Dogpatch Press

Update to Part 1:  “If there was a Museum of Furry, theatrical “Panto-Animals” would be a major exhibit.“

My first Panto-animal history article shared a discovery of amazing proto-Furry happenings, in an overlooked era of Pantomime theater in Victorian Britain.  Stunning photos show why the topic is worth uncovering.  From these scarce records, a handful of actor names stood out with wide publication in their time for “animal impersonation”.  Charles Lauri was covered in Part 1 – and here is Fred Conquest:

Pantomime plays were popular entertainment, considered beneath the “high arts” realm of British theater.  They were not treated as equally worthy to record or remember, so these photos are all the more special because of it.  These pre-movie live happenings seem forgotten today, compared to the era of cinema that came shortly afterwards – where popular artists like Charlie Chaplin (the first international movie star) gained high respect as subjects to study and remember.

In our time, popular culture has gained respect it never had.  What used to be “nerd culture” is now the biggest Hollywood industry.  The tiny niche of Furries is one of few areas still looked down on, but that seems to be changing as it grows.  I think it’s a great time to rediscover and connect old, forgotten traditions such as Panto-Animal performance – what esteemed Furry fan author Phil Geusz calls “paleo-furry.”

Very few people have written about Panto-Animals.  I have discussed making a modest book with a publisher. (Is anyone interested in assisting research?)

Vox Fox responded to Part 1, with a historic French film. Nice Swinesuit!

At 2:00, can you tell how there seem to be strings inside it, to operate the expressions?

Nigel Ellacott is a respected Pantomime performer and website curator – read his animal costume experience.

Nigel Ellacott: Animals in Panto.  This personal blog post was quoted in Part 1, and deserves another quote. Notice the description of strings inside a costume to pull for expressions. (Fursuit makers, are you reading?)

Keith got me my first major pantomime. I played Goose at The Belgrade Coventry with Veteran Comic Reg Dixon as Mother Goose. The sets were by Terry Parsons, and all that glittered was as gold as my eggs! The following year I played Goose again at the Leicester Haymarket, and followed this up with two years as “Puss” in “Puss In Boots”. Of all the Panto animals Goose is THE most uncomfortable. I remember being onstage at the Haymarket – wearing yellow webbed feet with tap shoes underneath. A tall goose neck strapped to my head with four strings to work eyes and beak. A rudder to work the tail. My elbows were tied to the wing flaps and in my mouth was a “duck Decoy” call. The Director bounced on to the stage during the dress and said the words “I think it would be jolly to have a chase around the auditorium.. led by Priscilla”. If that beak could only speak!!

Nigel sent a response to my question – I asked if he knew of any old books on Panto-Animals:

I’m not familiar with any printed material on the subject at all I’m afraid. I’ve certainly not come across any. I can’t imagine anyone would have published at the time, with the exception of possibly autobiographies of say, The Conquest Family. I seem to recall George Conquest might have written a book at the time? There is a lady at the V&A Museum who might know something- Catherine Haile. That’s the only contact I have- the Victoria & Albert Theatre Museum.

Best Wishes & Good Luck! – Nigel

Britain’s Victoria & Albert Museum answers me:

Dear Patch,

The website article on Pantomime acts was written by our Curator of Popular Entertainment, Catherine Haill. She tells us that there is very little written on Pantomime ‘skin parts’.  There are occasional reference in performers’ biographies and autobiographies: in Grimaldi’s memoirs, for example, there is an account of how, dressed as a monkey, the young Grimaldi was accidently throw into the audience by his father, when the pair of them appeared at Sadler’s Wells. But there have been no books on the subject: most information is to be found in newspaper reviews of the performances.

Yours sincerely,
V&A Theatre & Performance Enquiry Service.

Possible book source found – Victorian Theater memoirs.

Nigel’s memoir tips about the Conquest family brought a few results.  They had a long and impressive history. Fred Conquest’s photo is at top – George Conquest has a profile here.  Search led to this source about Victorian history – Theatrical memoirs, Biographies, and Autobiographies: A Bibliography.

• Fleetwood, Frances. Conquest: The Story of a Theatre Family. London: W.H. Allen, 1953. (Fred Patten will review it.)
• For sale on ABE books and Amazon.
• Amazon.co.uk has one review that raises interest:

Now that it has become respectable to admit enjoying popular entertainment, the story of the Conquest family deserves to be better known. They were one of those colourful theatrical dynasties who flourished from Victorian times until well into the twentieth century. Many of them were actors who, between them, took on everything from Shakespeare to pantomime; my favourite was the one who played the animals or “skin” roles.

For a Furry hobbyist (not a theater historian), a broader grounding could come from:  Victorian Pantomime – Critical Essays.  “One of the most neglected areas of study in nineteenth-century theater is pantomime: this book provides a comprehensive overview.”

A search for vintage Pantomime footage at British Pathé film archive.

“British Pathé is considered to be the finest newsreel archive in the world and is a treasure trove of 85,000 films unrivalled in their historical and cultural significance.” A Pantomime search query turns up some results but it’s not very interesting.

Dear Patch,

Thank you for your email and for your interest in the British Pathé film archive. The 1907 French film, I think is perhaps from the French arm of Pathé, although I did find this similar footage. I had a quick look in our archive and this is what I could find relating to your request:  Pantomime Animals. You could try the British University Film & Video Council website, by searching for selected films. Kind regards, Archive Coordinator

Earlier notices by furries.

• Nicodemus, author of the Critter Costuming fursuit manual, shared a few panto photos.  It’s cool he was on the same track!
• Rarsuits Throughout History was a topic with a few other great old examples: Chinese dragons, the Krampus, and Rennaissance art.

About Fred Conquest.  

• Montreal Gazette – Jan 8, 1930 notice about how his Mother Goose was received in it’s time.
• Derby Daily Telegraph – March 24, 1941: “‘Animal actor’ Fred Conquest died aged 70. Well-known for playing goose, cat and dog in pantomime.”

As reported by Hannah Velton, “animal history” author – referring to the Fred Conquest photo at top of this article, from Nigel Ellacott’s website:

Fred Conquest, like many others, worked full time as an animal actor.  In the image to left he appears as Mother Hubbard’s dog, but equally he was at home as a goose, cat or in  ‘a skin’ as a one-person donkey or cow. Although a pantomime horse is popular today (think Dobbin from ‘Rentaghost’ et al), the Edwardian stage was almost devoid of horses – there were more camels than horses in an old panto store. According to ‘It’s Behind You’ website, London once had an entire shop devoted to the panto animal – ‘Theatre Zoo’ in New Row, Covent Garden. “Here you could hire any creature – you had to book early for Christmas.”

Watch soon for Fred Patten’s review of Conquest: The Story of a Theatre Family.  Drop a comment if you have any cool tips – or if you would assist research!