Lord George Sanger Circus (Established c1880)
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 42 Collections and/or Records:
Circus Friends Association Collection
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
Cossack Performers Photograph, c1890 - 1909
Studio photograph of a male and a female performer in Russian folk style costume with a tambourine possing as if they were dancing.
Cyril Critchlow Collection
Early Circus Programmes, c1800 - 1999
Early British circus and variety programmes including Astley's, Batty's and Lord George Sanger's circus.
Equestrian Performers Photograph, c1890 - 1909
Group of eight equestrian performers from Sanger circus, four male and four female posing in front of a row of houses on a street. They are sat on their horses wearing equestrian circus costumes.
Female Bareback Riders Photograph, 14 April 1897
Black and white studio photograph of a group of five female bareback riders in costume, including Emma Coleman, seated behind each other on an upward stepped position.
Female Equestrian and Ringmaster Photograph, c1920 - 1939
Photograph of female equestrian seated on a pony next to a circus ringmaster standing in front of a tent.
Films, c1930 - 1990
Amateur and commercial films on multiple formats, focusing mainly on Circus but also including transport, fairs, fairground rides and other types of travelling entertainments.
Harry Austin Standing on Horses, and Clows Photograph, 1898
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.
Lord George Sanger Circus at Balmoral Photograph, 1898
Photograph of Lord George Sanger Circus with tent, equestrian performers and circus workers, trainers and grooms on the Royal Estate in Scotland in Balmoral, Scotland.
Lord George Sanger's Circus Programme, 1935
Black and orange illustrations of ringmaster, roaring lion, female equestrian act and performing dog on blue background on the front cover, inside programme and after performance show on back cover. Printed by Stafford and Co., Ltd., Printers, Netherfield, Nottingham, 2p.p.
Lord George Sanger's Circus Programme, 1937
Black and orange illustrations of ringmaster, roaring lion, female equestrian act and performing dog on blue background on the front cover, inside programme and Circus Fans' Association information on back cover. Printed by Stafford and Co., Ltd., Printers, Netherfield, Nottingham, 2p.p.
Lord George Sanger's Circus Programme, 1938
Black and orange illustrations of ringmaster, roaring lion, female equestrian act and performing dog on blue background on the front cover, inside programme and Circus Fans' Association information on back cover. Printed by Stafford and Co., Ltd., Printers, Netherfield, Nottingham, 2p.p.
Lord George Sanger's Circus Programme, c1939 - 1945
Black and orange illustrations of ringmaster, roaring lion, female equestrian act and performing dog on blue background on the front cover, inside programme and Circus Fans' Association information on back cover. Printed by Stafford and Co., Ltd., Printers, Netherfield, Nottingham, 2p.p.
Lord George Sanger's Great Hippodramatic and Spectacular Circus Programme, c1800 - 1899
Lord John Sanger Circus Equestrian Performers Photograph, c1880 - 1899
Photograph of two equestrian performers in costume with tricorn hats from Lord John Sanger Circus. A horse drawn wagon for Lord John Sanger Circus can be seen in the background.
Man and Woman Beside a Horse with a Jockey Photograph, c1880 - 1899
Photograph of a man and a woman beside a horse with a jockey. Possibly Henry Chapman (brother in law of George Sanger) and his wife Mrs Chapman.
Newspaper Cuttings and Scapbooks, 1838 - 2007
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.
Noel Drewe Collection
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.
Performer on Horse Photograph, c1880 - 1899
Photograph of a performer on a white horse held by Harry Austin and a clown reaching out with his arm towards the horse in front of a circus tent.