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:
Rosaire’s Circus Photographs, c1936 - 1950
Rosaire's Circus Scrapbook, 1940 - 1955
Scrapbook relating to Rosaire's Circus, contains posters, black and white photographs, newspaper cuttings, programs and letters, 51p.p
Rosaire's Circus Sign, Caravans and Tents, c1936 - 1938
Black and white postcard of the circus sign at the entrance to Rosaire's Circus. Also showing a man and a dog, caravans (one advertising 'The Kilty Lassies') and ticket booth (background), and circus tent (background).
Ruth Manning-Sanders Collection
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1955 - 1957
Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings and black and white photographs, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Chipperfield's, Bertram Mills, Rosaire's, Billy Russell's, 45p.p.
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1954 - 1958
Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings and black and white photographs relating to multiple circuses and acts including Chipperfield's, Rosaire's, Bertram Mills and Billy Russell's, as well as many pictures of Pekingese dogs, 46p.p.
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1979 - 1986
Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Jimmy Fossett's, Rosaire's and Billy Smart's, 41p.p.
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1939 - 1962
Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Blackpool Tower, Hengler's, and Rosaire's, 180p.p.
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1929 - 1936
Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings and black and white photographs, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Fossett's, Rosaire's, Blackpool Tower, John Duffy and Sons and Crystal Palace, 61p.p.
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1937 - 1938
Scrapbook of posters, newspaper cuttings, and black and white photographs, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Chapman's and Rosaire's, 34p.p.