Ringmaster

Aspiring New York song-and-dance man Antekeier won a national contest to become ringmaster of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. This is his account, coauthored with freelance writer Aunapu, of the year (1986) he devoted to that taxing job--made doubly difficult because Antekeier felt little or no affection for animals and, slaving away on concrete floors under the Big Top, developed painful shin splints. The authors capture the glitz and glitter of the bigtime circus and offer a glimpse of the tawdriness of life for the employees. Included are close looks at owner Kenneth Feld and animal trainer Gunther Gebel Williams, as well as celebrities Vanna White and Erma Bombeck (who observed the circus to write a story about its clowns). Anyone who enjoys circuses will savor this account of what makes them tick. Photos not seen by PW. Author tour. (Nov.)