Blackpool Tower Circus (Established 1894)
Dates
- Existence: Established 14 May 1894
Biography
Blackpool Tower Circus opened on 14 May 1894 at the base of the Blackpool Tower. The Tower Circus is one of the only static circuses in existence in the United Kingdom and only one of two Victorian circuses, which are still in use today. It is also one of four circuses in the world to lower into a pool of water and display aquatic shows.
The original interior design of the circus was heavily influenced by the Orientalist style popular at the turn of the twentieth century. In 1900, the circus was redecorated by English architect Frank Matcham (1845-1920), who specialised in the design of theatres and music halls. The new design created the feeling of luxury with Italian marble covering walls and floors and a vaulted ceiling with lavish patterns.
As well as the traditional equestrian acts and the novel aquatic acts, the circus presented a variety of other entertainments, including clowns and feasts of aerial acts. Wild animal acts remained an important part of the shows until 1990.
The Tower Circus has always been renowned for attracting some of the best clowns and Ringmasters in the wold. Charlie Cairoli held a residency at the Tower for thirty nine years while Norman Barrett was the Tower’s Ringmaster for twenty five and George Lockhart held the same post for thirty one years.
Today, the circus is managed by the Endresz-Roberts family, which has a long legacy in British and European circus. Laci Endresz Snr. is the producer and director of the shows, while his sons are the resident clowns Mooky and Mr Boo.
Found in 184 Collections and/or Records:
Blackpool Tower Circus Programme, Summer season 1956
Blackpool Tower Circus Programmes, c1900 - 2009
Blackpool Tower Circus programmes.
Blackpool Tower Circus Souvenir Brouchures, c1900 - 1999
Brouchures containing promotional colour and black and white photographs of acts, Blackpool scenes and performers with text, one of them produced for the 101 anniversary of Blackpool Tower and another for The Adventures of Sinbad, Christmas pantomime.
Blackpool Tower Circus, Special TV Programme, 1951
Colour illustration of a cartoon clown wearing blue trousers and red braces from behind holdind a can of paint and a brush on a red background on the front, on reverse programme.
Blackpool Tower Film, 1992
Film showing on VHS cassette format footage of the Blackpool Tower Circus.
Blackpool Tower International Circus Poster, c1980 - 1989
Starring Roberts Brothers International Circus. Contains colour illustration.
Blackpool Tower, Peter Jay Presents International Circus Programme, 25 May - 3 November 1990
Colour illustration of circus acts including a clown's face on top right, the face of the ringmaster and elephants and horses on top left, a female aerialist in a red bikini on bottom left and a leopard and a panther's head on bottom right on front cover, inside black and white photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial adverstising, 8p.p.
Blackpool Tower, Peter Jay's International Circus Programme, 26 May - 4 November 1989
Colour illustration of circus acts including a clown's face on top left, a female aerialist in a red bikini below, three rearing horses and an elephant on bottom left, a clown's face on bottom centre, a tiger and lion's head on bottom right and a cycling act above on front cover, inside black and white photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial adverstising, 8p.p.
Blackpool Tower Poster, 1984
All New Super Circus. Includes All Star Wrestling with Big Daddy. Colour photograph with clown illustration.
Blackpool Tower Poster, 1983
Peter Jay presents International Super Circus. Includes All Star Wrestling with Big Daddy. Colour photograph with clown illustration.
Blackpool Tower Presents Mexican National Circus Programme, 1991
Five colour photographs of performers in squares over the Mexican flag on the front cover, inside introduction, colour photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p.
Blackpool Tower Presents Mooky's Circus of Dreams Programme, 2009
Colour photograph of clown's torso on bottom right wearing a white night hat, holding white smoke on his hand where he appears on the back of a travelling wagon and a man in a tall hat looking from above angryly on the front cover, inside introduction, colour photographs of performers and acts with text, and programme in the centre on glossy paper, 12p.p.
Blackpool Tower Presents the Chinese Circus Programme, 1988
Colour illustration of smiling clown face on top left, Chinese dragon and acrobat below, roaring tiger on bottom and showgirl seating on an elephant's head on bottom right on an orange and red background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p.
British Circuses Programmes, 1921 - 2018
Chinese Circus Poster, 1988
Peter Jay present Chinese Circus, at Blackpool Tower. Colour illustrations of a clown, a man with a puppet Chinese dragon, a tiger and a woman riding an elephant, photograph of wrester Big Daddy, background red and orange, type multicoloured.
Circus Friends Association Collection
This collection consists of a large library of books and journals, as well as archival material including posters, programmes, photographs, films, handbills, research material, scrapbooks, original artwork and many other items of ephemera relating to British, Irish and European circuses
Circus Photographs, 1953 - 1992
Colour and black and white photographs of Jay Miller's Circus, Mike Austin's Circus, Gerry Cottle's Circus, Robert Brothers Circus, Chipperfield's Circus, Circus Krone, Circus Paulos and Gandey's Circus including tents, performers and acts, also Bertam Mills and Blackpool Tower Circus posters, circus enthisiast events, circus models, also a wedding at Galaxy Circus.
Cyril Critchlow Collection
Den Curtis' Photographic Albums, 1936 - 1969
Photographic albums put together by Den Curtis, containing black and white photographs of circuses, performers and animals with annotations, including Sanger, Chipprefields, Bertram Mills, Smarts, Hoxie Bros., Blackpool Tower, Belle Vue, Robert Bros., Fossett and Luckens Continental Circus and others, also some loose photographs removed from the albums.
Den Curtis' Photographic Albums, 1936 - 1969
Photographic albums put together by Den Curtis, containing black and white photographs of circuses, performers and animals with annotations, including Sanger, Chipprefields, Bertram Mills, Smarts, Hoxie Bros, Blackpool Tower, Belle Vue, Robert Bros, Fossett and Luckens Continental Circus and others, also some loose photographs removed from the albums.