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:
Monographs, Articles, Manuscripts and Research Material, c1795 - 1999
Compilation of monographs, articles, manuscripts and a range of research material about circus companies and performers in the United Kingdom, Europe and other parts of the world by various authors, the research was mainly compiled by Hal Thomas.
Newspaper and Magazine Cuttings on Circus, 1897 - 2005
Newspaper Cuttings, 1938 - 1952
Includes newspaper cuttings, compiled by Ruth Manning-Sanders.
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.
Original Artwork, c1800 - 2000
Original works of art including artists' prints, drawings, watercolours and paintings, and designs for circus posters.
Pantomime Posters Printed by Taylor's of Wombwell, Week commencing 17 January 1955
Pantomime posters printed by Taylor's of Wombwell.
Photographic Album, 1902 - 1951
Photographic album containing black and white photographs of the William Rosaire family and several generations of the Decar family as well as different acts and circus and variety performers and showmen, city views in France, Persia, Argentina, Switzerland, England and Ireland, 40p.p
Photographs, c1930 - 1955
Includes photographs of photographs of circus performers, compiled by Ruth Manning-Sanders.
Photographs and Postcards, 1902 - 1951
Photographic albums and photograhs showing the Decar family, circus performers and acts, including animals and images of different locations around the world.
Pinder's Circus Poster, c1970 - 1979
Poster left blank for over printing location and date. Fossett, Rosaire and Pinder circus combined in the new 4 Pole Big Top. Red and black type on yellow background.