Circus Ring of Fame Wheel Plaque

Floyd R. King

Inducted into the Ring of Fame: 1998

Circus Profession: Circus Owner/Agent

Born: 1888

Died: 1976

floyd king Circus Ring Of Fame Foundation inductee

In a 60-year career that began during the circus’s Golden Age and extended into the 1970s, he was one of the great circus men of his time. He started as a candy butcher and worked as an agent before launching his own circus with brother Howard in 1919. For 27 years he toured rail and truck shows, sometime in head-to-head competition with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. His 70-vehicle 1955 King Bros. & Cole Bros. Circus was the largest truck show ever mounted. Of all his talents, he was particularly respected for his routing ability, on occasion directing the itineraries of as many as three shows at a time.