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The Sandow Family Circus Variety History – Part Seven.
Standing upon one’s own feet. From this page it covers my time but references made to relations.
Some years ago there was a comic voice-over to the classical melody ‘Goin’ Home’ that went something like this; ‘when I was a lad, I ‘ad to get up at 3 am and go to work on a round of dry bread dripping and water, walk ten miles to the pit, dig 20 tons of coal for 14 hours with only a 10 minute break, then walk home in the rain without shoes, then a bath at home in a tin bath before going to bed with a candle. But we were ‘appy then – they don’t know they’re born today.’ The above parody is reminiscent of some formative years attitudes. The old timers (as they would call themselves)! were all visibly self confident, as the best of show business demanded the finest levels – be it in the circus ring on a Variety stage and off of. Acts were proud and deserved to be so. British circus prior to the 1960s was made up of numerous proud families who could interchange with ease and did so with the Variety tours. They would have the best of clothes and show them off. Style was the word. Standards were demanded and reached.
Throughout my youth, though looking back, I could not have been too bad, with clowning and the trampoline from the age of eleven and riding at 15,however, there seemed a constant stream of old ‘pros’ and relatives who would drop in from time to time and say something like; ‘so this is young Tom, and what are you doing now?’ The answer to them would appear the minimal because they would invariably say ‘you know, when I was your age I was doing a one-hand balance on the top of a 30ft perch! We did one day stands and walked the journeys before a Town Parade at 1 p.m!’
The above is a truism and not likely to inspire confidence. All the professional booked acts were very conscious about personal abilities and most jealous of anyone seen practicing what they would consider ‘their act’. To be invited to take part in any act would be unthinkable. Why would they wish to do that? My sisters were trained by an engaged person on the show to do it, likewise the pony troupe was trained by Joe Barry from Bertram Mills to the highest of standard. My father was a stickler about qualifications or being best able.
All the programmes to 1957 that the family were involved in had, mostly, the very best of acts so the logical thought in my conscience would be ‘unless you can reach this standard do not bother’. The subliminal message was: ‘we want you to join us and to be as good but don’t ask us to help’. So clearly I lost interest or heart in any form of practice until it was too late in 1956. I became a Jack of trades but master of none, in effect. I do not recall my father requesting that I do an act apart from the riding, although clearly from 1955 and the arrival of Barbara he did wish to push me forward and only his ill health stopped him. He did say to me once, because his only vice was horse racing; ‘how would you like to be a jockey? I do know one or two trainers.’ I have always thought this a bit strange when he was ‘Mr Circus’ to me. My mother, of course, said ‘put any act into a suitcase’! My future within the show club circuits proved she was absolutely right. I was basic on a few things, I knew that I was a good balancer, the riding came very quickly but my mother’s influence meant a lot with this ‘act in suitcase’ advice. I knew that ‘props’ had to be minimal; this has always been my attitude. As we shall see later when we toured a children’s circus with a 60ft by 40ft Marquee, it was said by various voices ‘Tom and Sheila still have the same small show!’ As if that was a detriment. Circus followers then, and even now still comment that ‘a big concern – specially with animals- is ‘circus’ yet constantly ignore the many current small circus companies – I say, small is beautiful.
I could wire walk back and forward but a real bookable wire artiste needed to do wonderful things on the wire, I had no urge and the big prop came to the consideration. Presenting animals never interested me, certainly not in owning any. Again my mother said ‘animals dominate your life’ – meaning 24/7. Again ‘big props!’ Trapeze? Big props! There are then few acts without big props, with juggling being one, however this is one activity I never really liked. Eventually I found that rola-rola balancing suited me fine but that came later. I could have joined another established act or troupe like even sister Violet did but my independent spirit always cancelled that idea.
However with this constant indoctrination I was totally of the belief that the ring and its performers meant ‘circus’ which is true from the paying public viewpoint and all the acts and artistes would confirm it. ‘We are circus’ they would say. So if one is not in the ring one is not of circus? This could inspire an artistic inferiority complex.
Of course the reality is quite different for ‘circus’ also means the transport, the publicity and the general management for without these areas ‘the ring’ would not be there. A credible person out of the ring is just as important as some persons in the ring in areas that the public do not see or care about. No-one is going to pay admission to see a tent or a lorry? (Circus Friends do)!
Lord George Sanger’s Circus -as it appeared in the early 1950s.
With thoughts of joining the navy, out of the blue was a life changing invitation from George Sanger who said that they needed people to help run the show. My mother had a fine trailer and I was comfortable and she was a great cook! But we had no vehicle. However he said not to worry for he would tow it with a Land Rover. We did not have a contract, in fact the first contract that I signed with Sanger’s was for the 1961 season. In the film ‘Casablanca’ the line says ‘a shake of the hand is certainly not good enough, but it will have to do’. It is said that a contract is a signed agreement of mutual mistrust!
- The Sanger family consisted of George and his sister Victoria who was married to ‘Pimpo’ Freeman (a relative of Marius whose family Violet had just joined with) their son Patrick and his wife Muriel and their sons Michael and Peter who were of school age. Mr. Freeman Senior was then infirm. None of the family was in the ring other than Pat who worked his well known comedy act with a donkey – Old Ragnas, and presented ponies. He also managed the transport and the tent that was a huge burden for him. The show was the same size to Harry Cody but with less personnel and less vibrancy in the ring. The general appearance was of the 1940s. What it really needed was a strong show General Manager and a vibrant forward looking Advance unit. Nonetheless a relaxed joy to work for.
- History repeats.
- The three show clowns were the Zola brothers with Jim (who was my father’s table act partner in 1912) and his younger brothers Babs’ and Claude. A strange coincidence that I should join Sanger’s exactly fifty years after my father did in 1908. We met with the Sanger family in the old showman’s wagon and Pat said that running the show was hard for them and they needed ‘corner people.’ (This was all educational for me). Personally I was split both ways for I had wishes for the ring but the same old problems persisted. I said to Pat I would like to do some clowning but Pat said; ‘I am not really bothered, you must speak with the Zolas.’ In any case the wages will be the same! Obviously he would not be happy because he wanted help not clowning. I did speak with the Zolas who performed very slow and old fashioned routines I thought. I asked if they would like me to join in with them. Jim Zola was most friendly and with warm memories of father and the past but old times did not mean anything for it was made clear; help was not required. Looking back in retrospect they actually did me a good service.
- ‘Lord’ George Sanger was, of course, the largest show in Europe during the 19th Century and ‘Lord’ George was most certainly the most prolific of showmen with a personal visit to the show from Queen Victoria. In fact she apparently gave to him a personal letter of permission to occupy any of her common land! The then George Sanger would be his grandson I assume. In the early 1950s the show was quite large and dominant but ‘Mr George’ as we would call him apparently invested into various ventures that were not successful. An ice show under canvas proved a disaster and a mixture of Variety and Circus that engaged Morecambe and Wise did not work either. (Note; the old stage Variety engaged circus acts but it was dominantly Variety and even that was in fast decline as we know). Pure circus was not generally in decline so why George Sanger would venture into uncharted waters is a mystery. Anyway he lost much money.
- My mother was at this time extremely active and able with an immense knowledge of running circuses. She helped and took control of money matters in the box office, advance bookings and sales.
- For myself, the out of ring experience in running a tenting show was completely new of course (my last season with Harry Cody was joyful fun without much responsibility). However I found having responsibility just as rewarding as to taking part in a performance, and less stress. I actually found it all even fun at 17 years old. Driving things around the fields soon had me able to pass the driving test. Sanger’s possessed the oldest vehicle in circus, a 1921 Scammel chain driven traction lorry. I never went near that!
- Pat had on his shoulders far too much as General Manager/Artiste with tent and transport so welcomed me to take the tent (mostly) off him. The condition of the show was in poor shape generally with the tent well worn. Our cousins Claude and Margaret Yelding were supplying their trapeze act and it was Claude who would spend some hours on a Sunday stitching. Naturally I would stitch with him. I was, I suppose, what might be called ‘a right hand man’ in many capacities. We were never abused in any shape or form. In fact the Sangers were the nicest of people to work for, very well spoken and with the best of manners. ‘Would you mind doing this or that’ or, ‘shall we have breakfast before the main poles or afterwards? I would ask Mrs Freeman Senior.’
- George Sanger knew my mother well of course and the swapping of endless stories occurred frequently. He was a great humorist and joker ‘we only tour within the green line bus routes’ meaning within fifty miles of Piccadilly. They certainly toured the very best of grounds, all the very best of public parks in the south east apart from Windsor Great Park – no venture has ever occupied that! Of course some grounds were not too good. This was one of his humours aimed at a circus enthusiast;
‘You know (he said) there is always some character who will circle the ground when we are building up before closing in to converse. Never let him know who I am! If you do this will be the usual output.’
‘Are you having a show today?’
Yes.
‘How long is the circus here for?’
Two days.
‘Will you have it ready in time?’
We might do if you carry some boards.
‘I haven’t seen any posters; I don’t think anyone knows you are here’.
There is a poster in that shop over there and how did you know we were here?
‘Somebody told me. Why are you on this ground, the better one is on Bollard Road. The last circus on here never opened.’
Who was that one?
‘I don’t know’
‘This ground floods very badly in the rain’.
‘Is this the original Lord George Sanger’s?’
Yes, you can tell by the age of the transport. Are you coming today?
‘I might do, what acts do you have?’
We have the West German pole-vaulting champion who used to be the East German pole-vaulting champion.
Are you Lord George Sanger and did you write the book ‘Seventy Years a Showman?’
Mr George Sanger.
It was a very quiet and generally happy show to be on with some good acts like Lilian Jensen from Holland – bending and contortion. And a Continental stylish wire act. The season had much humour, I recall taking a small lorry to collect something that had a drop down ramp for loading ponies that on this occasion had been left off. The number plate was attached to it. I should have checked it. However, I could see a police motorcyclist following for some time before flagging me to stop, after which he said; ‘Please step down Lord George Sanger’! (they still used the title of course painted along the lorry side). ‘Where is the number plate?’ He then said; ‘I will provide an escort to your circus and speak with the proprietor.’ He let the matter drop without charge. British police are wonderful.
On another occasion it was a very hot day and the front wall flaps were open to let in some air. Pat Freeman presented the troupe of ponies and entered the ring followed by the troupe that should have turned right but instead, in perfect line, past him closely to continue out of the front entrance and into the field. This caused great laughter with the audience along with every one around and Pat took a bow to three sides of the tent before leaving the ring!
Albert Kean was there from Cody’s and his wife and son Clive, the mate from Harry’s. He and Mr Sanger would have a to-and-fro patter act! Friendly sardonics.
We were with the show for two seasons, very smooth running, and no wild animals, just equestrian stock although they had toured wild animals previously. The very tidy stables was run by Albert Kean. All the show was very clean apart from the old tent but then one would not realise that a new one could not be afforded. The general publicity was not brilliant but at that time I knew next to nothing about the art (which it is). The old philosophy of too-wordy posters was becoming obsolete when newer and better methods were available. In later years I learned a great deal about selling. Even so the audiences were always well dressed and, on occasions, gentlemen would arrive in black bow ties! All the front chairs were cushion covered.
The Sanger’s had good friends in higher places; one or two leading actors like Michael Wilding would visit on occasions. Another visitor was Harold Sharpe the well known British sweet manufacturer. I did not realise at the time what a large influence he would become in my life.
We were not altogether surprised that great difficulties were encountered for the show to tour the 1960 season – and it did not tour. For that late booked season I did try my hand at advance publicity with Fossett Brother’s – yet more cousins – and a show similar in size to the Sanger’s. This tour was successful enough and at the close I received a message from my brother Richard that changed things totally. Of course I had my own towing vehicle at this time.
