Allen Bloom Dies

Feld Entertainment executive Allen Bloom, 72, died of lymphoma in Bethesda, Md., January 18th. 

Bloom was considered a boon to “The Greatest Show On Earth,” proposing a marketing gimmick in 1993 to offer a free ticket to every child born in the U.S. to see the Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey Circus. 

The proposal paid off, bringing in ticket- and souvenir-buying parents and Bloom’s son and business partner, Randy Bloom, told the Washington Post it was “A hard business result for a good-hearted reason.” 

Bloom pioneered promoting musical acts with the Feld brothers, promoting Bill Haley & His Comets, Buddy Holly, Frankie Lymon and the Everly Brothers, the Post said.