Rosaire's Circus & Zoo (Established 1904)
Dates
- Existence: Established 1904
Biography
The Rosaires are a ninth generation circus family. Rosaire’s Circus and Zoo was first established by Fred Ross (1877 - 1949) when he bought a fairground booth at Ripponden, West Yorkshire and took it on the road with his wife, a widow, Florence Berrisford, (nee Arnold) (1877 - 1972). Calling themselves ‘The Count’ (or ‘Count Rosaire’) and ‘The Countess’ (or ‘Countess Rosaire’) and buying a top for a circus a year later, their circus grew from a one-man circus to a family business. They had eight children together all of which were talented circus and variety performers: Aubrey (1904 - 1941), Dennis (1908 - 1990), Zena (1909 - 1974), Ivor (1911 - 2005), Cecilia (Born 1912), Vivian (1914 - 2003), Derrick (1916 - 2005) and Ida (1918 - 2011). Their horses were commandeered, and the circus was forced to close during the First World War. Fred Rosaire worked as a coal-miner for a time, but after the war the couple, joined by their children, began again and became one of the biggest tenting circuses in the 1940s and 1950s.
The Rosaire family were particularly renowned for their skilful animal training. Ivor became known for his elephants, Derrick for his equestrian skills and Ida for her dog acts. Meanwhile, Aubrey performed as a clown, known as Jimmy Green. Dennis was a wire walker, who performed as ‘Valento on the High Rope’. Vivian was an aerial artist, and horseback rider, known as ‘La Petit Vivienne’. Over generations, the Rosaire family grew and extended to other countries including Spain, Ireland and the United States of America and the Ross Bros Crown Circus still travels the United Kingdom.
Over generations, the Rosaire family grew and extended to other countries including Spain, Ireland and the USA and the Ross Bros Crown Circus still travels the UK.
Found in 28 Collections and/or Records:
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.
Programmes, c1800 - 2019
A collection of mainly British and international circus programmes and some variety and music hall programmes containing circus acts.
Rosaire’s Circus Photographs, c1936 - 1950
Ruth Manning-Sanders Collection
Unidentified Man with Five Dogs, c1936 - 1950
Black and white postcard of an unidentified man, thought to be the husband of Ida Rosaire, shown in costume with five dogs (poodles) outside the circus tent at Rosaire's Circus.
Unidentified Man with Five Dogs, c1936 - 1950
Black and white postcard of an unidentified man, thought to be the husband of Ida Rosaire, shown in costume with five dogs (poodles) outside the circus tent at Rosaire's Circus.
Vivian Rosaire, Ida Rosaire and a Horse, c1936 - 1950
Black and white postcard of Vivian Rosaire (also known as 'La Petit Vivienne') and Ida Rosaire. One of the women is shown in costume sitting bareback on a horse (thought to be Vivian Rosaire).
Vivian Rosaire, Ida Rosaire and a Horse, c1936 - 1950
Black and white postcard of Vivian Rosaire (also known as 'La Petit Vivienne') and Ida Rosaire. One of the women is shown in costume doing a trick on the back of a horse (thought to be Vivian Rosaire).