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 180 Collections and/or Records:
International Super Circus '83 Poster, 1983
Peter Jay presents International Super Circus at Blackpool Tower and Dale Martin wrestling. Black and white illustration of Blackpool Tower, colour illustration of a clown, a tiger and a fountain, black and white photograph of wrestler Big Daddy, background blue and purple, type white, yellow and red.
International Super Circus '83 Poster, 1983
Peter Jay presents International Super Circus at Blackpool Tower and Dale Martin Wrestling. Black and white illustration of Blackpool Tower, colour illustration of a clown, a tiger and a fountain, black and white photograph of wrestler Big Daddy, background blue and purple, type white, yellow and red.
Lindsay Temple's Circus Photographs and Postcards, 1958 - 1960
Black and white photographs and postcards of circus acts, performers and animals on and off the ring from various circuses including Bertram Mills, Chipperfields at various locations in the United Kingdom including Kelvin Hall, Belle Vue, Olympia, Blackpool Tower, Great Yarmouth, Birmingham and Kendal, some contain annotations on reverse.
Magical Tower Circus Around the World with Mooky Programme, 2005
Colour photograph of clown's head on top right holding the world with white gloves with cut outs showing circus acts through and the Tower on top of the world over a dark blue and starry background, introduction, colour photographs of performers and acts inside with text and photograph of the circus ring in the centre, 12p.p.
Newspaper Cuttings and Scapbooks, 1838 - 2007
A collection of newspaper cuttings on circus, circus proprietors and performers and scrapbooks containing newspaper cuttings, posters, programmes and other items of ephemera, covering mainly British circuses and venues such as Belle Vue and also some international circuses.
Peter Jay Presents Tower Circus Poster, c1930 - 1990
10th Jun to 31st October. White outline of blackpool tower, colour illustrations of a clown, elephants, a crocodile, a man swinging from a vine, six women in a waterfall and a chimpanzee in swimming trucks and a pool ring, photographs of The Chucklehounds and wrestler Big Daddy. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd.
Photographs and Postcards, c1800 - 1999
Black and white and colour photographs, negatives and photographic albums mainly containing images of British circus, circus performers, animals and circus personalities but also some menageries such as Bostock and Wombwell and other associated entertainments and non-British circuses taken by David Jamieson, Lindsay Temple, Den Curtis, Capt. Middleton, Jack Niblett and other photographers.
Posters, c1800 - 2011
A wide range of British and international circus and menagerie posters ranging from the 19th to the 21st century including Astley's Amphitheatre, Pablo Fanque, Polito, Bostock and Wombwell, Ducrow, Cooke, Hengler, Sanger, Smart, Gerry Cottle, Bertram Mills, Chipperfield's, Robert Brothers, Fossett, Blackpool Tower, Billy Russell, Belle Vue, Great Yarmouth Hippodrome, Austen Brothers and many more.
Posters, c1880 - 1940
Large collection of Argyle Theatre posters.
Posters, c1887 - 2010
Circus, variety, pantomime and magic posters including Argyle theatre, Liverpool Empire, Blackpool Tower Circus, Robert Brothers, Austen Brothers, Sorcar, Vesta Tilley, Ken Dodd, Dan Leno, Florrie Forde and others.
Programmes, c1800 - 2019
A collection of mainly British and international circus programmes and some variety and music hall programmes containing circus acts.
Programmes, 1970 - 1981
Programmes for various British and international circuses including Billy Russell's, Blackpool Tower, Fossett's, Chipperfield's and the Toni Boltini's Circus.
Programmes for Circus, Magic and Variety Shows, c1890 - 1999
Circus, magic and variety show programmes including the Great Ohmy Circus, John Sanger Circus, Bertram Mills Circus and variety shows at various locations in Blackpool, London, Manchester and other theatres in England. Some of the variety performers showcased are Morecambe and Wise, Hetty King, Mae West, Bob Hope, Shirley Bassey, Larry Lamb and Cliff Richards.
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1925 - 1936
Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings, advertisments and black and white photographs relating to multiple circuses and acts including Belle Vue Circus, Hengler's Circus, Blackpool Tower, and Sir Robert Fossetts, includes deaths of Buff Bill Kayes, Whimsical Walker the clown and Mary Ann Bevan 'the world's ugliest woman', 61p.p.
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1929 - 1936
Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings and black and white photographs, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Fossett's, Rosaire's, Blackpool Tower, John Duffy and Sons and Crystal Palace, 61p.p.
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1925 - 1937
Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings, black and white photographs and advertisments, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Chapman's, Lord John Sanger's, Astley's, Blackpool Tower, Crystal Palace and Belle Vue, 61p.p
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1952 - 1957
Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings from the World's Fair, black and white photographs, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Robert Fossett's, Blackpool Tower, Lord George Sanger's and Chipperfields.
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1939 - 1940
Scrapbook of advertisments, newspaper cuttings and black and white photographs relating to multiple circuses and acts including Blackpool Tower, Barnum and Bailey, John Duffy and Sons, Chipperfield's and Rosaire's, 54p.p.
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1938
Scrapbook of advertisments, newspaper cuttings, advertisments and black and white photographs and a seating plan relating to multiple circuses and acts including Blackpool Tower, Sir Oswald Stoll's Coliseum Circus, Sir Robert Fossett's, Belle Vue and Chipperfield's, 54p.p.
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1940 - 1946
Scrapbook of posters, newspaper cuttings, programmes and black and white photographs, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Blackpool Tower, Chessington, Chipperfield's, Paulo's, John Duffy and Belle Vue, 58p.p.