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:
Billy Russell's Circus Spectacular Programme, From 1 June 1968
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Colour illustration of woman in blue bikini and white and blue feather head dress seating on an elephant's head on front cover, inside introduction with brief history of circus and Astley related prints, 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, 1976
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Colour illustration of two clowns appearing on the right edge and a seal holding a red ball on its nose in the centre over a blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, 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 two clowns appearing on the right edge and a seal holding a red ball on its nose in the centre over a blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, 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, 1975
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Colour illustration of two clowns appearing on the right edge and a seal holding a red ball on its nose in the centre over a blue 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, 1977
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Colour illustration of two clowns appearing on the right edge and a seal holding a red ball on its nose in the centre over a blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, 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, 1971
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Colour illustration of female aerial act hanging from her hair while juggling battons on fire over a black and blue 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, 1974
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Colour illustration of Cossack riders and dancers in red and white outfits and white and brown horses over a blue 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 Grand Circus Programme, 3 June - 16 September 1961
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Black, red, white and blue type on blue, yellow and red background and colour illustration of cartoon clown's face with mouth open on top right 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 Grand Circus Programme, 4 June - 22 September 1962
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Black, red, white and blue type on blue, yellow and red background and colour illustration of cartoon clown's face with mouth open on top right 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 Grand Circus Programme, 3 June - 21 September 1963
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Black, red, white and blue type on blue, yellow and red background and colour illustration of cartoon clown's face with mouth open on top right on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 12p.p.
Billy Russell's Grand Family Circus and Water Spectacular Programme, 1953
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Colour illustration of fountain act on top right, clown's head with a trumpet on top left, chimpanzees in band uniforms playing drums on bottom left and elephant's head on centre right in mainly red and blue on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, pink illustrations, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 6p.p.
Billy Russell's Grand Family Circus Programme, 1955
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Colour illustration of seal, elephant, three men dressed as Mexicans around a pond and a woman in a long green skirt and bikini top with fruit head dress on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, pink illustrations, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p.
Billy Russell's Grand Family Circus Programme, 1952
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Black, red, white and blue type on blue, orange and yellow background and colour illustration of cartoon clown's face with mouth open on top right on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p.
Billy Russell's Grand Family Circus, Zoo and Pets Corner Programme, 1956
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Black, red, white and blue type on blue, orange and yellow background and colour illustration of cartoon clown's face with mouth open on top right on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, pink illustrations, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p.
Billy Russell's Grand Family Circus, Zoo and Pets Corner Programme, 1957
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Black, red, white and blue type on blue, orange and yellow background and colour illustration of cartoon clown's face with mouth open on top right on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, blue illustrations, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p
Billy Russell's Grand Family Circus, Zoo and Pets Corner Programme, 1958
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Black, red, white and blue type on blue, orange and yellow background and colour illustration of cartoon clown's face with mouth open on top right on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, blue illustrations, autographed programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p.
Billy Russell's Grand Family Circus, Zoo and Pets Corner Programme, 1959
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Black, red, white and blue type on blue, orange and yellow background and colour illustration of cartoon clown's face with mouth open on top right on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, blue illustrations, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p.
Billy Smart Circus Photographs, 1946 - 1973
Black and white photographs of Billy Smart's Circus, showing performers, animals, trucks and tents.
Billy Smart Circus Plan, c1900 - 1999
Colour coded aerial plans of Billy Smart Circus, with admission prices according to location of seating.
Billy Smart New World Circus and Menagerie Programme, 1952
Red and yellow type on white background with red stripey border and two clown faces on the bottom section on the front cover, inside black and white photographs and information on performers and acts, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 10p.p.