Jeserich's Circus

written by J. P. Browne

Jeserich's Circus is one of the exceptions to the rules in that it was a circus set up by a business consortium rather than a Circus Family and while this might not seem like a huge factor in the success of a Circus or not it can sometimes be the only factor that can make or break a circus. The sacrifices that a person will make for the Family show are not the same that will be made for an employer regardless of how well-liked they are and the Jeserich Story is one rife with tampering by business men who are unfamiliar with the toughness of the business. But why would a business want to set up a circus anyway? The answer of course is money.

The late 1940's in the Island of Ireland were boom years for the Circus still enjoying the afterglow of the golden years between the two World Wars. A lot of travelling British Circuses were coming over to Ireland at this time and doing fantastic business. One of these circuses was run by Herbert Wroe, better known as Herbert Reco. Herbert Reco was a famous tightrope-walker renowned for doing an act known as the 'Blondini Act' in which he dressed as a clown tramp and would walk across an open cage full of Lions. Reco had set up his own Circus in 1942 called 'Reco Brothers Circus and Zoo' with his uncle Harry Paulo of  'Harry Paulo's Circus' as his partner and he toured Britain before coming to Northern Ireland for the winter season of 1944 putting on a show at the  Royal Hippodrome Circus in Belfast. The show did fantastic business, so well in fact that Reco along with his General Manager John Hinde whom he's met in Belfast put plans in motion to return with the tented Reco Brothers Circus. They achieved this when the circus came over in May 1947 starting in Larne, Co. Antrim to exceptional business. Another season took place in 1948, featuring Koringa's renowned showcase of pythons and crocodiles as the main attraction.

It was here at the end of the 1948 season that the entire circus was sold to a newly-formed Irish company called 'Jeserich Ltd' who wanted to cash in on the Circus Boom. Ironically Albert Jeserich whom the Circus was named after didn't own the show but was named by the consortium as the General Manager. But who was Albert Jeserich?

Albert Jeserich was an animal trainer and had for several years being the manager at Chapman’s Circus in England (1). Jeserich and Herbert Reco had worked with each other in the 1930’s for Chapman's Zoo Circus in England were Jeserich was performing an outstanding Zebra Act involving 6 zebra’s doing intricate patterns in the ring guided ably by him. (2) It was considered one of the best animal acts at the time.

The first season seems to have being a financial success but with behind the scenes drama that plagued Jeserich’s Circus during its brief life. As Albert Jeserich to whom the circs was named after left the Company.

He was replaced by Carl Fischer another Chapman’s Circus alumni who were also a lion tamer by trade. With Fischer now installed as general manager the circus tented again in 1950 keeping the name of Jeserich for branding purposes (What Albert Jeserich thought of this is not known). A team of probably the best and most experienced circus men in Ireland and Britain were also hired to run the consortium circus. Harder Jonsson a swede was the ringmaster having worked previously for Edward Fossett for one season in the 1930's. Also in the crew were “Roberto Germains, equestrian director, Harry Paulo, transport manager, Robert Fossett, tentmaster and Tex Gibson, electrician.” The 1950 tour seemed to have gone well except for one incident when Charlie Hank an elephant trainer, collapsed and died in the ring whilst the show was in Belfast.

For the 1951 season Jeserich's Circus had yet again another new General Manager. Again we don’t know the reason why Fischer left but John Hinde who had toured the Reco show in Ireland was back with ambitious plans for the new season. The show was reviewed for World's Fair magazine in their 13^th May issue when the show was in Maghera, Co. Derry under trying circumstances by an Edward Graves.  “The adverse weather had delayed the erection of the tent and a night show only was given, with turn-away business. Graves noted with approval the newly-acquired, Gourock-made big top and the new, if very heavy and labour intensive, continental seating for 2,500. An ornamental, domed show front was in use and a lighting control trailer supported a bandstand above double ring doors.”

The Circus came to Dublin on the 18^th June that year for a long stay at the behest of the Irish Army Benevolent Fund who was sponsoring it. World's Fair again reviewed noting on the major street parade given by the circus. (see the World’s Fair, 12^th August 1950) By this stage Jeserich's Circus was on its fourth General Manager in three years with Michael Downes replacing John Hinde for the 1952 season.

Business though was good again with another tour going out in 1952 but this was the last year. At the end of 1952 the equipment was sold off at auction much of it acquired by John Duffy's Circus (4). So what went wrong? One at this late stage can only guess but four general managers in three years does not sound like a happy organisation. While reasons could be made for replacing Albert Jeserich with Carl Fischer with Albert Jeserich never having run a circus before and maybe not having the temperament for it and Fischer being foreign and maybe not used to the Irish routes. The constant rotation of senior members speaks ill of the organisation as a whole. That said it could have been something as simple as the overheads been too high. The capacity of the Jeserich Big Top was 3,500 people (5). Could Ireland at that time sustain a Circus of that magnitude? Whatever the reasoning’s behind the ending of the Circus, Jeserich's did leave strong memories with the people who did see the show and in that respect left its mark on the Irish Circus Memory.

Bibliography:

1.     Leopards Suffocated In Van. (1933, July 13). The Strait Times, 16. https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19330713-1.2.112

2.     Bosworth, W. G. (1935). Wagon Wheels. The Romance of the Circus, Etc. [With Plates.]. (p. 115). Heath, Cranton .

3.     McMinn, R. (n.d.). Jeserich’s Circus. Circus.

4.     Circus will come to town no more. (1952, March 21). Irish Independent, page 8.

5. Jeserich Circus. (1950). Anglo - Celt Newspaper.