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 265 Collections and/or Records:
Circus Performer Photograph, c1880 - 1899
Photograph of unknown female circus performer.
Circus Performers and Workers Photograph, c1880 - 1899
Photograph of a group of four people from Sanger's circus, next to a circus ten. The man at the bottom holding the dogs is George Austin, equestrian and husband of Kate Holloway.
Circus Performers (Back), c1850-1910
Back of a black and white photograph of Sanger circus performers, includes gymnasts, acrobats and riders. Individuals are named on the back and are believed to be ; Claude Randall, Sam Hodgini, Georgina Coleman, Harry Hodgini, Dan Feeley, Kate Feeley, William Feeley, L. Feeley, Arthur Reeve, Clara Feeley, August la Place (Feeley, Dankey/O, George Coleman, Topsy Coleman, Little Claude Randall (Freddie Randall), Mr Philpott, Joe Cranston (Hodgini) and George Holloway
Circus Performers (Front), c1850-1910
Black and white photograph of Sanger circus performers, includes gymnasts, acrobats and riders. Individuals are named on the back and are believed to be ; Claude Randall, Sam Hodgini, Georgina Coleman, Harry Hodgini, Dan Feeley, Kate Feeley, William Feeley, L. Feeley, Arthur Reeve, Clara Feeley, August la Place (Feeley, Dankey/O, George Coleman, Topsy Coleman, Little Claude Randall (Freddie Randall), Mr Philpott, Joe Cranston (Hodgini) and George Holloway
Circus Performers on Parade Photograph, c1870 - 1900
Black and white photograph of Sanger circus performers in full costume and riding horses in a field in front of parade carriages. A large flag reading 'Lord George Sanger' is attached to the back of an ornate carriage.
Circus Photographs Scrapbook, 1934 - 1975
Scrapbook of photographs, relating to multiple circus and acts including Chapman's Bertram Mills, Lord George Sanger's, Chipperfield's and Bostock and Wombwell's, 37p.p.
Circus Tent and People Photograph, c1920 - 1939
Photograph of a stripy circus tent with some boys and girls around it.
Circus Workers Erecting a Circus Tent Photograph, c1920 - 1939
Photograph of circus workers erecting a circus tent.
Cissie and Olive Austin Dancing Kim Act Photograph, c1920 - 1929
Photograph of sisters (top) Cissie and (bottom) Olive Austin, daughters of Ellen 'Topsy' Coleman and Harry Austin. 'Hana London' is printed in the bottom corner.
Cissie and Olive Austin Dancing Kim Act Photograph, c1920 - 1929
Photograph of sisters (top and bottom) Olive Austin and Cissie Austin, daughters of Ellen 'Topsy' Coleman and Harry Austin. 'Hana London' is printed in the bottom corner.
Cissie and Olive Austin Dancing Kim Act Photograph, c1920 - 1929
Photograph of sisters (left to right) Cissie and Olive Austin, daughters of Ellen 'Topsy' Coleman and Harry Austin. 'Hana London' is printed in the bottom corner.
Cissie and Olive Austin Dancing Kim Act Photograph, c1920 - 1929
Photograph of sisters (left to right) Cissie and Olive Austin, daughters of Ellen 'Topsy' Coleman and Harry Austin. 'Hana London' is printed in the bottom corner. Running order and performance details of the comedy act 'Dancing Kim' are listed on the reverse of the photograph.
Cissie and Olive Austin on a Juvenile Ride Photograph, c1920 - 1939
Photograph of Cissie and Olive on a juvenile fairground ride.
Cissie and Olive Austin on Juvenile Ride Photograph, c1920 - 1939
Photograph of Olive and Cissie Austin on a juvenile fairground ride.
Clown in Lion Costume Photograph, c1930 - 1949
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.
Clowns with Cement Mixer Photograph, c1930 - 1939
Photograph of two clowns pretending to be using a cement mixer in front of a building.
Comedy Wild West Performers Photograph, c1890 - 1909
Photograph of a group of comedy Wild West performers from Sanger Circus. The woman, second from the left, is Kate Holloway equestrian performer and niece of George Sanger. The woman furthest right is Ellen 'Topsy' Coleman. The woman second from right is Yetta Schultz.
Correspondence, 1873 - 1888
Business and personal correspondence related to George Sanger.
Correspondence, c1900 - 2008
Items of personal correspondence and correspondence related to the Sanger and Ohmy families.
Correspondence, c1900 - 1999
Items of correspondence including personal and business letters and Christmas greetings.