The Great Carmo's Circus and Menagerie (1927 - 1937)
Dates
- Existence: 1927 - 1937
- Usage: 1936 - 1937
Biography
The Great Carmo’s Circus and Menagerie was stablished by Harry Cameron aka The Great Carmo in 1927. The circus opened at Balmoral Gardens in Belfast in 1928 and appeared next to Bertram Mills Circus at Olympia in the same season.
During 1929, The Great Carmos’ Circus travelled together with Bertram Mills’ new travelling circus, managed by Bertram’s sons. The two circuses travelled between May and November under Carmo’s name as Bertram Mills did not want to associate his name to the new venture until proven a success.
The following season the partnership was dissolved and the two circuses followed separate paths. By March 1930, Carmo’s Circus and Menagerie was closed and Harry return to his magic show, although he returned to the circus in the winter that season as Carmo’s Colossal Circus, which he presented at the Hippodrome Theatre in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne and the Dominion Theatre in London. In 1936 the circus was reinvented through a new partnership as the Stott-Carmo Circus, but this venture was short lived as Carmo’s circus finally closed in 1937.
Found in 14 Collections and/or Records:
Bertram Mills Circus Royal and Gala Performance Programmes, Great Carmo, Bostock and Wombwell's, and Bailey's Circus Programmes, c1900 - 1999
Bertram Mills Circus Royal and Gala Performance programmes, Great Carmo's Circus, Bostock and Wombwell's menagerie and Bailey's Circus programmes.
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
Monographs, Articles, Manuscripts and Research Material, c1795 - 1999
Compilation of monographs, articles, manuscripts and a range of research material about circus companies and performers in the United Kingdom, Europe and other parts of the world by various authors, the research was mainly compiled by Hal Thomas.
Newspaper Cuttings on The Great Carmo Circus, 1926 - 1966
Newspaper cuttings, including an article by Dame Laura Knight, pages from a scrapbook, photocopies of articles and two issus of Abra Cadabra magic journal.
Photographs and Postcards, c1800 - 1999
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.
Posters, c1800 - 2011
A wide range of British and international circus and menagerie posters ranging from the 19th to the 21st century including Astley's Amphitheatre, Pablo Fanque, Polito, Bostock and Wombwell, Ducrow, Cooke, Hengler, Sanger, Smart, Gerry Cottle, Bertram Mills, Chipperfield's, Robert Brothers, Fossett, Blackpool Tower, Billy Russell, Belle Vue, Great Yarmouth Hippodrome, Austen Brothers and many more.
Programmes, c1800 - 2019
A collection of mainly British and international circus programmes and some variety and music hall programmes containing circus acts.
The Great Carmo Circus and Menagerie Programme, 1929
Green type on golden background on the front cover, inside black type on yellow background containing the programme and paragraphs about the circus on alternate pages, 6p.p.
The Great Carmo Circus and Menagerie Programme, 1929
Red type on golden background on the front cover, inside black type on yellow background containing the programme and paragraphs about the circus on alternate pages, 6p.p.
The Great Carmo Circus Photographs, c1930 - 1939
Black and white photographs and postcards of The Great Carmo Circus including many of The Great Carmo in different personas, Rita Carmo and circus scenes and performes.
The Great Carmo Circus Programme, c1937
Red type in the centre within a circle and red illustrations of Carmo's head in three different personas including Chinese, Egyptian and Indian costumes around it and a lion on the bottom section, also outline of circus acts in the corners including trapeze, equestrian and high wire on a yellowish background on the front cover, inside programme, 2p.p.
The Great Carmo Circus Research Material, c1900 - 1999
Photocopies and letter related to The Great Carmo Circus.
The Great Carmo's Circus and Menagerie Poster, 1929
Baby June the cycling elephant, the only one in the world. Colour illustration in the centre, of elephant on trycicle with girl in white dress on the right and hobo clown on the left within a blue circle and yellow margins containing illustrations of elephants, horse and carriage with performers and elephant and the face of a man on top left also within a circle.
Victorian, Edwardian and Georgian Circus Posters, c1800 - 1930
Early circus and menagerie posters including Polito's menagerie, Astley's Amphitheatre and Pablo Fanque's, Sanger's, Powell's, Ducrow's, Cooke's and Hengler's circuses among others.