The Amazing "Seven Ashtons"

[peterbone]

Amazing that any of these men went on to have children.

[JonTheGoProGuy]

My grandpa is the one always clowning around. Last time he was at my house he taught me how to flick a hat onto your head with your foot.

Now I'm learning frontflips!

[gmkielbasa]

I love watching these old clips of my grandfather ( Goldie Hay) and is brothers. What i love more is i am able to digitally share them with my son! Thanks for giving us something wonderful to admire, however i'm pretty sure my grandfather was in the act in america for a while?

Gina

[bekaashton]

My grandfather Neville is in this film..... as are all my Great Aunts and Uncles..... I miss you Uncle Dougie! and Uncle Goldie!

[acrobatterry]

Dougie was living on the Gold Coast in Qld Australia

[clownalleydotnet]

The International Clown Hall of Fame is trying to locate Dougie. We would be extremely grateful to anyone who could put us in touch with him.

And Dougie, if you're out there, call Lazlo. He'd like to hear from you ; )

[jesusasuke]

this is my family , im about 5 or 6 generations after this , glad to see the family how they used to perform and all , from australia

[MissingJLink]

My God! I worked with Dougie on the Ringling show 1968-1969...His timing and business was as distinctive then as it is here.... Among circus professionals, Dougie is remembered as one of the best clowns of the mid-20th century, certainly on the Ringling show...("I'm not a clown," he would yell in the dressing room, "I'm a comedian!") I remember him with great fondness; please wish him the best for me.....

[1psoas9]

oops, I meant Dougie.

[1psoas9]

THey'e all wonderful, and hte show is wonderfully put together to look hellzapoppin but in fact to mount steadily in excitement. Mickey's fabulous bit with the fast footwork and the double tour looks like a bit of Lezghinka -- he seems to have the soul of a dancer in hte body of an acrobat.

[Gyorgyzsilak]

Thank you very much for posting this FANTASTICK video!!! Dougie ist very funny and I did worked with Dougie in Ringling 1966-67-68. Best regards, Fudi.

[sumarapixi]

Another brother is Goldie, and another sister, Gloria, had left the act before they went to America.

The Ashtons learnt their act from their maternal cousins, the Warrens, who went to Europe in the 1930s and returned with the outbreak of World War 2.

The Flying Warrens, aka The Martinettis: Old Alfie (who didn't go to Europe), Young Alfie, Les, twins Dougie and Eddie, sister Dorrie and another brother whose name escapes me at the moment. Harold(last name unknown) also worked in the act.

[loonies2]

Mickey was my first acrobatic teacher.Jim and Pixi Robertson found him at the Albury show , running a knock 'em down joint and brought him to The Flying Fruit Fly Circus in 1980. He taught there for many years and is responsible for 20 or so Fruit Flies turning pro and working in such groups as The Leaping Loonies , Price and McCoy , ACROBAT , Circus OZ Freeman and Digby and Cirque de Soilel. I was the first Fruit Fly kid to leave and go into " Showbiz" He was much loved by all us Fruit Flies

[goldamaria]

hi im golda dingy ashtons daughter , i loved the video , uncle dougie was very funny he made me laugh all the time , he was my best uncle i loved all of them very much but uncle dougie was like a kid to us we couldnt wait to see him i miss him since he moved away but he knows he is loved

[colcomet]

Cant remember all the names(or nicknames)of the

Ashtons but there was Hoody,Dingy,Dougie,Neville And I think the sister's name was Ruvaye.

Cant remember the other two brothers names.

One of the all time Great acts.

[loonies2]

Mickey is another brother , he taught at The Fruit Fly Circus from 1980 to 85. Jim and Pixi Robertson brought him there. He had a massive influence on Australian acrobatics from that time on , Circus OZ has been and still is full of " Mickey's Kids " ( as we some times think of our selves) Have a look at the websites of Price , McCoy and The Leaping Loonies and Circus OZ , Mickeys influence lives on !!!

[buchalj]

The Ashtons left Australia in 1946 and sailed to South Africa and Europe where they performed 10 times at the London Palladium and also a Royal Command Performance. They finally ended up in the America where they appeared constantly on Broadway at the Latin Quarter. Managed by Sir Lew&Leslie Grade, they were regarded as the most highly paid performers for their time. Many TV appearances followed.The Ashton name continues with the following generations still involved with the circus tradition.

[CarrotCompany]

This is a great video of a great act of years gone by. I think this act was from Australia originally. Who could afford to keep a 7-person act like this working steady today? The ancient art of Risley remains alive today, but there will never be another act as great as The 7 Ashtons!