A photo essay by Tereasa Trevor and Liz Ham profiles the last of the great Australian showmen, 90-year-old Teddy Trevor. The essay recalls the heyday of the showgrounds and Casey Nelson and his double-jointed horse Happy Harry, which Nelson warned was showing there for the last time.
Tereasa Trevor writes that her uncle Teddy was born 90 years ago into a long line of whip-cracking sideshow folk. His grandmother used to dangle people in the air by her teeth. The essay recalls the showgrounds in their heyday, with acts ranging from contortionists and knife-throwers to a double-jointed horse.
Casey Nelson, a fellow showman, spruiked his horse Happy Harry by warning it was 'showing here for the last time' in the 1960s. 'Too late, too late will be the cry, when Happy Harry has passed you by,' Nelson called. After the 'last time' warning, the act continued for another two decades.
The essay is accompanied by Liz Ham's photography, including an image of the Casey Nelson tent show from the late 1940s.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Preserves a slice of Australian cultural history centered on the itinerant show families who operated sideshows.
- Provides a personal, intergenerational account of the performing arts in the pre-television era.
Background
Teddy Trevor's family has a long background in sideshow acts. His grandmother was a performer who dangled people by her teeth. The showgrounds were filled with contortionists, knife-throwers, and novelty acts.
Key Perspectives
- Teddy Trevor (showman): Remembers the peak of the showground era and the enduring act of Happy Harry the horse.
- Tereasa Trevor (author): Provides a family memoir of this tradition through writing, preserved alongside photographs.
What to Watch
- Whether this photo essay prompts wider interest in archiving similar family histories from the Australian showman community.
- The upcoming exhibition or publication of Liz Ham's full photographic series.
Checked
11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 8 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe headline quotes “Hurry, hurry, get your tickets now!”Australia news | The Guardian: “‘Hurry, hurry, get your tickets now!’ The last of the great Australian showmen – photo essay.”
- SupportedTeddy Trevor is described as the last of the great Australian showmen.Australia news | The Guardian: “The last of the great Australian showmen – photo essay.”
- SupportedThe photo essay profiles Teddy Trevor.Australia news | The Guardian: “My Uncle Teddy was born 90 years ago into a long line of whip-cracking sideshow folk”
- Not in the sourcesThe essay is by Tereasa Trevor.Australia news | The Guardian: “My Uncle Teddy was born 90 years ago into a long line of whip-cracking sideshow folk”
- Not in the sourcesLiz Ham supplied the essay’s photography.Australia news | The Guardian: “The Casey Nelson tent show, featuring Happy Harry the double-jointed horse, circa the late 1940s”
- SupportedTeddy Trevor was 90 years old.Australia news | The Guardian: “My Uncle Teddy was born 90 years ago”
- SupportedTeddy Trevor remembers fellow showman Casey Nelson spruiking Happy Harry in the 1960s.Australia news | The Guardian: “My uncle Teddy Trevor remembers Casey Nelson, a fellow showman, spruiking his double-jointed horse to sideshow punters in the 1960s.”
- SupportedNelson warned that Happy Harry was “showing here for the last time”.Australia news | The Guardian: “The horse, Nelson warned, was “showing here for the last time”.”
- SupportedNelson called, “Too late, too late will be the cry, when Happy Harry has passed you by.”Australia news | The Guardian: ““Too late, too late will be the cry, when Happy Harry has passed you by,” he called.”
- SupportedThe act continued for another two decades after the last-time warning.Australia news | The Guardian: “The act continued for another two decades.”
- Partly supportedThe Casey Nelson tent show image is from the late 1940s.Australia news | The Guardian: “The Casey Nelson tent show, featuring Happy Harry the double-jointed horse, circa the late 1940s”