Silvers Circus
Silver's Circus, the original, was an (Australian) circus started by Mervyn King along with tentmakers, David Hardie Snr. and his two sons Les and David Jnr. King, an orphan, was given to St. Leons Circus at the age of seven.He spent his entire life performing in the ring and became one of the Australian Circus' best known animal trainers and acrobats. He started Silver's circus in 1946 by breaking in a first class lion act, buying and training show horses, surplus army tents and other equipment. It became one of the most well organised best looking and popular circuses in the country.
It also was the first to cross the Nullarbor by road, then a corrugated dirt track full of potholes and bulldust.
King changed his stage name to Alwyn Silver to reflect the circus.
King sold Silver's in 1953, admitting later the sale was premature since TV didn't make much of an impact on Australian rural life until well into the 1960s. He saw television as a threat. Mervyn King had two sons. He died in 2003 at age 96.
Although it's not the original circus, the name Silver's Circus still travels Australia. It is run by Anton and Anna Gasser and has been since 1976.
Ross Skiffington was the creator, writer, director & ringmaster of Silver's Grand Magic Circus.Gordon Arnie set designer. Wendy Dalton, Sue McCrohon and Bruce Wood assistant dancers. A Theatrical Presentation of Grand Illusions in a circus environment that played to more than 150,000 in 10 months. Toured Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales and South Australia. Continues to this day.[1]
Further reading
- The Silver Road, a history of King's life.