Irvin Feld's Kevo

Irvin Feld was born in Hagerstown, Maryland on May 19, 1918. Feld, one of six children born to Russian immigrants who operated a small clothing and home furnishing store, started working when he was thirteen selling cure-all elixirs at fairs around his hometown. He also sold goods door-to-door and later became a full-time salesman of various medical remedies.

Soon afterwards, Feld opened a pharmacy catering to the black community with a sponsorship from the NAACP. He began playing music outside to attract customers and eventually moved into actual record sales. The idea was successful and Feld opened new stores. Later he moved into music promotions and record producing. He was responsible for introducing such tours as Bill Haley and the Comets and Chubbie Checker into large arena venues. From from 1957 to 1964, Feld was Paul Anka's personal manager and President of Super Attractions, Inc. He began circus bookings and had the idea to move them out of tents and into arenas and other large indoor venues.

In 1967, Feld, his brother Israel and Judge Roy N. Hofheinz bought Ringling Brothers from John Ringling North for $8 million. A year later he created the Ringling's Clown College, a school renowned to this day. Feld also came up with the idea to have two identical units traveling to separate cities simultaneously. In 1971, he sold the circus to Mattel, Inc. for $50 million. During this time, he and his son Kenneth stayed on - Feld as president and CEO, Kenneth as co-producer. In 1979, Feld sat as chair, CEO and producer of Ice Follies and Holiday On Ice, Inc. The circus fell on harder times in the early 1980s so Feld and his son bought it back from Mattel in 1982 for about $22.8 million. Feld sat as Chair, CEO and producer of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus until his death from a massive brain hemorrhage in 1984. One of his last shows was called One of a Kind.

Kenneth took over his father's positions in 1984 and remains CEO and president. Feld has left a legacy for circus lovers everywhere. Time Magazine said it best when they called him "The Greatest Showman on Earth."
Work History
(1984) producer One of a Kind, Las Vegas

(1982-1984) chair, CEO, producer Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus

(1982) he and son bought circus back from Mattel for $22.8 million

(1981-1984) producer Beyond Belief show, Las Vegas and Disney Productions World on Iceowner

(1979-1984) chair, producer, CEO, Ice Follies, Holiday On Ice, Inc

(1968-1982) president,CEO, producer, Ringling Brothers-Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows, Inc.

(1980) associate producer of Broadway musical Barnum

(1954-1974) producer Carter Barron Amphitheatre Summer Series for Deptartment Interior, Washington

(1971) sold to Mattel Inc. for $50 million

(1968) established the Ringling's Clown College

(1967) bought circus for $8 million with brother Israel and Judge Roy N. Hofheinz from John Ringling North

(1954-1967) president and producer Super Attractions, Inc., Washington

(1957-1964) personal manager to Paul Anka

(1940-1956) president Super Music City

age of 13 he began peddling goods door to door, and after graduating from high school he became a full-time salesman of all-purpose medical remedies
Affiliations
honorary director of Bank of Winter Haven N.A.

member of the Metropolitan Washington Board of Trade

(1951) president of Amity Club of Washington

member of the Advisor Council of the Wilmer Ophthal Institute

member of the National Press Club, Variety Club, Friars Club, Circus Saints and Sinners

Woodmont Country Club

Contributed to The Language of Show Biz, 1973 and Variety newspaper