Circus and Sideshow in the Long Nineteenth Century: A Documentary History

Aastha Gandhi is a PhD in theatre and performance studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and has a Doctoral Fellowship at the Temporal Communities-Cluster of Excellence program, Freie University, Berlin. Aastha’s research engages with the circus, networks, laws and discourses of the performing body.

• Volume IV: Circus in IndiaAcknowledgments General IntroductionIntroduction to Volume 4Part 1. The First Touring Indian Artists- The Jugglers, Tamers, and WrestlersIntroduction 1. ‘Engraving of Indian jugglers Mooty and Madua Samme performing the Chinese stick play’, Prague, c. 1822.2. ‘Ramo Samee at Royal Coburg Theatre’, juggler, Handbill, 1821. 3. ‘The Celebrated Indian Jugglers and Theatrical Performers, For One Night Only (Australia)’, Handbill, 1852.4. ‘Wonder of Wonders Rowe’s American Circus- Indian Jugglers’, Argus (Melbourne), May 21, 1853, p. 8.5. W.A.C., ‘Journal of a Trip to Melbourne’, South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA:1858-1889), January 30, 1861, p. 36. ‘Ancient Indian Jugglers’, Star (Ballarat, Victoria), August 3, 1861, p1.7. ‘Indian Juggling - Once a Week’, Victorian Farmers Journal and Gardner’s Chronicle (Melbourne), May 18, 1861, p604.8. ‘Death Transcription of Mahomet Cassim’, NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, May 29, 18639. ‘Indian Juggler Tricks’, Darlings Down Gazette (Qld.), September 10, p. 1.10. H. Dutt, Lieut. Suresh Biswas. His Life and Adventures (Calcutta: P. C. Dass, 1899), pp. 114-117.11. William Hazlitt, ‘Indian Jugglers’, Table Talk- Essays on Men and Manners, 1828.12. ‘Wirth’s Circus’, Kapunda Herald (South Australia), September 2,1904, p. 5.13. ‘Bilby’s Circus’, Hamilton Spectator (Victoria), October 14, 1912, p. 4.14. ‘Wirth’s Circus’, The Sydney Morning Herald, April 5, 1927, p. 12Part 2. Traveling Artists from AsiaIntroduction15. ‘Che-Mah, the Chinese Dwarf’, Childhood and Education, 188216. ‘Carl Hagenbeck’s Ceylonese Exhibition in Islington’, poster, 188617. ‘Article 14- No Title’, Ceylon Village in Manchester, The Times of India, May 12, 1886, p. 5.18. ‘Tannaker’s Great Japanese Entertainment’, poster, 1886.19. ‘Repatriation of certain Burmese jugglers alleged to have been deserted at Liverpool in a destitute condition’, Government Record, National Archives of India, 1898.20. ‘The Barnum and Bailey: Supreme Pageant Aladin and His Wonderful Land’, poster, Collection of the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art Tibbals Collection, 1917.21. ‘Bertram Mills’ Circus: Scottish Tour Inaugurated in Edinburgh, A Wonderful Show’, Linlithgowshire Gazette, July 5, 1935, p. 6.22. ‘Moving a Tented Town’, The Evening Telegraph, July 23, 1935, p. 2.23. ‘The Big Top at Kirkclady: Bertram Mills’ Circus’, The Fife Free Press. July 20, 1935, p. 2.Part 3. Precarious conditions of Indian artists in foreign lands and a public outcryIntroduction24. ‘Distressed Indians in the South of France; lately employed in a circus as acrobats’, British Library Archives. Collection Indian Office Records and Private Papers.25. ‘Proposed Removal of Quarantine by Egypt against arrival of artists from Madras’, Government Record, National Archives of India, 1892.26. ‘Removal of Quarantine by Egypt against arrival of artists from Madras’, Government Record, National Archives of India, 1892.27. ‘Passport granted to Babu Jogendra Nath Paul, and thirty-one members of the Great Indian, Circus, proceeding to Java’, Government Record, National Archives of India, 1897.28. Native jugglers, dancers, and circus attendants prohibited from embarking from Bombay for any country out of British India’, Telegrams and Memorandum by the Commissioner of Bombay, Government Record, National Archives of India, 1900.29. ‘Letter from British Embassy, Berlin with Memorandum regarding Travelling Indian Showmen engaged by Mr. John Hagenbeck, Berlin. With enclosure of particulars of passports of Indian troupe touring Germany, including children and adults’, National Archives of India, 1926.30. ‘Making Show of Indians, German’s Exploit, Pampering Morbid Taste, Protest Unheeded’, Forward, August 2, 1926.31. ‘India misrepresented’, Bombay Chronicle, August 9, 1926.32. ‘Exhibition of Indians at Berlin, Fulminations of Carl Hagenbeck’, Forward, August 17, 1926.33. ‘Indians in Berlin Zoo’, The Tribune, November 14, 1926.34. ‘Indians in a German Zoo, Exhibition Closed’, Leader (Allahabad), November 13, 1926.35. ‘Exhibition given by Indians in Berlin under the direction of Mr. Hagenbeck’, Legislative Assembly Proceedings, South Asia Archive, March 4, 1927. pp. 1648-49.36. ‘Removal of the ban on Herr John Hagenbeck of the “Hagenbeck family” circus proprietors and animal dealers of Hamburg (Germany) visiting India’, Government Record, National Archives of India, 1929.Part 4. Touring International Circuses in IndiaIntroduction37. ‘McCollum’s Circus, On the Maidan, Calcutta’, Playbill. South Asia Archive, 1864.38. ‘McCollum and Cousins’ Circus’, (review), The Times of India, November 29, 1865, p. 3.39. ‘Wilson’s Great World Circus’, The Times of India, April 22, 1879, p. 1.40. ‘Miss Cooke’s Medal’, The Friend of India and Statesman, No.2313, Vol. XLV, July 1, 1879, p. 579.41. ‘A Happy New Year- Chiarini’s Royal Italian Circus and Performing Animal’, (poster), Richard Flint Collection, 1881.42. “Chiarini’s Royal Italian Circus and Performing Animals”. The Athenaeum & Daily News, Asiatic Society of Mumbai Archive, December 17, 1881, p. 1.43. ‘Chiarini’s Royal Italian Circus and Performing Animals’, The Times of India, March 11, 1881, p. 1.44. ‘Wilson’s Great World Circus’, The Times of India, March 3, 1883, p2.45. ‘Blondin Blondin Blondin’, Early Calcutta Advertisements, 29 January 1884.46. ‘Wilson’s Great World Circus’, Early Calcutta Advertisements, January, 1885.47. ‘Abell, Klaer, and Olman’s Circus’, The Times of India, 1888.48. ‘Fillis’ Circus: An Exciting Incident’, The Times of India, February 23, 1891, p. 3.49. ‘Cooke’s Circus’, The Statesman, July, 1895.50. George Lansbury; enquires as to whereabouts of brother, performing with a circus in India, 14 Apr 189651. ‘Harmston’s Circus’, (review), The Times of India, February 14, 1902, p. 5.52. ‘Harmston’s Grand Circus and Royal Menagerie of Wild Animals, Madras’, December 26, 1905, Silk Programme, Theatre and Performance Collection. Accession No. S.15-2007. V & A Archives, London.53. ‘Harmston’s Grand Circus and Royal Menagerie of Performing Wild Animals, Calcutta’, December 28, 1906, Silk Programme, Theatre and Performance Collection. Accession No. S.769-1982. V & A Archives, London.54. ‘Fitzgerald Bros. All New Circus and Menagerie of Highly Educated Wild Animals’, The Times of India, February 10, 1905, p. 3.55. ‘Col. Frank Fillis’ Circus’, The Times of India, January 29, 1918, p. 3.56. ‘Maurice Wirth, of the Wirth Circus Family’, transcript of interview, 1920. Maurice Wirth interviewed by Michelle Rayner, ABC Radio National, Australia, Transcription by Mark St. Leon.57. ‘Thrills for Bombay- Bostock’s Circus Attractions’, The Times of India, March 8, 1923. Part 5. First Indian circusesIntroduction58. ‘The Great Indian Circus’, The Times of India, February 3, 1876, p. 3.59. ‘Prof. Ramchandra Rao’s Marhatta Circus’, Circus Programme, (Year Unknown).60. ‘Grand Indian Circus’, The Times of India, November 23, 1883, p. 2.61. ‘Grand Indian Circus’, The Times of India, November 24, 1883, p. 2.62. ‘The National Circus’, Early Calcutta Advertisements, 5 December, 1883.63. ‘The Grand Indian Circus’, The Times of India, January 25, 1884, p. 1.64. ‘Roy’s Indian Circus’, Early Calcutta Advertisements, September 12, 1885.65. ‘Professor Chatre’s Circus’, The Times of India, April 9, 1888, p. 5.66. ‘The Great Indian Circus’, The Times of India, October 6, 1890, p. 3.67. ‘The Great Indian Circus’, The Bangalore Spectator, April 11, 1893, p. 1.68. ‘Professor Bose’s Great Bengal Circus’, Early Calcutta Advertisements, 1900.69. ‘Chatre’s Indian Circus’, The Times of India. November 16, 1908, p. 5.70. ‘Prof Deval’s Circus’, The Times of India. November 3, 1911, p. 5.71. ‘State Ceremonies’ (during Delhi Durbar)-The Badshahi Mela- Patiala and Rampur Circus’, book section, 1911, p. 92.72. ‘Karlekar’ s Grand Circus’, Circus Programme, December 18, 1914.73. ‘Karlekar’ s Grand Circus’, Circus Programme, 1915.74. ‘Karlekar’ s Grand Circus,’ Special Circus Programme (year unknown).75. ‘A Hindu Ballyhoo’, The Literary Digest, July 7, 1917, p. 57.76. ‘Karlekar’s Royal Circus and Menagerie of Performing Wild Animals’, The Times of India, January 29, 1918, p. 3.77. ‘Karlekar’s Circus: Frenchman's Daring Feat in Motor’, The Times of India, April 1, 1929, p. 6.78. ‘Karlekar’s Circus: Terrifying Motor Car Turn’, The Times of India, April 16, 1929, p. 4.79. Abanindra Krishna Basu, ‘Bangalir Circus’, (Bengali with quotations in English), 1938/2018.80. Abanindra Krishna Basu, ‘Bangalir Circus’, (Bengali with quotations in English), 1938/2018.Part 6. Women artists in Indian circusIntroduction81. Abanindra Krishna Basu, ‘Bangalir Circus’, (Bengali with quotations in English), 1938/2018.82. ‘Miss Tara Bai: The Indian Lady Sandow’, The Bombay Chronicle. March 12, 1914, p. 9.83. ‘Sushila Sundari with Shumbha and Nishumbha Tigers’, (image) Banganibasi, Archives for the Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta. Image from before 1924.84. ‘Sushila Sundari with Tigress Lakshmi’, (image), Bangalir Circus, Original Publication by Publicity Studio, 1938. Re-published by Gangchil Publications, 2013.85. ‘Sushila Sundari in a Pyramid Act’, (image), Bangalir Circus, Original Publication by Publicity Studio, 1938. Re-published by Gangchil Publications, 2013.Part 7. Strongmen in Circuses and their ActsIntroduction86. ‘Shyamakanta Banerjee’, in Strongmen over the years (A chronicle of Athletes) (Oudh Printing Press/ South Asia Archives, 1942), pp. 6-1287. ‘Health and Hygiene – A Weakling can become an Athlete – Rash Behary – The Gymnast’, India Tomorrow, August 6, 1933, pp. 585-586.88. Saint Nihal Singh, ‘The Indian Hercules: The Amazing Feats of Professor Rama Murti Naidu’, The Strand Magazine. 1915, pp. 695-696.Part 8. Circus TentsIntroduction89. ‘Public Meeting to Protest Against the License Tax’, The Times of India, February 20, 1878, p. 2.90. ‘Article 12-No Title” (Chiarini’s Circus), December 1, 1880, p. 3.91. ‘Fillis’ Circus’, February 24, 1891, p. 5.92. ‘The Circuses’, The Times of India, January 23, 1904, p. 8.Part 9. Non-human Performers from India in International CircusesIntroduction93. ‘The Circus’, Sydney Daily Telegraph, June 2, 1880, p. 3. 94. ‘Woodloch’s Circus’, South Australian Register, December 24, 1894, p. 7.95. ‘Harmston’s Circus’, Barrier Miner, December 11, 1897, p. 4.96. ‘Fitzgerald’s Circus’, South Australian Register, June 9, 1897, p. 6.97. ‘Harmston’s Circus’, Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners; Advocate, February 24, 1898, p. 5.98. ‘Article 3 – No Title’, The Times of India, January 5, 1898, p. 5.99. ‘Lennon’s Circus’, Hamilton Spectator, August 1, 1911, p. 4.100. ‘Eroni’s Circus’, St. Arnaud Mercury, October 10, 1914, p. 4.101. ‘Wirth’s Circus’, Brisbane Courier. May 28, 1930, p. 24.Part 10. Indian Circuses and Artists on International ToursIntroduction102. ‘Chatre’s Circus’, The China Mail, July 12, 1902, p. 4.103. ‘Chatre’s New Indian Circus’, The China Mail, July 12, 1902, p. 5.104. ‘Chatre’s Circus’, The Hong Kong Weekly Press and China Overland Trade Report, July 19, 1902, p. 51.105. ‘Liners to and From Orient: Shinano Reaches Port – Has Indian Circus on Board’, The Daily Colonist, November 5, 1902, p. 4.106. ‘Hindoo Circus’, The Billboard, November 22, 1902, p. 13.107. ‘Empress’s First Circus: Epoch-Making Performance at Pekin’, The Evening Telegraph. November 11, 1903, p. 3.108. Jas P. Schooner, ‘A Visit to the Summer Palace with Chatre’s New Indian Circus’, The North China Herald and Supreme Court & Consular Gazette, November 20, 1903, pp. 1074-75.109. ‘Chatre’s Indian Circus (in Hong Kong)’, The China Mail, November 26, 1903, p. 4.110. ‘Kannan Bombayo at Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus’, (image), Billy Rose Theatre Division Collection: Circus and Magic Posters, New York Public Library, 1933.111. ‘Bertram Mills’ Circus: Forthcoming Visit to Edinburgh for Two Weeks’, Linlithgowshire Gazette, June 28, 1935, p. 6.112. ‘“The Big Top” at Kirkcaldy: Bertram Mills’ Circus’, The Fife Free Press. July 20, 1935, p. 2.113. ‘Circus Children’, The Yorkshire Post, July 22, 1937, p. 8.114. ‘Bertram Mills’ Circus: Coming to Boston next Monday’, The Skegness News, May 26, 1937, p. 7.BibliographyIndex