Ducrow, Andrew (1793-1842)
Dates
- Existence: 1793 - 1842
Biography
Andrew Ducrow was a British circus performer, who famously owned Astley's Amphitheatre. Andrew was born on 10 October 1793 in Southwark, Surrey. His father Peter Ducrow was a strongman performer from Belgium who moved to England the year andrew was born.
Andrew was trained in a wide range of circus performance arts from the age of three. By the time he was fifteen he had become chief equestrian and ropedancer at Astley’s, where his father worked. In 1813 Peter Ducrow acquired the Royal Circus and Andrew left Astley’s to go with him. However, the Royal Circus was unsuccessful, and Andrew returned to Astley’s to perform trick-riding. In 1814, Andrew became the head of the family upon his father’s death and started to tour around France with various circuses including Cirque Olympique and Franconi’s Circus. When he returned to England, he became the co-proprietor of Astley’s and achieved great success until his death on 27 January 1842. Astley’s was taken over by William Batt and the business by Joseph Hillier.
Found in 13 Collections and/or Records:
Amphitheatre Poster, Monday 9 November 1829 and rest of the week
Bertram Mills' Circus at Olympia Programme, Monday 21 December 1925 - Saturday 23 January 1926
Decorative cover containing a colour illustration of Mr Ducrow as the Courier of St. Petersburgh on card on the front cover and programme inside clown in a white outfit with red border ruffles holding a tray full of miniature lions and two black and white horses galloping underneath on a blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white illustrations and photographs of scenes, performers and acts with text and articles and commercial advertising, 24p.p.
Bertram Mills Circus Programmes, c1900 - 1999
Bertram Mills Circus programmes at Olympia and travelling shows.
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
Drury Lane Attraction Poster, 1838
Madame Albertazzi, Mdlle. H. Elsler, Mr. Ducrow, Double stud of horses, Mr. Van Amburgh animal trainer, Grieve's New Scenery, Charlemagne or the Fete of the Forest. Black type on off white backgound. Printed by W. Wright Printer, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.
Ducrow Royal Amphitheatre Poster, 29 October 1829
Ducrow's Benefit Poster, 7 September 1829
Bonaparte's Passage of the Great St. Bernard, panoramic drama, Mr. Ducrow's enactment of the Venetian Statue, Mr. Ducrow and Miss Woolford double tightrope act, St. George and the Dragon, Miss Woolford equestrian act, Herr Adolphe Berg equestrian act, Liberty or the Flight of the Saracens, Messrs. J. Ducrow, Lloyd and MacDonald clowns, Messrs. Yates and Widdicomb equestrian act, Cataract of the Ganges. Black type on off white background.
Ducrow's Royal Amphitheatre Poster, Monday 26 October - Wednesday 28 October 1829
Mr. Ducrow as the Courier of St. Petersburgh Print, c1800 - 1899
Woodcut on paper published by R. Lloyd and G. Skelt. Black and white illustration of a man in uniform riding standing up on five horses and carrying seven flags.
Original Artwork, c1800 - 2000
Original works of art including artists' prints, drawings, watercolours and paintings, and designs for circus posters.
Posters, c1800 - 2011
A wide range of British and international circus and menagerie posters ranging from the 19th to the 21st century including Astley's Amphitheatre, Pablo Fanque, Polito, Bostock and Wombwell, Ducrow, Cooke, Hengler, Sanger, Smart, Gerry Cottle, Bertram Mills, Chipperfield's, Robert Brothers, Fossett, Blackpool Tower, Billy Russell, Belle Vue, Great Yarmouth Hippodrome, Austen Brothers and many more.
Programmes, c1800 - 2019
A collection of mainly British and international circus programmes and some variety and music hall programmes containing circus acts.
Victorian, Edwardian and Georgian Circus Posters, c1800 - 1930
Early circus and menagerie posters including Polito's menagerie, Astley's Amphitheatre and Pablo Fanque's, Sanger's, Powell's, Ducrow's, Cooke's and Hengler's circuses among others.
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