The 2000 Barnum loves elephants, but without bluffs

From his forerunner he keeps the passion for elephants. But while Barnum became famous to have bought from the London zoo Jumbo, the most famous between the elephants, he founded an entire Center for Elephant Conservation, which has few equals on Earth.
We’re talking about Mr. Kenneth Feld, the most important Family Live Entertainment producer of the world, whom shows are seen by more than ten millions people in the US, Japan and Europe.
Worth of the Feld Entertainment is 750millions dollars (Forbes Magazine valuation). The “Lord of the Rings”, as Times Magazine called him, but surely have the passion and the business acumen.
Kenneth Feld manages the biggest society in the world in the family live entertainment area. Besides many units of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey between his proposals there are the beloved Disney on Ice and Disney Live shows, then the performances by Siegfried and Roy in Las Vegas and some awarded productions in Broadway. Recently the last important acquisitions: the acclaimed sport shows with motor vehicles that revel in the US arenas, among freestyles motorcycles and cars with giant wheels, followed by millions of teenagers from all the continent, with the name of Feld Motors.
Kenneth took in a modern way the evolutions of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, by improving the approach with mass medias and the conception of the show evolved, influenced by the modern tendencies of circus direction and continuing giving novelties to US audience from all over the world, such as the Italian stars Flavio Togni (announced as “The New Sensation”) and the clown of clowns David Larible.
We interviewed him exclusive for www.circo.it.
Feld Entertainment is a big company in the family entertainment productions. With the current crisis how do you see the interest towards Circus by American audience?
We have been fortunate even with the recent economic challenges that our customers continue to see Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey as a great value and great way for the entire family to enjoy live entertainment together. Everyone today is so busy and there are so many distractions but I know that by coming to Ringling Bros., families are going to have a great experience together. With our three touring units, we play to over ten million customers a year across the United States and I think the future for the circus, and all of our live family entertainment productions, looks promising – families are always going to want entertainment options that they can enjoy together. With two of my three daughters, Alana and Nicole, now producing Ringling Bros., I think the fresh perspective they bring will help us keep our shows as the number one family entertainment production in the US for many years to come.

RBB&B always had big and important animal trainer, as Gunther Gebel William, what kind of inputs do these prestigious figures give to the show?
Gunther was truly an amazing animal trainer and performer. His bond with the animals was just amazing to see and I think he really understood them in a way very few people do. Animals are such a vital part of Ringling Bros. I think it is always going to be critical that we have talented and skillful animal trainers. At the moment, the star of one of our Red Unit, Fully Charged!, is an animal trainer: Tabayara Maluenda. He has an energy and a passion for what he does that makes his performance so special to see. Behind the scenes too, he spends so much time caring for the animals and he even sleeps just feet from the tigers.
Our customers constantly tell us that the animals, particularly the elephants, are one of the top reasons they come to The Greatest Show On Earth. Nowhere else can families see these amazing animals up close and in person, ask the care givers questions and really gain a greater appreciation for the animals.
Yet in Italy the animalist associations fight strongly against animals in circuses. Which is the situation in the USA?
Here the animal activists oppose all animals in captivity, so they object to zoos, farming, breeding and importation as well. The agenda of the animal rights’ groups is so radical that, if followed, it could lead to extinction of some animals. During a hearing to oppose the importation of African elephants, one of the lawyers told the court that she would rather see the elephants dead in Africa from culling than be imported to live to a US zoo. One of the strategy of these animalists groups is to influence the legislative plan, but their efforts have not been entirely successful. They have also lobbied for legislation against farming, methods of food production and even dog breeding.
At Ringling Bros. we are regulated and inspected at the federal, state and local level in every single city where we perform. The laws vary from place to place. Some municipalities have placed restrictions on some animals in entertainment but we work very hard across the country to clearly demonstrate that ours are given the very best care and we give audiences a chance to see for themselves how healthy and vibrant our animals are.
Less than one year ago, we heard that Ringling was absolved from an eyewitness’ complaints, Tom Rider, who told under oath about some abuses on your animals. Can you tell us shortly what happened?
On December 30, 2009, after nine years of litigation, the federal court threw out the case brought by a collection of animal rights groups and one individual, Tom Rider. The court ruled that “Mr. Rider is essentially a paid plaintiff and fact witness who is not credible, and therefore affords no weight to his testimony regarding the matters discussed herein, i.e., the allegations related to his standing to sue.” The court also found that Mr. Rider had been paid at least $190,000 during the prior eight years by animal rights groups and their lawyers. Those payments are now the subject of a related lawsuit filed by Feld Entertainment. We want to continue to bring Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey to families all across the United States and when we can, internationally. I know that the care of our animals is a top priority across all areas of the company and I would not have it any other way. Ringling Bros. has more experience, over 141 years, working with animals and we regularly share that expertise with universities, zoos, veterinarians and event government agencies, demonstrating our commitment to animal welfare every single day.
Do you think to continue having animals in your shows?
Animals are an integral part of Ringling Bros. and I always want our audiences to be able to experience the excitement and gain a greater appreciation for animals from seeing them up close during our shows. We have made a lifetime commitment to the care and conservation of elephants and all the other animals and this not going to ever change.
In 1995 you founded in Florida a Center for Elephant Conservation, developed on 80 hectares, with an initial cost of five million dollars, for the present and future animals welfare. The animals that the most hardly reproduce in captivity are elephants. How does your center proceed?
One of the areas I am most passionate about is the conservation of the endangered Asian elephant, the symbol of Ringling Bros. for over 141 years, and one of the most magnificent species on earth. Since we began our conservation program, we have been fortunate to have had 23 elephant births with more on the way. I think the success of our program is directly attributable to the bond between our people and the elephants. From the moment these animals are born they interact very closely with the animal care professionals who dedicate their lives to taking care of them. I think it’s only through that special bond that we’ve been able to learn so much about Asian elephants and that has translated into successful breeding.
How do you think that the circus have to renew today to be still a show able to arouse enthusiasm in the audience?
Even though Ringling Bros. is 141 years old, we have worked very hard to keep it contemporary. My daughters bring a fresh perspective to producing each new edition – they are closer to the age of our customers and have a better understanding of what today’s audiences want to see in the circus.
Alana and Nicole are hard at work getting ready for the 142nd edition of The Greatest Show On Earth as well as a new Gold edition, both of which start rehearsals this fall in Florida. Juliette and I are also at work on the new Nuclear Cowboyz freestyle motocross tour, which launches in January of next year and we hope to bring that show to Europe in the near future.
Sometimes people ask me what my favorite show is and I can honestly say the answer is always the same – it’s the next one, and I am looking forward to 2012 as another record breaking year.

Alessandro Serena

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