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Location: Various
County: Various
Type: Other Performances by Americans
Date: 1 January 1844-31 December 1844
Date notes:
Notes:
Events featuring American performers that were recorded in The Bristol Mercury, The Bristol Mirror, The Newcastle Journal, The Nottingham Mercury, The Sheffield Iris, The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent, Theatrical Journal, Theatrical Observer and The Tyne Mercury in 1844. Some references also come from documents found in the British Library, the University of Bristol Theatre Collection and The Portsmouth Public Library:
c. January 1-13: Performances by Charles Freeman, “the American Giant” in Cork (specific venue unknown).
February 27: Last appearance of General Tom Thumb at the Princess’ Theatre, Oxford Street (London).
July 29-August 2: The “Yankee Clown”, Mr. Rockwell, performs with Van Amburgh’s Circus in Portsmouth.
August 16-17: Tom Thumb appears at the Mall Rooms, Clifton
August 18: Tom Thumb is in an accident while “taking an airing with his conductor” (likely in the Bristol/Clifton area)
August 19-20:Performances by Tom Thumb at the Assembly Rooms, Bristol.
September 5: Henry Russell gives a vocal entertainment at the Hanover Square Rooms, London.
September-October: Several performances by Carter, (the “American the Lion King”) as part of the circus at Astley’s Amphitheatre, London
October 14, 17: Tom Thumb appears at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham.
October 17-19: Tom Thumb gives levees three times daily at the Sheffield Music Hall.
October 22: Henry Russell is amongst the acts in a concert at the Sheffield Music Hall.
October 25: Henry Russell participates in a concert at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle.
November 11-19: Tom Thumb holds levees three times daily at the Newcastle Music Hall.
November 11, 13, 14: The entertainments at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle include Tom Thumb.
November 15: Tom Thumb appears in Carlisle.
November 28: Henry Russell gives a vocal entertainment at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle.
c. December 2-7:Mr. North, the “American rider and vaulter” joins Hughes’ circus at the Circus Royal, Bristol.
December 5: Henry Russell performs at the Sheffield Music Hall.
December 11-12:Henry Russell gives two vocal entertainments at the Exchange Rooms, Nottingham.
Note: Events listed here are those in which American performers DID NOT perform acts relevant to the representation of African/African Diasporic identity or American Slave Culture. Several other performances by Americans (in which the individuals did participate in race-related acts can be found throughout the Events section of this database.
Bibliographic Sources
Bristol Mercury August 17, 1844: Referenced in University of Bristol, Barker Collection.
Info in Record:
Favourable review of performances by Tom Thumb (likely at the Mall Rooms, Clifton.)
Bristol Mercury August 24, 1844: Referenced in University of Bristol, Barker Collection.
Info in Record:
Description of an accident that took place when Tom Thumb was “taking an airing with his conductor” on August 18.
Bristol Mercury November 30, 1844: Referenced in University of Bristol, Barker Collection.
Info in Record:
Review of Hughes’ circus at the Circus Royal. Mentions that “Mr. North, the great American rider and vaulter” has been engaged for upcoming shows.
Bristol Mirror August 10, 1844: Referenced in University of Bristol, Barker Collection.
Info in Record:
Advertisement for performances by Tom Thumb at the Mall Rooms, Clifton on August 16 & 17, and at the Assembly Rooms, Prince’s St. on August 19 and 20th.
Bristol Mirror August 17, 1844: Referenced in University of Bristol, Barker Collection.
Info in Record:
Favourable review of performances by Tom Thumb (likely at the Mall Rooms, Clifton).
British Library, BL Mic. C. 13137 Playbills 172: Sept. 2, 1844 (Astley's)
Info in Record:
Playbill advertising performances at Astley’s Amphitheatre, London, during the week of September 2nd, 1844. Listed acts include Mr. Carter in “Mungo Park! Or, The Lion Tamer of the Niger!”, and a “Spectacle” entitled “The Chinese War”.
British Library, BL Mic. C. 13137 Playbills 172: Sept. 16, 1844 (Astley's)
Info in Record:
Playbill advertising performances at Astley’s Amphitheatre, London, during the week of September 16th, 1844. Listed acts include Mr. Carter in “The Lion of the Desert Or, The French in Morocco”, and a “Spectacle” entitled “The Chinese War”.
Newcastle Journal November 16, 1844: Referenced in University of Bristol, Barker Collection.
Info in Record:
Advertisement for Henry Russell’s vocal entertainment at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle on November 28
Newcastle Journal October 12, 1844: Referenced in University of Bristol, Barker Collection.
Info in Record:
Advertisement for a concert at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle on October 25, 1844. Henry Russell is listed amongst the participating artists.
Newcastle Journal November 2, 1844: Referenced in University of Bristol, Barker Collection.
Info in Record:
Notice that Tom Thumb will hold Levees three times daily at the Newcastle Music Hall from November 11-19, 1844.
Newcastle Journal November 9, 1844: Referenced in University of Bristol, Barker Collection.
Info in Record:
Listing of the entertainments to be held at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle on November 11, 1844. Includes Tom Thumb as Napoleon and in his Grecian Statues.
Nottingham Mercury November 29, 1844: Referenced in University of Bristol, Barker Collection.
Info in Record:
Advertisement for two vocal concerts by Henry Russell, to be held at the Exchange Rooms, Nottingham on December 11 & 12.
Nottingham Mercury December 20, 1844: Referenced in University of Bristol, Barker Collection.
Info in Record:
Detailed review of Russell’s performances at the Exchange Hall, Nottingham on December 11 & 12.
Portsmouth Central Library, Historical Collections Playbill (Circus) - July 29-August 2, 1844
Info in Record:
Advertisement for performances by Van Amburgh’s Circus (to be held in a “Roman Amphitheatre” erected “on a Plot of Ground Adjoining Belle-vue Terrace, Southsea Common – Landport/Southsea) on July 29-August 2, 1844. Listed acts include “The far-famed Yankee Clown, Mr. Rockwell, from the principal Theatres in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, &c.”
Portsmouth Central Library, Historical Collections Playbill (Circus) - July 29-August 2, 1844
Info in Record:
Advertisement for performances by Van Amburgh’s Circus (to be held in a “Roman Amphitheatre” erected “on a Plot of Ground Adjoining Belle-vue Terrace, Southsea Common – Landport/Southsea) on July 29-August 2, 1844. Listed acts include “The far-famed Yankee Clown, Mr. Rockwell, from the principal Theatres in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, &c.”
Portsmouth Central Library, Historical Collections Playbill (Circus) - July 29-August 2, 1844
Info in Record:
Advertisement for performances by Van Amburgh’s Circus (to be held in a “Roman Amphitheatre” erected “on a Plot of Ground Adjoining Belle-vue Terrace, Southsea Common – Landport/Southsea) on July 29-August 2, 1844. Listed acts include “The far-famed Yankee Clown, Mr. Rockwell, from the principal Theatres in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, &c.”
Tyne Mercury November 20, 1844: Referenced in University of Bristol, Barker Collection.
Info in Record:
Advertisement for an upcoming concert by Henry Russell (to be held at the Theatre Royal on November 28.)
Tyne Mercury October 16, 1844: Referenced in University of Bristol, Barker Collection.
Info in Record:
Advertisement for a concert at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle on October 25, 1844. Henry Russell is listed amongst the participating artists.
Tyne Mercury November 6, 1844: Referenced in University of Bristol, Barker Collection.
Info in Record:
Notice that Tom Thumb will hold Levees three times daily at the Newcastle Music Hall from November 11-19, 1844.
Tyne Mercury November 13, 1844: Referenced in University of Bristol, Barker Collection.
Info in Record:
Another advertisement for Tom Thumb’s ongoing Levees at the Newcastle Music Hall. Also notes that Thumb will appear in Carlisle on Friday (November 15).
University of Bristol, Kathleen Barker Collection KB/2: Newcastle Theatre Royal Index, Nov. 13, 1844
Info in Record:
Listing of the entertainments on offer at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle on November 13, 1844. Includes an appearance by General Tom Thumb.
University of Bristol, Kathleen Barker Collection KB/1: Nottingham Theatre Royal Index Oct. 14, 1844
Info in Record:
Listing of the entertainments on offer at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham on October 14, 1844. Includes performances by Tom Thumb.
University of Bristol, Kathleen Barker Collection KB/1: Nottingham Theatre Royal Index Oct. 17, 1844
Info in Record:
Listing of the entertainments on offer at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham on October 17, 1844. Includes performances by Tom Thumb.
University of Bristol, Theatre Collection Playbill (Princess') - February 27, 1844
Info in Record:
Playbill listing the entertainments on offer at the Princess’ Theatre, Oxford Street on Tuesday, February 27th, 1844. Mentions that this is to be the “last appearance of General Tom Thumb the Wonderful Little Man From America”.
On the Road Again
