THE AUSTINS

Unless otherwise noted, photos and information courtesy of Don Stacey and George Garrard

Albert "Bandbox" Austin, born in 1872

Photo courtesy of The Clowns' Gallery

Spider and Alby Austin with Little Billy Merchant

Albert and Leonard Austin were two of England's most popular 20th century clowns. They followed their father, Albert "Bandbox" Austin into the business, their mother Addie being from the famous Ginnett circus dynasty.

Albert Jr., known as "Alby", born in London in 1903, made his clowning debut in 1916 when he joined his father in the ring at Frank Bostock's Circus.

Younger brother Len, known as "Spider", later joined the pair adding his droll sense of humor to Alby's more grotesque auguste style.

Later Alby and Spider teamed up with William "Little Billy" Merchant. At one time or another they worked such famous British shows as Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Yarmouth Hippodrome, Crystal Palace, the Royal Italian, Ginnett's, the Royal Agricultural Hall, Blackpool Tower, Sanger's, Bertram Mills', Chipperfield's, Robert Bros., Bell Vue, Manchester, Billy Smart's, and Captain Prince-Cox's circus promotions.

After touring together with Bertram Mills' Circus, Alby and Little Billy stayed on with Spider heading out on his own.

In 1953 Spider took a troupe of British clowns to that haven of great clowning, the Cirque Medrano in Paris.

For some years Alby and Billy worked with Coco at the Bertram Mills Circus and after the Mills' retirement Little Billy teamed with Jacko Fossett.

Alby Austin

Spider Austin's troupe at Medrano

Photo courtesy of The Arthur Pedlar Collection

The clowns of the Cirque Medrano in Paris, 1953-54

At top: Arthur Pedlar; 2nd row: Billy Beck, Ken Simpson, Frankie Fossett, Will Norman; 3rd row: Loriot, Spider Autin, Holley Gray; 4th row: Rhum, unidentified child clown, Nino and Charly.

Photo courtesy of The Mike Austin Collection