Under North's management, the circus switched from tents to air conditioned venues in 1956, in part to offset rising labor costs.

[4] Balanchine, in turn, brought Igor Stravinsky on board to compose the Circus Polka for the elephant dance.

[1] North married French actress Germaine Aussey on May 11, 1940; they divorced in 1945.

[5] After the sale of the circus, he moved to Europe, where he lived in Switzerland and Belgium.

[1] North died of a stroke on June 4, 1985, in Brussels, Belgium, at the age of 81.