Silvers Circus
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment, Circus |
| Founded | 1946 |
| Founder | Mervyn King, David Hardie Snr., Les Hardie, David Hardie Jnr. |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
Area served | Australia |
| Products | Circus performances |
Silver's Circus is an Australian circus enterprise that was initially established in Sydney in 1946 by Mervyn King and businessman David Hardie Snr., together with his sons Les and David Jnr.
History
The inspiration for the name 'Silvers' came from a neon sign that King noticed outside Sydney's Silver Grill restaurant. The collaboration of King's circus expertise and the Hardie family's financial and technical backing enabled Silver's Circus to expand rapidly. King took on the stage name Alwyn Silver as the Ring Master, creating a distinctive brand image. Within a span of five years, it became the largest traveling show in Australia, performing throughout every mainland state.
Silver's Circus gained acclaim for its meticulous organization, striking visual presentation, and widespread appeal. It was particularly notable as the first circus to traverse the formidable Nullarbor Plain by road. Although the company disbanded at its height in 1953, the 'Silver' brand was subsequently revived by other circus groups.
King, who had been orphaned and raised from age seven by St. Leons Circus, was a distinguished animal trainer and acrobat famed for his lion acts and horsemanship. He sold Silver's Circus prematurely in 1953, anticipating television as a future challenge to live shows, despite TV's rural influence being postponed until the 1960s. King died in 2003 at the age of 96.
Though not the original organization, Silver's Circus has continued operations throughout Australia under Anton and Anna Gasser since 1976, now operating as Silvers Grand Magic Circus.
Second incarnation
In 1976, Anton and Anna resurrected Silvers Circus within Australia. Their three children—Tony, Rosita, and Dominik—have all pursued careers as circus performers, perpetuating the family tradition. A two-hour television special produced in Sydney was broadcast to audiences in Europe and America. By 1982, Silvers had earned recognition as "One of the best Ten Circuses in the world." Featuring regular contributions from international performers, Silvers Circus presents an ever-evolving and vibrant program. Rosita and Dominik perform and direct alongside their parents, while eldest son Tony and his wife Debbie oversee a related enterprise called Unique Attractions.
Ross Skiffington was responsible for creating, writing, directing, and acting as ringmaster for Silver's Grand Magic Circus. This production blended spectacular illusions with circus acts, drawing over 150,000 spectators during a ten-month tour across Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales, and South Australia. The theatrical show remains active today.