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:
Correspondence, 1932 - 1949
Includes correspondence sent to Ruth Manning-Sanders from performers that she met whilst travelling with the circus, including Freddie Pickford and various members of the Rosaire family, notably Fred Rosaire (also known as The Count) and Florence Rosaire (known as The Countess).
Correspondence from the Rosaire Family, 23 December 1938 - 22 November 1949
Decar and Tomato Collection
This collection contains black and white photographs and postcards of several generations of the Decar family with a strong focus on John Decar and his act as Decar and Tomato. It also includes other circus performers as well as autograph books and a scrapbook.
Dennis Rosaire and a Clown, c1936 - 1942
Black and white postcard of a man in a suit, thought to be Dennis Rosaire with a man dressed as a clown, possibly Aubrey Rosaire.
Dennis Rosaire in a Spanish Style Costume, c1936 - 1950
Black and white postcard of Dennis Rosaire, in Spanish matador or bullfighting style costume standing in front of a circus tent.
Dennis Rosaire on the Wire, c1938 - 1950
Black and white photograph of Dennis Rosaire balancing on one hand on a low wire. This photograph was published in Ruth Manning-Sanders book titled, 'The English Circus', published in 1952.
Dennis Rosaire Standing Outside Circus Tent, c1936 - 1950
Black and white photograph of a man dressed in a suit in front of a circus tent, thought to be Dennis Rosaire.
Dennis Rosaire, Two Unidentified Men and Three Horses, c1936 - 1950
Black and white postcard of Dennis Rosaire, in Spanish matador or bullfighting style costume, with two unidentified men and three horses (foreground), as well as circus vehicles (background).
Derrick Rosaire and a Dancing Bear, c1940 - 1950
Black and white photograph of Derrick Rosaire shown backstage training a bear. Photograph stamped on the reverse as the copyright of Captain A. E. Middleton.
Digger Pugh Collection
Archive of the Digger Pugh family including newspaper cuttings, photographs, negatives, business records, programmes, research material, posters and films.