|
|
|
"Mike Austin talking about his family's
involvement in over two centuries of circus"; His father,
Len Spider Austin, had a long and illustrious career.
He was principal clown at Belle Vue, Manchester, in
the 50s and 60s as well as appearing at Blackpool
Tower, Great Yarmouth Hippodrome, for Mills, Smarts
and Chipperfields and abroad, including at Cirque
Medrano in Paris.
Mike's own Career includes seasons with
Robert Brothers, Sir Robert Fossett, Lord George
Sanger and abroad, before starting his own circus at the
Flamingo land park and zoo in 1989.
|
Ginnett circuses - a century apart.
|
A royal performance for Queen Victoria in 1893.
|
I called my own circus Circus Ginnett as my
grandmother was Adie Ginnett who married my
grandfather, Albert Austin.
The first Ginnetts came to England from France
when Jean Pierre Ginnett (or Jinnett) and his brother,
who had been in Napoleon's cavalry, were captured at
the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 and became POW's.
They were released and Jean Pierre trained some
canaries and they performed at Ludgate Circus, London.
|
Adie Ginnett, my grandmother, was one of seven
- six sisters and a brother. We have a 1901 poster of
Ginnett's with Senor Footit, foot juggling, which was a
family speciality. They had a bandwagon drawn by 18 horses
which my grandmother rode on during the parades in the town, dressed
as Britannia with a lion beside her.
|
We also have a photo of Ginnett's Circus at
Balmoral in front of Queen Victoria, in 1893. Victoria
used to love circus and would ask various companies to do command
performances - Sanger, Pinder, Ginnett and others. The show had
to travel from Derby to Balmoral. It took them six weeks
to get there. Mind you, they were well rewarded.
|
Circus Ginnett - A new tent for a new century.
Circus Ginnett - New performers. |
In France the Ginnett name was spelt with a J.
It got changed when they came to England, according to my Grandma,
who was born in France. Ginnetts started shows in France. Ginnetts
started shows in France in the 1750s but later two brothers got put in to
the French cavalry under Napoleon. They fought at Waterloo, where they were
captured, and ended up in England. So when we were travelling last year, I
put on my posters "From the 18th to the 21st Century", so God willing,
my son Patrick and daughter Nina will carry on with the name.
Patrick and Nina, under the name of Circus Ginnett's School
[more], came second in the children's
competition in Monte Carlo in 1991. The Chinese came first and the Russians
came third. Patrick and Nina were doing the carousel act. They have also
worked in Japan in night clubs under the Ginnett name, so they want to
keep it known. |
Ginnett circuses - a century apart.
|
Circus Ginnett's New Bread of Performers.
|
|
