Blackpool Tower Circus (Established 1894)
Dates
- Existence: Established 14 May 1894
Biography
Blackpool Tower Circus opened on 14 May 1894 at the base of the Blackpool Tower. The Tower Circus is one of the only static circuses in existence in the United Kingdom and only one of two Victorian circuses, which are still in use today. It is also one of four circuses in the world to lower into a pool of water and display aquatic shows.
The original interior design of the circus was heavily influenced by the Orientalist style popular at the turn of the twentieth century. In 1900, the circus was redecorated by English architect Frank Matcham (1845-1920), who specialised in the design of theatres and music halls. The new design created the feeling of luxury with Italian marble covering walls and floors and a vaulted ceiling with lavish patterns.
As well as the traditional equestrian acts and the novel aquatic acts, the circus presented a variety of other entertainments, including clowns and feasts of aerial acts. Wild animal acts remained an important part of the shows until 1990.
The Tower Circus has always been renowned for attracting some of the best clowns and Ringmasters in the wold. Charlie Cairoli held a residency at the Tower for thirty nine years while Norman Barrett was the Tower’s Ringmaster for twenty five and George Lockhart held the same post for thirty one years.
Today, the circus is managed by the Endresz-Roberts family, which has a long legacy in British and European circus. Laci Endresz Snr. is the producer and director of the shows, while his sons are the resident clowns Mooky and Mr Boo.
Found in 121 Collections and/or Records:
Tower Circus Blackpool Programme, Summer Season, 7 April - 15 October 1955
Silk cover with red ribbon, containing colour illustration of a cartoon clown wearing blue trousers and red braces from behind holdind a can of paint and a brush on an off white background, inside programme with same illustration on a red background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts and programme in the centre, autographed on back cover, 8p.p.
Tower Circus Blackpool Programme, Summer Season, 29 March - 20 October 1956
Silk cover with red ribbon, containing colour illustration of a cartoon clown wearing blue trousers and red braces from behind holdind a can of paint and a brush on an off white background, inside programme with same illustration on a red background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts and programme in the centre, autographed on back cover, 8p.p.
Tower Circus Blackpool Programme, Summer Season, 26 March - 17 October 1959
Silk cover with red ribbon, containing colour illustration of a cartoon clown wearing blue trousers and red braces from behind holdind a can of paint and a brush on an off white background, inside programme with same illustration on a red background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts and programme in the centre, 8p.p.
Tower Circus Blackpool Programme, Summer Season, 14 April - 15 October 1960
Silk cover with red ribbon, containing colour illustration of a cartoon clown wearing blue trousers and red braces from behind holdind a can of paint and a brush on an off white background, inside programme with same illustration on a red background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts and programme in the centre, 8p.p.
Tower Circus Blackpool Programme, 1961
Silk cover with red ribbon, containing colour illustration of a cartoon clown wearing blue trousers and red braces riding a rocket into space on an off white background, inside programme with same clown holding tring of world flags at the bottom from a circus ring which raise up to the top of the cover across space into earth on a black background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts and programme in the centre, 6p.p.
Tower Circus, Blackpool Programme, 1947 - 1948
Black and white photocopy of programme, 4p.p.
Tower Circus Centenary Programme, 1994
Colour illustration of clown climbing the Tower holding a glass of champagne on one hand and an cake with candels on the other on a white and blue background, colour photographs of performers and acts inside with text and programme in the centre over a photograph of the circus ring, 8p.p.
Tower Circus Gala Show Programme, 1996
Colour illustration of jester in red and yellow outfit on a white background with mask on top section and red curtains opened on the sides on the front cover, inside introduction and colour photographs of acts and performers text on glossy paper, 6p.p.
Tower Circus Jubilee Season Programme, 1944
Black and white photocopy of programme, 2p.p.
Tower Circus, Palace, Grand Theatre and New Opera House Programme, May 1940
Blackpool. Combined programme for the venues, containing illustrations of the acts. Printed by Ayre & Senior Printers, Carter Street, Blackpool, 8p.p.
Tower Circus Programme, 1934
Black and white photographs of elephant stood on a stool on one leg and three bears standing on their back legs on the front cover, sepia photographs of acts and performers with text inside and programme on back cover, 2p.p.
Tower Circus Programme, 1942
Black and white portrait photograph of two clowns in the centre and red outline illustrations of different circus acts in red on a yellow background on the sides on front cover, inside and on back cover programme, 2p.p.
Tower Circus Programme, 1943
Black and white portrait photograph of two clowns in the centre and red outline illustrations of different circus acts in red on a yellow background on the sides on front cover, inside and on back cover programme, 2p.p.
Tower Circus Programme, 1948
Colour illustration of colour balloons with act names on a black background on front cover, inside and on back cover programme, 2p.p.
Tower Circus Programme, 1949
Colour portrait photograph of clown in black bowler's hat on a blue background on front cover, inside black and white photographs and performers and acts and colour illustrations of tower scenes, programme in the center, 8p.p.
Tower Palace and Grand Programme, 11 July 1927
Blackpool. Contains illustrations on the cover and photographs of the acts inside. Printed by Ayre & Senior Printers, Carter Street, Blackpool Variety, 39p.p.
Tower Palace and Grand Programme, May 1937
Blackpool. Colour illustrated cover in red and gold. Printed in England, 44p.p.
Tower Place and Grand Programme, 1927
Colour illustration of the Tower and Winter Gardens from the beach and male and female harlequins on a pale yellow background on the front cover, inside blue and white photographs of performers and colour illustrations of tower scenes with text, circus and other event programmes and commercial advertising, 18p.p.
Tower Place and Grand Programme, 1923
Colour illustration of the Tower and Winter Gardens from the beach and circus and animal scenes around it on the front cover, inside blue and white photographs of performers and colour illustrations of tower scenes with text, circus and other event programmes and commercial advertising, 20p.p.
Trade and Advertising Material, c1900 - 1999
A range of items of promotion and advertising from a range of circus companies and performers, including artistes' photographs with act descriptions used for seeking employment in circuses and pamphlets advertising independent performances and circus companies' literature and souvenirs for public distribution and promotion including Gerry Cottle's Circus, Belle Vue, Blackpool Tower, Bertram Mills Circus, Gandey's, Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey, Knie and many more.