Bertram Mills Circus (1920 - 1967)
Dates
- Existence: 1920 - 1967
Biography
Bertram Wagstaff Mills was born in London on August 11, 1873, the son of Halford Lewis Mills of Smarden, the proprietor of a coach building firm and funerary company.
Bertram became part of the family business as a carriage builder and only became involved in the circus through a wager in 1919 of £100 from Sir Gilbert Greenhall, a fellow coaching enthusiast, who was encouraged by R.G. Heaton, the Managing Director of Olympia to put on a first class circus after watching what was in his eyes a very disappointing show at Olympia.
Mills has originally planned to win the wager by engaging Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey to come to London for the 1920-1921 season but cancellation of the contract resulted in Mills decided to put on his own show. He rose to the challenge and the following year he presented a circus which would become an annual highlight for London audiences and introduced world class performers to the British public.
Between 1930 and 1964, and alongside his annual shows at Olympia, Bertram Mills Circus toured the country under the management of his sons Cyril and Bernard. Following the lines of excellence, production and performance standard set by the Olympia shows, according to Bertram Mills, ‘The Mills Circus will perform like professionals and live like gentlemen."
After approximately nine years of exhibiting in London, he created a tenting show which was said to have cost £40,000 to launch and £2500 to run weekly. With the crème de la crème of circus performers forming part of his touring repertoire, regional audiences thrilled to some of the leading artists of the day appearing in the specially designed German big top which travelled by their town by rail, the first British showmen to do so.
Bertram Mills’ status as an innovator and re-invigorator of the circus was heralded on both sides of the Channel. He only selected the best and most polished performers in the world and one of his major impacts as a producer was his ruthless ability to select the best five minutes of a twenty minute act. Circus historian Don Stacey lists these as part of his five principles the others being the ability to attract and convert influential people to the cause of the circus, using individual acts to promote as the star of the show with his treatment of Koringa being a case in point, and finally his ability in using publicity and marketing for the benefit of the show. As one contemporary commentator observed, 'It is not an exaggeration to say that he brought back the circus to England at a time when it seemed that it was about to quietly expire, killed by the War and mechanical entertainment'.
Mills believed in attracting and encouraging the attentions of the great and the good and following on a tradition laid out in the nineteenth century when circus was patronised greatly by the Royal Family, he aimed to make the Quality Show part of the establishment. From 1926 onwards following a visit of the then Prince of Wales to Olympia, the association between the Bertram Mills Circus and the Royal Family resulted in over sixty visits to the shows during its time in Olympia and other venues.
Bertram Mills became President of the Showmen’s Guild of Great in 1935, only the second circus showmen to hold such a position and the first and only time in its history that the position was occupied by someone not born into the business. He proved to be a successful and capable President, often travelling thousands of miles on Guild business including attending the First International Showmen’s Congress in Paris in 1937. Also this year Bertram Mills was the first circus in the world to be televised.
Mills died at the age of sixty-four of cardiac syncope and bronchial pneumonia on 16 April 1938 at his home, Pollards Wood, Chalfont St Giles, the day the tenting circus opened, at Luton, but the circus opened that evening. His death was greeted by the public and industry alike with shock as tributes to Britain’s No 1 Showman and King of the Circus appearing on the newsstands. However, the legacy he built was second to none, the principals laid down by the Quality Show with its attention to detail, model professionalism and quality of acts would be continued by both his sons and provided a template for the industry to follow.
By 1965 Bertram Mills Circus was in decline due to raising costs and the new way of competition the advent of television brought to the entertainment sector. The last winter season at Olympia was delivered by catering and hotel magnate Maxwell Joseph who leased the business for the 1966-1967 season, which will be the last one. Bertram Mills Circus closed 1967.
Found in 219 Collections and/or Records:
Bertram Mills' Circus at Olympia Programme, 22 December 1930 - 24 January 1931
Colour illustration of Astley's amphitheatre showing an equestrian act in 1808 on decorative cover, inside nine lions on a blue and orange background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs and illustrations of performers and acts, programme in the centre with road map, various articles and commercial advertising, 32p.p.
Bertram Mills' Circus at Olympia Programme, 22 December 1932 - 25 January 1933
Black and white illustration of Queen Victoria at Olympia watching the circus on decorative cover, inside artist illustration of clown's torso on a blue and red grainy background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs and illustrations of performers and acts, insert programme in the centre with road map, various articles and commercial advertising. Printed by Fleetway Press Ltd, 30p.p.
Bertram Mills' Circus at Olympia Programme, 21 December 1933 - 25 January 1934
Black and white photograph of lion's head on decorative cover, inside artist illustration of female equestrian act standing on a white horse with a white face clown behind in a circus ring on the front cover, inside introduction, black white photographs of performers and acts, cartoons of circus acts with articles and commercial advertising. Printed by Fleetway Press Ltd, 32p.p
Bertram Mills' Circus at Olympia Programme, 21 December 1933 - 25 January 1934
Artist colour illustration of female equestrian act standing on a white horse with a white face clown behind in a circus ring on the front cover, inside introduction, black white photographs of performers and acts, cartoons of circus acts with articles and commercial advertising. Printed by Fleetway Press Ltd, 28p.p
Bertram Mills' Circus at Olympia Programme, 1934 - 1935
Black and white illustration of horses performing on front cover and equestrian and equilibrist acts back cover, on decorative cover, inside black and white portraits of Bertram Mills, The Earl of Lonsdale and The Lord Daresbury on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs and illustrations of performers and acts, section covering who is who of Bertram Mills circus and commercial advertising,. Printed by Fleetwood Press Ltd, 30p.p.
Bertram Mills Circus Business Records, 1947 - 1966
Various original and copies of documents relating to Bertram Mills business activities including, copies of annual statements of the Chairman, report and accounts, rules to staff and press guide, description of circus acts, correspondence relating to the sale of assets and photocopies of circus plan.
Bertram Mills Circus Correspondence, 1913 - 1989
Correspondence relating to the Bertram Mills Circus including business and courtesy letters, a staff memorandum and an invitation to a performance.
Bertram Mills Circus Drawing, 24 December 1933
Ink on board drawing by Arthur Ferrier (1891-1973). Black and white illustration of circus acts including clowns, call-boy, boxing, kangaroo, female lion tamer, acrobat and juggling seal in individual windows with text, signed by Arthur Ferrier on bottom left corner in ink, on reverse in pencil 'Our artists sketches at Olympia', 'To Bertram Mills with the Editor's Compliments', 'Original of Arthur Ferrier cartoon from the News of the World Dec 24th 1933'.
Bertram Mills Circus Drawing, 22 December 1929
Bertram Mills Circus Drawing, 23 December 1934
Ink on board drawing by Arthur Ferrier (1891-1973). Black and white illustration of circus acts including; a female equestrian act, elephant on platform, trapeze act, clowns, Hagenbeck's tigers and tightrope act and a call boy on bottom right corner reading a notice, signed Arthur Ferrier on bottom right in ink, on mount board 'Original of Arthur Ferrier's cartoon from News of the World, Dec. 23rd 1934'.
Bertram Mills Circus Gala Performance for Jewish Child's Day Programme, 21 December 1953
Three colour illustrations of Grimaldi the clown on the front cover over a white background, inside introduction, loose programme, some articles and commercial advertising. Printed by Woburn Printing Co, Ltd, Upper Woburn Place, 4p.p.
Bertram Mills Circus Gala Performance in Aid of the Animal Health Trust Programme, 22 December 1959
Olympia, London. White and yellow type on blue background and illustration of a rearing horse in red on the top section on the front cover, inside black and white photograph the Queen, introduction, commercial advertising, articles and programme, 36p.p.
Bertram Mills Circus Gala Performance in Aid of the Animal Health Trust Programme, 23 December 1960
Olympia, London. White and yellow type on red background and illustration of a leaping leopard on the top section on the front cover, inside black and white photograph the Queen, introduction, commercial advertising, articles and programme, 38p.p.
Bertram Mills Circus Gala Performance in Aid of the Animal Health Trust Programme, Thursday 20 December 1962
Olympia, London. Black type on blue background and colour illustration of a clown seating on the floor on the front cover, inside black and white photograh of the Queen, introduction, commercial advertising, articles and programme, 36p.p.
Bertram Mills Circus Gala Performance in Aid of the Animal Health Trust Programme, 20 December 1963
Olympia, London. Green, black and red type on yellow background and coloured black and white photograph of rearing elephant and man in red outfit on the front cover, inside black and white photograh of the Queen, introduction, commercial advertising, articles and programme, 26p.p.
Bertram Mills Circus Gala Performance in Aid of the Animal Health Trust Programme, Monday 21 December 1964
Olympia, London. Colour illustration of ringmaster wearing a red tail jacket, black trousers and top hat and colourful curtains on the sides on the front cover, inside black and white photograh of the Queen, introduction, commercial advertising, articles and programme, 28p.p.
Bertram Mills Circus Gala Performance in Aid of the Animal Health Trust Programme, Wednesday 22 December 1965
Olympia, London. Black and white photograph of head of lion on the front cover, inside black and white illustration of the Queen, introduction, commercial advertising, articles and programme, 28p.p.
Bertram Mills' Circus Gouache, c1920 - 1967
Gouache on card, poster design. Olympia Grand Hall, 22 December to 27 January, featuring The Great Frederico. Colour illustration of a man swinging from a rope by his teeth, background image of circus ring, type multicoloured.
Bertram Mills Circus, Menagerie and Fun Fair Advertising Booklets and Cards, c1920 - 1969
A range of booklets with different designs containing several pages with mainly black and white photographs of performers and acts, time tables of performances and booking information for shows at Olympia, Manchester, Hastings, Lincoln, Liverpool and York.
Bertram Mills Circus Mirror Publication, c1900 - 1999
Second, third and special edition of the a publication by Bertram Mills circus about the circus, colour illustrations on front cover, inside they contain black and white illustrations of acts and performers and articles.