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:
Posters, c1937 - 1989
A collection of posters printed by Taylor's of Wombwell for music hall and variety, circus, pantomime and fairgrounds.
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.
Red Riding Hood Poster, Week commencing 17 January 1955
Jimmy Malborn, Harry Tracy, The Gathering of the Clans, Kutie Kids, Jane Austin, Sherwood Girls, Margaret Harrison and Ida Rosaire’s Pekinese. Red and blue.
Rosaire Circus Programmes, 1933 - 1955
Rosaire Circus programmes including Rosaire Bros. Circus, Circus Rosaire, Rosaire Victory Circus and Rosaire's British and Continental Circus containing black and white photographs of acts and performers with text, programme and commercial advertising.
Rosaire's Circus Crowds Queuing, c1936 - 1938
Black and white postcard of crowds queuing at the entrance to Rosaire's Circus. Includes a message on the reverse that reads as follows: 'Before the war clouds dimmed the horizon throngs of happy people loved to visit the travelling circuses - Today a topsy-turvy world presents them with 'Adolf in Blunderland'. From a photo taken on Rosaire's Circus before the closing down order was ever thought of'. Photo B. C. Harris'.
Rosaire's Circus Crowds Queuing, c1936 - 1938
Black and white postcard of crowds queuing at the ticket booth at the entrance to Rosaire's Circus.
Rosaire's Circus Crowds Queuing, c1936 - 1938
Black and white postcard of crowds queuing at the ticket booth, as well as general view of living vans and circus vehicles at the entrance to Rosaire's Circus.
Rosaire’s Circus Newspaper Cuttings, November 1938 - May 1952
Newspaper cuttings of a series of articles on the circus, written by Ruth Manning-Sanders for the Sunday Chronical (April - May 1952). Accompanied by two newspaper cuttings, relating to rehearsals by performers from Rosaire's Circus at a farm near Billericay, Essex (November 1938).
Rosaire's Circus Performers On Stage, c1936 - 1950
Black and white photograph of a large group of circus performers on stage, possibly at Rosaire's Circus. Inscription on the reverse reads as follows: 'To Ruth and George. From Countess Flo'.