Allen Bloom

Allen Bloom

Inducted into the Ring of Fame: 2017

Circus Profession: Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Feld Entertainment

Born: 1935

Died: 2008

DEALMAKER, PLAYER, MOVER AND SHAKER, OPERATOR, CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONAL, FIERCE ADVOCATE, BUSINESS PARTNER, MENTOR, COLLEAGUE, FRIEND, FAMILY MAN AND THE BIG CIGAR. ALLEN J. BLOOM WAS AND REMAINS ONE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE FIGURES IN THE HISTORY OF NOT JUST RINGLING BROS AND BARNUM & BAILEY BUT THE LIVE EVENT INDUSTRY IN THE LATTER HALF OF THE 20^TH CENTURY

ALLEN BLOOM WAS A SIMPLE MAN OF THE PEOPLE WHO ROSE FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS AS AN 11 YEAR OLD KID SWEEPING THE FLOOR IN A POST WAR DRUG STORE IN DOWNTOWN WASHINGTON D.C.

THE STORE WAS OWNED BY IRVIN AND ISRAEL FELD IN THE EARLY 1950’S AND SERVICED A LARGELY AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY. FROM A FLOOR SWEEPER HE STRIVED TO SUCCEED TAKING EVERY TASK NO MATTER HOW SMALL OR LARGE AND EVENTUALLY R0SE IN THE ORGANIZATION TO BECOME SR. VICE PRESIDENT OF THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH AND FELD ENTERTAINMENT OVER THE SPAN OF A 50 YEAR CAREER.

BEFORE BECOMING INVOLVED IN THE CIRCUS ALLEN HAD A FRONT ROW SEAT AND A BACK STAGE PASS TO THE BIRTH OF ROCK AND ROLL TOURING WITH THE TOP MUSICAL ACTS OF THE 1950’S AND 60’S INCLUDING THE DRIFTERS, THE COASTERS, FRANKIE LYMON, CHUCK BERRY, BUDDY HOLLY, THE BIG BOPPER, PAUL ANKA AND MANY MORE.

allen bloom bill powell and michael rosenberg

Allen Bloom circus ring of fame inductee

IN THE DAYS OF SEGREGRATION IT WAS ALLEN BLOOM WHO MANAGED TO FIND AFRICAN AMERICAN ARTISTS HOTEL ROOMS AND RESTAURANTS WHILE ON TOUR WITH SUPER SHOWS. IT WAS ALLEN BLOOM WHO COUNTED THE TICKETS, RECORDED THE MONEY AND WAS THE ROAD MANAGER FOR THE PIONEERS OF ROCK AND ROLL. ALLEN UNDERSTOOD EVERY NUMBER, DEAL POINT, SPLIT, REVENUE AND COST IN AN UNCANNY ORGANIC MANNER.

THROUGHOUT HIS ENTIRE CAREER, WHAT DISTINGUISHED ALLEN WAS HIS HUMANITY. HE WAS TOUGH BUT EXTREMELY FAIR WITH ALL THOSE AROUND HIM AND WITH HIS INDUSTRY PARTNERS. ALLEN EXPECTED EXCELLENCE… THERE WERE NO HALF STEPS TO SUCCESS IN HIS WORLD. JUST A WILLINGNESS TO WORK HARD, TAKE RISK AND LEARN FROM MISTAKES.

DURING HIS TENURE, RINGLING BROS AND BARNUM & BAILEY DOUBLED IN SIZE, DISNEY ON ICE WAS CREATED AND GLOBAL LIVE FAMILY EVENT TOURING WAS PIONEERED IN A WAY THAT FEW OTHERS WOULD HAVE IMAGINED.

DECADES AGO ALLEN USED TO SAY “THE CIRCUS IS FOR THE CLASSES AND NOT THE MASSES.” HE LOVED TO VISIT THE SHOWS HIS PEOPLE PROMOTED. ALLEN WOULD SIT IN THE CRAMPED TEMPORARY OFFICES IN ARENAS AND COUNT TICKETS AND BOX OFFICE RECEIPTS.

WHETHER IT WAS ON A DISCOUNTED THURSDAY MORNING SCHOOL SHOW OR A PACKED FULL PRICE HOUSE ON SATURDAY NIGHT ALLEN BLOOM TRULY BELIEVED THAT EVERY ARTIST DESERVED AN APPRECIATIVE AUDIENCE.

ALLEN BLOOM CREATED AUDIENCES OF PAYING CUSTOMERS FOR THOUSANDS OF CIRCUS ACTS AND THAT CREATED PAYCHECKS AND ALLOWED COMMERCE TO FLOURISH SUPPORTING THE CIRCUS ARTS. FOR THIS AND MANY MORE REASONS THIS IS WHY HE IS HONORED ON THE CIRCUS RING OF FAME.

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