HERR CHRISTOFF THE TIGHTROPE-WALKING WONDER

160 YEARS AGO IN GEELONG: From the pages of the Geelong Chronicle

Herr Christoff, the renowned tightrope walker, was one of the star attractions when Gardiner’s American Circus came to Geelong in 1863. The circus set up its pavilion in the Market Square for four nights only. The proprietor, Charles Gardiner, advertised ‘an unrivalled troupe of equestrians, gymnasts, acrobats and tightrope dancers’. Seats in the Boxes were 4 shillings; in the Pit, 2 shillings and sixpence; children half-price. Doors opened at 7pm, to commence at 8pm.

The newspaper sang the praises of Herr Christoff in a review of his tightrope act. ‘He is undoubtedly the most daring performer in Australia and may justly be styled a second Blondin.’ Charles Blondin was a gifted French tightrope walker who made his name in Europe but found fame in America for walking across Niagara Falls on numerous occasions.

Herr Christoff had performed in Geelong at least once before. In 1861, as Herr Professor Cristophe, he performed on the tightrope at the Theatre Royal, in Malop Street. On that occasion, he appeared on a playbill with William Barlow and his troupe of performing dogs and monkeys.

Herr Christoff was said to have been born in England, as John Henry Christopher, in the mid-1830s. His father, Kitt, was a black, likely American, circus performer. John, and his elder brother George, performed tightrope walking with their father from a very early age.

In December 1854, while still a teenager, but already known by his stage name, Herr Christoff, John came out to Melbourne on the ship Champion of the Seas. Soon after his arrival, he started performing with William Banham, another tightrope performer, who had the stage name Pablo Fanque. Christoff was described as Pablo’s pupil.

In 1855, Banham cautioned theatrical managers against engaging his indentured apprentice, John Christoff, described as ‘about the age of 18 years and a colored boy’, who had run away from his service. Order was soon restored and the master and apprentice performed together for one or two more years – presumably until his indentured time expired.

Over the next 15 years, Herr Christoff appeared regularly with various circus and acrobatic troupes across NSW, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria. During 1864-65, he also toured India, China and the American States.

He had married in 1858, in Tumut, NSW, to Elizabeth Banham, a relation of his tightrope teacher, William Banham. He died in Sydney in 1872, aged 38, having been described as ‘the greatest rope dancer in the world’.