Charles Ancaster, best known as a plate spinner, came to Australia and New Zealand in 1922, with plates, bottles, hats and clubs.
Charles, it seems, was born in Brussels around 1896, and his birth name was Charles Alfonso Ancaster Harson (see endnotes) . He later told Australian newspapers that he ran away to the circus as a young man, a story that was often told by jugglers at the time. Charles' version had a twist. His father, catching him at the circus, sent him to Japan with some medical students with the aim of becoming a doctor. When he returned to England, war was raging. During the war , he learned how to juggle. Charles claimed to have served five years in the army, but newspaper accounts have him juggling in English music halls in late 1917. By the end of the war he had a reputable juggling act and in 1921 was employed by Moss Enterprises. His wife, 19 year old Agnes, was living with him at that time.
In 1922 Charles sailed to Australia, seemingly without Agnes. After a brief stop in Sydney in March, he played New Zealand in April and May, spinning plates, and juggling hats and clubs. He was billed as the 'inebriated juggler' and affected a 'keystone' manner to entertain the audience. New Zealand reports say that he 'danced' 12 plates on a table.
In June 1922 he arrived in Australia for a five month tour.
Charles was working for Fullers, the second tier Australian vaudeville circuit, the Tivoli being the premier circuit. Fullers had an extensive chain which included many regional towns and cities.
The juggler began his tour in Melbourne. He was well received in the city, but not a sensation. The general view was that he was the highlight of a long and satisfying series of turns, His juggling was praised as 'adept' and unique, but he was not a superstar.
In Newcastle, a regional city, he 'danced ' 9 plates. One trick which drew notice was his bottle juggling. He manipulated bottles around each other in mysterious ways, at one time making one bottle revolve around the side of another for several minutes. As he was the 'inebriated' juggler, bottle spinning was probably a good match for his persona.
Charles' trip to Australia did not cause any major stir, but it was solid act, regarded warmly by reviewers and audiences. When he returned to London he continued his career and his plate dancing was memorialized in several videos such as the one below from 1938.
He passed away in 1965 in London.
BIOGRAPHICAL ENDNOTES;
Charles Ancaster with wife Agnes is on the 1921 UK census living in Wales and working as a musical artist for Moss Empires. born c 1896.
Charles Alfonso Ancaster Harson (variety artist) with wife Agnes Ancaster Harson on a shipping manifest to the US in 1947. (this seems to suggest his birth name was Harson.)
There is also a hand written note on a shipping list with the name "Harson" over the name Ancaster.
There are several other relevant references.