And in his way, Mr. K will challenge the world!
August 25, 2012 7:43 PM   Subscribe

Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite PABLO FANQUE'S CIRCUS ROYAL TOWN-MEADOWS, ROCHDALE Grandest Night of the Season! AND POSITIVELY THE LAST NIGHT BUT THREE! BEING FOR THE BENEFIT OF MR.KITE, (LATE OF WELLS'S CIRCUS) AND MR. J. HENDERSON, THE CELEBRATED SOMERSET THROWER! WIRE DANCER, VAULTER, RIDER, etc. On TUESDAY Evening, February 14, 1843.

Mssrs. KITE and HENDERSON, in announcing the following Entertainments ensure the Public that this Night's Production will be one of the most splendid ever produced in this Town, having been some days in preparation.

Mr. Kite will, for this night only, introduce the
CELEBRATED HORSE, ZANTHUS!
Well known to be one of the best Broke Horses IN THE WORLD!!!

Mr. HENDERSON will undertake the arduous Task of
THROWING TWENTY-ONE SOMERSETS,
ON THE SOLID GROUND.

Mr. KITE will appear, for the first time this season, On The Tight Rope,
When Two Gentlemen Amateurs of this Town will perform with him.

Mr. HENDERSON will, for the first time in Rochdale, introduce his extraordinary
TRAMPOLINE LEAPS AND SOMERSETS!
Over Men & Horses, through Hoops, over Garters and lastly through a Hogshead of REAL FIRE! In this branch of the profession Mr. H challenges THE WORLD!
posted by jonp72 (10 comments total) 25 users marked this as a favorite
 
cool post
posted by Flood at 7:50 PM on August 25, 2012


Awe. Some.

Some years ago there was a childrens' picture book tie-in thing that illustrated the song "Teddy Bear's Picnic" and included a CD with a recording of the Grateful Dead cover. I always thought "Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite" would be a natural for that kind of thing as well.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:56 PM on August 25, 2012


:-)
posted by tilde at 8:26 PM on August 25, 2012


I'm reading The Life and Art of Andrew Ducrow and the Romantic Age of the English Circus now - I should look to see if Mr. kite is mentioned.
posted by winna at 8:32 PM on August 25, 2012


A splendid time...
posted by Seekerofsplendor at 10:10 PM on August 25, 2012


Great! Thanks for this post!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 10:24 PM on August 25, 2012


And in his way, Mr. K will challenge the world!

This isn't the lyric, though. It's actually "in this way Mr. K will challenge the world". :)
posted by flapjax at midnite at 10:29 PM on August 25, 2012


I was in Rochdale last week. The circus had definitely moved on.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 2:40 AM on August 26, 2012


That Smithsonian mag article about Pable Fanque is great. Thanks!
posted by mediareport at 5:46 AM on August 26, 2012


That Smithsonian mag article about Pable Fanque is great. Thanks!

I was just clicking various links to find an image of the poster which inspired John Lennon, (scroll down on "entertainments"), but it really is a great article.

(Also, I had just finished reading 'The Night Circus', which I would highly recommend to anyone who likes circuses.)
posted by ovvl at 3:53 PM on August 26, 2012


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