Nelson Family Circus Memorabilia & Clippings!
Here Is The Result Of 33 Years Of Bone-Crunching Research!
Feel free to quote, but with proper credit. Thank You. I worked hard to find this stuff and don't mind sharing it, but do mind getting ripped off. I will post more as I am able to crunch it past my fingertips....
NOMINATION OF NELSON FAMILY TO THE CIRCUS HALL OF FAME
- NAME: The Famous Nelson Family
- PLACE AND DATE OF BIRTH: Arthur and Sara (Father & Mother)
London, England, in late 1880's
- PLACE AND DATE OF DEATH: Mt. Clemens, Michigan - Father 1941
- Mother 1959
- FATHER: Arthur Nelson (Hobson, legal name)
- MOTHER: Sara Warren Nelson
- CHILDREN: Rosina, Oneida, Hilda, Theal, Estrella, Carmencita, and Paul
- First on Circus: early 1900's
- ARTIST: Acrobats
"Most Famous Acrobatic Act in circus business. Almost a household name at peak of career. All one family. All children born in America; four generations represented. The troupe was always featured and announced as the most outstanding family of all-time." -- H.H. Belmont -- History of the Circus
Arthur Nelson was the son of Robert Nelson, Sr., a native of London, who with three associates formed the acrobatic act known as the Original Nelson Family.
This act came to America in 1886. A few years later Nelson Sr., with his two small sons, Robert, Jr. and Arthur, appeared in a risley in which the family was to become famous.
In 1871 they signed a contract to appear in the Dan Rice Circus, where they remained for the next four years. ('71-'75). This act traveled extensively in South America and Europe.
In 1886, after a trip to India and Europe again, they returned to the U.S. to remain permanently.
In 1896, Arthur Nelson met newly arrived Sara Warren and they were married at Fon du Lac, Wisconsin on July 9 of that year.
Mrs. Arthur Nelson together with Mrs. Robert Nelson formed a tightwire act, but eventually gave in to family pressure, and joined the family acrobatic troupe.
Nelson Family Chronology
- 1897-1901 The Nelsons, with the Great Wallace Circus
- 1902-1903 Ringling Bros.
- 1904 Walter L. Main Circus
- 1905-1906 Fairs and Amusement Parks
- 1907 Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus
- 1908-1910 Sells-Floto
- (In 1910 the Senior Nelson and his wife retired and Arthur and Sara Nelson took over the act)
- 1911-1912 Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus
- 1913 Wirth's Circus in Australia
- 1914-196 John Robinson's Circus
- 1921-1922 John Robinson's Circus
- 1924-1926 Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey
- 1927-1928 Fairs and Vaudeville Engagements
- 1929-1931 Sparks Circus
- 1932- Sells-Floto Circus
Flying Nelson Family Circus Mementos
- 1896 Ringling Bros. Circus Program & route book
- 1897 Great Wallace Circus Herald
- 1908 Gallmar Bros. Circus Newspaper advertisement newspaper unknown)
- 1910 Ringling Bros. Circus Herald, program & route book
- 1911 Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus Newspaper advertisement (newspaper unknown)
- 1912 Sparks Circus Billboard, 4/20/1212, p. 23
- 1912 Ringling Bros. Circus Herald
- 1913 Ringling Bros. Circus Herald
- 1915 Robinson's Famous Circus Program
- 1920 Sells-Floto Circus Program
- 1921 Sells-Floto Circus Program
- 1923 Sparks Circus Program ("Three Nelsons" indicated)
Victorian Era Circus Clippings In My Collection:
Harry Nilsson In Clown Face
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