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 269 Collections and/or Records:
Sanger Circus Performers Photograph, c1880 - 1909
Photograph of two male performers in costume.
Sanger Circus Performers Photograph, c1890 - 1899
Studio photograph of three women from left to right, Ellen 'Topsy' Coleman, Kate Holloway and Yetta Schultz.
Sanger Circus Performers Photograph , c1850 - 1910
Sanger Circus Programmes, c1894 - 1999
Sanger Circus programmes including Lord George Sanger's Circus, Lord George Sanger and Pops Sanger Circus, Lord John Sanger's Circus and Sanger's Circus. Contain pantomime acts as well as circus performances in theatres venues.
Sanger Circus Tent Photograph, c1880 - 1910
Black and white aerial view of Lord George Sanger Circus parade at the entrance of the circus tent with large crowds around it. Framed.
Sanger Circus Troupe Photograph , c1880 - 1889
Sanger Family Collection
This collection contains black and white photographs of George Sanger's Circus, photocopies of newspaper cuttings and some research material related to the Sanger Family, original drawings for costume designs by June Dick, an interview with June about her family and life and various other items related to the Sanger family.
Sanger Family Correspondence, c1900 - 1999
Letters to Miss Sanger Reeve from Bernard and Mabel Harris and letter of invitation to Sunday service from G. K. Gillespie to the Sanger circus staff.
Sanger Family Group Photograph, c1890 - 1909
Photograph of Kate, Ellen Coleman aka Topsy, Marie Reeve and Mrs Rule. Identified via inscription on the front. Mary Ann Rule was George Sanger's housekeeper, who lived in Finchley with George after his retirement.
Sanger's Circus Acrobat Photograph, c1880 - 1899
Photograph of a circus acrobat who appeared with Lord George Sangers Circus at Balmoral in Scotland in 1898.
Sangers Circus members and Living Wagon Photograph, c1896 - 1900
Photograph of a living wagon from Lord George Sanger Circus with sign written on the side 'Patronized by the Queen and the Royal Family from London'. The woman inside the wagon is Ellen 'Topsy' Austin, the man sitting on the steps is her husband Harry Austin and the man standing is Harry's brother George Austin.
Sangers Circus Performers Photograph, c1880 - 1899
Photograph of performers from Sanger's Circus. The image shows a clown being chased by a man dressed in coarse blanket type costume, with black make-up and a club. The clown is believed to be George Holloway. This maybe an act that Lord George Sanger Circus had mentioned in the programme (178K45.1) called 'Koho the Indian Chief and Albert the Clown'.
Sangers Circus Performers Photograph, c1890 - 1899
Photograph of equestrian and acrobat performers. The male figure on the horse is Harry Austin. The female, far right, is believed to be Yetta Schultz. The two other women are believed to be either Henrietta, Florence or Lydia who were listed as performers on the 'Corde Elastique' during this time. The photograph is believed to have been taken at Balmoral on the Royal Estate in Scotland in 1898.
Sanger's Circus Photographs, c1800 - 1939
Black and white photographs and postcards of the Sanger circus and family, including family portraits, show fronts, performers, musicians, parades and carriages, some of the people on the photographs have been identified.
Photographs 178C108.502-515 show Lord George Sanger's Circus on a European tour.
Sangers Circus Troupe Photograph, c1880 - 1899
Photograph of a troupe of performers, possibly acrobats, from Sanger's Circus. The man on the back row, furthest right, is believed to be Harry Austin (husband of Ellen 'Topsy' Coleman). The man to the left of him is believed to be a member of the Holloway family. The man on the left of the front row is believed to be George Austin.
Sanger’s Grand Circus Handbill, c1880
National Amphitheatre, Westminster Bridge Road, London, ‘To Conclude with the Fifth Act of Richard III and the great Battle of Bosworth Field and the death of White Surrey’, 4pp.
Sanger's Grand English Circus Staff Photograph, 1897
Sanger's Grand English Circus Staff Photograph, 1897
Black and white photograph of George Sanger's circus staff, performers and parade wagons in front of the big top. George Sanger is sat on top of the wagon on the left hand side.
Sanger’s Grand National Amphitheatre Handbill, c1888 - 1891
Scenes in the Arena followed by the drama of Mazeppa or The Wild Horse of Tartary, at Sanger’s Grand National Amphitheatre. circus followed by ‘Mazeppa’ a drama, and the Grand Burlesque Christmas Pantomime entitled: Harlequin St. George and The Dragon’, 4pp.
Sanger's Grand National Amphitheatre Programme, c1900 - 1999
Westminster Bridge Road. Scenes in the Circle, Richard III and the Great Battle of Bosworth Field and the Death of White Surrey, Cinderella. Black type on off white background with embossed border, 2p.p.