A Night on the Town
Below are just a few names of well known entertainers that visited Knighton in it's hay-day
Hoffman's Organophonic Band
Hereford Journal - 15th August 1860
KNIGHTON - Hoffman's Organophonic Band - This company of performers gave an entertainment at the Assembly Rooms, on Friday and Monday evening last. The attendance on each occasion was large and respectable.
Bristol Mercury
The artists, nine in number, Coin what is termed in the bills, a "human voice orchestra", in other words, they, by means of vocal organ, imitate a variety of instruments. We are told that the perfection to which they have reached has cost their conductor a large expenditure both time and money, and the closeness with which they imitate is interesting, not only as displaying the capabilities of the human voice, but also as showing what seemingly insurmountable obstacles skill and perseverance may overcome. The organophonic musicians do not confine their imitations to any particular class of instruments; brass and reed, wind, string and percussion fall equally within their scope. One man screws his mouth up to a sort of whistling form, and straightway he emits the rich, mellow tones of the clarinet; a second produces those of the cornet, a third becomes a sort of trombone, a fourth imitates the crisp rattle of 'tambour militaire', while a fifth so truthfully imitates the jingle of the cymbals that it is difficult for the listener to persuade himself that he has not before him some turbaned Ethiop clattering the brazen sounds after approved oriental fashion. When playing in combination, the singers produce much of the effect of a small military band, but at intervals of the concert a couple of the most skilled of them venture to appear as soloists, and more marvellous still, one of them actually plays by himself "concertante duett," on the clarinet and cornet-a-piston.
ETHIOPIAN SERENADERS
Hereford Journal - 13th March 1861
KNIGHTON - ETHIOPIAN SERENADERS. - An entertainment was given at the Public Rooms, on Wednesday, by this company of performers. The attendance was not very numerous, which doubtless may be attributed to the unpropitious state of the weather. Several of the pieces were cleverly executed, and drew from the audience rapturous applause.
The Serenaders had played for John Tyler who was tenth President of the United States (1841–1845)
HENGLER'S CIRCUS
Hereford Journal - 29th May 1861
KNIGHTON - HENGLER'S CIRCUS. This company paid a visit to Knighton on Saturday, and gave two entertainments, that in the afternoon was not very numerously attended, but in the evening the spacious marquee was crowded in every part. The performance throughout gave general satisfaction. The stud of horses, which appear to have been well-selected, were in good condition, and greatly admired.
THE BROUSIL FAMILY
Hereford Journal - 17th January 1863
KNIGHTON - THE BROUSIL FAMILY. This talented company gave a morning and evening concert on Tuesday last, at the Assembly-room. The morning concert was not very well attended, but in the evening there was a large and respectable audience present, the Assembly-room being densely crowded. The performance throughout gave entire satisfaction and received the hearty and frequent plaudits of the audience.
Antonia, piano, Cecilie, 2nd violin; Bertha, violin solo, Adolphus, viola gamba, Aloys, 1st violin Albin, violoncello
Their father, Frances, was their manager
The Brousil family came from Prague in 1856. They played for Queen Victoria and the Royal family on three occasions.
Also on the bill of entertainment that night were :- Miss Bessie Waugh, pianist, Miss Bellingham, and Mr. Harry George Pratt (vocalists), and the great German siffluer Herr Susman,
Herr Susman, without the use of any musical instrument, the artist whistled exact imitations of all the varieties of singing birds—nightingale, skylark, thrush, canary, linnet, chaffinch, and many others; and gave also equally clever imitations of the donkey, pig, and young colt. The absolute perfection to which Herr Susman has attained in whistling all these sounds, and the compass of notes through which he runs would scarcely credited by anyone who had not heard him.
Signor Jacobowitch
The Royal Polish vocalist
Hereford Times 11 July 1863
KNIGHTON - CONCERT. Signor Jacobowitch, his lady, and son gave a grand concert in the Assembly-rooms, on Wednesday evening, to a large and highly respectable company, the whole of which seemed highly delighted with the evenings entertainment.
SIGNOR JACOBOWITCH, was of Szczuen, Viovotzfo. Augustofski. in Poland. He had performed for Royalty and Nobility in Poland and Germany, some of whom were :-
His Majesty the King of Prussia,
Prince Frederick Angostura Duke of Saxony,
His Royal Highness the. Grand Duke of Saxe Weimer,
Their Majesties the Vice King and Queen of Prussian Poland.
Her Royal Highness the Electress of Hesse Cassel,
His Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz,
Baron Saz, Warsaw; the celebrated Louis Sphor,
His Royal Highness Prince Frederick of Berlin,
C. Moeser, King's Concert Master. Berlin,
C. Horn, Organist of St. George's Chapel, Windsor
Cremona Musical Union
L to R. - Lzzie, Sophie, Charles, Zara, Marie, Everard, Miranda, Henri.
Shrewsbury Chronicle - 9th February 1866
KNIGHTON CONCERT —On Saturday and Monday evening the inhabitants were afforded a great musical treat in the. assembly rooms, by the appearance of Dr. Greenhead's talented family, who style themselves the Cremona Musical Union. The programme contained both vocal and instrumental pieces, and the very large audience which attended on Monday evening were highly pleased with the entertainment; the performances of Miss Zara on the violin and Miss Lizzie on the piano being something marvellous.
Hereford Journal - 9th March 1867
CREMONA MUSICAL UNION. - This naturally-gifted family, consisting of five sisters, and three brothers, gave two entertainments in the Assembly Rooms, on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings last. Considering their well-known proficiency and unrivalled execution of their grand selections, having visited this town on two previous occasions, it was a wonder that the Greenhead family did not meet with the success anticipated; however, those who are fond of music, and stayed away, lost a great treat.
THE WELSH NIGHTINGALE
Wellington Journal - 8th December 1866
KNIGHTON - Yesterday week this town was visited by Madam Williams, better known as the "Welsh Nightingale", who gave a very amusing evening's entertainment at the Farmers Club House Hotel, to a large and respectable audience. Madam Williams being well-known to the country at large, it would, indeed, be a hard task for us to speak in terms of praise high enough for her; suffice to say, that she kept the company sometimes in roars of laughter, at other times admiring her beautiful singing; indeed, in some of her songs she even eclipsed herself. "The Bells of Aberdovy" and one or two others, being most beautifully rendered.
Miss Elizabeth Lucy Williams
Miss Williams performed shows all over Britain and in July 1857 she crossed the Atlantic lured by promises made by P T Barnum. Mr Barnum didn't face up to his side of the bargain and she left to go out on her own. On 17 May 1858 Miss Williams married George Evan Williams in Manhattan, New York. She performed at several venues in America, these included the Quakers of Philadelphia and the Mozart Hall, Broadway, New York to name but two. In 1859 she returned to England, first performing in London then a performance in Ireland.
SANGER'S WAX-WORKS
Wellington Journal - 21st August 1869
KNIGHTON - SANGER'S WAX-WORKS.— Sanger's collection of wax-work paid a flying visit to this town on Saturday last, arriving about three o'clock in the afternoon. They located themselves in the square space at the top of High-street, and were very successful, numbers entering until a late hour. Not long after closing the collection from the public, a fire was discovered to have broken out in one of the vans containing some very valuable specimens, in wax, of people of notoriety. Making an immediate alarm, the proprietor soon obtained the assistance of a number of persons, who worked with great zeal to get under control the destructive element, which they fortunately achieved in a very short time, keeping the fire confined to the van where it first made its appearance. The damage amounted to a considerable sum. Unfortunately, the only fire-engine we can boast of possessing, was not, in very good condition.
