Royal Hanneford Circus
Encyclopedia
The Royal Hanneford Circus is an American
-based touring family circus
. With origins dating back to 1690, it has been called the oldest circus in the world. The family first performed as a traveling troupe in 1807. In 1903, the family began its own circus as the "Hanneford Royal Canadian Circus" and toured the British Isles
. The family performed separately throughout much of the early 20th century in the United States. The modern Royal Hanneford Circus was formed in 1965, when Tommy Hanneford began producing shows featuring the family.
-born Michael Hanneford entertained royalty with bareback riding
, acrobatics
, and juggling
. The family themselves claim their oldest involvement with the circus involved Edwin Hanneford, a juggler from London
. In 1778, Edwin was summoned by King George III
to compete against Walter Scott to determine the best juggler in England
. However, during the competition, King George became too preoccupied with other issues
and did not declare a winner.
tent and traveled to cities and villages in the British Isles
via horse-drawn wagons. During the winter months they performed with other acts indoors throughout Europe
. In 1915 the family was performing in Spain
while John Ringling
of the Ringling Brothers Circus
was in attendance. After seeing the production, Ringling wanted to bring the family to perform in the United States
. In order to do so, Ringling purchased the entire circus. At that time, the family consisted of George Hanneford, Sr. and his wife Catherine, Edwin "Poodles", George, Grace, and Elizabeth.
in history. He was the first to perform a somersault
from one running horse to another. Additionally, Posodles held a Guinness Book of World Records record for performing a running jump onto a horse and stepping off 26 times in a row. Poodles appeared in over 40 films. He retired in 1954, died in 1967, and was enshrined in the International Circus Hall of Fame in 1968.
The next patriarch
was Tommy Hanneford, son of George, Sr. and nephew of Poodles, who began performing as a clown in 1933 when he was five years old. He was called the "The Funniest Man on Horseback" for his comic equestrian performances. He performed from the 1930s through the 1960s, except for a period beginning in 1946 when he served in the United States Army
. Besides his circus performances he appeared on television, in films, and at most major Shrine circuses
throughout the United States. The family was considered reunited in 1965 at Pleasure Island Park
in Wakefield, Massachusetts
. Tommy organized the performance that featured his sister Kay with a dog act, his wife Struppi on a high wire
, and was called the Hanneford Family Circus. Tommy later incorporated
the act in Macon, Georgia
and it became the first time the family had owned their own circus since his father George, Sr.
The family's first major production was in September 1966 in Saginaw, Michigan
. Tommy's brother George, Jr. was featured in a bareback riding act. The performance is considered the first of the "Royal Hanneford Circus". In 1968, Tommy joined producer Bill English, and in 1969 the two men were joined by Art Concello, formerly general manager of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
. The three men operated Circus Classics, Inc. until they separated in 1974. In 1975, Tommy reorganized the Royal Hanneford Circus.
George, Sr. Hanneford was inducted into the Circus Hall of Fame in 1977, his wife Catherine in 1990, and Tommy posthumously in 2008, following his death in 2005.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-based touring family circus
Circus
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
. With origins dating back to 1690, it has been called the oldest circus in the world. The family first performed as a traveling troupe in 1807. In 1903, the family began its own circus as the "Hanneford Royal Canadian Circus" and toured the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
. The family performed separately throughout much of the early 20th century in the United States. The modern Royal Hanneford Circus was formed in 1965, when Tommy Hanneford began producing shows featuring the family.
Early origins
Accounts of the early origins of the Hanneford family performances conflict. Some accounts claim that the Hanneford family began performing as early as 1690, when the IrishIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
-born Michael Hanneford entertained royalty with bareback riding
Bareback riding
Bareback riding is a form of horseback riding without a saddle. It requires skill, balance, and coordination, as the rider does not have any equipment to compensate for errors of balance or skill....
, acrobatics
Acrobatics
Acrobatics is the performance of extraordinary feats of balance, agility and motor coordination. It can be found in many of the performing arts, as well as many sports...
, and juggling
Juggling
Juggling is a skill involving moving objects for entertainment or sport. The most recognizable form of juggling is toss juggling, in which the juggler throws objects up to catch and toss up again. This may be one object or many objects, at the same time with one or many hands. Jugglers often refer...
. The family themselves claim their oldest involvement with the circus involved Edwin Hanneford, a juggler from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. In 1778, Edwin was summoned by King George III
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
to compete against Walter Scott to determine the best juggler in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. However, during the competition, King George became too preoccupied with other issues
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
and did not declare a winner.
European traveling shows
The Hanneford family first traveled as a troupe in 1807. Successive generations of the family were involved in performances as well. By 1903, the family had their own circus production, the Hanneford Royal Canadian Circus. They performed under a canvasCanvas
Canvas is an extremely heavy-duty plain-woven fabric used for making sails, tents, marquees, backpacks, and other items for which sturdiness is required. It is also popularly used by artists as a painting surface, typically stretched across a wooden frame...
tent and traveled to cities and villages in the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
via horse-drawn wagons. During the winter months they performed with other acts indoors throughout Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. In 1915 the family was performing in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
while John Ringling
John Ringling
John Nicholas Ringling now is the most well-known of the seven Ringling brothers, five of whom merged the Barnum & Bailey Circus with their own Ringling Brothers Circus to create a virtual monopoly of traveling circuses and helped shape the circus into what it is today.-Early circus life:John was...
of the Ringling Brothers Circus
Ringling Brothers Circus
The Ringling Brothers Circus was a circus founded in the United States in 1884 by five of the seven Ringling Brothers: Albert , August , Otto , Alfred T. , Charles , John , and Henry...
was in attendance. After seeing the production, Ringling wanted to bring the family to perform in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In order to do so, Ringling purchased the entire circus. At that time, the family consisted of George Hanneford, Sr. and his wife Catherine, Edwin "Poodles", George, Grace, and Elizabeth.
United States
Upon coming to the United States, the Hannefords performed with various acts. Edwin "Poodles" Hanneford is considered among the greatest trick ridersHorse riding stunts
Trick riding is a form of horse riding stunts, such as the rider standing upright on a galloping horse. Other stunts might include hanging upside down off of the side of the horse while attached to a strap or jumping on and off a galloping horse....
in history. He was the first to perform a somersault
Somersault
A somersault is an acrobatic exercise in which a person does a full 360° flip, moving the feet over the head. A somersault can be performed either forwards, backwards, or sideways and can be executed in the air or on the ground...
from one running horse to another. Additionally, Posodles held a Guinness Book of World Records record for performing a running jump onto a horse and stepping off 26 times in a row. Poodles appeared in over 40 films. He retired in 1954, died in 1967, and was enshrined in the International Circus Hall of Fame in 1968.
The next patriarch
Patriarch
Originally a patriarch was a man who exercised autocratic authority as a pater familias over an extended family. The system of such rule of families by senior males is called patriarchy. This is a Greek word, a compound of πατριά , "lineage, descent", esp...
was Tommy Hanneford, son of George, Sr. and nephew of Poodles, who began performing as a clown in 1933 when he was five years old. He was called the "The Funniest Man on Horseback" for his comic equestrian performances. He performed from the 1930s through the 1960s, except for a period beginning in 1946 when he served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. Besides his circus performances he appeared on television, in films, and at most major Shrine circuses
Shrine Circus
The Shrine Circus is a circus founded in the United States in 1906. It travels to roughly 120 cities per year in the United States and a separate unit travels to about 40 in Canada. It is affiliated with the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, a.k.a. Shriners.-History:The first...
throughout the United States. The family was considered reunited in 1965 at Pleasure Island Park
Pleasure Island (Massachusetts amusement park)
Pleasure Island was an amusement park located in Wakefield, Massachusetts. The park, billed as the "Disneyland of the Northeast", was in business from 1959 to 1969...
in Wakefield, Massachusetts
Wakefield, Massachusetts
-History:-Geography:The diagram above shows what is to the east, west, north, south, and other directions of the center of Wakefield. Towns with population above 25,000 are in bold italics.-Demographics:-Notable residents:...
. Tommy organized the performance that featured his sister Kay with a dog act, his wife Struppi on a high wire
Tightrope walking
Tightrope walking is the art of walking along a thin wire or rope, usually at a great height. One or more artists performs in front of an audience or as a publicity stunt...
, and was called the Hanneford Family Circus. Tommy later incorporated
Incorporation (business)
Incorporation is the forming of a new corporation . The corporation may be a business, a non-profit organisation, sports club, or a government of a new city or town...
the act in Macon, Georgia
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
and it became the first time the family had owned their own circus since his father George, Sr.
The family's first major production was in September 1966 in Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw was once a thriving lumber town and manufacturing center. Saginaw and Saginaw County lie in the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Michigan...
. Tommy's brother George, Jr. was featured in a bareback riding act. The performance is considered the first of the "Royal Hanneford Circus". In 1968, Tommy joined producer Bill English, and in 1969 the two men were joined by Art Concello, formerly general manager of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is an American circus company. The company was started when the circus created by James Anthony Bailey and P. T. Barnum was merged with the Ringling Brothers Circus. The Ringling brothers purchased the Barnum & Bailey Circus in 1907, but ran the circuses...
. The three men operated Circus Classics, Inc. until they separated in 1974. In 1975, Tommy reorganized the Royal Hanneford Circus.
George, Sr. Hanneford was inducted into the Circus Hall of Fame in 1977, his wife Catherine in 1990, and Tommy posthumously in 2008, following his death in 2005.