Alfred Percival Bullen (February 8, 1896 in Kiama, New South Wales – August 11, 1974 in Penrith, New South Wales[1]) was, along with his wife, Lilian Ethel Bullen and brother, a founder of Bullen's Circus.
Alfred, also known as Perce was the son of Alfred Weston Bullen and his wife Alice who were originally from New Zealand. He started his career with a performing pony and a sheep.[1] Alfred married a dancer named Lilian Ethel Croan in 1917. She had been born on 8 May 1894 in Syaney and she had been in show business since she was a child. Beginning with a merry-go-round Lilian, Alfred and his brother started a travelling circus carnival. They had performing animals including an elephant and a lion.[1] By 1922 they had enough money to create Bullen's Circus.[2]
During the 1930s the circus expanded and its new assets belonged to Lilian. She had the forcefil personality and she and three girl dancers formed the "Four Marzellas".
They had a surprising success during the second world war when the shortage of petrol forced the circus to stop touring at Yeppoon. However there was an American air base nearby and the Bullen's made a success of performing several shows a day. The circus employed more girls than it had ever done when it was touring before the war.[1]
They had three sons, Stafford Bullen, Kenneth Bullen and Gregory Bullen and adopted daughter and son Mavis and Jules.[1]
In 1960 televisian arrived in Australia and in that year there were 17 circuses touring the country. The largest "Wirth's" ceased touring in 1963 after 80 years.[3]
Lilian died of cancer on 4 January 1965. Alfred remarried a widow named Daisy Ruth Wood on the 3 January 1969.[1]
Death and legacyedit
Bullen's Circus gave a final performance on 25 May 1969 and happily retired to the family estate at Wallacia, New South Wales, Australia.[1] Alfred and Lilian's sons established an African Lion Safari and Bullen's Animal World. Alfred Bullen is buried at Eastern Creek Cemetery, Eastern Creek, New South Wales, Australia.[1]
In 2006 ABCTV made a programme about the Bullen family and the remaining legacy of animals that the family still cared for.[4]
Referencesedit
^ abcdefgh*St Leon, Mark Valentine (2006). "Alfred Percival (Perce) Bullen (1896–1974)". Bullen, Alfred Percival (Perce) (1896 - 1974). Australian Dictionary of Biography (Online ed.). Australian National University.
^"Bullen's Circus [picture] : Australia's largest circus and zoo - Catalogue | National Library of Australia". catalogue.nla.gov.au. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
^. 9 July 2007. Archived from the original on 9 July 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
alfred, percival, bullen, february, 1896, kiama, south, wales, august, 1974, penrith, south, wales, along, with, wife, lilian, ethel, bullen, brother, founder, bullen, circus, poster, from, 1935, 1955born, 1896, february, 1896kiama, south, walesdied11, august,. Alfred Percival Bullen February 8 1896 in Kiama New South Wales August 11 1974 in Penrith New South Wales 1 was along with his wife Lilian Ethel Bullen and brother a founder of Bullen s Circus Alfred Percival Bullenposter from 1935 to 1955Born 1896 02 08 8 February 1896Kiama New South WalesDied11 August 1974 1974 08 11 aged 78 Penrith New South WalesNationalityAustralianOccupationcircus proprieterKnown forBullen s CircusSpouseLilian Ethel Bullen born Croan Life editAlfred also known as Perce was the son of Alfred Weston Bullen and his wife Alice who were originally from New Zealand He started his career with a performing pony and a sheep 1 Alfred married a dancer named Lilian Ethel Croan in 1917 She had been born on 8 May 1894 in Syaney and she had been in show business since she was a child Beginning with a merry go round Lilian Alfred and his brother started a travelling circus carnival They had performing animals including an elephant and a lion 1 By 1922 they had enough money to create Bullen s Circus 2 During the 1930s the circus expanded and its new assets belonged to Lilian She had the forcefil personality and she and three girl dancers formed the Four Marzellas They had a surprising success during the second world war when the shortage of petrol forced the circus to stop touring at Yeppoon However there was an American air base nearby and the Bullen s made a success of performing several shows a day The circus employed more girls than it had ever done when it was touring before the war 1 They had three sons Stafford Bullen Kenneth Bullen and Gregory Bullen and adopted daughter and son Mavis and Jules 1 In 1960 televisian arrived in Australia and in that year there were 17 circuses touring the country The largest Wirth s ceased touring in 1963 after 80 years 3 Lilian died of cancer on 4 January 1965 Alfred remarried a widow named Daisy Ruth Wood on the 3 January 1969 1 Death and legacy editBullen s Circus gave a final performance on 25 May 1969 and happily retired to the family estate at Wallacia New South Wales Australia 1 Alfred and Lilian s sons established an African Lion Safari and Bullen s Animal World Alfred Bullen is buried at Eastern Creek Cemetery Eastern Creek New South Wales Australia 1 In 2006 ABCTV made a programme about the Bullen family and the remaining legacy of animals that the family still cared for 4 References edit a b c d e f g h St Leon Mark Valentine 2006 Alfred Percival Perce Bullen 1896 1974 Bullen Alfred Percival Perce 1896 1974 Australian Dictionary of Biography Online ed Australian National University Bullen s Circus picture Australia s largest circus and zoo Catalogue National Library of Australia catalogue nla gov au Retrieved 4 December 2023 Australian Travelling Entertainers Heritage 9 July 2007 Archived from the original on 9 July 2007 Retrieved 4 December 2023 Dynasties Bullen Australian Broadcasting Corporation 30 December 2016 Archived from the original on 30 December 2016 Retrieved 4 December 2023 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alfred Percival Bullen amp oldid 1206779658, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
