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Bob Carlise, The 19th Century Influencer Who Became A Celebrity Because Of His Wheelbarrow
An English showman gained widespread fame due to walking around with a common gardening tool
Celebrities can be made for any number of reasons. Most often, it’s due to things like a widely-recognized talent. That was certainly the case for 19th century Scotsman Bob Carlisle, who gained fame for the ongoing remarkable feats he performed with his trusty wheelbarrow.
Carlisle was a long forgotten 19th-century celebrity whose savvy self-promoting techniques propelled him into the spotlight along with an unusual prop — his wheelbarrow. He proclaimed himself as the original wheelbarrow pedestrian, earning a place in the popular culture of his time as a person of some renown.
At the time, pedestrianism was the competitive sport of walking and running, which became quite popular within Victorian society. Setting himself apart from other practitioners, Carlisle incorporated a wheelbarrow into his stunts, which helped raise his profile and his fame.
Prior to this, he had flitted from career to career, alternately working as a railroad painter, carpenter, circus showman, big cat trainer, clown and as a sailor. Nothing ever truly fit, so he was always seeking his next…
