Carlos Trower
The African Blondin
Prince of the Air
This website is an authentic and accurate history of Carlos, I believe it to be the only one at present.
Welcome to the African Blondin Website. Following years of endeavour and at times disappointment, recent technology allowed me to uncover a fascinating story of my great grandfather Carlos Trower, The African Blondin.
This is a story of astonishing Nineteenth Century showmanship that covered UK Counties, Countries and Continents. His illustrious tight rope performances matched the private life he led as a well paid and well known black performer and an unconfirmed bigamist husband of two English ladies. Carlos died penniless in a Bow lunatic asylum of syphilis leaving a destitute wife with three children. I have endeavoured to keep to the facts but have also employed some imagination to assist further research. Was Carlos the only African Blondin or were there two or more relatives sharing a similar name clouding my research? Under the management of a J.A. Trower, Carlos performed at the New York and West Indies Emancipation Jubilee on several occasions. Research has indicated that J.A. Trower was a brother of Carlos, but there was also another J.A. Trower who held a prominent position as a Central Coloured Republican in New York. It is my hope that the three Trowers are related and all played a major role in the development of Black interest within United States. Several unconfirmed and misleading items have appeared on the WW Web that has prompted me to establish and maintain what I believe to be an accurate chronicle of Carlos . However family members, Local history enthusiast, Theatre historians, schools and fellow Carlos researchers are welcome to contact me to discuss, promote and establish a continuous exchange of information.
It should be understood that contacts are aware that it is my decision as to what information is entered on the Website It is my intention to develop this Website with factual traceable information that will hopefully answer the many unknown facts that remain a mystery. Would Researchers', Carlos enthusiast and Historians' who publish Carlos information and photographs please respect the Trower family members' and clearly note if the article is authentic, proven or supposition before publication. For the record, this Website and the Carlos Chronicle articles are traceable and any assumed entries are clearly identified in either Blue or Bold. In addition, the only photograph of Carlos to date is a performance at Rosherville Gardens showing Carlos on a tightrope.
Information contained within this Web site was researched and edited by Mr R.W.Howard. Please contact Ron Howard if you wish to forward or publish any non personal information that appears in this document. Unless previously agreed, I will not endorse personal information or names to be used in any media, film or publication material.
Copyright © 2017 theafricanblondin.com
Best wishes Ron Howard son of William and Rose Howard Nee Tether. **** Email african.blondin@ btinternet.com ( Please copy and paste) Frinton on Sea, Essex, UK
**** My thanks to the late Mr J.D. Jack Lexpo (Lobs) a close friend and colleague for many years for his support in creating this Website, and Paul Green. Paul's expert research knowledge and valued contribution into this unfolding story on both sides of the Atlantic has been most welcome.
Previous update : 28/04/2020
Current update : 03/02/2021
Changes made to page/s **** Introduction
Addition/s and change/s from the previous update are denoted by ****