Frank Fillis - Revision history

Darryl: /* Biography */

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Biography

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Boer War Spectacle

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Savage South Africa

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Darryl at 15:23, 16 June 2026

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Darryl: /* Sources */

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Sources

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Career in South Africa

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Career in South Africa

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Career in South Africa

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Career in South Africa

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 Born [[Francis Edward Fillis]] on 13 July, 1857 in Lambeth, London, he became a highly talented horseman, animal trainer and choreographer of epic spectacles.
-He married [[Elizabeth Jane Carr]] in Dundee 6 January, 1877. The couple had a son [[Francis Alfred Fillis]] (known as [[Frank Fillis Jr.]], or simply [[Frank Jr]], 1880-1961), who also had an illustrious  career in South Africa, later joining the [[Sclesinger Organisation]] and working for the [[African Theatres]] association between 1914 and 1949.
+He married [[Elizabeth Jane Carr]] in Dundee 6 January, 1877. The couple had a son [[Francis Alfred Fillis]] (known as [[Frank Fillis Jr.]], or simply [[Frank Jr]], 1880-1961), who also had an illustrious  career in South Africa, later joining the [[Schlesinger Organisation]] and working for the [[African Theatres]] association between 1914 and 1949.
 After the death of his wife on 5 February, 1880, he married [[Eliza Maria Vincenta Mayol]] (1870[?]-1946) - later also known as [[Eliza Fillis]] or  [[Madame Fillis]] - on 28 May, 1880. The couple had two children:  [[Adele Vincenta Fillis]] (1891-), who began as a horsewoman in the [[Frank Fillis' Circus]] and went on to become a South African film actress and marrying H.V. Gandar of Durban. The second son, [[Cecil Edward Fillis]] (1892-?), also grew up in South Africa and went on to become an internationally recognised horse trainer. Frank and Eliza divorced in 1906.

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 The show was part of the Greater Britain Exposition at Earl's Court and was meant to be a showpiece of South African (local) identity.
-===''[[Boer War Spectacle]]''===
+===''[[Boer War Spectacle]]'' (1904)===
 This was part of the World's Fair in St. Louis, America (1904), and scenes from the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) were depicted. As part of both spectacles a kraal was also reconstructed, presumably to depict the various black tribes in their natural, daily life. The military spectacle employed soldiers and officers from both sides to recreate major battles from the hostilities of 1899-1902.
 ==Productions/spectacles staged in South Africa==

@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
 Showmen such as Frank Fillis helped to form European and American perceptions of Africans in the 19th and 20th century. Throughout his career, Fillis repeatedly produced representations of war between British Imperial forces and the inhabitants of the colonies of southern Africa. His staging of an episode from the Zulu War, produced in Australia in 1893, was a thematic precursor to the later military spectacles and also influenced acts subsequently produced in Australian circuses in the aftermath of the Anglo-Boer War. His 1892-94 tours of Australasia were responsible for transferring new trends in circus entertainments to local managers, but international scholarship recognises the showman for the epic spectacles he produced in London in 1899 and the St Louis World’s Fair in 1904.
-===''[[Savage South Africa]]''===
+===''[[Savage South Africa]]'' (1899)===
 Part ethnographic people show, part historical reconstruction, ''[[Savage South Africa]]'' (London, 1899) depicted scenes from the Matabele wars of 1893 and 1896 (for which several hundred native African people were imported) and was tasked with introducing Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) as a new colony to the British public.
 The show was part of the Greater Britain Exposition at Earl's Court and was meant to be a showpiece of South African (local) identity.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-[[Francis Alfred Fillis]] (better known as [[Frank Fillis]] , 1857-1921) was a British born circus impressario and artiste.
+[[Francis Alfred Fillis]] (better known as [[Frank Fillis]] , 1857-1921) was a British born circus impressario and artiste; highly talented horseman, animal trainer and choreographer of epic spectacles.
 ==Biography==
-Born [[Francis Edward Fillis]] on 13 July, 1857 in Lambeth, London,  he became a highly talented horseman, animal trainer and choreographer of epic spectacles.
+Born [[Francis Edward Fillis]] on 13 July, 1857 in Lambeth, London, he became a highly talented horseman, animal trainer and choreographer of epic spectacles.
-He married [[Elizabeth Jane Carr]] in Dundee 6 January, 1877, while working with
+He married [[Elizabeth Jane Carr]] in Dundee 6 January, 1877. The couple had a son [[Francis Alfred Fillis]] (known as [[Frank Fillis Jr.]], or simply [[Frank Jr]], 1880-1961), who also had an illustrious  career in South Africa, later joining the [[Sclesinger Organisation]] and working for the [[African Theatres]] association between 1914 and 1949.
-The couple had a son [[Francis Alfred Fillis]] (known as [[Frank Fillis Jr.]], or simply [[Frank Jr]], 1880-1961), who also had an illustrious  career in South Africa, later joining the [[Sclesinger Organisation]] and working for the [[African Theatres]] association between 1914 and 1949.
+After the death of his wife on 5 February, 1880, he married [[Eliza Maria Vincenta Mayol]] (1870[?]-1946) - later also known as [[Eliza Fillis]] or  [[Madame Fillis]] - on 28 May, 1880. The couple had two children:  [[Adele Vincenta Fillis]] (1891-), who began as a horsewoman in the [[Frank Fillis' Circus]] and went on to become a South African film actress and marrying H.V. Gandar of Durban. The second son, [[Cecil Edward Fillis]] (1892-?), also grew up in South Africa and went on to become an internationally recognised horse trainer. Frank and Eliza divorced in 1906.
 Frank died while on tour the Far East on 18 November, 1921 and is buried in the Jewish cemetery in Bangkok, Thailand. Apparently his third wife took over his company there.
@@ Line 23: / Line 21: @@
 The same year he staged a repetition of [[Wallett's Grand Programme]], [[The Picnic]] taken from the [[Renz' Circus]]' pantomime [[The Heidelburger]], at [[Fillis' Grand Amphitheatre]] in Johannesburg. Other attractions included a "[[Recherche Progamme]]", acrobatics by [[James and Tom]], the musical clowns [[Vokes and Ritter]] in their "grand musical Mellen" and "all the latest novelties"! There was also a singing competition for amateurs with a silver watch as the first prize and a "Laughable Donkey Race". ("Any Ass in Johannesburg can be entered for this race!"). Another attraction was [[Popper and the Lions]] and [[The Vanishing Lady]], who would disappear from the centre of the arena. [[Johnny Wallett]] was billed to rival Fillis in his great jockey act.
-His 1892-94 tours of Australasia were responsible for transferring new trends in circus entertainments to local managers, but international scholarship recognises the showman for the epic spectacles he produced in London in 1899 and the St Louis World’s Fair in 1904. Part ethnographic people show, part historical reconstruction, ''[[Savage South Africa]]'' (London, 1899) staged epic re-enactments of the Matabele Wars of 1893 and 1896 for which several hundred native African people were imported. The Boer War military spectacle (St Louis, 1904) employed soldiers and officers from both sides to recreate major battles from the hostilities of 1899-1902. Throughout his career, Fillis repeatedly produced representations of war between British Imperial forces and the inhabitants of the colonies of southern Africa. His earlier staging of an episode from the Zulu War, produced in Australia in 1893, was a thematic precursor to the later military spectacles and also influenced acts subsequently produced in Australian circuses in the aftermath of the Anglo-Boer War.
+[[Frank Fillis's Circus]] was for 30 years an institution in South Africa.
-[[Frank Fillis]] was South Africa's greatest and best-known circus proprietor of the late 19th and early 20th century. He was a highly talented horseman, animal trainer and choreographer of epic spectacles, like the ''[[Savage South Africa]]'' show in London (1899) and the ''[[Boer War Spectacle]]'' in St. Louis (1904). The former was part of the Greater Britain Exposition at Earl's Court. This show was meant to be a showpiece of South African (local) identity. ''[[Savage South Africa]]'' depicted scenes from the Matabele wars of 1893 and 1896 and was tasked with introducing Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) as a new colony to the British public. The latter was part of the World's Fair in St. Louis, America, and scenes from the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) were depicted. As part of both spectacles a kraal was also reconstructed, presumably to depict the various black tribes in their natural, daily life. Showmen such as Frank Fillis helped to form European and American perceptions of Africans in the 19th and 20th century. [[Frank Fillis's Circus]] was for 30 years an institution in South Africa. Apart from himself, Frank's second wife, [[Madame Fillis]] (alias [[Eliza Fillis]] or [[Lazel Fillis]]) and later his three children, [[Frank Fillis Jr.]], [[Adele Fillis]] and [[Cecil Fillis]] formed part of his show.
+This was part of the World's Fair in St. Louis, America (1904), and scenes from the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) were depicted. As part of both spectacles a kraal was also reconstructed, presumably to depict the various black tribes in their natural, daily life. The military spectacle employed soldiers and officers from both sides to recreate major battles from the hostilities of 1899-1902.
 ==Productions/spectacles staged in South Africa==

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:23, 16 June 2026
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	[[Frank Fillis]] was South Africa's greatest and best-known circus proprietor of the late 19th and early 20th century. He was a highly talented horseman, animal trainer and choreographer of epic spectacles, like the ''[[Savage South Africa]]'' show in London (1899) and the ''[[Boer War Spectacle]]'' in St. Louis (1904). The former was part of the Greater Britain Exposition at Earl's Court. This show was meant to be a showpiece of South African (local) identity. ''[[Savage South Africa]]'' depicted scenes from the Matabele wars of 1893 and 1896 and was tasked with introducing Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) as a new colony to the British public. The latter was part of the World's Fair in St. Louis, America, and scenes from the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) were depicted. As part of both spectacles a kraal was also reconstructed, presumably to depict the various black tribes in their natural, daily life. Showmen such as Frank Fillis helped to form European and American perceptions of Africans in the 19th and 20th century. [[Frank Fillis's Circus]] was for 30 years an institution in South Africa. Apart from himself, Frank's second wife, [[Madame Fillis]] (alias [[Eliza Fillis]] or [[Lazel Fillis]]) and later his three children, [[Frank Fillis Jr.]], [[Adele Fillis]] and [[Cecil Fillis]] formed part of his show.		[[Frank Fillis]] was South Africa's greatest and best-known circus proprietor of the late 19th and early 20th century. He was a highly talented horseman, animal trainer and choreographer of epic spectacles, like the ''[[Savage South Africa]]'' show in London (1899) and the ''[[Boer War Spectacle]]'' in St. Louis (1904). The former was part of the Greater Britain Exposition at Earl's Court. This show was meant to be a showpiece of South African (local) identity. ''[[Savage South Africa]]'' depicted scenes from the Matabele wars of 1893 and 1896 and was tasked with introducing Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) as a new colony to the British public. The latter was part of the World's Fair in St. Louis, America, and scenes from the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) were depicted. As part of both spectacles a kraal was also reconstructed, presumably to depict the various black tribes in their natural, daily life. Showmen such as Frank Fillis helped to form European and American perceptions of Africans in the 19th and 20th century. [[Frank Fillis's Circus]] was for 30 years an institution in South Africa. Apart from himself, Frank's second wife, [[Madame Fillis]] (alias [[Eliza Fillis]] or [[Lazel Fillis]]) and later his three children, [[Frank Fillis Jr.]], [[Adele Fillis]] and [[Cecil Fillis]] formed part of his show.
−

	==Productions/spectacles staged in South Africa==		==Productions/spectacles staged in South Africa==

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:23, 16 June 2026
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	http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rqzhhJInpU		http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rqzhhJInpU
		+
		+	[[Walter Greyvenstein\|Greyvenstein, Walter]] 1988. The history and development of children's theatre in English in South Africa. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Johannesburg: Rand Afrikaans University.
		+
		+	Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]

	== Return to ==		== Return to ==

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 [[Frank Fillis]] was South Africa's greatest and best-known [[circus]] proprietor of the late 19th and early 20th century, presenting spectacular shows in permanent buildings in late Victorian and Edwardian Cape Town, Johannesburg and Kimberley between 1879-1912. His [[circus]] was generally known as '''[[Frank Fillis's Circus]]''', or simply '''[[Fillis' Circus]]'''.
-The lavish shows cost 10 guineas for the gala evening, and he paid his clowns  and other artistes very well. His second wife [[Vincenda Fillis]] (the world’s first “human cannonball”) and the two Boswell brothers were among his top acts. Frank Fillis established a circus in South Africa in 1883. Permanent arenas erected by the showman in “most of the principal towns” testified to the popularity of his company which had become “quite an institution” by 1893. Beyond the entertainment routes travelled by Fillis in southern Africa, his 100-strong company also toured the colonies and settler societies of Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and India. His 1892-94 tours of Australasia were responsible for transferring new trends in circus entertainments to local managers, but international scholarship recognises the showman for the epic spectacles he produced in London in 1899 and the St Louis World’s Fair in 1904. Part ethnographic people show, part historical reconstruction, ''[[Savage South Africa]]'' (London, 1899) staged epic re-enactments of the Matabele Wars of 1893 and 1896 for which several hundred native African people were imported. The Boer War military spectacle (St Louis, 1904) employed soldiers and officers from both sides to recreate major battles from the hostilities of 1899-1902. Throughout his career, Fillis repeatedly produced representations of war between British Imperial forces and the inhabitants of the colonies of southern Africa. His earlier staging of an episode from the Zulu War, produced in Australia in 1893, was a thematic precursor to the later military spectacles and also influenced acts subsequently produced in Australian circuses in the aftermath of the Anglo-Boer War.
+In 1889 he opened a "magnificent new building" in Johannesburg which was capable of holding 2,500 patrons for which he spared neither "pains nor money". Fillis' business manager was [[Carn Severn]].
 [[Frank Fillis]] was South Africa's greatest and best-known circus proprietor of the late 19th and early 20th century. He was a highly talented horseman, animal trainer and choreographer of epic spectacles, like the ''[[Savage South Africa]]'' show in London (1899) and the ''[[Boer War Spectacle]]'' in St. Louis (1904). The former was part of the Greater Britain Exposition at Earl's Court. This show was meant to be a showpiece of South African (local) identity. ''[[Savage South Africa]]'' depicted scenes from the Matabele wars of 1893 and 1896 and was tasked with introducing Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) as a new colony to the British public. The latter was part of the World's Fair in St. Louis, America, and scenes from the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) were depicted. As part of both spectacles a kraal was also reconstructed, presumably to depict the various black tribes in their natural, daily life. Showmen such as Frank Fillis helped to form European and American perceptions of Africans in the 19th and 20th century. [[Frank Fillis's Circus]] was for 30 years an institution in South Africa. Apart from himself, Frank's second wife, [[Madame Fillis]] (alias [[Eliza Fillis]] or [[Lazel Fillis]]) and later his three children, [[Frank Fillis Jr.]], [[Adele Fillis]] and [[Cecil Fillis]] formed part of his show.

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:05, 8 January 2022
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	== Career in South Africa==		== Career in South Africa==

−	[[Frank Fillis]] was South Africa's greatest and best-known circus proprietor of the late 19th and early 20th century, presenting spectacular shows in permanent buildings in late Victorian and Edwardian Cape Town, Johannesburg and Kimberley between 1879-1912. His [[circus]] was generally known as '''[[Frank Fillis's Circus]]''', or simply '''[[Fillis' Circus]]'''.	+	[[Frank Fillis]] was South Africa's greatest and best-known [[circus]] proprietor of the late 19th and early 20th century, presenting spectacular shows in permanent buildings in late Victorian and Edwardian Cape Town, Johannesburg and Kimberley between 1879-1912. His [[circus]] was generally known as '''[[Frank Fillis's Circus]]''', or simply '''[[Fillis' Circus]]'''.

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:04, 8 January 2022
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	== Career in South Africa==		== Career in South Africa==

−	[[Frank Fillis]] was South Africa's greatest and best-known circus proprietor of the late 19th and early 20th century, presenting spectacular shows in permanent buildings in late Victorian and Edwardian Cape Town, Johannesburg and Kimberley between 1879-1912. His [[circus]] was generally known as '''[[Frank Fillis's Circus]]''', or simply '''[[Fillis's Circus]]'''	+	[[Frank Fillis]] was South Africa's greatest and best-known circus proprietor of the late 19th and early 20th century, presenting spectacular shows in permanent buildings in late Victorian and Edwardian Cape Town, Johannesburg and Kimberley between 1879-1912. His [[circus]] was generally known as '''[[Frank Fillis's Circus]]''', or simply '''[[Fillis' Circus]]'''.