Happy birthday to Pablo Fanque—the first Black circus owner in Britain
Born in Norwich 213 years ago, Pablo Fanque led an extraordinary life. He was the first recorded Black circus owner in Britain, described by one London newspaper as an 'artiste of colour' who was a master of showmanship. Fanque's circus, known as Pablo Fanque & Company, toured extensively throughout the United Kingdom and enjoyed great popularity. Fanque's legacy is immortalised in the famous Beatles song, "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!", which was inspired by an 1843 poster advertising one of his circus shows. The very poster, in fact, that Kite painstakingly recreated using traditional printing methods. Shop the limited edition "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite" print here.Also in News
Remembering George Harrison on his birthday
Today, on what would have been George Harrison’s 82nd birthday, we’re taking a moment to celebrate one of the most influential artists of all time.
It was 58 years ago today…
Here at Kite, Beatles history is one of our interests. We’ve covered everything from the band’s inception to its breakup, but there’s one Beatles moment we’ll never forget.
A Beatles-themed festive playlist
Picture the scene: the fire is crackling, your living room is warm and cosy (maybe there’s even a Mr. Kite print on the wall?) and Christmas is almost here. It’s time to put on some festive tunes, and where better to start than with a Beatles-themes festive playlist?
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