THEATRICAL MAN’S DEATH

Taranaki Daily News, 6 March 1934, Page 3

THEATRICAL MAN’S DEATH

ADVANCE AGENT FOR 35 . YEARS. Advance agent for Wirth s circus for 35 years, Mr. George Petersen, who was born at Greymouth in 1871, died at Ohakune last week. Though he spent some time in the printing trade he joined the circus while a youth, his action being tantamount to running away from home. Thirty-five years ago he graduated to the position of advance manager for Wirth’s and held the position to the end. T Mr. Stanley Grant, manager ot the J. C Williamson Ltd. New Comic Opera company, said of Mr. Petersen: “He was probably the best known advance agent in New Zealand and Australia to c jrcus artists and to the general public. What he did not know about the circus business was not worth knowing. He helped largely to make Wirth’s the leading circus of New Zealand and Australia, and he knew every inch of the flf 0 ' lnd on which the tents could be pitched. Moreover, he had a complete knowledge of all the requirements of both staff and animals. The public has no idea of the amount of work entailed in acting as advance agent for a circus, and Mr. Petersen was very seldom known to make a mistake. The sympathy of the whole of the ‘show profession’ will go out to his relatives, and I am sure that there will be universal regret at his o eatn - Mr. Petersen is survived by his wife, formerly Miss Barlow, Christchurch, and two of a family, Mr. Laurie Petersen and Miss Christina Petersen, Sydney. His brother, Mr. O. Petersen, and his sister Mrs. Walter Scott, reside at Christchurch. Mr. Rud Petersen, Auckland, another brother, was formerly mana^ er of the Liberty Theatre, Christchurch.