Photographs and newspaper cuttings relating to the circus in Australia, ca. 1902-1982 / Mark St. Leon

PXA 1567

fonds

ca. 1902-1982

Graphic Materials, Textual Records, Clippings, Ephemera

910289

96 photographs - gelatin silver, albumen - 28.5 x 22 cm or smaller
Textual material - clippings
1 item of ephemera

Mark St Leon is a direct descendant of the St Leons, one of Australia’s major circus families in the period from 1847 until the 1950s. St Leon’s Circus was one of Australia’s major circuses from the 1870s until the 1920s. Mark has devoted many years to the documentation of his family’s history in the circus and Australia’s circus history generally. He has been widely published in this area.

Reference:
Australia's Travelling Entertainers/Mark St Leon & Associates. http://www.pennygaff.com.au/intro.html (accessed 9 Jan., 2013)

Contains:
1. Portraits of members of the St. Leon family, including Walter St. Leon, Clyde St. Leon, Leslie and Wally St. Leon, Ray St. Leon, Alice Probassco (nee St. Leon), and the St. Leon family from ca. 1902. Also includes portraits of James Ashton, Tom and Dan Fizgerald, and Phil Wirth on his black stallion.

2. Photographic reproductions of photographs and illustrations from newspapers, journals and the book 'Circus saga - Ashton's by Natalie Fernandez. Includes a portrait of the St. Leon's acrobatic troupe from the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, 1909; the Flying Jordans from The Bulletin, 1897; and portraits of members of the Fillis' Circus family from the Sydney Illustrated News, 1893. Also includes photographs of the Fizgerald's, Chiarinis' and Ashton's Circuses, and performers such as the tightrope walkers L'estrange and Con Colleano, the juggler Cinquevalli, the Flying Jordans, hurdle rider Rosie Sutton, lion tamer Mme Sherazade, trapeze artist Mlle Sarina and Bebe the Clown.

3. Photographs of illustrations inset into advertisements for Asthton's circus in the Town and Country Journal, 1875.

4. Newspaper cuttings relating to St. Leon's Circus.

5. St. Leon's Circus handbill probably from the New Zealand tour, 1920-1921.

Forms part of MLMSS 2165

Copyright restrictions may apply: Photographs in this collection created before 1955 are all out of copyright. Photographs created after 1955 are in copyright for the life of creator plus 70 years.
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

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