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Robert Brothers Circus (Established 1944)

 Organisation

Biography

The Robert Brothers Circus was established by brothers Tommy and Bobby Roberts in Falkirk, Scotland in 1944 and became one of the most successful circuses in Britain and Ireland.

The Roberts family, which can be traced back to Sir Robert Fossett, prospered over ten generations of the family with the business tradition passing from generation to generation, down to Bobby Roberts Junior and wife Moira, who were the last owners of the circus.

The Robert Brothers Circus provided traditional circus entertainment including animal acts, and were very famous for their horses and elephants. They travelled their shows around Britain and Ireland all year round either tenting during the summer or at indoor venues through the winter with regular appearances at Kelvin Hall during the Christmas season.

During the 1970s Robert Brothers Circus provided the big top and show facilities for the televised Circus World Championships and their cicus also made several television shows for the BBC.

Bobby Jr. and Moira continued with the circus and still had elephants until circa 2011.

Found in 85 Collections and/or Records:

Hippodrome Programme, week commencing Monday 11 November 1946

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.139
Scope and Contents

Hip Hip Zoo Ray Circus. Aston. Black illustration on pink background of large building and landscape on the front cover, inside programme and commencial advertising, 2p.p.

Dates: week commencing Monday 11 November 1946

Hungarian State Circus Progamme, c1900 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.158
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of large clown's face on left hand side and various smaller circus acts including poodles, horses and elephants on a blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text and space for autographs and programme on last page, all on a yellow background, 6p.p.

Dates: c1900 - 1999

Jack Niblett's Circus Sketches, c1929 - 1990

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178V11.51
Scope and Contents

286 loose sketches and 6 sketchbooks of circus acts, animals and performers from various international circuses including Smarts, Bertram Mills and Robert Bros. by Jack Niblett. Pen and ink, felt pen, watercolour, pencil and pastel.

Dates: c1929 - 1990

Monographs, Articles, Manuscripts and Research Material, c1795 - 1999

 Series
Reference code: 178B30
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: c1795 - 1999

Newspaper Cuttings and Scapbooks, 1838 - 2007

 Series
Reference code: 178G21
Scope and Contents

A collection of newspaper cuttings on circus, circus proprietors and performers and scrapbooks containing newspaper cuttings, posters, programmes and other items of ephemera, covering mainly British circuses and venues such as Belle Vue and also some international circuses.

Dates: 1838 - 2007

Original Artwork, c1800 - 2000

 Series
Reference code: 178V11
Scope and Contents

Original works of art including artists' prints, drawings, watercolours and paintings, and designs for circus posters.

Dates: c1800 - 2000

Palace Theatre Programme, Week commencing Monday 26 January 1953

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.135
Scope and Contents

Hip Hip Zoo Ray Circus, presented by The Robert Brothers. East Ham. Red, white and blue illustration of three girls in Mexican hats dancing and written music notes and stars on the front cover, inside programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 4p.p.

Dates: Week commencing Monday 26 January 1953

Palace Theatre Programme, week commencing Monday 25 February 1957

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.137
Scope and Contents

Hip Hip ZooRay Circus, presented by Robert Bros. Leicester. Blue, pink and white illustration of nude woman holding a large music note dancing and smiling crescent moon, wearing a top hat on the front cover, inside programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 4p.p.

Dates: week commencing Monday 25 February 1957

Palace Theatre Programme, Monday 19 October 1953

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.115
Scope and Contents

Chelsea. Hip Hip Zoo Ray Circus. Blue and white illustrations of circus acts in three dimensional segments on the front cover on a red background, programme in centre and commercial advertising, 4p.p.

Dates: Monday 19 October 1953

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

Plans, c1900 - 1999

 Series
Reference code: 178M16
Scope and Contents

Ring and seating plans for Chipperfield, Bertam Mills, Fossett, Smart and Robert Brothers Circuses.

Dates: c1900 - 1999

Posters, c1800 - 2011

 Series
Reference code: 178R47
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: c1800 - 2011

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

Robert Bros. International Circus Programme, 1961

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.126
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of two Robert brothers opening a curtain to reveal a circus behind it with many acts including performers and animals on front cover, inside black and white photographs of the Robert family and the acts and performers with text and programme in the centre, article on circus and commercial advertisement on last page, 8p.p.

Dates: 1961

Robert Bros. International Circus Programme, 1962

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.127
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of two Robert brothers opening a curtain to reveal a circus behind it with many acts including performers and animals on front cover, inside black and white photographs of the Robert family and the acts and performers with text and programme in the centre, article on circus and commercial advertisement on last page, 8p.p.

Dates: 1962

Robert Bros. International Circus Programme, 1963

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.128
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of two Robert brothers opening a curtain to reveal a circus behind it with many acts including performers and animals on front cover, inside black and white photographs of the Robert family and the acts and performers with text and programme in the centre, article on circus and commercial advertisement on last page, 8p.p.

Dates: 1963

Robert Bros. International Circus Programme, 1964

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.129
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of two Robert brothers opening a curtain to reveal a circus behind it with many acts including performers and animals on front cover, inside black and white photographs of the Robert family and the acts and performers with text and programme in the centre, article on circus and commercial advertisement on last page, 8p.p.

Dates: 1964

Robert Bros. Mamooth Circus and Zoo Programme, 1954

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.111
Scope and Contents

Blue and white photograph of two Robert brothers and red type on white background on front cover, programme inside and text on back cover written by Bobby and Tommy Roberts, 2p.p.

Dates: 1954

Robert Bros. Mamooth Circus and Zoo Programme, 1959

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.116
Scope and Contents

Colour photograph of two Robert brothers on the front cover over a yellow star on a purple background, inside black and white photographs of the Robert family and the acts and performers with text and an essay about the origin of the modern circus on the last page, programme in the centre, 8p.p.

Dates: 1959

Robert Bros. Mamooth Circus and Zoo Programme, 1958

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.117
Scope and Contents

Colour photograph of two Robert brothers on the front cover over a yellow star on a purple background, inside black and white photographs of the Robert family and the acts and performers with text and an essay about the origin of the modern circus on the last page, programme in the centre, 8p.p.

Dates: 1958