Frank Clifton

Equestrian Clown & Gymnast

aka the Great Raslus the Celebrated Slack-Rope Artiste

1842-1904

 

Born abt.1842, USA or Ireland, unverified. Real name Frank Riley son of Thomas Riley, gentleman. ref: Joe Boganny, The Era, 4 Jul 1912. Frank Clifton, Acrobat, son of Thomas Clifton, Gentleman married widow Sarah Alvarez formerly Daniels otherwise Toledano on 5 Aug 1869 at Whitechapel Register Office, London. Sarah Daniels/Toledano was notably the sister of Moses & Abraham Toledano, better known as 'Mo & Abe Daniels' Musical Clowns, and in Europe as 'Les Freres Daniels', and Joseph Toledano aka 'Joe Daniels' the highly accomplished Minstrel, Professor of Music & Banjoist Par Excellence. 

Father of Joshua Toledano aka Josh Clifton 1871-1948, Mary Clifton aka Polly/Pauline, Mrs. William 'Wilkes' Molesworth Lloyd 1872-1955, and Joseph Toledano aka Joe Clifton later known as Joe Boganny 1874-1943. The family adopted the surname Lazarus circa.1892. 

      An athlete born, who during his youth became noticed by managers as a Contortionist, Gymnast and Clown and whilst performing at Astley's Amphitheatre in London, became apprenticed to the clown, vaultager & somersault thrower Hiram W Franklin, later becoming highly acclaimed himself executing wonders on the Slack-Rope, an Aerial King & Somersault Thrower, as his tutor before him, astounding the public in accomplishing the most daring of feats under several personae throughout his career. Professionally known as Frank, Franki or Frankie Clifton and/or Raslus in the British Isles, Isle of Mann, Ireland, on the Continent of Europe, and other parts of the globe of which he toured a large part from the late 1850's to 1890's. Appeared in Circus, Music-Hall, Theatre, Variety & Vaudeville, often appearing solo, sometimes with his brother/partner as The Royal Clifton Brothers or Brothers Clifton clowning or performing feats on bars, ropes & trapeze. Formed the Raslus Troupe in the mid 1870's which he toured through the British Isles & Ireland and was when his children first entered the circus ring.     

      One of his first appearances found (2024) was in Nov 1857 performing at the Surrey Music Hall, Westbar, Sheffield, England as Young Francois the great Summersault Thrower, Juggler & Balancer. Later in the Spring of 1858 appears as Franki 'the Boneless Youth' & 'the Wonder of the Age' at Wilton's Music Hall, London, who is documented as having appeared with the Equestrian Troupe before Queen Victoria at Buckingham Palace on 24 Jun 1858. 

Young Franki continues to be mentioned in news reports through 1858 & 1859 appearing in Belfast & Dublin, Ireland and other cities in England & Scotland invariably as 'a clever contortionist, trapezeist, french clown, posturer and the 'extraordinary youth' from Astley's Amphitheatre, London whose elegant and unique performances have lately caused so much admiration in London and the Provinces. 

      The Grand Fete & Gala at the Bristol Zooalogical Gardens was held on 25 Jul 1858 where the celebrated artiste Mr. H. R. Clifton (Harry Clifton) from Evan's Music-Hall, Covent Garden, the celebrated Parisienne Clowns French & Louis from Soulier's Cirque, Paris & Crystal Palace, Sydenham and the Young Franki from Astley's were all on the Bill. In March 1859 at the Monster Saloon, Dublin the Franki Brothers from Astley's appear for the first time, in their marvellous feats on the Trapeze & French Clowning, indicating that Franki had a brother or performing partner he occasionally teamed with. Two weeks later at Jude's Concert Hall, Dublin, Ireland, Franki is again recorded performing in his 'Drawing Room Entertainments' at the same time as the popular comic vocalist Mr. H. R. Clifton. It's fascinating to speculate who or what influenced him, however in May 1859 Frank adopted a new name, and the first referrence to the performer Frank Clifton is found, 'a clever youth in the tumbling line', appearing at The Colosseum, Belfast, Ireland. Interestingly in Sep 1859 the Equestrian & Theatrical Agent Ambrose Maynard requests Young Franki oblige him by writing.

      In Feb 1860 The Great Little Clifton announced in The Era the imminent conclusion of a successful run at the Royal Alhambra Palace, Leicester Square, London, Proprietor Thomas McCollum, also appearing there had been Howe's & Cushing's Company, the 'Californian Wonders' with Messrs. Hiram Franklin, Dunbar, McGillon & Fisher.' Describing his line of business as consisting of 'Chairs, Stilts, Somersaults, Contortionist, French Clown, Trapeze etc.', and that he would be 'at Liberty to accept an engagement for Town, Country or the Continent' and for 'H. Clifton to please write' c/o 24, George Street, Blackfriars, Southwark, London.

       It follows, a deal was struck and a contract signed as by mid 1860 Frank Clifton sailed from England with Thomas McCollum's Circus, including Hiram Franklin, the whole company arriving at Cape Argus, South Africa by Sep 1860, at the start of what turned out to be a five year engagement for Frank Clifton who's recorded performing 'wonderful feats on the slack-rope' in Cape Town. By Oct 1860 McCollum's Troupe were in Agra, India, and Mr Clifton was 'performing on the trapeze displaying great talent'. From here reports are sketchy and rare to find, however by Apr 1861 McCollum had erected his circus on the Champs de Mars in Mauritius.

      Hiram Franklin, who had left England with Thomas McCollum, decided to split company with him whilst in South Africa and reformed Franklin & Co's Circus, apparently with much success, leaving The Cape on 24 Jul 1862 after a three month stay, sailing for Mauritius, ultimately bound for Calcutta, India, they never made it, apparently lost, Franklin along with his wife and child and all his company were never seen again, Franklin's business partner Leon was fortunate having remained ashore. 

      Their journey continuing, McCollum had arrived in India and was in Bombay by Jan 1862, whilst there on 24 Nov 1863 the death of Mr George Buckley from Baltimore, USA, who'd been attached to McCollum's Circus was reported. Come Feb 1864 Frank Clifton is mentioned performing along with others, 'Equestrian Feats, Olympique Sports, Acrobatic Wonders & Aerial Flights' with McCollum's on The Maiden, at Calcutta, India, and by Apr 1864 'McCollum's Great American Circus Company' having previously been operating at Maulmein, Burma were at The Straits intending to give some performances there before proceeding to China. In Jan 1865 The New York Clipper's Foreign, Dramatic & Show News reported that Frank Clifton, Equestrian Clown with McCollum's American Circus in India, 'is looked for in England soon, with a Company of 'Native Snake Charmers' and performing 'Flying Foxes'.

      In May & Jun 1865 'The Great Frank Clifton' places Classified Advertisements in The Era, 'Gymnastique, Tumbling Clown, Cord Volante, Stilts, Contortion etc., having concluded a most successful six years engagement with McCollum's American Circus and created a sensation in all parts of the globe visiting Cape Town, Mauritius, Bourbon, Ceylon, Bombay, Lucknow, Delhi, Madras, Calcutta, Java, Burmah, Hong Kong & Japan, is at Liberty, write c/o H. Clifton at 42, New Bond Street, London'., and by Sept '65  made his first appearance with Charles Hengler's Grand Cirque at Kingston-upon-Hull, Yorkshire and was hailed a triumphant success, followed by acrobatic performances at Whitebait Concert Hall, Glasgow, executing 'very wonderful feats that fairly eclipse anything ever seen before'.

      From the begining of Dec 1865, then under the management of Mr John Henderson (1827-1867) Frank Clifton appeared with Cirque Hippodromes Grand Tourament & Christmas Entertainment at The Royal Agricultural Hall's, London as a Slack-Rope Performer and is first mentioned in The Sportsman, reporting on the Equestrian Company, as a former pupil of Hiram Franklin - interestingly 'Young Franklin', a gymnast, was reported appearing successfully that week at The People's Music-Hall, London. Continuing at the Royal Agricultural Hall's till the end of Jan 1866 Mr Frank Clifton performed exceedingly gracefully on the Cord Volante and as Frankie Clifton, clown. From Feb to Apr 1866 Young Hiram Franklin was performing, 'a smart little fellow' on the Cord Volante with 'The New Circus Company' at the Royal Pavillion Hippodrome & Cirque, Brighton, by then under the direction and management of Mr. John Henderson (Mr. Ginnett's successor).

      From Spring 1866 to early 1869, no records have been located but it's presumed Frank Clifton had been touring the Continent and where it's most likely he first met up with his future brothers-in-law, Abe & Mo Daniels, confirmed to some degree in The Era's Classified Ads of Feb 1869, when Frank announced 'Clifton, Clifton, Clifton' the Greatest Corde Volante Performer in the World who has performed in all the great cities throughout the globe, including Cirque Napoleon de l'Imperatrice, Paris now performing at the Alhambra, Holborn, London for upwards of twenty weeks and Crystal Palace, open for a turn for future dates'.

      From Aug to Dec 1869 he played at The Oxford Music-Hall, London with a new persona, 'Raslus' the Roman Gyrist quote "The Great Raslus who made a sensation with his 'Monkey-Sketch' at The Oxford, and proclaimed the only man of his day able to work a somersault from a rocking rope to ground level. Once he fell up to his chest throught he stage floor breaking an arm and a leg, and it was a common sight to see him hobbling around on crutches convalescing from a circus accident, eager to try his luck again" whilst performing there he married Sarah Toledano aka Daniels on 5 Aug 1869

      Newly wed, his performances through 1870 were confined to London, Manchester and other regions of England, notably a return to The Oxford Music-Hall, London and on 9 Apr 1870 whilst appearing at The Cambridge Music-Hall, London, lost his grip on the trapeze and fell crashing down, causing great alarm amongst the audience and a surgeon to be called, luckily he sustained only a bruised thigh and severe shock to the system, recovering enough to return by the 12th. 

      From 1893 and the marriages of his two sons and daughter in England, Frank Clifton appeared Throughout the UK as Raslus with his Raslus Troupe, including 'The Raslus Troupe of Hawkeye Indians & Raslus, The Flying Man' 1884., Croueste's Circus, Edinburgh 1893, Ching's Circus, Douglas, Isle of Man & F. Ginnett;s Circus, Portsmouth 189?

      In 1901 Frank Clifton with his wife Sarah and appears on the National Census of 1901 in Birmingham, Warwickshire.

A resident of that City for many years, Frank was a regular at The Oxford Gymnasium, Woodcock Street, Gosta Green, which was considered one of the very best amongst acrobats and gymnasts in all England, and was the rendezvous and practising ground of gymnasts, acrobats, wire-walkers and posturers etc, etc, where on Sunday mornings a number of notable performers used to assemble, for example, 'Ramza & Arno', when at the time nearly all gymnasts, acrobats and circus performers hailed from either Birmingham or Kingston-upon-Hull. 

      Retired Gymnast Frank Lazarus died on 21 Mar 1904 at Fern Cottage, Olton, Solihull, Warwickshire, England and was buried in temporary grave whilst family were away touring. A burial plot was purchased by Mrs Flora Adele Hengerger aka Flora Adelaide Meers, daughter of the gymnast Hubert William Meers the elder & Susan Carton. Two months later, the family assembled, and his body was reinterred at Yardley Cemetery, Birmingham on 23 May 1904. No evidence is found that a memorial was ever placed there for him, his resting place remains unmarked, however Frank Lazarus is memorialised on his wife's gravestone at Witton Cemetery, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England.

                                                                         

 

First appearance at the

Dundee Music-Hall & Opera House of the Marvellous

RASLUS TROUPE

(six in number) from the principle Continental Circuses including Alvary & Young Talodano

in their Wonderful Acrobatic Drawing Room Entertainment, Gymnastic Games, Double Somersaults, Chairs, Stilts and Corde Volante.

One of the Greatest Performances Travelling. 

26 Oct 1874

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Victoria Theatre Royal

Whitby Street, West Hartlepool

First Appearance in this town of

MONS. RASLUS and ALVEREZ

The Celebrated Gymnasts in their Startling & Beautiful Entertainment

Monday. January 27th, 1873

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