Circus Friends Association of Great Britain (Established 1934)
Biography
The CFA, formerly known as the Circus Fans Association was stablished on Saturday 20th January 1934 in the ring of Bertram Mills Circus at Olympia, London by a group of enthusiasts. The CFA’s purpose remains the same as in its conception; to stimulate, foster and promote enthusiasm for circus and related performances as part of British culture.
During 1934, the pattern for CFA activities was established, with the formation of the library, the publication of The Sawdust Ring magazine and the first rallies, including ones to the Hippodrome Circus in Great Yarmouth and Blackpool Tower. The annual subscription at the time was one guinea for residents in a radius of 60 miles from London 'as defined by Automobile Association handbook', and half a guinea for those residing outside that area, in the provinces. 'For residents in the Colonies and foreign counties' the subscription was 7/6.
The first President of the CFA was Lady Eleanor Smith (1902-1945), the eldest child of the politician F. E. Smith. Lady Eleanor Smith was an author, a society reporter and cinema reviewer and worked as a publicist for circus companies.
Other notable presidents were; Dame Laura Knight (1877-1970), the most celebrated British impressionist female artist of all time and the first woman to ever be elected to the Royal Academy. The actor Sir Cedric Hardwicke (1893-1964), wine merchant and philanthropist Sir Walter Gilbey (1831-1914), theatrical manager and empresario Sir Charles B. Cochran (1872-1951), Sir William Savory (1882-1961), author Antony Hippisley Coxe and Commander W. J. Gerard.
The first five years of the CFA saw the firm establishment of the Association its activity, although it was active by Alfred 'Dickey' Bird. The post-war years were difficult but the CFA continued operating with the same aims and ambitions.
The library was started in 1937, as a gift of 30 books from A.C. McLachlan. Others titles were acquired by purchase or donation. It contains books on virtually every aspect of circus life from individual acts, to acts of Parliament, from erecting a Big Top, to the logistics of transporting circuses, works of fiction, photography and juvenile literature all of which help to create a greater understanding of the many contrasts in circus life; of the romance, tragedy, spectacle and hardships.
Notable authors who have contributed to the myth and legend of circus include Lady Eleanor Smith, who in 1945, donated all her circus books to the CFA, Ruth Manning-Sanders and Courtney Ryley Cooper, an American writer who, after having first joined a circus aged 16, went on to write crime books and ghost-wrote articles under J. Edgar Hoover’s name in the 1930s.
After the war lists of holdings were printed and distributed to members, who could borrow a book at a time by post. By the mid 1970s, the ‘Library Catalogue’ listed 525 books and a ‘Circusiana’ section was created for valuable books, for reference only.
The CFA continues maintaining the collection, ensuring its growth and establishing it as the primary, national collection of books on circus.
The CFA has also amassed one of the most fascinating and important collection of circus related material in the United Kingdom expanding over 200 years. This material has supported research and literature produced by its members over the years and has ensured that an important part of British circus history will be available for future generations of researchers and enthusiasts.
The association has always welcomed enthusiasts and circus artistes to it’s membership and has always produced a regular publication giving news, reviews and articles on circus artistes and personalities and reviews of British and foreign circuses. The current quarterly magazine King Pole, named after the masts, which support a circus tent, is regarded as one of the leading circus periodicals in the world.
The CFA continues to organise visits, formerly called rallies, for the members, to UK circuses and recognises the achievements of those involved in circus with special awards.
After almost 85 years in existence the CFA continues to flourish with membership being maintained in the region of 500 comprising both British and subscribers from abroad.
Found in 1288 Collections and/or Records:
Bertram Mills, The Circus that Travelled by Train. A Pictorial Celebration of ‘The Quality Show’ Film, 2007
Images from Bertram Mill’s circus from the c1920s to 1967 narrated by David Jamison published by AARDVARK.
Bertram W. Mills' Circus 10th Olympia Season Programme, 20 December 1929 - 23 January 1930
Colour illustration of three elephants and woman wearing a safari hat seating on the one in the middle on a yellow background on the front cover, bound in black leather cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs and illustrations of performers and acts with text, various articles and commercial advertising, 27p.p.
Bertram W. Mills' Circus and Menagerie Programme, Summer season 1930
Olympia, London. Colour illustration of roaring tiger riding a white horse on a blue background on the front cover, inside introduction to who is who in the Bertram Mills circus, black and white photographs and illustrations of performers and act and programme in the centre, 6p.p.
Bertram W. Mills' Circus and Menagerie Programme, 1930
Photocopy of programme with note reading 'apparently the 2nd edition'.
Bertram W. Mills Circus at Olympia Poster, c1900 - 1930
London, December 21st to January 23rd. Fun fair open from noon, May Wirth, London has never seen such a show. Colour illustration in a circle in the centre, of head of white horse and woman's torso, she has a black bob and wears a red ribbon on her hair and traditional custome and white type on dark brown background.
Bertram W. Mills' Olympia Circus at the City Hall, Manchester Programme, 21 December 1929 - 18 January 1930
Colour illustration of clown in a white outfit with red trim ruffles holding a tray full of miniature lions and two black and white horses galloping underneath on a blue background on the front cover, inside article about Astley, black and white illustrations and photographs of performers and acts with text, articles, insert photocopy of programme and commercial advertising, 14p.p.
Big Top Backyard: Saga of a Decade in Circus Research Material, c1900 - 1999
Light hearted autobiographical monograph on the intricacies of the travelling circus life with dissertations on education, superstitions, business matters, performing animal issues and others by Kit Francis, 317p.p. Typescript.
Big Top Circus Programmes, c1960 - 1969
Big Top Circus programmes containing black and white photographs of acts and performers with text, illustrations, programme and commercial advertising.
Billy 'Little Billy' Merchant's Death Related Material, c1900 - 1999
Newspaper obituaries and photocopies of obituary articles for Jimmy Scott and Alby Austin, circus clowns and Roberto Germains, entertainment agent.
Billy Merchant Correspondence, 1974 - 1988
Correspondence between Cyril Betram Mills and Billy Merchant, including some Christmas cards, one photocopy and one envelope.
Billy Merchant's Circus Performers Photographic Album, c1900 - 1999
Black and white photographs of Billy Merchant and other performers and some postcards, with hand written annotations, 15p.p.
Billy Merchant's Circus Performer's Photographs, c1900 - 1999
Black and white photographs and some postcards of Billy Merchant aka Little Billy and other circus perfomers on and off the circus ring, some autographed.
Billy Russell's Circus Spectacular Programme, 1969
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Colour illustration of aerial act hanging from a black contraption in the centre, woman in a long blue dress and poodles and man balancing glasses with his mouth in a yellow outfit on the bottom section over a yellow and orange background on the front cover, inside introduction with brief history of circus, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 12p.p.
Billy Russell's Circus Spectacular Programme, 1970
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Colour illustration of circus acts including trapeze on top section and clowns, performing animals and poodles with performers on the bottom section over a yellow and orange background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 12p.p.
Billy Russell's Circus Spectacular Programme, 1972
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Colour illustration of circus acts including trapeze on top section and Chinesse and Hungarian acrobats , woman riding a white horse and woman with poodels on the bottom section over a yellow and red background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 12p.p.
Billy Russell's Circus Spectacular Programme, 1973
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Colour illustration of men spitting and juggling fire and head of man with turbant on a red, yellow and orange background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 12p.p.
Billy Russell's Circus Spectacular Programme, 1978
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Colour illustration of Chinese building and dragons on blue, yellow and pink on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre with red, yellow, black and white illustration around the edges and commercial advertising, 12p.p.
Billy Russell's Circus Spectacular Programme, 6 June - 19 September 1964
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Colour illustration of woman's head with a white top hat and large orange ribbon on her neack on a blue starry background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, black illustrations, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 12p.p.
Billy Russell's Circus Spectacular Programme, 4 June - 18 September 1965
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Colour illustration of woman's head with a white top hat and large orange ribbon on her neack on a blue starry background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 12p.p.
Billy Russell's Circus Spectacular Programme, 30 May - 17 September 1966
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Colour illustration of woman's head with a white top hat and large orange ribbon on her neack on a blue starry background on the front cover, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, black illustrations, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 12p.p.