The Hanneford Family were well established circus artists working internationally especially in Britain & Ireland before the war. Articles realting to the Hanneford family have been transposed retaining the language of the time. From various newspapers found in the British Libraries’ online archive, British Newspaper Archives; Tyne and Wear Archives, Fenwick Collection; The World’s Fair,… [Read More]

Edward Pablo was the son of Pablo Fanque a famous Victorian Circus Artist and Proprietor. By the time the war broke out Edward was a mature artist well known in British circus. Articles realting to Edward Pablo have been transposed retaining the language of the time. They are from The World’s Fair, the Showland newspaper… [Read More]

ROMAN PROSKE: Roman was Austrian and aged 14 run away from home to work with animals and set of on a ship for Africa. At the outbreak of war he was a 16 years old and already a lion tamer in East Africa. The Narrative here is extracted from his Autobiography. See bibliography: My Next… [Read More]

Lorenz was the son and heir to Carl Hagenbeck. Carl was the most successful animal importer and founder of Stellingen Zoo, Germany which was fabled for it’s innovate ‘nature’ park designs. Lorenz was an adult at the outbreak of war. While his brother signed up, he was put in charge of business in Northern Europe… [Read More]

  Frank was a young man at the outbreak of war, working with George Sanger as a performer and animal man. He later became a famous Ring Master at Blackpool Tower Circus. The Narative here is extracted from his Autobiography. See bibliography: Pink Coat, Spangles and sawdust: Reminiscences of Circus Life with Sanger’s Bertrum Mills… [Read More]

At the outbreak of war Nicolai was fourteen, and already a seasoned circus performer and clown who had run away to start his career at a very very young age. He is better known as ‘Coco the Clown’. The Narative here is extracted from his Autobiography: Coco the Clown by himself. J.M. Dent & Sons…. [Read More]

REUBEN CASTANG As a youth Reuben moved from London to work with the Hagenbeck’s, becoming an animal trainer. By the outbreak of war, his Chimpanzee act max & Moritz was was famous and he was onto his second generation of chimps. The Narrative here is extracted from his biography Wild Animal Man, by R. W…. [Read More]

FRED BRADNA: At the outset of war Fred worked with Ringling Brothers as the show director, and also agent. He and his wife, Ella, were both naturalised Americans, (he originaly from Germany and She from Hungary) with strong links to Europe. Ella as an equestrienne and star of the centre ring. The Narrative here is… [Read More]

EDWARD H. BOSTOCK & FAMILY: There are a number of  inter-related Bostock families involved in Circus. E.H. Bostock was the head of a large family business with his four sons, while Frank Bostock was in charge of another. E.H.’s interests included a Bostock & Wombwell’s Menagerie, which travelled mainly in Britain, but he also exhibited in… [Read More]

The Blumenfelds are a very large and long established jewish circus family based mainly in Germany. They owned circus buildings and travelling shows. Their story has been researched by an Academic, Marline Otte. The Narrative here is extracted from her book: Jewish Identities in German Popular Entertainment, 1890-1933. Cambridge 2006   c. AUG 1914    As… [Read More]