William Kite: Difference between revisions
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'''William Kite''' was a 19th century [[circus]] [[performer]], best known as being the "Mr. Kite" from the [[Beatles]] song "[[Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!]]"<ref>Turner, Steve (1994) "A Hard Day's Write." New York: HarperCollins.</ref> |
'''William Kite''' was a 19th century [[circus]] [[performer]], best known as being the "Mr. Kite" from the [[Beatles]] song "[[Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!]]"<ref>Turner, Steve (1994) "A Hard Day's Write." New York: HarperCollins.</ref> |
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==Biography== |
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Kite came from a circus family. He was born in [[Lambeth]], [[London]], about 1825. His father, James Kite, was a circus proprietor, and the first to visit Knott Mill Fair, [[Manchester]], in 1806. James Kite formed his own company around 1810, |
Kite came from a circus family. He was born in [[Lambeth]], [[London]], about 1825. His father, James Kite, was a circus proprietor, and the first to visit Knott Mill Fair, [[Manchester]], in 1806. James Kite formed his own company around 1810, traveling as "Kite's Pavilion Circus."<ref name="johnturner1">{{cite web|url=http://pub34.bravenet.com/forum/static/show.php?usernum=2891452389&frmid=280&msgid=1034669&cmd=show |title= Two Centuries of British Circus People Discussion|year=2007|accessdate=2011-04-09}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | William Kite was a performer at Wells's Circus from 1842 to 1843 and in [[Pablo Fanque]]'s circus in [[Rochdale]] from 1843 to 1845.<ref name="johnturner1"/> A "Miss Kite", possibly a sister, also performed in Fanque's circus, in [[Burnley]], in 1845.<ref name="johnturner1"/> His daughter, Elizabeth Ann Kite, later performed in the circus as an "Equestrienne". She married Eugene Gaertner, a member of another circus family.<ref name="johnturner1"/> |
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=="Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite!" song== |
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| ⚫ | A broadside poster advertising Pablo Fanque's Circus Royal show in [[Rochdale]], dated February 14, 1843, inspired, and provided many of the lyrics for, [[The Beatles]]’ song, "[[Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!]] The poster shows Kite balancing, head down, on top of a pole, playing a trumpet. The poster also notes that Mr. Kite was then "late of Wells's Circus."<ref name="chrishobbs1">{{cite web|url=http://www.chrishobbs.com/sheffield/hendersons.htm |title=The Hendersons Were Not There (and neither was Mr Kite)- Sheffield 1848 |publisher=Chrishobbs.com |date=1914-03-28 |accessdate=2011-04-09}}</ref> Kite was a riding master for Pablo Fanque at this time<ref name="johnturner1"/> and the Rochdale poster boasts, "Mr. Kite will, for this night only, introduce the CELEBRATED HORSE, ZANTHUS! Well known to be one of the best Broke Horses IN THE WORLD!!!"<ref name="chrishobbs1"/> The poster also documents that Kite was a [[tightrope]] walker, stating, "Mr. KITE will appear, for the first time this season, On The Tight Rope, When Two Gentlemen Amateurs of this Town will perform with him."<ref name="chrishobbs1"/> Kite was also an all-around performer with [[John Sanger]]'s Circus.<ref name="johnturner1"/> |
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==In The Media== |
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A fictionalized version of Mr. Kite is portrayed as a ringmaster in a musical sequence from the film based on the music of The Beatles, ''[[Across the Universe (film)|Across the Universe]]''. He is played by actor and comedian [[Eddie Izzard]].<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0445922/ Across the Universe] at IMDB</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 03:58, 27 May 2013
William Kite was a 19th century circus performer, best known as being the "Mr. Kite" from the Beatles song "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!"[1]
Biography
Kite came from a circus family. He was born in Lambeth, London, about 1825. His father, James Kite, was a circus proprietor, and the first to visit Knott Mill Fair, Manchester, in 1806. James Kite formed his own company around 1810, traveling as "Kite's Pavilion Circus."[2]
William Kite was a performer at Wells's Circus from 1842 to 1843 and in Pablo Fanque's circus in Rochdale from 1843 to 1845.[2] A "Miss Kite", possibly a sister, also performed in Fanque's circus, in Burnley, in 1845.[2] His daughter, Elizabeth Ann Kite, later performed in the circus as an "Equestrienne". She married Eugene Gaertner, a member of another circus family.[2]
"Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite!" song
A broadside poster advertising Pablo Fanque's Circus Royal show in Rochdale, dated February 14, 1843, inspired, and provided many of the lyrics for, The Beatles’ song, "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite! The poster shows Kite balancing, head down, on top of a pole, playing a trumpet. The poster also notes that Mr. Kite was then "late of Wells's Circus."[3] Kite was a riding master for Pablo Fanque at this time[2] and the Rochdale poster boasts, "Mr. Kite will, for this night only, introduce the CELEBRATED HORSE, ZANTHUS! Well known to be one of the best Broke Horses IN THE WORLD!!!"[3] The poster also documents that Kite was a tightrope walker, stating, "Mr. KITE will appear, for the first time this season, On The Tight Rope, When Two Gentlemen Amateurs of this Town will perform with him."[3] Kite was also an all-around performer with John Sanger's Circus.[2]
In The Media
A fictionalized version of Mr. Kite is portrayed as a ringmaster in a musical sequence from the film based on the music of The Beatles, Across the Universe. He is played by actor and comedian Eddie Izzard.[4]
References
- ^ Turner, Steve (1994) "A Hard Day's Write." New York: HarperCollins.
- ^ a b c d e f "Two Centuries of British Circus People Discussion". 2007. Retrieved 2011-04-09.
- ^ a b c "The Hendersons Were Not There (and neither was Mr Kite)- Sheffield 1848". Chrishobbs.com. 1914-03-28. Retrieved 2011-04-09.
- ^ Across the Universe at IMDB
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