CWM Audio 6
Jack Ryan Interview, May 30, 2014
46 minutes, 56 seconds
Jack Ryan was a press agent for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in the 1960s and 1970s and is credited with creating the phrase “May All Your Days Be Circus Days!.” Ryan began his career as a publicist for Look magazine in 1965. Two years later, in 1967 he was working for the Broadway publicity firm Solters & Sabinson. Among the many clients the company had was Irvin Feld, owner of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Ryan was assigned to work with Feld. Among his many responsibilities was the preparation of the show’s programs, which had traditionally ended with a letter from the previous owner, John Ringling North. The program would end with the statement "Thank you and au revoir.” Feld wanted a new sign-off, and Ryan came up with "May All Your Days Be Circus Days." Ryan was also the publicist for the noted animal trainer Gunther Gebel-Williams. In 1979, Ryan became a full-time freelance publicist, but continued to write programs and show scripts for Ringling Brothers for many years.
In 1986, Ryan became an instructor at the University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism teaching public relations theory and writing. By the time Ryan retired in 2003 he was a full-time adjunct professor. Jack Ryan passed away in August 2016.
Rights Statement:
Copyright to these recordings belong to the Wisconsin Historical Society. We share them here strictly for non-profit educational purposes. If you have questions related to the copyright status of material included here, please contact us at [email protected].
In 1986, Ryan became an instructor at the University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism teaching public relations theory and writing. By the time Ryan retired in 2003 he was a full-time adjunct professor. Jack Ryan passed away in August 2016.
Rights Statement:
Copyright to these recordings belong to the Wisconsin Historical Society. We share them here strictly for non-profit educational purposes. If you have questions related to the copyright status of material included here, please contact us at [email protected].
NOTE: While transcripts have been reviewed and corrected for noticeable errors, inconsistencies or misspellings may still exist in the document.
Jack Ryan (left) and Charles Schuler (right)
press agents for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus at Madison Square Garden, April 2, 1968. |
SOUND RECORDING
INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT
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