaaarth!" It rolls from his gut, thundering up through his throat and bursting forth into whatever venue the circus is performing in. A melodic hypnotist, his job is to touch the soul of everyone in the audience, to hook them in as the circus begins and keep them spellbound during every act change or distracted during the rare mishap.

Traffic is halted on Pratt Street as the elephants that arrived by train make their way to the 1st Mariner Arena, where the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus opens tonight.

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

Ringling Bros. at 1st Mariner Arena Go see the Greatest Show on Earth in Ringling Bros. and Bar num & Bailey's Circus of Dreams at the 1st Mariner Are na, 201 W. Baltimore St. Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. show are $14 to $24. Call 410-547-SEAT or go to ticketmaster.com or ring ling.com. FYI J. Wynn Rousuck's weekly theater column does not appear to day.

Next week, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey will return to Baltimore with Fully Charged!, the 141st edition of The Greatest Show On Earth. Everyone at Ringling Bros. takes great pride in presenting quality family entertainment to audiences in Baltimore and across the country. Unfortunately, animal rights groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals have used our return to continue their radical agenda by distorting our dedication to animal care and welfare. It's time we set the record straight.

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."

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.

... 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.

I read The Sun's recent article regarding circus elephants being mistreated, and I feel Jada Pinkett Smith has been misinformed regarding how the circus and other traveling circuses around the country care for their animals ("Jada Pinkett Smith urges SRB to protect elephants," March 6). I hope Ms. Smith will visit the circus when it's in Baltimore March 21 through April 1 and see how well Ringling Bros. Circus cares for not only elephants but all of their animals. Also, see how bull hooks are only used to guide elephants and do them no harm.

The Orioles have been busy during their first spring training camp under manager Buck Showalter. But the Orioles' infield quartet of Mark Reynolds, Derrek Lee, J.J. Hardy, and Brian Roberts found some time on Sunday to stare off into space (well, unless they were all lackadaisically chasing after the same pop-up). This random photo from The Baltimore Sun's Karl Merton Ferron demands another photo caption challenge, and I'm hoping I get more responses this time around than I did two weeks ago . And that's where you guys come in, and I know you will come through with some good ones this time around.