PeoplePlay UK - ‘Lord’ George Sanger

Introduction

Tenting

Charlie Keith’s Portable Circus Building

Circus Parades

‘Lord’ George Sanger

'Lord' George Sanger

‘Lord’ George Sanger was the most successful circus entrepreneur of the 19th century. An eccentric millionaire notorious for being a smart dresser, Sanger was instantly recognisable by his shiny top hat and diamond tie pin.

Sanger had started in business at the age of 15 selling sticky rock confectionery. In 1853 with his brother he opened a circus which toured the country. By its 1855 tour to Liverpool, Sanger’s Circus was playing before large audiences. Soon after this Sanger introduced lions and other wild animals into the touring circus and this boosted its popularity further. Sanger’s wife Mlle Pauline de Vere had performed at Wombwell’s Menagerie as the Lion Queen before joining his circus. At Sanger’s she performed serpent dances in the lions’ cage.

In 1871 Sanger was so successful he purchased Astley’s Amphitheatre. His circuses continued to tour the country and he boasted that there was not a town in England with a population above 100 people that had not been visited by a Sanger’s circus.

Sanger was responsible for introducing the 3-ring circus enabling audiences to watch more than one act at a time. This was taken up by the great American circuses, Barnum & Bailey, and the Ringling Brothers.

Charlie enjoys a pedicure

Performers from Sanger's Circus

By 1898 ‘Lord’ George had presented Royal Command Performances for Queen Victoria at both Sandringham and Balmoral Castle. The Queen was a great fan of the circus.

Read the programme

Sanger's Coronation Programme

de Vere, Mlle Pauline

Ellen Chapman (1831-1899) adopted the stage name Mlle Pauline de Vere, 'The Lady of the Lions'. She worked at Wombwell's menagerie as the 'Lion Queen' and after marrying George Sanger appeared in a serpentine dance in the lions' den. Mrs Sanger had better financial sense than her husband and looked after the business side of the operation.

Wombwell's Menagerie

Established by George Wombwell in the early 1800s, Wombwell's was an enormously successful touring menagerie that travelled throughout the United Kingdom along with its own brass band. In 1825 George Wombwell famously advertised a lion and dog fight, which was controversial even then, but a commercial success nonetheless. Wombwell's was so successful that by the 1850s there were three branches of the business on the road. In 1932, the last of Wombwell's animals were sold to London Zoo.

Barnum and Bailey's 'Greatest Show on Earth'

P.T. Barnum and James Bailey had tried a few projects in partnership during the 1880s, but in 1888 they became permanent partners and Barnum's Greatest Show on Earth became, Barnum & Bailey's Greatest Show On Earth.

Ringling, John

John and his six brothers from Baraboo, Wisconsin, started their small circus in 1884. They bought out smaller companies and incorporated them into Ringling Brothers until in 1907 they bought their biggest rival, Barnum and Bailey's circus, and formed 'The Greatest Show on Earth', which is still up and running in America.

Royal Command Performance

A performance specifically requested by the monarch. Queen Elizabeth I was fond of the theatre and had several private performances put on at court. The phrase 'command performance' dates from Queen Victoria's reign. She patronised a variety of theatrical events and particularly liked circus, dance and opera. Today, Royal Command Performances, such as the Royal Variety Performance, are less frequent, and are usually held to raise money for charity.