Pugh, Digger, c1902 - 1985
Dates
- Existence: c1902 - 1985
Biography
Digger Pugh was born in England in 1902, although the family emigrated to Australia in 1912, where Digger grew up. From a young age Digger trained in tumbling and trampolining and soon started performing in variety and music hall theatres. Eventually his career evolved from performer to Producer and Supplier of acts for the variety and circus sectors.
Digger returned to England and set up what became world famous dance tumbling acts including ‘The Wallabies, Digger Pugh Ariel Ballet’ and ‘The Digger Pugh Troupe of dancers and acrobatic Circusettes’. The shows introduced elaborate and lavish aerial acts for circus and variety, which toured the UK, Europe and USA. His troupes became most popular in leading circuses across the globe during the 1950s and the 1960s.
Between the middle of the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty first the Pugh family had an international impact in the popular entertainment sector led by innovation, branching out into the most successful forms of entertainment of the day.
Digger was married to Sheila Smale Pugh and had a son, John Wallace Pugh and a daughter Janice Bell nee Pugh.
Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:
Business Records, c1950 - 1963
Business records including letter headed paper for Digger Pugh Ltd, and Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus, correspondence, receipt, items related to the Digger Pugh Girls act, photocopies related to equipment, photocopy of a contract with Associated Rediffusion Ltd and photocopy of performing animals certificate of registration.
Digger Pugh Collection
Archive of the Digger Pugh family including newspaper cuttings, photographs, negatives, business records, programmes, research material, posters and films.