<P> "The show must go on" is a phrase in show business, meaning that regardless of what happens, whatever show has been planned still has to be staged for the waiting patrons . </P> <P> There is no evidence to suggest that it is the abbreviation of a longer phrase . The saying and principle are traditional in the theater, but they both originated in the 19th century with circuses . If an animal got loose or a performer was injured, the ringmaster and the band tried to keep things going so that the crowd would not panic because "it is a point of honour not to let the other players down by deserting them when no understudy is available ." </P> <P> Later on, the phrase was more broadly applied to the hotel business and show business in general . Eventually, the phrase was used to convey the idea that an event or activity must continue even if there are problems or difficulties, with or without regard to actual show business . </P>

Who said the quote the show must go on