Yes, he is the same. Informations are surprisingly poor about this clown, that was indeed pretty popular in England. I even suspect that he was the most direct inspiration to Chaplin's Calvero. His name was Thomas Dawson Walker. Birthdate? The scarce sources at my knowledge reports of him becoming clown in 1865 at age ten. Following British author John S.Clarke, author of awesome "Circus Parade" (1936), he started with small British circuses and travelling shows (as Biddall, Fanque, Adams). As far I can document, it is safe to say that he went to America around 1874 (show unknown), probably for a single season, then back in London to Hengler's. Always Clarke mentions later trip overseas saw him with Forepaugh then Barnum-Bailey. Back to England, he worked back at Hengler's, in pantomimes at Drury Lane, finally becoming a main feature of the first era of Bertam Mill's circuses at Olympia. Clarke reports of him dying just before the opening of Olympia season 1934. I've seen a costume of him at London Theatre Museum. The clown was the subject of a book in 1922: "From sawdust to windsor castle", a title probably remembering a performance with his mule Tomin front of the Queen. Bibliographer Toole-Stoot call this "a poor biography that does not justice to a great clown".
From Slout's "Olympians of the Sawdust Circle" dictionary:
WALKER, THOMAS DAWSON [“Whimsical”]. (July 5, 1851-November 1934) Clown. Born in Hull, England, the son of Robert Stanley Walker, manager of Thomas Cooke’s circus, 1840s. Mother died, 1854; father remarried, moved to Stockport. At 8 years of age apprenticed to Pablo Fanque. Appeared as clown 2 years later. Remained with Fanque for some 8 years. Then, after Fanque’s death, 1871, joined Croueste and Nella’s. Followed by Charles Adams’. Came to USA for John H. Murray’s, 1875; then appearances with Cooper, Bailey & Co., 1879-80; Adam Forepaugh’s, 1880; Barnum, Bailey & Hutchinson, 1881-82. Sailed for England, October 17, 1882, where he was with Hengler’s. [John Turner: “In U.S.A. 16 times, toured the world 3 times, with Hengler’s Circus 14 years, at Drury Lane, in pantomime. 21 seasons.”] Pursued a career in films under the name Jamie Darling, appearing in fourteen between 1913 and 1915.
Raffaele and I must have sent posts at much the same time, and his made it first, so that it looks as if I'm contracdicting him whereas I'm commenting on the question of whether it was the same person. If my belief differed from that of anybody (let alone somebody with the knowledge and archive of Raffaele) I assure you I would have given a reason. The gentleman pictured here is the one I assocaiate with the name Whimsical Walker, and I was not aware that he had crossed the Pond. I stand corrected. However, I do not believe it's the same person who was pictured a few days ago.
Congratulations Raffaele, you have managed to succinctly convey the life story of my Great grandfather Whimsical Walker. In addition to what you have explained, according to his autobiography he went to Australia in 1879. I have traced the advertisement for the show that was run at the time in the 'Sydney Morning Herald.'It being the "English Circus" with a three month engagement in Sydney, opening on Saturday 26th July 1879. After many years of searching for a copy of "From Sawdust to Windsor Castle" I managed to acquire a copy from 'Clown Bluey' in the UK. I read it with great hopes of discovering turths about who W. W. was, however, I have ended up with more questions than answers. This being the case, I have decided to rewrite his story as a fiction adding information I have gleaned over the years, and taking an educated guess as to who and whom he would have encounted during his life.
I would appreciate any correspondence about this matter, and any other advice available.
9 comments:
Yes, he is the same. Informations are surprisingly poor about this clown, that was indeed pretty popular in England. I even suspect that he was the most direct inspiration to Chaplin's Calvero.
His name was Thomas Dawson Walker. Birthdate? The scarce sources at my knowledge reports of him becoming clown in 1865 at age ten.
Following British author John S.Clarke, author of awesome "Circus Parade" (1936), he started with small British circuses and travelling shows (as Biddall, Fanque, Adams). As far I can document, it is safe to say that he went to America around 1874 (show unknown), probably for a single season, then back in London to Hengler's. Always Clarke mentions later trip overseas saw him with Forepaugh then Barnum-Bailey. Back to England, he worked back at Hengler's, in pantomimes at Drury Lane, finally becoming a main feature of the first era of Bertam Mill's circuses at Olympia. Clarke reports of him dying just before the opening of Olympia season 1934.
I've seen a costume of him at London Theatre Museum.
The clown was the subject of a book in 1922: "From sawdust to windsor castle", a title probably remembering a performance with his mule Tomin front of the Queen.
Bibliographer Toole-Stoot call this "a poor biography that does not justice to a great clown".
Definitely not!
John.
From Slout's "Olympians of the Sawdust Circle" dictionary:
WALKER, THOMAS DAWSON [“Whimsical”]. (July 5, 1851-November 1934) Clown. Born in Hull, England, the son of Robert Stanley Walker, manager of Thomas Cooke’s circus, 1840s. Mother died, 1854; father remarried, moved to Stockport. At 8 years of age apprenticed to Pablo Fanque. Appeared as clown 2 years later. Remained with Fanque for some 8 years. Then, after Fanque’s death, 1871, joined Croueste and Nella’s. Followed by Charles Adams’. Came to USA for John H. Murray’s, 1875; then appearances with Cooper, Bailey & Co., 1879-80; Adam Forepaugh’s, 1880; Barnum, Bailey & Hutchinson, 1881-82. Sailed for England, October 17, 1882, where he was with Hengler’s. [John Turner: “In U.S.A. 16 times, toured the world 3 times, with Hengler’s Circus 14 years, at Drury Lane, in pantomime. 21 seasons.”] Pursued a career in films under the name Jamie Darling, appearing in fourteen between 1913 and 1915.
Raffaele and I must have sent posts at much the same time, and his made it first, so that it looks as if I'm contracdicting him whereas I'm commenting on the question of whether it was the same person.
If my belief differed from that of anybody (let alone somebody with the knowledge and archive of Raffaele) I assure you I would have given a reason.
The gentleman pictured here is the one I assocaiate with the name Whimsical Walker, and I was not aware that he had crossed the Pond. I stand corrected.
However, I do not believe it's the same person who was pictured a few days ago.
John.
Congratulations Raffaele, you have managed to succinctly convey the life story of my Great grandfather Whimsical Walker.
In addition to what you have explained, according to his autobiography he went to Australia in 1879. I have traced the advertisement for the show that was run at the time in the 'Sydney Morning Herald.'It being the "English Circus" with a three month engagement in Sydney, opening on Saturday 26th July 1879.
After many years of searching for a copy of "From Sawdust to Windsor Castle" I managed to acquire a copy from 'Clown Bluey' in the UK.
I read it with great hopes of discovering turths about who W. W. was, however, I have ended up with more questions than answers. This being the case, I have decided to rewrite his story as a fiction adding information I have gleaned over the years, and taking an educated guess as to who and whom he would have encounted during his life.
I would appreciate any correspondence about this matter, and any other advice available.
Mr. Dawson,
Please contact me at cashincomedy@yahoo.com!
Thanks,
Pat Cashin
Whimsical Walkers my great great great grandad!
Whimsical Walker is my Great great great grandad
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