Back Philip Astley German Philip Astley Spanish Philip Astley French Ֆիլիպ Ասթլեյ Armenian Philip Astley ID Philip Astley Italian フィリップ・アストリー Japanese 필립 애슬리 Korean फिलीप ॲस्टली Marathi Philip Astley Portuguese

Philip Astley

Philip Astley
Born8 January 1742
Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, England
Died20 October 1814 (aged 72)
Paris, France
Resting placePère Lachaise Cemetery
Other namesFather of the Modern Circus
Occupation(s)Equestrian, circus owner, inventor
Known forBeing a forerunner of the modern circus
Websitehttps://philipastley.org.uk/

Philip Astley (8 January 1742 – 20 October 1814) was an English equestrian, circus owner, and inventor, regarded as being the "father of the modern circus".[1][2] Modern circus, as an integrated entertainment experience that includes music, domesticated animals, acrobats, and clowns, traces its heritage to Astley's Amphitheatre, a riding school that Astley founded in London following the success of trick-riding displays given by him and his wife Patty Jones in 1768.[3] Astley's first competitor was equestrian Charles Hughes, who had previously worked with Astley. Together with Charles Dibdin, a famous author of pantomimes, Hughes opened a rival amphitheatre in London, which Dibdin called the Royal Circus and Equestrian Philharmonic Academy.[4][5]

Astley and his wife Patty put on their first public show on Easter Monday, 4 April 1768.[6] extending the equestrian performance with exhibitions of warlike sabre-work and sword-play. The initial performances were done in the open air at Ha'penny (= Halfpenny) Hatch, a field in Lambeth, London, near the present site of Waterloo railway station. The Astleys also performed at other locations in London. Astley performed his stunts in a circular arena, though Astley never used the title of 'circus' for his shows. Astley's 'Ride' (he also called it 'the Circle') was a ring 65 ft (19 metres) in diameter. Later, the size evolved to become standardised at 42 feet (13 metres) which is the size used by circuses ever since.[2] Leasing more permanent premises at Westminster Bridge from 1769, he improved conditions for audiences with a covered stands. The performances themselves, however, were still performed in the open. In 1770 he hired acrobats, tightrope walkers, jugglers and a clown to fill in the pauses between acts.[2] and so initiated the format which we now know as a 'circus' and which has since spread to many countries.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference AST was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference BBC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Schechter, Joel (2001). The Pickle Clowns: New American Circus Comedy. p. 11. Southern Illinois University Press.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Nickell was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ St Leon, Mark (2011). Circus! The Australian Story. Melbourne Books.
  6. ^ Kwint, Marius. "Astley, Philip". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/821. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

Developed by StudentB