Yes. Your memory obviously held more import than mine considering the events of the time. It was talk of the Garden and anthems that brought that story back to me.
I did a bit of searching but couldn’t find out the resolution to that problem. Seems like it is not uncommon in the circus world. The Great Moscow Circus went belly-up in Australia recently stranding performers, but TPTB are trying to keep it going.
I didn’t mean to negate your experience, btw. I’m sure it was quite moving.
One of my favorite short stories is Thomas Wolfe’s about sneaking out of his house in the early morning with his brother to watch the circus set up in a field and then watching them serve and eat breakfast. Very touching.