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Brothers now taking one last bow. here, tonight, abc's david wright. >> reporter: in uniondale, new york, last night, one final performance complete with acrobats, lion tamers, and even a human cannonball. >> welcome to the greatest show on earth! >> reporter: but for children of all ages, this was a swansong. >> the young, and the young at heart, as ever throng new york city's madison square garden for the annual appearance of the ringling bros. and barnum and bailey circus. >> reporter: for 146 years, they called it the greatest show on earth. but changing times, a slump in ticket sales, and...

>> there will be all the usual excitement that fans have come to know, love and expect from the circus. you've got lions and tigers and clowns and flying acrobats and all the usual silly fund that has made this particular circus so wildly popular throughout the year. the fans who have come here tonight have to take in this one last experience. they are happy to be here. they can definitely feel the magnitude of this moment, known this is the last time these beloved characters from their childhood will be entertaining them altogether. fans came from all over, near and far to be a part of histor...

>> there will be all the usual excitement that fans have come to know, love and expect from the circus. you've got lions and tigers and clowns and flying acrobats and all the usual silly fund that has made this particular circus so wildly popular throughout the year. the fans who have come here tonight have to take in this one last experience. they are happy to be here. they can definitely feel the magnitude of this moment, known this is the last time these beloved characters from their childhood will be entertaining them altogether. fans came from all over, near and far to be a part of histor...

Bailey circus. it's where we got the phrases, throw your hat in the ring and hold your horses, just to name a few and while the circus was wildly popular over the last 146 years, the circus operation ran into trouble when performing elephants were taken out of line-up due to animal rights pressure. the ringling parent company, high-operating costs and eventual poor ticket sales in their decision to shut everything down. performers say they have been honor to take part in this era but are kind of sad to see it go. >> it's a legacy of devotion to one's craft, when you see people who can fly and ...

I am happy to go with her today. >> drove all night for michigan. the west side of michigan mind you, 820 miles. i drove all night and came here to see the greatest show on earth. rex and estimated tell me people had gone to a ringling circus each year which delighted fans of acrobats, clowns, motorcyclists and ice skaters. five animals including the famous lions and tigers, no bears! they're all taking part. but of course the animals are going to have to go somewhere. they have been placed but all of the workers will be out of a job. back to you. >> thank you laura. whether you love it or hat...