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 New World Circus and Menagerie Poster, 16 November - 5 December 1953
Birmingham, Greyhound Stadium, car park. Red and blue type on white background with red border. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd, Nesfield Printing Works, Bradford.
Billy Smart's New World Circus and Menagerie Programme, 1956
Colour illustration of laughing clown's face on a blue background and type on bottom section on a yellow background on front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of patrons, owners, performers and acts with text and programme in the centre, 12p.p.
Billy Smart's New World Circus and Menagerie Programme, 1955
Colour illustration of man in blue jacket riding a white horse out of a grey square and holding a gun up in the air, also a clown and a man in a coat inside the box, green and blue type on red and yellow background on front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of patrons, owners, performers and acts with text and programme in the centre, also commercial advertising on last page, 11p.p.
Billy Smart's New World Circus and Menagerie Programme, c1954
Colour illustration of elephant riding a tricycle wearing a police hat on a green a blue stripey background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of patrons, owners, performers and acts with text and programme in the centre, also commercial advertising on last page, 12p.p.
Billy Smart's New World Circus and Menagerie Programme, c1954
Colour illustration of elephant riding a tricycle wearing a police hat on a green a blue stripey background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of patrons, owners, performers and acts with text and programme in the centre, also commercial advertising on last page, 12p.p.
Billy Smart's New World Circus and Menagerie Programme, 1954
Colour illustration of elephant riding a tricycle wearing a police hat on a green a blue stripey background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of patrons, owners, performers and acts with text and programme in the centre, also commercial advertising on last page, contains two sets of covers, 14p.p.
Billy Smart's New World Circus and Zoo Poster, 1955
Tagora the human volcano, over 200 animals. Colour illustration of bare chested man wearing a turbant, spitting fire on the bottom right and his face on centre left on a blue, red and orange background, also yellow and red and white, black and yellow type. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.
Billy Smart's New World Circus and Zoo Poster, 3 - 8 September 1956
Preston, Queens Road site. Great Western spectacle featuring Davy Crockett. Colour illustration of wild west act in circus ring with man in traditional costume holding a riffle stood on the left hand side.
Billy Smart's New World Circus and Zoo Poster, 3 - 4 June 1955
Cheltenham, Sandford Park. Colour illustration of wild animals running on grass including elephants, lions, bears, polar bears, camels, llamas and cebras in a circle on the centre of the poster. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.
Billy Smart's New World Circus and Zoo Poster, 20 December 1954 - 22 January 1955
Birmingham, Bingley Hall. Colour illustration of wild animals running on grass including elephants, lions, bears, polar bears, camels, llamas and cebras in a circle on the centre of the poster. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.
Billy Smart's New World Circus and Zoo Poster, 3 - 4 June 1955
Cheltenham, Sandford Park. Colour illustration in a circle in the centre of the poster of dancing elephant wearing a pink tutu and woman also wearing a pink tutu in a circus ring. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.
Billy Smart's New World Circus and Zoo Poster, 3 - 8 September 1956
Preston, Queens Road site. Colour illustration of dancing elephant and woman both wearing a hula skirt and flower necklace, in a circus ring. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.
Billy Smart's New World Circus and Zoo Poster, 25 - 30 March 1957
Dewsbury, the Feast Ground. Tagora the human volcano. Colour illustration of bare chested man wearing a turbant and spiting fire and a large face of man wearing a turbant on top left, over a red and blue background. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.
Billy Smart's New World Circus Poster, 7 - 26 November 1955
Birmingham, Perry Bar stadium car park. Colour illustration of circus parade seen from behind heading towards a blue circus tent on a field. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.
Billy Smart's New World Circus Poster, 15 October - 3 November 1956
Manchester, Platt Fields. Eight Flying Croneras. Colour illustration of trapezee act showing eight artistes performing in mid-air ona blue and pink background. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.
Billy Smart's New World Circus Programme, 1947
Southsea Common, Western Parade. Colour illustration of cowboy clown in the centre, equestrian acts and clowning on top section and caged animals on bottom section over a dark blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of patrons, owners, performers and acts and programme in the centre, 5p.p.
Billy Smart's New World Circus Programme, Christmas 1947
Gaumont State, Kilburn. Red outline illustrations of circus acts including a clown playing a drum, horses, elephants, a caged tiger and clowns on a blue background on the front cover, inside programme in blue and red type on a white background with red illustrations around the edges and blue and white photographs of Billy Smart and Lord Morrison on the back cover, 2p.p.
Billy Smart's New World Circus Programme, 1962
Colour illustration of show girl in green outfit and large feather head dress standing on an elephant's leg while the elephant is balancing on a circus platform on a blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 14p.p.
Billy Smart's New World Circus Programme, 1961
Colour illustration of show girl in green outfit and large feather head dress standing on an elephant's leg while the elephant is balancing on a circus platform on a blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 14p.p.
Billy Smart's New World Circus Programme, 1964
Colour illustration of pink elephant wearing a pointy hat and seating on a circus platform and a tamer in a red, gold and black outfit holding a whip on a blue background on the front page, inside introduction, black and white photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 14p.p.