Billy Smart's Circus (c1946 - 2006)
Biography
Billly Smart's Circus was established by William 'Billy' Smart (1894-1966). Billy came from a fairground family from London with an interest in horses and circuses. In 1946 Billy came across Cody's Circus and bought the big top.
Billy Smart's New World Circus made its debut at Southall Park, Middlesex, on 5 April 1946, for the first full season after the end of the war. Initially, Billy run his circus in conjunction with his fun fair, which was being run by his children, but by 1952 the fun fair, which was overshadowed by the circus, disappeared. The success of the circus side of the business however continued to increase and in 1955, Billy Smart's Circus grew from its two-pole tentto a 6,000 seat, four-pole round big top with a hippodrome track around the ring, and a vast entrance tent, thus enabling the staging of spectacular parades, which became a Billy Smart's Circus trademark.
Billy's greatest innovation, however, was his relationship with the newly established television networks when he agreed to broadcast his circus live on the BBC in 1947. Over the years, Billy Smart's Christmas Spectacular became a BBC holiday tradition, which ITV took over in 1979 and carried on until 1982. The BBC's first-ever colour broadcast was a 'Tribute to Billy Smart', while Royal Performances took place in London, raising thousands of pounds for charity.
A large part of the success of the circus was the showmanship that Billy brought to the operation of the circus, the large family he could draw upon to run the shows and his ability as a showman to market and capture opportunities to advertise. Whilst other circus proprietors were threatened by the rise in popularity of television and shunned the cameras, Billy Smart embraced them. Smart's Circus grew to be one of the largest in the world, touring every part of the British Isles, and with permanent quarters and an associated zoo at Winkfield, Berkshire, not far from where Smart began his fairground career. His success took the circus through twenty-six tenting tours, winter seasons, frequent TV appearances and the provision of animal acts to other circuses.
Billy died in his caravan on 25 September 1966 and the circus passed onto his sons Ronnie, David and Billy Jr. who continued travelling Billy Smart's New World Circus until around 1971.
In the 1990s Ronnie and his sons Gary and Lord revived the Smart Circus and started to tour a smaller scale version of the original circus. However, the Smart Circus was never the same after the dead of Billy and soon after, the Smart name was rented out to other circus operators until it stopped operating in the early 2000s.
Found in 1051 Collections and/or Records:
Maps Charts and Plans Concerning Personalized Caravan, 22 October 1953
Plan of living wagon built on Tasker House trailer, drawing number FS1006, R. Southern & Co., Ltd Coachbuilders, Brighthouse, Yorkshire. Line drawing showing side elevation and interior from above.
Martin Lacey Presents Circus Harlequin: The Circus of Your Dreams Programme, 1993
Front cover: clown in checked suite dancing on stage. Inside: programme in the centre, history of Circus Harlequin, description of the acts with photos. Back cover: same clown on front cover who is waving good-bye to the audience as curtains close. 6 pages.
McDonald's International Circus Poster, c1900 - 2019
Stroud RFC, Frome Hall Park, Dudbridge Hill from Sunday 7 July to Sunday 14 July. Colour illustration of a clown reclining with a thumbs up.
Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Billy Smart’s Amusements (London) Limited, 7 December 1951
Two copies of a Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Billy Smart’s Amusements (London) Limited. One of the copies is highlighted and annotated
Memorial Service Booklet for Bernard Delfont, 5 October 1994
Booklet of the memorial service for Bernard Delfont held at the Liberal Jewish Synagogue, St John's Wood, London. Includes information about his life, the order of service, readings and songs. 14 pages.
Memorial Service Booklet for Billy Smart, 2 October 1966
Booklet of the memorial service for Billy Smart held at St Peter's Church, Cranbourne. Includes the order of service, hymns, and Bible quotes. 4 pages.
Memorial Service Booklet for Captain William Butlin, 17 June 2003
Booklet of the memorial service for Captain William Butlin held at St John's Parish church. Includes the order of service, prayers, hymns, eulogy, Bible reading, and address. 4 pages. One envelope with information about the service hand written on the front.
Metal Letterbox from Billy Smart Winkfield Winter Quarters, c1900 - 2000
Various items of ephemera.
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.
Monographs, Articles, Manuscripts and Research Material, 1950 - 2003
Research material on the life and career of Billy Smart as well as a monograph by Bernard Wicksteed.
Moscow Circus/Fiesta Circus/Charlie Rivel Film, 1950 - 1977
VHS PAL. Note on tape reads 'Moscow Circus c1950? on stage young Oleg Popov and Acts. Circus Fiesta (1977?) Tony Hophins junior, Jimmy Scott etc. Charlie Rivel with English subtitles'.
Moskauer Staatszirkus Programme, c1995
Circus Williams Franz Althoff production. Includes handwritten notes on circus acts on a separate document. Front cover has a colour illustration of half a clown face attached to half a tiger face.
Moustache Parade Programme, c1900 - 2000
Front cover: moustache with the title on it, programme starts here. Inside: programme continues. Back cover: programme finishes. 2 pages.
Mummey's Speech for Gary Film, 1989
VHS PAL.
Music Scores, c1990 - 1999
Photocopy of manuscript music score for 'Ilgais Ceļš' arranged by R. Pauls which includes parts for various instruments. Also includes photocopy of manuscript music score for 'Uwerture' arranged by Z. Kulde which includes parts for various instruments and is stamped 'Cirkus Merano'.
Nederlands Nationaal Circus Herman Renz Grootste Circus van de Benelux Programme, 1994
Front cover: animated clown face on a yellow circle. Inside: programme in the centre, commercial advertising, description of acts with pictures. Back cover: door frame to a bull ring. 8 pages.
New World Circus Presents Billy Smart's Circus Programme, c2006
Front cover: a large moon in the background, three clowns in the foreground, the middle clown has face paint and a colourful clown suite. Inside: programme in the centre, photos of acts with a brief description, history of the Billy Smart circus, advertisements. Back cover: night photograph of the circus tent. 12 pages.
Newspaper and Magazine Cuttings on Circus, 1897 - 2005
Newspaper Cuttings, 1976 - 1979
Various newspaper cuttings on circus and showmen, including Billy Smart's Circus and Gerry Cottle.
Newspaper Cuttings, 1990
Various newspaper and magazine cuttings relating to circus performers and showmen, including Jimmy Chipperfield's obituary.