Sole Brothers' Circus, also known as Sole Bros. Circus was an Australian circus which toured Australia, New Zealand and
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...
.
The circus was started by circus bandsman William Alfred Sole (died June 1923) and his wife Eliza Jane Perry. Eliza was the daughter of William George Perry, who swapped his pub for a small circus in the 1870s, and was known professionally as E.G. Eroni owner of
Eroni's Circus
William and Eliza had six children who all performed in the circus. Andy and Jack Sole were "world-renowned jockey riders".
From 1926 to 1929, the circus performed three seasons in South Africa. While in the
Congo, they performed for the
King of the Belgians
The monarchy of Belgium is the Constitutional monarchy, constitutional and Inheritance, hereditary institution of the monarchical head of state of the Kingdom of Belgium. As a popular monarchy, the Belgian monarch uses the title king/quee ...
.
They then took time off from performing to prospect for diamonds. They returned to Australia in 1929.
Joseph Kevin (Joe) Perry later married Jean Sole and became managing director and proprietor of Sole Brother's Circus.
The circus made headlines in 1936 in
Brisbane
Brisbane ( ; ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and largest city of the States and territories of Australia, state of Queensland and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia, with a ...
, when a lioness broke into the tiger enclosure and a fight broke out in front of a live audience.
See also
*
List of circuses and circus owners
There have been many famous modern circuses since the first modern circus was staged by Philip Astley in London on January 9, 1768. Many are best known by the name of their principal owner. The following is a list of both circuses and their count ...
References
External links
* {{youTube, 1a9B8FIKHCk, Footage of the Sole Brothers' Circus from 1947
Australian circuses