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Richard Sandow Senior. The Sandow Circus Variety family History. See WAR CIRCUS from 1917.
My fond and most respectful tribute to one of the greatest within British circus and the Variety stage, my father Richard Sandow (Bratby). Joined Lord George Sanger’s circus in 1908 to progress to a fine handbalancer with then a double act performing with James Zola. To both enlist for service in the great war, my father in 1915, Artillery to attain R.S.M.. Married my mother in 1917 to perform, after leaving service, their double balancing act for the next number years in top theatres. To commence their circus Barry’s in 1927 and he by then perfecting his strongman act sub titled ‘Britain’s Young Sandow’. They later adopted this great trade title for the family circus (below). This became the Sandow family with top circus and stage bookings throughout the second war and afterwards until his death in 1957. The family then went different ways with brother Richard leaving nine years before, with an agreed change of trade stage title, in 1948 to also tour top engagements with his young wife and their only child.
Playbill and photo with grateful thanks to the book History of the Fossett family (see critique) by Mark Twitchett and Steven Richley.
It should be explained how my father adopted the trade name title. One will find details in the book (see) Fossett’s Circus family – under critique. The first listed use of the name by my father would be 1924 touring with that show. The originator was the famous Eugene Sandow (1867), body building strong man and publisher who toured the Moss Empire theatres at the turn of the century. He must have impressed my father greatly who also later perfected a strongman act himself using the title Powel. Later sub-titled Britain’s Young Sandow. Then subsequently the family. Eugene was born Friedrich Wilhelm Muller but for the stage and show-business adopted his mother’s maiden name Sandov and replaced the V on the end with a ‘W’! Show-business is well known for adopting titles best suited. I have personally used it since 1957 and it has been most fortunate. Thanks Eugene!
Sandow’s circus in the mid-1930s – my father is holding the stake to be driven. A fun posed photograph including visitors on the day. The central figure being Mr Sanger.
A treasured letter from one of the family’s booking Agents Don Ross at the time of my father’s passing. There were other booking Agents including the Grades and Joe Collins the father of Joan Collins.
The Sandow family, as a trade title came to a close in 1957 but we, as a family recommenced the trade title as a show promoter and in 1987 with it registered. I do think our history over the following 30 years gave credit to the name. For my parents and their family’s long and wonderful show-business career I have composed a story in manuscript form and one may read it here upon our website or with Amazon Kindle. I like the word Kindle! It starts with ‘kind’! I have tried to be kind on this website and on Kindle and left aside gossipings.
I do think it is fine for persons/artistes engaged in show-business to write autobiographies but the downside can be items of no real interest to the public or content of vitriol against persons no longer alive – this has happened bad for circus an wrong. I have had a long fortunate career and do know about certain persons and events that I see are covered by some writers – generally not of the business but unwise destructive fan ‘enthusiasts’ – who may put spin or re-quotations that are most unfair to untrue. They do no service to the best of ‘old circus’ or the great artistes of the past.
A special note to current circus promotions and fan followers. What is in a name?
A view I am sure would be my father’s view. One will note from the old poster that he, like most proprietors and managements of the time, were proud of their shows and of the artistes engaged. Note the main headings would be the family title (Sanger or Fossett). In my father’s case it was the family name ‘Sandow’ when the family were involved. It is strange now one sees that shows do not always use the proprietors name so how can the public appreciate personally? Who runs these top Supermarkets? Then we have the artistes engaged. Always proudly listed like the Variety theatres. Not any more. Fans have a total reluctance to name any artistes or acts or credit photographs taken. I consider this most disrepectful and selfish. Likewise (or unwise!) circuses, they will not list the artistes by name. The panels are open for comments! To me this strange policy is detrimental and negative.