Nicolai poliakoff biography of williams

 Sub-Series

Reference code: 178C108.5141-5337

Scope and Contents Black and white and some colour photographs of circus scenes, animals, people and personalities including; Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Dame Laura Knight, Bertram Mills, Cyril Mills, Winston Churchill, Coco, Whimsical Walker, A.

Pearson equestrian director at Bertram Mills Circus, Percy Huxter, Lulu Adams, Cissie Rosaire, Aubry Rosaire and Zena Rosaire, also Rosaire Circus, Bertam Mills Circus, Tom Arnold's Circus, Ginnett's and Fossett's Circus and a large Barnum shows... The Pioneer Corps was a combatant corps in charge of light engineering tasks such as; stretcher-bearing, handling of stores, laying tracks on beaches and other logistical operations.

By the mid-1920s, Nikolai had left Russia for Germany where he soon established himself as one of Europe’s leading clowns. However, at the same time he continued to work in the circus in the mid-1960s, seated ringside while selling programmes dressed in his full auguste's costume.

Poliakoff died in Peterborough Hospital on 25 September 1974, after a short illness, and was buried in Woodnewton, in Northamptonshire, England.^[2] His eldest son, Michael, a longtime circus "Producing Clown", creator of a much imitated "soap gag" entree, and the Clown who designed the post 1960'sRonald McDonald^{[citation needed]}, was by then already using the "Coco" moniker.

The auguste often works with the cleverer white-faced clown, who always gets the better of him.

Escaping the hardships of the Russian Revolution to join Circus Busch in Berlin, he was spotted by Bertram Mills and persuaded to move to England, arriving with his young wife Valentina in 1929.

In popular culture

Coco is mentioned in the 2010 film 44 Inch Chest by Archie (Tom Wilkinson). For his son, who performed under that name in the US, see Michael Polakovs.

However, before travelling to Egypt on the Queen Mary in early 1942 (where he remained for the rest of the war), he spent some time in ENSA, I think, where he helped to organise entertainment for the Armed Forces. Truzzi taught Nikolai an array of universal circus disciplines, including acrobatics, trapeze and horse riding.

In 1914 WWI broke out in Europe, and Russia joined the allied powers.

Escaping the hardships of the Russian Revolution to join Circus Busch in Berlin, he was spotted by Bertram Mills and persuaded to move to England, arriving with his young wife Valentina in 1929. He is a member of the Clown Hall of Fame.

During the Second World War Poliakoff entertained troops as a member of ENSA (Entertainments National Service Association).

Colour and black and white, sound and background music. Thousands of German and Austrian nationals joined the Corps to assist Allied war efforts, they were typically Jewish or political opponents of the Nazi regime who had fled to Britain. They had six children: Helen, Michael (1923-2009), Nadia, Sascha (1929-2004), Olga, and Tamara (1927-1988), most of who became circus performers.

In the early 1920’s, he was working for the newly created Soviet State Circus and travelling around the Soviet Union with great success.

A few kind words from Coco and she pulled through.

GUEST OF HONOUR

Years after that, the girl re-appeared in Coco's life when he was guest of honour on the TV show, This Is Your Life.

Dates: 1910 - 1964

Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Circus Friends Association Collection / Photographs and Postcards