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Travelling People / Re: CIRCUS - Henry Luigi Boswell
« on: Monday 24 May 10 00:02 BST (UK) »
Hi new to this site but hey here goes !
I am looking for information on Vincent Alvarez who performed with firstly the Alvarez Circus (which was his fathers circus) in 1866 in South Africa. He then joined the Fillis' Circus which ultimately came to an end and reformed under the Boswells.
My interest is in that Vincent or Joseph Alvarez. Joseph was my great grandfather, however I cannot find who he was married to in the Cape. He had 3 sons - Vincent, Louis, and Charles.
Vincent was an equestrian, gymnast and acrobat. Any ideas would be a great help. The pic below is of his father Joseph Alvarez.
And this from the newspaper on Joseph's death in Port Elizabeth.
A CIRCUS RING PIONEER
THE TRAGIC DEATH OF JOSEPH ALVAREZ
HIS WANDERINGS UP AND DOWN THE GLOBE
An echo of what were perhaps the most romantic days of the circus in South Africa faded and became stilled when Joseph Desire Alvarez lost his life in a fire in his room at the rear of the St. Joseph’s Nursing Home last week-end. Joseph Alvarez was one of the pioneers of the circus in this country.
Born in Lisbon, Portugal in the year 1854, he literally became a member of a circus troupe when his father established Alvarez’s Circus in 1857 with which he toured throughout Spain. In 1864 Alvarez senior packed up his circus and transported it to South America. Here they toured extensively and two years later took ship for South Africa, arriving in this country in 1866. Senor Alvarez had a partner named Sanata – he also became very well known in South Africa. The partnership was dissolved in Cape Town, Alvarez continuing on his own.
In the same year Alvarez took his show to Mauritius, where he did well till he became involved in a law suit which swallowed up a full half of all he possessed. However, he kept his circus together and made a tour of the Indian Ocean islands, including Reunion. They reached the island of Bourbon in 1871, but owing to the Franco-Prussian War they were not allowed to show. Boat was accordingly taken for the Seychelles.
BACK TO SOUTH AFRICA
Roaming far and wide, Joseph Alvarez in time took a full part in his father’s circus. But in 1880 he decided to cut adrift and venture forth on his own. He chose South Africa, where he joined Frank Fillis’s famous circus as an all-round performer – tumbler, trapezist, rider and clown. Two years later he was joined by his brother Edward (the only surviving member of the family, who now lives here in Port Elizabeth). Edward became property manages to Frank Fillis. With Fillis, they toured every part of South Africa, and there are not a few of the older generation who cherish enjoyable memories of Fillis’s circus in general and of Joseph Alvarez in particular
Eventually Joseph left Fillis to throw in his lot first with Cook’s circus and then with Williamson’s circus; but in the end he rejoined Frank Fillis. Soon after this, however, Fillis left for India and the two Alvarez brothers decided not to accompany him but to settle down in South Africa.
When the Anglo-Boer War broke out Joseph enlisted in Nesbit’s Horse as a trooper. He was taken prisoner by General De Wet, but managed to escape. He was present when General Hertzog’s house was burned down during the war.
In private life Joseph Alvarez was always of a quiet, reserved nature. For the last 30 he has been associated with St. Joseph’s Nursing Home, and as such became well known and widely liked by patients and friends. Next to his gardens he liked nothing better than to talk in reminiscent vein of his circus days up and down the globe.
TWO OLD FRIENDS
One of his great friends was His Grace Archbishop MacSherry.
“We are both growing old together, Joseph” would say His Lordship.
“Yes my lord; we will soon reach the old men stage,” would reply Joseph.
Although he had passed his 80th year, he preserved good health till last year, when he began to fail. At the time of his unhappy death he was very poorly, a circumstance which probably contributed to his death when his room became on fire.
Joseph Alvarez is survived by his brother Edward, who is resident here, and three sons, who are resident in Johannesburg. Sincere sympathy is extended to them in their great loss.
I am looking for information on Vincent Alvarez who performed with firstly the Alvarez Circus (which was his fathers circus) in 1866 in South Africa. He then joined the Fillis' Circus which ultimately came to an end and reformed under the Boswells.
My interest is in that Vincent or Joseph Alvarez. Joseph was my great grandfather, however I cannot find who he was married to in the Cape. He had 3 sons - Vincent, Louis, and Charles.
Vincent was an equestrian, gymnast and acrobat. Any ideas would be a great help. The pic below is of his father Joseph Alvarez.
And this from the newspaper on Joseph's death in Port Elizabeth.
A CIRCUS RING PIONEER
THE TRAGIC DEATH OF JOSEPH ALVAREZ
HIS WANDERINGS UP AND DOWN THE GLOBE
An echo of what were perhaps the most romantic days of the circus in South Africa faded and became stilled when Joseph Desire Alvarez lost his life in a fire in his room at the rear of the St. Joseph’s Nursing Home last week-end. Joseph Alvarez was one of the pioneers of the circus in this country.
Born in Lisbon, Portugal in the year 1854, he literally became a member of a circus troupe when his father established Alvarez’s Circus in 1857 with which he toured throughout Spain. In 1864 Alvarez senior packed up his circus and transported it to South America. Here they toured extensively and two years later took ship for South Africa, arriving in this country in 1866. Senor Alvarez had a partner named Sanata – he also became very well known in South Africa. The partnership was dissolved in Cape Town, Alvarez continuing on his own.
In the same year Alvarez took his show to Mauritius, where he did well till he became involved in a law suit which swallowed up a full half of all he possessed. However, he kept his circus together and made a tour of the Indian Ocean islands, including Reunion. They reached the island of Bourbon in 1871, but owing to the Franco-Prussian War they were not allowed to show. Boat was accordingly taken for the Seychelles.
BACK TO SOUTH AFRICA
Roaming far and wide, Joseph Alvarez in time took a full part in his father’s circus. But in 1880 he decided to cut adrift and venture forth on his own. He chose South Africa, where he joined Frank Fillis’s famous circus as an all-round performer – tumbler, trapezist, rider and clown. Two years later he was joined by his brother Edward (the only surviving member of the family, who now lives here in Port Elizabeth). Edward became property manages to Frank Fillis. With Fillis, they toured every part of South Africa, and there are not a few of the older generation who cherish enjoyable memories of Fillis’s circus in general and of Joseph Alvarez in particular
Eventually Joseph left Fillis to throw in his lot first with Cook’s circus and then with Williamson’s circus; but in the end he rejoined Frank Fillis. Soon after this, however, Fillis left for India and the two Alvarez brothers decided not to accompany him but to settle down in South Africa.
When the Anglo-Boer War broke out Joseph enlisted in Nesbit’s Horse as a trooper. He was taken prisoner by General De Wet, but managed to escape. He was present when General Hertzog’s house was burned down during the war.
In private life Joseph Alvarez was always of a quiet, reserved nature. For the last 30 he has been associated with St. Joseph’s Nursing Home, and as such became well known and widely liked by patients and friends. Next to his gardens he liked nothing better than to talk in reminiscent vein of his circus days up and down the globe.
TWO OLD FRIENDS
One of his great friends was His Grace Archbishop MacSherry.
“We are both growing old together, Joseph” would say His Lordship.
“Yes my lord; we will soon reach the old men stage,” would reply Joseph.
Although he had passed his 80th year, he preserved good health till last year, when he began to fail. At the time of his unhappy death he was very poorly, a circumstance which probably contributed to his death when his room became on fire.
Joseph Alvarez is survived by his brother Edward, who is resident here, and three sons, who are resident in Johannesburg. Sincere sympathy is extended to them in their great loss.