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Jay Miller's Circus (Established 1986)

 Organisation

Dates

  • Existence: Established 1986

Biography

Jay Miller’s Circus was established by Jon Miller. John became interested in circus as a young boy and started to help set up and do various chores after school in the mid 1970s. Once the season ended, John decided to run away with the circus but was returned home. He agreed to finish his schooling and he graduated as a Civil Engineer, while working on the Fairgrounds at the weekends and holidays.

It wasn’t until the middle of the 1980s that John would join the circus again. At this point he learnt all aspects of the business and life style. By 1986 he had established his own circus with a caravan, two lorries, a generator, small circus tent and six performers.

Jay Millers Circus opened for the first time in Broughton, Hampshire in 1987. The circus continues operating in the mid of the twenty first century.

Found in 10 Collections and/or Records:

British Circuses Programmes, 1921 - 2018

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178K43.654
Scope and Contents Programmes for British circuses including Circus Fiesta, John Lawson's Circus, Gilberts Circus, Tom and Sheila Sandow, Tamara Coco's Circus, Blackpool Tower Circus, Bertram Mills, Billy Smart Circus, Peter Jay Superdrome Circus, Billy Russell's Circus, Great Yarmouth Hippodrome, Gerry Cottle's Circus, Jay Miller's Circus, Gandey's Circus, Monday Circus, Circus Hassani, Charles Weight's Empire Circus, Coleman Bros. Circus, Paulo's Circus, John Lester's Royal Midget Circus, Trevor's British...
Dates: 1921 - 2018

Chris Russell Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0112
Scope and Contents

This collection contains five boxes of original photographic material including negatives and slides, a small amount of fairground journals, newspaper cuttings, correspondence, six audio tapes and a small amount of posters and handbills all related to the fairground and steam rally events.

Dates: 1971 - 2013

Circus Friends Association Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0122
Scope and Contents

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

Dates: 1795 - 2020

Circus Photographs, 1953 - 1992

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178C108.974-1170
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 1953 - 1992

Jay Miller's Circus Poster, Wednesday 12 - Friday 21 August c1980s

 Item
Reference code: 178R41.9
Scope and Contents

Shaldon. Colour lithograph of clown face on centre over white background with red and black type.

Dates: Wednesday 12 - Friday 21 August c1980s

Jay Miller's Circus Poster, c1980 - 1989

 Item
Reference code: 178R27.201
Scope and Contents

New Mills Football Club. Colour illustration of clown.

Dates: c1980 - 1989

Photographs and Postcards, c1800 - 1999

 Series
Reference code: 178C108
Scope and Contents

Black and white and colour photographs, negatives and photographic albums mainly containing images of British circus, circus performers, animals and circus personalities but also some menageries such as Bostock and Wombwell and other associated entertainments and non-British circuses taken by David Jamieson, Lindsay Temple, Den Curtis, Capt. Middleton, Jack Niblett and other photographers.

Dates: c1800 - 1999

Posters, c1980 - 1994

 Series
Reference code: 178R41
Scope and Contents

Fairground, circus and steam engine rally posters collected by Chris Russell.

Dates: c1980 - 1994

Posters, c1887 - 2010

 Series
Reference code: 178R27
Scope and Contents

Circus, variety, pantomime and magic posters including Argyle theatre, Liverpool Empire, Blackpool Tower Circus, Robert Brothers, Austen Brothers, Sorcar, Vesta Tilley, Ken Dodd, Dan Leno, Florrie Forde and others.

Dates: c1887 - 2010

Programmes, c1800 - 2019

 Series
Reference code: 178K43
Scope and Contents

A collection of mainly British and international circus programmes and some variety and music hall programmes containing circus acts.

Dates: c1800 - 2019

Additional filters:

Type
Archival Object 8
Collection 2
 
Subject
Acrobats 3
Aerialists 2
Amusement rides 1
Animal trainers 4
Animals 4