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Circus Friends Association of Great Britain (Established 1934)

 Organisation

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:

Blackpool Tower Circus Programme, 1965

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.70
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of cartoon clown balancing over a fountain on a brown and black background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial adversiting, 6p.p.

Dates: 1965

Blackpool Tower Circus Programme, 1963

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.71
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of cartoon clown dressed as ringmaster holding a whip, standing in front of the Blackpool tower on a yellow and orange background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, colour photograph of Charlie Cairoli with showgirl and programme in the centre, 4p.p.

Dates: 1963

Blackpool Tower Circus Programme, 1966

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.72
Scope and Contents

Colour dots in the shape of a fountain on a black background on front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre on an orange background and commercial advertising, 6p.p.

Dates: 1966

Blackpool Tower Circus Programme, 1968

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.73
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of two men in white shirts and purple leotards in the centre and three showgirls in silver top hats and red sleeveless tail jackets on a blue and black background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising. Printed by Gazette Printers, Blackpool, 6p.p.

Dates: 1968

Blackpool Tower Circus Programme, 1969

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.74
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of animals covering a clown with sand on the beach with the Blackpool tower behind them on a yellow background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising. Printed by United Printing Services, Stanley Road, Blackpool, 6p.p.

Dates: 1969

Blackpool Tower Circus Programme, 1970

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.75
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of cartoon clown and animals riding a rocket into space with the Blackpool tower behind them on a black background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising. Printed by United Printing Services, Stanley Road, Blackpool, 6p.p.

Dates: 1970

Blackpool Tower Circus Programme, 1973

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.76
Scope and Contents

Black cartoon illustration of Charlie Cairoli main features with red nose on a yellow background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 6p.p.

Dates: 1973

Blackpool Tower Circus Programme, c1900 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.77
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of cartoon clown with bauble costume on a black background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, loose insert for the Opera House. Printed by United Printing Services, Stanley Road, Blackpool, 7p.p.

Dates: c1900 - 1999

Blackpool Tower Circus Programme, 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.85
Scope and Contents

Colour photograph of ringmaster, ventriloquist with bird, clown and man in orangutan outfit on the front cover, inside introduction, colour photographs of performers and acts with text, and programme in the centre on glossy paper, 6p.p.

Dates: 1999

Blackpool Tower Circus Programmes, c1900 - 2009

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178K43.31-87
Scope and Contents

Blackpool Tower Circus programmes.

Dates: c1900 - 2009

Blackpool Tower Circus Souvenir Brouchures, c1900 - 1999

 File
Reference code: 178I22.27
Scope and Contents

Brouchures containing promotional colour and black and white photographs of acts, Blackpool scenes and performers with text, one of them produced for the 101 anniversary of Blackpool Tower and another for The Adventures of Sinbad, Christmas pantomime.

Dates: c1900 - 1999

Blackpool Tower Circus, Special TV Programme, 1951

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.59
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of a cartoon clown wearing blue trousers and red braces from behind holdind a can of paint and a brush on a red background on the front, on reverse programme.

Dates: 1951

Blackpool Tower, Peter Jay Presents International Circus Programme, 25 May - 3 November 1990

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.43
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of circus acts including a clown's face on top right, the face of the ringmaster and elephants and horses on top left, a female aerialist in a red bikini on bottom left and a leopard and a panther's head on bottom right on front cover, inside black and white photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial adverstising, 8p.p.

Dates: 25 May - 3 November 1990

Blackpool Tower, Peter Jay's International Circus Programme, 26 May - 4 November 1989

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.42
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of circus acts including a clown's face on top left, a female aerialist in a red bikini below, three rearing horses and an elephant on bottom left, a clown's face on bottom centre, a tiger and lion's head on bottom right and a cycling act above on front cover, inside black and white photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial adverstising, 8p.p.

Dates: 26 May - 4 November 1989

Blackpool Tower Presents Mexican National Circus Programme, 1991

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.83
Scope and Contents

Five colour photographs of performers in squares over the Mexican flag on the front cover, inside introduction, colour photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p.

Dates: 1991

Blackpool Tower Presents Mooky's Circus of Dreams Programme, 2009

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.86
Scope and Contents

Colour photograph of clown's torso on bottom right wearing a white night hat, holding white smoke on his hand where he appears on the back of a travelling wagon and a man in a tall hat looking from above angryly on the front cover, inside introduction, colour photographs of performers and acts with text, and programme in the centre on glossy paper, 12p.p.

Dates: 2009

Blackpool Tower Presents the Chinese Circus Programme, 1988

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.82
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of smiling clown face on top left, Chinese dragon and acrobat below, roaring tiger on bottom and showgirl seating on an elephant's head on bottom right on an orange and red background 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.

Dates: 1988

Bobby Brothers Super Circus programme, 1994

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.150
Scope and Contents

Golden Jubilee 1944-1994. Colour photograph of Bobby Roberts wearing a white and gold jacket on the foreground and photograph of himself with three performing elephants on the background on the front cover, inside introduction, history of the circus and the Roberts family, colour photographs of performers and acts with text and other short articles, programme in the centre, 8p.p.

Dates: 1994

Bobby Brothers Super Circus programme, 1994 - 1995

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.151
Scope and Contents

Golden Jubilee 1944-1994. Colour photograph of Bobby Roberts wearing a white and gold jacket on the foreground and photograph of himself with three performing elephants on the background on the front cover, inside introduction, history of the circus and the Roberts family, colour photographs of performers and acts with text and other short articles with insert programme in the centre, 7p.p.

Dates: 1994 - 1995

Bobby Roberts Super Circus Programme, 2008

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.161
Scope and Contents

Colour photograph of Bobby Roberts on a horse, wearing a white jacket and holding a microphone in a circus ring on the front page, inside introduction and history of Bobby Roberts, colour photographs of acts and performers, programme in the centre, article about animal care and commercial advertising, 8p.p.

Dates: 2008