Carlos Trower / African Blondin performances
A detailed account of most performances and a recognised source can be obtained from Ron Howard. Email : African.blondin@btopenworld.com
Author's additional comments appear in blue.
Performance dates and locations have been gleaned from articles and other media reports, therefore dates and appearances could overlap. Where this and other aspects such as noted below are identified, future research will be initiated.
Most entries record The African Blondin without mention of Carlos Trower, however other artistes used the African Blondin name such as :- Mat Lopez, the renowned and respected Herr Christoff and a performer called Jacko . As you can appreciate, a rather confusing picture.
June 1861 Location Leek Venue Rudyard Lake ( not sure on the accuracy of date. It appears in the AA Walks website but I have not found any supporting evidence to date) 05/02/1862 Location Dundee Venue Angus The Circus
First mention of The African Blondin is in Dundee 05/02/1862 appearing in the Pinder and Swallow partnership. However it has not been established if the Scotland performances pertain to Carlos Trower or Mat Lopez. Therefore the 1862 Scotland performances have been given a separate Header together with an interesting narrative where appropriate, regarding similar performances by other artistes.
04/08/1862 Location New York Venue Myrtle Avenue Park Grand Union celebration
05/08/1862 Location New York Venue Myrtle Avenue Park West Indies Emancipation celebration
27/06/1863 Location Ely Venue Annesdale Cambridgeshire UK
If this is Carlos, and I think it is, is this the launch of Carlos Trower’s talented career in the UK by adopting a more versatile performance? It appears to be more entertaining than the Carlos Trower who performed in the Brooklyn Jubilee celebrations.
04/07/1863 Location Clayhithe Venue Joshua Worts
11/07/1863 Location Clayhithe Venue River Cam
18/07/1863 Location March Venue F.B. Phillips Paddock
This is the first mention of Carlos Trower associated with the name The African Blondin in the UK.
01/08/1863 Location Wisbech Venue Bowling Green Gardens
08/08/1864 Location Basford Venue New Belle Vue Grounds
16/08/1864 Location Congleton Venue Daisy Bank
17/08/1864 Location Congleton Venue Daisy Bank
30/08/1864 Location Leek Venue Leek Cricket Field , Shire Gala Company
03/09/1864 Location Leek Venue New Belle Vue
10/09/1864 Location Market Drayton Venue Gala
24/09/1864 Location Leek Venue Rudyard Lake
26/09/1864 Location Leek Venue Rudyard Lake
03/10/1864 Location Oulton Venue Oulton Racecourse
24/03/1866 Location Northampton Venue Thomas's Music hall
26/05/1866 Location Northampton Venue Melbourne Gardens
12&19/05/1866 Location Northampton Venue Public Gardens
26/05/1866 Location Northampton Venue Melbourne Gardens
01/06/1866 Location Peterborough Venue Great cricket match
08/06/1866 Location Peterborough Venue Tout Hill
23/06/1866 Location Norfolk Venue Victoria Gardens
14/07/1866 Location Cambridge Venue River Ouse
21/07/1866 Location Whitlingham Venue Review Ground Crown Point
04/08/1866 Location Whitlingham Venue Regatter Crown Point
12/08/1866 Location Ipswich Venue The Rosherville
13/10/1866 Location Diss Norfolk Venue The Saracen's Head
20/10/1866 Location Aylsham Norfolk Venue Star Green
23/11/1866 Location Lincolnshire Venue Witham River
30/11/1866 Location Grimsby Venue East Marsh
06/01/1867 Location ? Venue Albambra Hall
24/02/1867 Location Darlington Venue Theatre Royal
28/02/1876 Location Middlesborough Venue Albert Theatre
10/03/1867 Location South Shields Venue Albambra Concert Hall
16/03/1867 Location Leeds Venue Pullan's Music Hall
24/03/1867 Location Promotion Venue Old Tankard Concert Hall Sheffield
18/05/1867 Location Redcar Venue Redcar Race Course
14/06/1867 Location Hull Venue Whitsuntide Festival
25/06/1867 Location Coventry Venue Brandon Park Fair
06/07/1867 Location Redcar Venue Pier Saloon
11/07/1867 Location Redcar Venue Pier Saloon Grand Gala
13/07/1867 Location Redcar Venue Pier Saloon Grand Gala
14/07/1867 Location Hull Venue Queen’s Theatre
20/08/1867 Location Congleton Venue Daisy Bank
14/01/1868 Location Leeds Venue Princess Concert Hall
01/02/1868 Location Portsmouth Venue Portsmouth Music Hall
16/02/1868 Location Portsmouth Venue Portsmouth Music Hall
04/03/1868 location Winksworth Venue Lime Kiln Hall
02/05/1868 Location Lutterworth Venue ????
05/06/1868 Location Nottingham Venue The Castle Grounds
17/07/1868 Location Beverley Venue Field adjacent to Beverley Cattle market
26/09/1868 Location Beverley Venue ???
15/12/1868 Location North Shields Venue Manley's Grand Cirque Olympique
18/04/1869 Location Harlepool Venue Theatre Royal
03/05/1869 - 04/05/1869 – 10/05/1869 – 14/05/1869 – 17/05/1869
Location Liverpool Venue Royal Coliseum Theatre Paradise Street
07/05/1869 Location Bishop Auckland Venue Market Place
02/08/1869 Location ???? Venue Floral & Horticultural Society
25/08/1869 Location Durham Venue Barnard castle
04/09/1869 Location Bishop Auckland Venue Barnigham Park Gala
11/08/1869 Location Darlington Venue Promenade Concert
05/12/1869 ???? See below same date Location Burnley Venue Peoples Hall
05/12/1869 Location Leeds Venue Thornton Varieties
11/12/1869 Location Leeds Venue Thorntons Music Hall
14/12/1869 Location Leeds Venue Leeds Music Hall
16/01/1870 Location Hull Venue Mechanics
23/04/1870 location Sleaford Venue Market place
30/05/1870 Location Bradford Venue Reel Park
08/06/1870 Location Bradford Venue Bradford Park
11/06/1870 Location Bradford Venue Sunday Schools of Bradford Reel Park Gala
23/05/1870 Location Bradford Venue Peel Park West Riding Gala
22/06/1870 Location Aberdeen Venue West End Gardens
26/06/1870 Location Aberdeen Venue West End Recreational Grounds
02/08/1870 04/08/1870 – 05/08/1870 – 06/08/1870
Location Dublin Venue Quaglients Lower Abbey Street
06/08/1870 Location Dublin Venue Quaglients Italian Circus
August 1870 Location Carlisle Venue Turf hotel
30/08/1870 Location Eastham Venue Pleasure Gardens
24/09/1870 Location Longton Venue Victoria Theatre
01/01/1871 Location Leigh Venue Royal Music Hall
22/06/1871 Location Ripon Venue Horticultural and Floral Fete
31/07/1871 Location Bristol Venue Avonmouth Fetes Zoological Gardens
24/09/1871 Location Halifax Venue Royal Hotel Odd Fellows Hall
11/05/1872 Location Bramwell Lane Sheffield Venue Sheaf House Gardens
21/05/1872 Location Bramwell Lane Venue Sheath House Gardens
08/06/1872 Location Carnforth Venue The National School
30/05/1873 Location Blackpool Venue Raikes Hall Gardens Start of a four month engagement.
23/08/1873 Location Blackpool Venue Raikes Hall Gardens
29/09/1873 Location Blackpool Venue Raikes Hall Gardens Completion of the four month engagement. . Carlos was presented with a silver and gold medal by the Raikes Hall Directors.
19/10/1873 Location Southport Venue Alexandra Gardens
18/12/1873 Location Bradford Venue Alhambra
22/02/1874 Location Bradford Venue Alhambra
28/02/1874 Location Huddersfield Venue Theatre Royal
08/03/1874 Location Huddersfield Venue Theatre Royal
28/03/1874 Location Chesterfield Venue Old Recreation Ground
11/04/1874 Location Chesterfield Venue Old Recreation Ground
16/05/1874 Location Chesterfield Venue Codnor Park
12/07/1874 Location Redcar Venue Congleton - Redcar Pier Saloon
07/02/1875 Location London Venue Sanger’s Grand National Ampi Theatre
14/02/1875 Location London Venue Sanger's Grand National Ampi Theatre
06/03/1875 Location Sheffield Venue Alhambra Palace
14/03/1875 Location Sheffield Venue Alhambra Palace
22/03/1875 Location Birmingham Venue Concert Hall of Varieties
25/04/1875 Location Wolverhampton Venue Molineux Grounds
15/05/1875 Location Sheffield Venue Codnor Park
24/07/1875 Location Oswestry Venue Chirk Castle
04/08/1875 Location Taunton Venue Vivary Park ??? Carlos in Brooklyn ??? see next entry
04/08/1875 Location New York Venue Myrtle Avenue Park Paul Green identified the said article as " Carlos was expected to appear" it could be that Carlos did not make the trip.
07/08/1875 location Oswestry Venue Chirk Castle
20/08/1875 Location Oswestry Venue Chirk Castle
07/09/ 1875 Location Tiverton Venue The Wilderness
23/08/1875 Location Barnstaple Venue Grand Monster Gala
30/01/1876 Location Cardiff Venue Hutchinson and Tayleurs Circus
28/01/1876 Location Leicester Venue Stoodly and Harstones Circus
05/03/1876 Location Leicester Venue Theatre Royal
29/03/1876 Location Belfast Venue Botanic Gardens
03/04/1876 Location Belfast Venue Botanic Gardens
15/04/1876 Location Belfast Venue Botanic Gardens
16/07/1876 Location Gainsborough and Cheltenham Venue Promotion
18/07/1876 Location Cirenster Venue Oddfellows Fete
17/01/1877 Location Chester Venue Swallows Circus
24/03/1877 Location Chesterfield Venue Recreation Ground
31/03/1877 Location Chesterfield Venue Recreation Ground
08/04/1877 Location Chesterfield Venue Recreation Ground
12/05/1877 Location Morecombe Venue Morecombe Gardens
23/05/1877 Location Morecombe Venue Morecombe Gardens
03/06/1877 Location Morecombe Venue Morecombe Gardens for twelve weeks
26/08/1877 Location Morecombe Venue Moss Hall Garden re engaged for six weekks
28/10/1877 Location Brighton Venue Ginett’s Hippodrome and Olympia
04/11/1877 Location Brighton Venue Ginnett’s Grand Olympia
18/11/1877 Location Leamington Venue Sanger’s Circus
24/11/1877 Location Leamington Spa Venue Victoria Pavilion Circus
13/01/1878 Location Wolverhampton Venue Prince of Wales
21/01/1878 Location Nottingham Venue Alexandra Ice Rink
10/03/1878 Location Birmingham Venue Reservoir Rink
15/03/1878 Location Hanley Venue Peoples Music Hall
28/04/1878 Location Tunbridge Wells Venue Skating rink
03/05/1878 Location Tunbridge Wells Venue Skating Rink
30/06/1878 Location Staffordshire Venue Rudyard Lake
07/07/1878 Location Leek Venue Rudyard Lake
07/07/1878 Location Leek Venue Rudyard lake
17/07/1878 African Blondin Sails to America on steamer Ageral
28/07/1878 Arrives in America performances on the high rope at Myrtle Park Brooklyn
01/08/1878 Appears at Myrtle Avenue Park Brooklyn
08/08/1878 Appears at Hamilton Park Newhaven Connecticut
20/08/1878 Booked to appear at Myrtle Park
09/09/1878 Appears at Myrtle avenue Park Brooklyn Emancipation celebration
15/09/1878 Appearing at Brighton Beach, Colney Island.
01/08/1878 Location New York Venue Myrtle Avenue Park
03/08/1878 Location New York Venue Myrtle Avenue Park
02/09/1878 Location New York Venue Myrtle Avenue Park Masonic Building fund
04/09/1878 Location New York Venue Myrtle Avenue Park Masonic picnic
10/09/1878 Location New York Venue Myrtle Avenue Park Volkes festival
12/09/1878 Location New York Venue The Cannstatter Festival
17/11/1878 Location Swansea Venue Star Theatre
16/03/1879 Location Halifax Venue Odd Fellows Hall
30/03/1879 Location Leeds Venue Thornton's Varieties
06/04/1879 Location Sheffield Venue Old Tankard
20/04/1879 Location Sheffield Venue Old Tankard
28/04/1879 Location Brighton Venue Skating Rink
04/05/1879 Location Brighton Venue Skating Rink
31/05/1879 Location Northampton Venue Victoria Gardens Fete
15/06/1879 Location Cheshire Venue New Perry Gardens
23/06/1879 Location Liverpool Venue New Ferry Hotel
06/07/1879 Location Brighton Venue Kings Road rink
27/07/1879 Location Stowmarket Venue Foresters Gate
05/08/1879 Location Stowmarket Venue Foresters Gate
06/08/1879 Location Northampton Venue Melbourne Gardens
The African Blondin appears continuously at the Melbourne gardens up to and including the next entry.
17/07/1880 Location Northampton Venue Melbourne Gardens
07/08/1880 Location Stowmarket Venue Oddfellows Gala
26/08/1880 Location Stowmarket Venue Forrester's Fete
04/09/1880 Location Near Chesterfield Venue Brampton Mill Dam
October 1880 Location Dunfries Venue Grand fete and private Edinburgh Picnic
17/10/1880 Location Wellingborough Venue Promotion
06/11/1880 Location Wellingborough Venue The Exchange
27/11/1880 Location Wellingborough Venue Skating Rink
11/12/1880 Location Wellingborough Venue Skating Rink
25/12/1880 Location Wellingborough Venue Skating Rink
25/12/1880 Location Wellingborough Venue Corn Exchange
29/12/1880 Location Kettering Venue Grand Ball at the Skating Rink
31/12/1880 Location Kettering Venue Corn Exchange
15/01/1881 Location Reading Venue Fossetts Circus
22/01/1881 Location Reading Venue Fossetts Circus
18/06/1881 Location Wallaston Venue Foresters Anniversary
22/06/1881 Location Newport Pagnall Venue Grand fete
09/07/1881 Location Thrapston Venue Raunds
16/07/1881 Location Leighton Buzzard Venue Between bridges at linslade for three days
01/08/1881 Location Deptford london Venue Fete and Gala
20/08/1881 Location Wellingborough Venue None given ?????? Same date as Next entry
20/08/1881 Location Gravesend Kent Venue Rosherville Gardens
27/08/1881 Location Gravesend Kent Venue Rosherville Gardens
27/08/1881 Location Scotland Venue Peterhead ??? Same date as previous entry, could be another performer.
03/09/1881 Location Gravesend Venue Rosherville Gardens for three weeks
08/04/1882 Location Colchester Venue Skating Rink
28/06/1882 Location Chatham Kent Venue Chatham Recreation Grounds
03/07/1882 Location Gravesend Venue Rosherville Gardens
15/07/1882 Location Gravesend Kent Venue Rosherville Gardens
27/07/1882 07/08/1882, 08/08/1882
Locations Dartford Maidstone Deptford Venue Foresters
10/08/1882 11/08/1882 31/08/1882
Locations Port Hill Park Hanley Romford Venues’ Not known
12/08/1882 Location Gravesend Kent Venue Rosherville Gardens
26/08/1882 Location Preston Venue Preston Pleasure Gardens
26/08/1882 Location Burton upon Trent Venue Grand Floral and Musical Fete
02/09/1882 Location Preston Venue Preston Pleasure Gardens
20/09/1882 Location Preston Venue Pleasure Gardens
23/09/1882 Location Germany Venue Promotion regarding Breslau
02/10/1882 Location London Venue Britannia Theatre
09/10/1882 Location London Venue Britannia Theatre
11/11/1882 Location Germany Venue Promotion regarding Breslau
01/12/1882 Location Breslau Venue Unknown
10/03/1883 17/03/1883 Location Berlin Venue Breslau and Berlin promotion
31/03/1883 07/04/1883 Location Belfast Venue Botanical Gardens
Whit Monday 1883 Location Pontypool Venue Grand Volunteer Fete
09/06/1883 Location Wensleydale Venue Hardow Scar, Hawes
07/07/1883 14/07/1883 Location Shoreham Sussex Venue Swiss Gardens
27/07/1883 Location Penzance Venue Laregan Gardens
06/08/1883 Location Richmond Venue Old Deer Park
07/08/1883 Location Old Kent Road Venue Recreation Grounds
18/08/1883 Location Douglas Isle of Man Venue Falcon’s Cliff Gardens
25/08/1883 Location Isle of Man Venue Laxey Glen Gardens
20/09/1883 Location Laregan Venue Fete in grounds of W.C. Barlase M.P.
06/10/1883 Location Westminster Venue Royal Aquarium
17/10/1883 Location London Venue Royal Aquarium
Easter Monday 1884 Location Canterbury Venue Grand fete
05/04/1884 Location Dewsbury Venue Montpelier Pleasure Ground
12/04/1884 Location Ossett Venue Opening of Montpellier Gardens Ossett Spa
19/04/1884 Location Ossett Venue The new Pleasure Grounds at South Ossett
05/04/1884 Location Ossett Venue Montpellier Pleasure Ground
25/05/1884 Location Enfield Venue Adkins Annual Fete
02/06/1884 Location Enfield Venue Adkins Annual Fete
18/07/1884 Location Coventry Venue Quinton Pool
19/07/1884 Location Sudbury Venue Priory Grounds
31/07/1884 Location Longford Venue Liberal Fete at Longford
04/08/1884 05/08/1884 Location Gloucester Venue Kendal Fete
05/08/1884 Location Gloucester Venue Liberal Fete
25/08/1884 Location Romford Venue Grand Fete
27/08/1884 Location Crystal Palace Venue Foresters Fete
30/08/1884 Location Crystal Palace Venue
06/09/1884 Location Crystal Palace Venue Foresters Fete
05/09/1884 Location Crystal Palace Venue International Exhibition
31/10/1884 Location Longford Park Gloucester Venue Grand Liberal Fete and Gala
04/07/1885 Location Blackpool Venue Raikes Gardens
25/07/1885 Location Blackpool Venue Raikes Hall
08/08/1885 22/08/1885 29/08/1885 Location Blackpool Venue Raikes Hall
15/05/1886 African Blondin just returned from the Continent
12/06/1886 Location Northampton Venue Blisworth Hotel and Gardens
26/06/1886 03/07/1886 10/07/1886 Location Romford Venue Promotion Romford Fete
17/07/1886 24/07/1886 Location Woodstock Venue Blenheim Park. By kind permission of the Duke of Marlborough.
31/07/1886 Location Blenheim Park Venue Foresters fete
31/07/1886 Location Woodstock Venue Foresters fete
04/09/1886 Location Gravesend Kent Venue Rosherville Gardens
11/09/1886 Location Gravesend Kent Venue Rosherville Gardens
25/10/1886 Location Treorky Wales Venue Fletcher's Grand fete and Gala (No evidence to confirm this performance)
28/12/1886 Location Cheltenham Venue Winter Gardens
16/04/1887 Location Malvern Venue Assembly rooms
20/05/1887 Location Newark Venue Scronce Hill Gardens
24/06/1887 Location Tunbridge Wells Venue Lighting the Beacon Fires
15/07/1887 Location Tunbridge Wells Venue Friendly Societies Fete
31/12/1887 Location Portsmouth Venue Olympia
16/01/1888 17/01/1888 03/02/1888 up to 04/02/1889 Location Bristol Venue Colston Hall
11/02/1888 Location Bath Venue The Bath Pavillion (No evidence of the actual performance)
May 1888 Location Swansea Venue The Manselton Fete
31/07/1888 Location Torquay Venue Cockington Court
This Page shows Newspaper publication dates (Red). I have considered using the performance dates where possible, but to save any confusion, publication dates will be used. If you wish to know any performance dates please contact Ron Howard for a comprehensive copy of the fascinating and detailed article/s that were published.