R. T. Richards Supreme Show of the World
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Circus entertainment |
| Founded | 1917 |
| Founder | Richard T. Ringling |
| Defunct | 1918 |
| Headquarters | Jefferson Township , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Richard T. Ringling |
| Products | Circus shows |
R.T. Richards Supreme Show of the World was an American circus that operated briefly in the early 20th century, touring during the 1917 and 1918 seasons. It stood out as an innovative effort to develop a "hybrid overland-motorized show" by combining motor trucks with traditional wagons for transportation.
The circus was established in 1917 by Richard T. Ringling (1895–1931), son of Alfred T. Ringling, and was headquartered at Ringling Manor in Jefferson Township, New Jersey. The name of the circus was a play on Richard Ringling’s own name. Known for his "reckless behavior" and indulgent lifestyle, Richard received the circus as a gift from his father with the intention of involving him in the family’s circus enterprise. Despite this, he "lacked enthusiasm" for the business and "unsuccessfully launched the semi-motorized R.T. Richards Circus in 1917." Attempts to improve the show's operations in 1918 were significantly challenged by World War I, which created logistical difficulties for civilian entertainment ventures deemed non-essential. Ultimately, the R.T. Richards Circus proved that managing a hybrid circus with partial reliance on rail transport was impractical.
For this venture, Richard Ringling purchased five elephants from William Preston Hall, including the notorious Black Diamond, who later became infamous for causing fatalities during a parade with the Al G. Barnes Circus in Corsicana, Texas, in 1929.