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 103 Collections and/or Records:
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, 1936 - 1975
Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Rosaire's, Bertram Mills and Billy Smart, 98p.p.
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1952 - 1954
Scrapbook of photographs and newspaper cuttings, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Jack Hylton's, Rosaire's and Bertram Mills, 48p.p.
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1949 - 1960
Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings, black and white photographs and advertisments, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Belle Vue, Billy Smart's, Bertram Mill's, Rosaire's, 61p.p.
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1935 - 1954
Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings, posters and photographs relating to multiple circuses and acts including Billy Smart's, Bertram Mills, Belle Vue and Rosaire's, 94p.p.
Unidentified Man and Elephant, c1936 - 1950
Black and white postcard of an unidentified animal trainer, shown with an elephant.
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.
Various Material, c1940 - 1950
Includes miscellaneous printed material, compiled by Ruth Manning-Sanders.
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).