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 4 Collections and/or Records:
Circus Films, c1950 - 1959
Circus Films, c1950 - 1959
Copy of films on DVD showing trampolin scene, female tumbling and acrobatics, female aerial acts, a religious ceremony in a circus tent, a circus parade, equestrian act, foot juggling, wild animal acts, Chinese flag jumping act, dancing, slack rope act, trapeze, clowning, skating, military band, cycling act, rolling ball act, various animal acts, chair balancing act and knife throwing. Colour and black and white, silent.
Digger Pugh Collection
Archive of the Digger Pugh family including newspaper cuttings, photographs, negatives, business records, programmes, research material, posters and films.
Films, c1950 - 1959
Please notice that 178D24.4 contains scenes of animal cruelty and human fatalities. Copies of films on DVD format showing performers at various circus around the world, travelling scenes, scenic views, performers behind the scenes, film sets. Black and white and colour, sound.