Frederick Hart Pollock born Frederick Hart Polak, son of Samuel Polak, an outfitter born in Poland, naturalised British, in Wales in 1842. He went to Australia in 1860, to join his uncle in Melbourne, and then performed at the Theatre Royal in Calcutta from 1870.
“Possibly there are few who imagine that Mr. F. H. Pollock, now leading a comparatively peaceful existence as lessee of the Adelaide Theatre Royal, has experienced vicissitudes and misfortunes which nowadays, seldom occur in a theatrical manager’s career. In 1854 [sic] Mr. Pollock took a troupe of Japanese — twelve men and three women — to tour India and the Straits Settlements, etc. To secure a Jap. troupe in those days, it was necessary to give the Jap. Government so much money, and deposit another sum as a guarantee that the Japs would be returned to their country in a state of good repair. Having worked India, Mr. Pollock found the tour had five months to go, so promptly put the troupe aboard a brig — there were no steamers then — and sailed for Westralia, thus introducing the first company of Japanese performers to this Continent. The season was started at Perth, and, was very successful.”
— ”Gadfly”
(Sunday Times Perth 2 Aug 1908 p3)
In 1873 Mr Fred H Pollock visited Japan and brought thence to Western Australia the first troupe of Japanese that ever came to the colonies. It was a paying speculation, and Mr. Pollock’s one regret is that he missed a fortune by returning with them to India instead of playing other parts of Australia. He was also the first to take, by special permission of the Mikado, an English circus through the interior of Japan. (Sportsman 1896)
1872 August – Shimizu Seijirō 48, Shimizu Fujisaku 51, Shimizu Fukutarō 13, Shimizu Chomatsu (Chiyomatsu) 9, Shimizu Anzō 31, Kagami Kichigorō 35, Kagami Otokichi 13, Kagami Harukichi 12 leave Japan for Hong Kong, Manila, San Francisco, Singapore, Malaysia, Zanzibar, Australia, Java
1873 April – Kioto Exhibition Troupe of Japanese arrived in Foochow, China, by the steamer Dragon. There was a Kyoto Exhibition in 1872.
1873 November – The Royal Victoria Circus (Wieland and Lyons) and the Kioto Exhibition Troupe of Japanese, is another attraction in Calcutta and is by far the greatest combination ever seen in India. (The Australasian February 1874) Then coalesced with Abell and Pollocks crowd. 12 Japanese performers.
1874 June – Kioto Exhibition Troupe – Batavia, Pollock and Abell. Moberon the famous Japanese juggler. Double ladder and fence on the feet. Little Aky, Kamachie, two Japanese boys Allwrong and Noaccount. Mme Louise, Walter Howson, James Collins, S.C. Abelle. J Klear juggler.
1874 July – Kioto Variety Troupe Hr Pollock – Samarang
1874 November – 9 Artistes arrived by Eliza Blanche from Batavia = Kioto Troupe – jugglers, foot and shoulder balancers, top spinners, rope walkers, and acrobats. 5 men three boys. Director Mr F. H. Pollock
1875 January – Kioto Troupe returned to Singapore from Australia on the Eliza Blanche
1875 May – Loyal’s Imperial Japanese Troupe with No Account contortionising, Kay Jeddo legerdemain, Oto Jerro rope walking. Loyal trapeze. Pinang
1875 July – Polak married Mary Myers in Singapore. According to Mlle Louise (Mary Myers, daughter of Abraham Myers, born in Australia, dancer), Pollock sold his interest in the troupe and on returning to Singapore, married her there. (Critic, 24 Sep 1913 p 13 )
1876 August – in Calcutta
1879 Taken to court for kicking someone in the face – late of Mr Anderson’s theatrical company – Calcutta
They then returned to Australia, where he ran a theatre.
Ninjin 