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Lord George Sanger Circus (Established c1880)

 Organisation

Dates

  • Existence: Established c1880

Biography

Lord George Sanger Circus was founded by George Sanger after disolving his business partnership with his brother John Sanger.

George and John were the founders of the Sanger Allied Circus in 1854, which they operated with a few family members and friends. The business grew from strength to strength and by 1858 Sanger’s circus could boast of presenting the largest stud of horses ever seen in the European continent. By the 1860s the Sanger emporium owned ten permanent circuses between Plymouth and Aberdeen.

The Sanger brother’s acquired two of the most famous and reputable circus venues in London; the Royal Agricultural Hall at Islington in 1870 and Astley’s New Royal Amphitheatre in 1871.

George and John eventually decided to go their separate ways and split their various business ventures amicably.

During his career as a circus proprietor George Sanger presented two Royal performances before Queen Victoria, the first at Sandringham on 8 January 1885 and the second at Balmoral Castle on 17 June 1898.

George Sanger was a respected member of the showland community and although he spent most of his later life in the circus, he maintained a strong link to his fairground roots and was elected the first President of the Showmen's Guild of Great Britain in 1890, a post he held until 1909.

George Sanger was murdered on 28 November 1911, at Park Farm by one of his employees for unknown reasons. His circus and effects were auctioned off by showman Tom Norman aka ‘The Silver King’.

Found in 40 Collections and/or Records:

America’s Wonderland Film, 1992 - 1993

 Item — Box Noel Drewe Box 16: Series 178D5
Reference code: 178D5.157
Scope and Contents

Circusama, Yesterdays Circus Today. 8mm. Silent, in colour. Various scenes filmed by by Noel Drewe. Includes Sangers Bullfight posters, Old Town Hall, Zig Zag the Juggler, Ben Lester the Clown, a High Tension High Wire Act, Gapebridge Park 1993, Sealed Knot at Gapebridge Park, Horse Show at Brirns Camp Gaddesden, Robert Brothers poster, Rialto poster, circus variety poster, Leo the Lion's Circus Adventure, Jarmins Fields 1992, and possibly Princess Adsha on the trapeze.

Dates: 1992 - 1993

Circus Friends Association Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0122
Scope and Contents

This collection consists of a large library of books and journals, as well as archival material including posters, programmes, photographs, films, handbills, research material, scrapbooks, original artwork and many other items of ephemera relating to British, Irish and European circuses

Dates: 1795 - 2020

Clown in Lion Costume Photograph, c1930 - 1949

 Item — Box Sanger Circus Box 1: Series 178C114
Reference code: 178C114.73
Scope and Contents

Photograph of a man in a lion costume. The photograph is labelled 'World Famous Clown Tarran'. Henry Harold Moxon performed as a comedy juggler under the name of Harold Tarran in the 1940s.

Dates: c1930 - 1949

Clowns with Cement Mixer Photograph, c1930 - 1939

 Item — Box Sanger Circus Box 1: Series 178C114
Reference code: 178C114.110
Scope and Contents

Photograph of two clowns pretending to be using a cement mixer in front of a building.

Dates: c1930 - 1939

Cyril Critchlow Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0089
Scope and Contents The Cyril Critchlow collection contains programmes, posters, handbills, books and magic journals, many of which relate to shows in Blackpool where Cyril resided and includes material on entertainment venues such as Blackpool’s North Pier, Central Pier, South Pier, Tower Circus and a small collection of programmes from other national venues. Additionally, it contains circus photographs and postcards mainly of the Ohmy Circus and Sanger Circus including individual circus troupes and performers...
Dates: c1837 - 2008

Early Circus Programmes, c1800 - 1999

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178K43.1-28
Scope and Contents

Early British circus and variety programmes including Astley's, Batty's and Lord George Sanger's circus.

Dates: c1800 - 1999

Films, c1930 - 1990

 Series
Reference code: 178D5
Scope and Contents

Amateur and commercial films on multiple formats, focusing mainly on Circus but also including transport, fairs, fairground rides and other types of travelling entertainments.

Dates: c1930 - 1990

Harry Austin Standing on Horses, and Clows Photograph, 1898

 Item — Box Sanger Circus Box 1: Series 178C114
Reference code: 178C114.88
Scope and Contents

Photograph of Harry Austin posing standing on two horses as part of a four horse act and two young clowns with violins lying in the grass beside the horses in the grounds of Balmoral Castle. The photographer's name 'R. Milne photographer for HM The Queen, Aboyne and Ballater' is on the mount of the photograph.

Dates: 1898

John F. C. Heather Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0056
Scope and Contents

Black and white photographs related to Joseph Charles Heather, the Sanger Circus and the Bostock Jungle.

Dates: c1897 - 1953

Juggling Clown Photograph, 5 January 1939

 Item — Box Sanger Circus Box 1: Series 178C114
Reference code: 178C114.23
Scope and Contents

Photograph of jerome the juggling clown. 'Jerome 5th Jan 1939' is stamped on the reverse.

Dates: 5 January 1939

Lord George and Pops Sanger's Circus and Menagerie Programme, 1957

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.582
Scope and Contents

Cartoon illustration of a flying source with clowns, a lion and a bear and an animal trainer and ringmaster hanging from it on a step ladder over a circus tent in pink and black on a yellow background on front cover, inside programme and brief history of the Sanger circus on back cover. Printed by Hasting Printing Co., Portland Place, Hastings, 2p.p.

Dates: 1957

Lord George Sanger's Circus Programme, 1949

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.575
Scope and Contents

Green and white illustration of laughing clown's face and paragraph by George Sanger on front cover, inside programme and Sanger circus facts and information on what happens before the circus comes to town on back cover. Printed by Willsons, Leicester, 2p.p.

Dates: 1949

Lord George Sanger's Circus Programme, 1951

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.576
Scope and Contents

Green and white illustration of laughing clown's face and paragraph by George Sanger on front and programme on reverse.

Dates: 1951

Lord George Sanger's Circus Programme, 1952

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.578
Scope and Contents

Green and white illustration of laughing clown's face and paragraph by George Sanger on front cover, inside programme and Sanger circus facts and information on what happens before the circus comes to town on back cover. Printed by Willsons, Leicester, 2p.p.

Dates: 1952

Lord George Sanger's Circus Programme, 1954 Christmas season

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.580
Scope and Contents

Sophia Ganderns' Pavilion, Cardiff. Colour illustration of laughing clown's face wearing a black top hat and red and black type on yellow background on front cover, inside black and white photographs of family members and text on the history of the Sanger circus, programme in the centre, black and white photographs of acts and the Royal family with text and commercial advertising. Printed by Priory Press Ltd., The Friary, Cardiff, 8p.p.

Dates: 1954 Christmas season

Lord George Sanger's Circus Programme, 1954

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.581
Scope and Contents

Red and white illustration of laughing clown's face and paragraph by George Sanger on front cover, inside programme and Sanger circus facts. Printed by Willsons, Leicester, 2p.p.

Dates: 1954

Lord George Sanger's Great Hippodramatic and Spectacular Circus Programme, c1800 - 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.17
Scope and Contents Mdlles. Marie and Yetta on the lofty wire, Brothers Artois on the horizontal bar, James Holloway, Brothers Austin, Mr. Joseph Craston with clairboyant and talking horse, Tipster, Mdlles. Violet, Topsy and Rose, on the slack wire, H. Austin, equestrian act, Dance Linwood, clown, Prof. James in ladder act, Mdlle. Florezell, contorsionist act, Mdlle. Lillian equestrian act, James Holloway clown, Madame Pauline de Vere lion tamer, Harry Whitely's singing donkey, Messrs. Cottrell and Austen,...
Dates: c1800 - 1899

Lord George Sanger's Royal Circus, Hippodrome and Grand Military Spectacle Programme, c1899 - 1910

 Item — Box Sanger Circus Box 3: Series 178B39; Series 178C114; Series 178H30; Series 178K45; Series 178V15; Series 178Z54
Reference code: 178K45.1
Scope and Contents Blue type on off white background with blue decorative border with leaves and flowers. Acts listed; Koho, Albert, clown, Mr Lance Linwood, Mr Harry Austin, M. M. Le Freres Dubois, Mdlle. Lilian, James Holloway, Bros. Austin, Silly Silver, clown, Mdlle. Henrietta Florence and Lydia, The Holloway Trio, Glencoe, Mdlle. Yetta, Mdlle. Ida Stoodley, Bros. Alberto, Ryanor Troupe, Harry & George Austin, Trebla, clown, Little Sandy, clown, Mdlle. Minnie Connelly, Incidents of the Indian Mutiny,...
Dates: c1899 - 1910

Newspaper Cuttings and Scapbooks, 1838 - 2007

 Series
Reference code: 178G21
Scope and Contents

A collection of newspaper cuttings on circus, circus proprietors and performers and scrapbooks containing newspaper cuttings, posters, programmes and other items of ephemera, covering mainly British circuses and venues such as Belle Vue and also some international circuses.

Dates: 1838 - 2007

Noel Drewe Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0058
Scope and Contents

A large collection of films entitled Circusama containing amateur and professional films on the themes of circus, performing animals and zoos, and edited clips from commercial Western and comedy films. The films are in a variety of formats including 8mm, Super8, 9.5mm and 16mm and contain related correspondence and notes. This collection also contains some sound reels mainly of fairground music.

Dates: c1930 - 1990