I saw the Wall of Death at Belle Vue Zoo in Manchester on more than one occasion during the 50’s, I must have seen your father performing during one of my attendances. Very memorable and full of ooh’s and aah’s.
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May have missed out a great - we have the original plans etc and if you want if i can find them, the late vic photo’s - this is a contro story…
But back to Adams wall of whatever 
According to Wiki WOD started at Coney Island in 1911 and came to the UK in Southend in 1929.
It was hugely popular and by the 1930s there were about 50 acts touring the UK.
Most stopped due to WW2 and a few started again afterwards.
the Todd family performed at the Festival of Britain in 1951.
I am not putting your family down by the way but family myths often slightly embellish the facts!
Great photo do you know what bikes they used?
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Great grandfather toured the act around Australia from late turn of century pre-dating Coney Island i can assure you - I have a poster) - and subsequently the Globe of Death and Australian Air Aces too. My father was born in 1908 - so maybe Great Grandfather is correct - I am just not sure. Somewhere I have a picture of Grandfather doing the Wall in the 19th century. If I can dig it out I’ll post it. What I do know is that there is a huge amount of historical rivalry and untruths about the Walls origins. You will not find us cited in any history books all written by one particulat group of riders! I gave up trying to correct the bollocks years ago. There was a guy on the Web who collaborated with me for a couple of years trying to sort this all out as he thought they myths needed correction. I have not heard from him for a long time and lost contact. I fear he may have passed.
Whilst the Wall of Death was performed at the Festival of britain in 1951 by another family, my father was performing his in Belle Vue (Manchester). After the Festival of Britain Sir Leslie Joseph who masterminded it all asked my father to bring his Globe of Death to London Battersea Park - which he did.
Bikes were a variety but I think originally Indian Scouts.
For your delectation here is a very rare pic of our family act The Australian Air Aces (we were not Australian bt my father was a New Zealander - the UK had never heard of New Zealanders thus name change and aliteration)! My father is on the bike.
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Great pics! 
Watched this recently with Ryan Gosling who starts out as a WoD rider.
Was on the iPlayer but gone now. Good film though.
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Superb film!
I have failed to find pic of our Wall dating back from late 1800’s - but will find it eventually and post. However - did find these. Front of London Evening Standard announcing our Globe of Death coming to London, a pic of the Globe from inside and a souvenir pic turn of century circa 1900 - Fred Staig on right was Grandfather who headed the Wall of Death act - note pre Coney island no matter what Wiki P says!
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Fantastic archive you have 
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Have you ever found the year of the paper the article came from?
The globe looks small, two bikes in there must have been really tight.
Great pics
Any relation? Yvonne Stagg
Excellent question - on which I have often pondered. 
No relation. However, my father did take his Globe of Death to Margate in the 50’s and 60’s. I have a photo of him building the Globe in Dreamland. We believe Yvonne may have amended her surname to capitalise on the ‘Staig’ legacy. Infact, a rider in the late 1940’s did infact change his surname to ours: ‘Staig’ precisely to take that advantage. He was not a nice man (con man springs to mind). First name was Ernie and put it about he was my father’s brother - he wasn’t!
In fairness, I cannot be certain re the Yvonne Stagg story but bit of a co-incidence?
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I think 1957
I have a trunk full of photos!
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ADAM - I am so sorry that I have got carried away and slightly highjacked your own Wall of Death story. Put it down to isolation fever and slight boredom. 
If people are interested I’ll start my own thread and post some more pics in due course. If you are into this kind of thing they are really interesting and have never been published before - only sometimes by me on the odd motorcycle / circus web site.
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Lawrence. Mate.
You know how you’re a writer’n’stuff…?
And you have this amazing archive and tales to tell…?
And you might (cos I have no idea) possibly be the last person alive who knows all this and cares…?
…can you guess where I’m going with this…?
Title could prolly use a little work…
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Indeed and great minds think alike - you’ll see I just beat you to it with my post above!
Grovel and slouch back to isolation corner.
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