William Kite
Encyclopedia
William Kite was a 19th century circus
performer, best known as being the "Mr. Kite" from the Beatles song "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!
"
Kite came from a circus family. William Kite was born in Lambeth
, London
, about 1825. His father, James Kite was a circus proprietor, and the first to visit Knott Mill Fair, Manchester
, in 1806. James Kite formed his own company around 1810, travelling as "Kite's Pavilion Circus."
William Kite was a performer at Wells's Circus from 1842 to 1843 and in Pablo Fanque
's circus, in Rochdale, in 1843 and 1845. A broadside poster advertising Pablo Fanque
’s Circus Royal show in Rochdale
, dated February 14, 1843, inspired, and provided many of the lyrics for, The Beatles
’ song, "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!
The poster shows Kite balancing, head down, on top of a pole, playing a trumpet. The poster also notes that Mr. Kite was then ”late of Well’s Circus." Kite was a riding master for Pablo Fanque at this time and the Rochdale poster boasts, “Mr. Kite will, for this night only, introduce the CELEBRATED HORSE, ZANTHUS! Well known to be one of the best Broke Horses IN THE WORLD!!!" The poster also documents that Kite was a tightrope walker, stating, “Mr. KITE will appear, for the first time this season, On The Tight Rope, When Two Gentlemen Amateurs of this Town will perform with him."
A “Miss Kite” also performed in Fanque’s circus, in Burnley
, in 1845.
Kite had a daughter, Elizabeth Ann Kite, who also performed in the circus.
Kite was also an all-around performer with John Sanger
's Circus.
A fictionalised version of Mr. Kite is portrayed as a ringmaster in a musical sequence from the film based on the music of The Beatles, Across the Universe
. He is played by actor and comedian Eddie Izzard
.
Circus
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
performer, best known as being the "Mr. Kite" from the Beatles song "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!
Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!
"Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!" is a song from the 1967 album by The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. It was composed by John Lennon...
"
Kite came from a circus family. William Kite was born in Lambeth
Lambeth
Lambeth is a district of south London, England, and part of the London Borough of Lambeth. It is situated southeast of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, about 1825. His father, James Kite was a circus proprietor, and the first to visit Knott Mill Fair, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, in 1806. James Kite formed his own company around 1810, travelling as "Kite's Pavilion Circus."
William Kite was a performer at Wells's Circus from 1842 to 1843 and in Pablo Fanque
Pablo Fanque
Pablo Fanque was the first black circus proprietor in Britain. His circus, in which he himself was a performer, was the most popular circus in Victorian Britain for 30 years, a period that is regarded as the golden age of the circus...
's circus, in Rochdale, in 1843 and 1845. A broadside poster advertising Pablo Fanque
Pablo Fanque
Pablo Fanque was the first black circus proprietor in Britain. His circus, in which he himself was a performer, was the most popular circus in Victorian Britain for 30 years, a period that is regarded as the golden age of the circus...
’s Circus Royal show in Rochdale
Rochdale
Rochdale is a large market town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the foothills of the Pennines on the River Roch, north-northwest of Oldham, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester. Rochdale is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan...
, dated February 14, 1843, inspired, and provided many of the lyrics for, The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
’ song, "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!
Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!
"Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!" is a song from the 1967 album by The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. It was composed by John Lennon...
The poster shows Kite balancing, head down, on top of a pole, playing a trumpet. The poster also notes that Mr. Kite was then ”late of Well’s Circus." Kite was a riding master for Pablo Fanque at this time and the Rochdale poster boasts, “Mr. Kite will, for this night only, introduce the CELEBRATED HORSE, ZANTHUS! Well known to be one of the best Broke Horses IN THE WORLD!!!" The poster also documents that Kite was a tightrope walker, stating, “Mr. KITE will appear, for the first time this season, On The Tight Rope, When Two Gentlemen Amateurs of this Town will perform with him."
A “Miss Kite” also performed in Fanque’s circus, in Burnley
Burnley
Burnley is a market town in the Burnley borough of Lancashire, England, with a population of around 73,500. It lies north of Manchester and east of Preston, at the confluence of the River Calder and River Brun....
, in 1845.
Kite had a daughter, Elizabeth Ann Kite, who also performed in the circus.
Kite was also an all-around performer with John Sanger
John Sanger
John Sanger was an English circus proprietor.He was born at Chew Magna, Somerset, in 1816, the son of an old sailor who had turned showman. In 1845 he started with his brother George Sanger a conjuring exhibition at Birmingham...
's Circus.
A fictionalised version of Mr. Kite is portrayed as a ringmaster in a musical sequence from the film based on the music of The Beatles, Across the Universe
Across the Universe (film)
Across the Universe is a musical romantic drama film directed by Julie Taymor, produced by Revolution Studios, and distributed by Columbia Pictures. The film's plot is centered around songs by The Beatles. It was released in the United States on October 12, 2007. The script is based on an original...
. He is played by actor and comedian Eddie Izzard
Eddie Izzard
Edward John "Eddie" Izzard is a British stand-up comedian and actor. His comedy style takes the form of rambling, whimsical monologue and self-referential pantomime...
.