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 Smart's Circus Charity Gala Performance Programme, 1968
White and black type on golden background on the cover, inside introduction by Fred Pontin, articles and acknowledgements, black and white photographs of acts and performers, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 20p.p.
Billy Smart's Circus Gala Charity Performance Programme, 1969
Pink and yellow illustration of clown holding a big heart with information inside and a straw hat on a yellow background on the front cover, inside introduction by Bernard Delfont, articles and acknowledgements, black and white photographs of acts and performers, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, also Ravenswood Village Settlement insert, 22p.p.
Billy Smart's Circus plus Western Spectacle Poster, c1946 - 1999
Billy Smart's Circus plus Western Spectacle Poster, 5 - 10 August 1957
Billy Smart's Circus Poster, c1946 - 1999
Clapham Common, South Side, open until 20 November. Colour illustration of baby elephant on blue background, wearing a pointy hat with a bauble and a green bowtie, seated on a circus platform in front of a small woman in circus band uniform wearing a tall red hat and black shorts, holding a poster with his trunk with the location and time of the circus, also yellow and white type. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Nesfield Printing Works Bradford.
Billy Smart's Circus Poster, c1946 - 1999
Birmigham, Hay Mills, 18 March to 3 April. Colour illustration of elephant on blue background, wearing a pointy hat with a bauble and a green bowtie, seated on a circus platform in front of a small woman in circus band uniform wearing a tall red hat and black shorts, holding a poster with his trunk with the location and time of the circus, also yellow and white type. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Nesfield Printing Works Bradford.
Billy Smart's Circus Poster, 28 October - 23 November 1968
Clapham Common, South Side. Colour illustration of elephant wearing a tutu and a pointy hat with a bauble stood on a circus platform and a mouse dressed as an elephant trainer holding a whip on blue background. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.
Billy Smart's Circus Poster, 31 March - 5 April 1969
Peterborough, Agricultural Show ground. Colour illustration of bust of Billy Smart wearing hat and bow tie and holding a cigar with circus ring scene on the background showing wild west act.
Billy Smart's Circus Poster, 9 - 11 June 1966
Cheltenham, Sandford Mill Road/Old Bath Road. Colour illustration of bust of Billy Smart wearing hat and bow tie and holding a cigar with circus ring scene on the background showing wild west act.
Billy Smart's Circus Poster, 26 October - 14 November 1959
Clapham Common. Western Spectacle, wild west act, The 1001 Arabian Nights Fantasy. Yellow, pink, white and brown type on brown, yellow and white background and a colour illustration for each programme theme showing the gun battle and the magic horse in yellow, blue, pink, black and white. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.
Billy Smart's Circus Poster, 10 - 12 June 1962
Stratford-on-Avon, Bishopton Field, Birmingham Road. Aerial fantasy, 20 elephants, The Fairyland story, U.S. Seventh Cavalry western show, polar bears, chimpanzees, camels plus over 150 other animals. Colour illustration of clown in green jacket and red trousers holding seven coloured ballons containing the circus acts over a black starry background. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.
Billy Smart's Circus Poster, 12 - 17 August 1968
Bridlington, Sewerby Heads site. Yellow and white type on blue background with smiling clown face wearing a small, black and white checked top hat on centre left, text on bottom in blue type over white.
Billy Smart's Circus Poster, 27 October 1969
Clapham Common. Colour illustration of baby tiger playing a drum on a green background. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.
Billy Smart's Circus Poster, 5 - 10 August 1957
Inverness, Bught Park. The Flying Hungarian Lunasz. Colour illustration of trapeze act showing two men a woman in mid air and a clown on a blue background and a pink circus ring below. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.
Billy Smart's Circus Poster, 27 October 1969 for a short season
Clapham Common. Colour illustration of baby tiger playing a drum on a green starry background. Signed Thomas. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.
Billy Smart's Circus Poster, 25 March - 17 April 1971
Birmigham, Hay Mills. Colour illustration of three clowns, one of which is throwing a bucket of water to the viewer on a darnk blue background with yellow type above. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.
Billy Smart's Circus Poster, c1946 - 1999
Bridlington, Sewerby Heads site, 12-17 August. Colour illustration of baby elephant stood on its back legs, wearing a tutu and a pointy hat with a bauble, resting its right front leg on a notice reading 'The World's Greatest Circus, thrils, spectacle, beauty' on a brown background, also yellow, blue and red type. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.
Billy Smart's Circus Poster, 28 October - 23 November 1968
Clapham Common, South Side. Colour illustration of elephant wearing a tutu and a pointy hat with a bauble stood on a circus platform and a mouse dressed as an elephant trainer holding a whip on blue background. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.
Billy Smart's Circus Poster, c1946 - 1999
Bridlington, Sewerby Heads site, 12-17 August. Colour illustration of smiley clown's face wearing a small checked top hat and the outline of a circus tent on the right in white with fireworks on the side on a blue background and yellow, white and red type. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.
Billy Smart's Circus Poster, 20 October - 1 November 1958
Slough, Twinches Lane, Bath Road. Colour illustration of Bartschelly, plate spinner wearing a white suite and black bow tie and spinning plates on an orange, red and blue background. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.