Frank Bostock

Roll up, roll up for the Season Four closer — as we take a trip to the circus!

At Trapped History, we look at lives and stories which have been forgotten or ignored, and there is one community in Britain which is still shrouded in mystery even in the 21st century: that of the circus people. So who better to lift the curtain than the King of the Ring himself, Zippo the Clown — or just plain Martin Burton to us.

A vintage circus poster advertising shows at the Hippodrome with a schedule indicating performances on Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday, and holidays at 2:30 PM, and every evening at 8:30 PM. The poster features illustrations of a clown, a horse, a bear, a lion, a tiger, a dog, a man in a uniform, and a tiger.

Not only does Martin shine a light on the lure of the circus but he also joins us on a journey back in time, when Europe and America were in thrall to the greatest showman of all — Frank Bostock, the Animal King from Darlington.

Frank’s is an astonishing story and an amazing life, which tells us so much about the glory years at the turn of the 20th century when technology, travel and theatre collided to create the magical potion of ‘Spectacle’. Get ready for ‘Peak Circus’!

A circus scene with a lion tamer in a green uniform surrounded by five lions, some lying down and one standing. The background shows cages and a sign that reads 'Bostock's', with an additional phrase in French at the bottom.
Circus scene with a lion, white tiger, and another lion balancing on a teeter-totter with a woman in a black dress holding the tiger.
An illustration of a circus scene with two lions, a man in a hat holding a ring, and a dog. The lions are on stools, and the man appears to be performing a trick involving the lions and a ring.
A person herds polar bears in a circus-like setting with platforms and banners, with mountains in the background.
Circus trainer with four lions in a cage, one lion lying down, three standing on red platforms, and the trainer holding a long stick, with a sign labeled "Bostock" in the background.