ELIAS HARRIS

Elias Harris was the son-in-law of the famous Showman Pat Collins, who had embraced the Wall of Death from the very start. Some of the earliest reported Wall were operated by him, although at the time, like all the others, they were actually owned and operated by a South African Company called Silodromes pta.

How Elias Harris actually came into ownership of the Wall is not clear. It was rumoured that it was given to him as a wedding present when he married Pat Collins daughter. However, there is no proof of this and it seems more likely that he purchased the Wall when his wife died.

 

 

 

Elias Harris side saddle!

 

 

 

 

His son, Past President of the Showmen's Guild of Great Britain Anthony Harris, also used to take part in the show riding his own special bike.

The show also featured Rita the lioness, who Elias would take onto the Wall in a car that was home-built by him. According to Anthony Harris the wheels were made at Fort Dunlop to his own design and the car was powered by a 4 cylinder straight Indian engine. The steering had only a left hand lock!

 

 

Rita the Lioness goes for a spin on the Wall!

 

 

 

 

Lions were, in fact, a common feature on pre-war Walls of Death - as we have seen on the Southend page Tornado Smith had another famous lion, Briton. It is a sad fact that during the war years many of these animals had to be put down as the meat was not available to feed them.

After the war, Elias Harris continued to travel his show, seemingly in Wales.

It is an interesting point that his Wall still survives to this day. When he left the Wall of Death business his show was sold to Roy Cripsey, whose family had also been in the business from the outset. For a season it appeared in Aberavon (there is a picture of it there on Horace Parkers page) after which it was a popular attraction in Skegness until 1982.

 

 

Roy Cripsey's Wall at Skegness
(photo courtesy of Pete Tei)

 

 

The Wall was purchased by Allan J Ford, whose Motordrome Company toured it until a few years ago.

All pictures of Elias Harris and his Wall on this site are courtesy of Anthony Harris, to whom I extend my thanks.

© Neil Calladine, Anthony Harris and Pete Tei 2004