The Strange Case of Minnie Warren Stratton

In chapter 5 of The Clown King, I explore the relationship between American and British entertainment in this period. Artistes like Arthur Nelson could travel between London and New York in a few days with the advent of steam. The Great Western, one of the first cross-Atlantic steamships crossed in 15.5 days in 1838. The… Read more »

Alfred Nelson, the “Modern Ducrow”

Arthur Nelson had two sons, Alfred and Alban, and, like many performer’s children, were trained to perform in the circus from an early age. Arthur’s wife Ann was an equestrian and, despite at first supporting his father’s antics in the ring, by the mid-1850s, it was Arthur that was playing clown to his son’s equestrian… Read more »

Rock Harmonicon

Nelson and his Rock Harmonicon

Arthur Nelson was more than a circus clown, he was also a fine musician. His circus, pantomime and concert act consisted of playing unusual musical instruments, his favourite being the “Rock Harmonicon”. Although Nelson in some advertisements claimed to have invented this instrument, this is unlikely. The likely ‘inventor’ was Joseph Richardson, a Cumbrian stone… Read more »

Ascent from the Vauxhall Gardens

Mrs. Graham the aeronaut

Arthur Nelson was a favourite at the Royal Vauxhall Gardens during the 1850 season. The pleasure gardens, to the south of the river Thames hosted a range of spectacular entertainments including balloon ascents during the summer. One of the most interesting ‘aeronauts’ was Margaret Graham, who since the 1820s had performed ascents in a balloon with her… Read more »

Ellen Bright at Wombwell’s Menagerie

In the heyday of the circus the audience could expect to see performance with exotic animals. In the period of Nelson’s career the use of animals, other than horses and the odd dog or monkey, was still unusual. Performance with and by exotic animals could, however, be seen at the many travelling menageries that visited… Read more »

Pablo Fanque and Mr. Kite

Arthur Nelson was engaged by Pablo Fanque (real name William Darby), the first black circus proprietor in Britain, on a number of occasions. It was while touring with his tented circus that Nelson was to tragically die on 27 July 1860 while at Burnley. Pablo and a few circus friends attended his funeral a few days later at… Read more »

Female performers and imposters

From the very beginning women were part of the circus. Petsy, the wife of the circus founder, Philip Astley, and known as “La Fille de l’Air”, was the first female ‘circus’ performer. In the early and mid-nineteenth century theatrical and circus performance were areas where women could freely express their physical talents in a world dominated by… Read more »

◀ ▶
Stories

  • Pablo Fanque and Mr. Kite

    Arthur Nelson was engaged by Pablo Fanque (real name William Darby), the first black circus proprietor in Britain, on a number of occasions. It was while touring with his tented circus that Nelson was to tragically die on 27 July 1860 while at Burnley. Pablo and a few circus friends attended his funeral a few days later at… Read more »

  • Female performers and imposters

    From the very beginning women were part of the circus. Petsy, the wife of the circus founder, Philip Astley, and known as “La Fille de l’Air”, was the first female ‘circus’ performer. In the early and mid-nineteenth century theatrical and circus performance were areas where women could freely express their physical talents in a world dominated by… Read more »