My Grandfather, Harry Plant, was the Manager of The Electric Theatre – and said to be founder of the travelling ‘Black and White Minstrels’ where he met my Grandmother, Alice Simmonette, aka Dimambro.
They may even have travelled America together. Born in Witton Park, Co. Durham, she somewhat emulated Leamington’s Sam Lockhart’s own mother and ‘ran away with the circus’ in 1897. A remarkable performer, she became, maybe with Sam’s tuition, a tightrope and rodeo artist. My Grandparents performed countrywide in theatres and circuses – and introduced my father, also Harry Plant, to the stage at 8 years old.
Sam Lockhart was born in 1850, probably in a circus van in South Shields – and where later Buffalo Bill held his famous rodeo shows which both Sam and my Grandparents were associated. They may even have travelled America together.
Reprinted from an LHG Newsletter
