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Gerry Cottle's Circus (1974 - 2003)

 Organisation

Dates

  • Existence: 1974 - 2003

Biography

The beginnings of Gerry Cottle's Circus trace back to 1970 when Gerry Cottle and partner Brian Austen established Embassy Circus, a small outfit, which opened its firts show in Sturminster Newton, Dorset with nine staff including Gerry, Brian and their wives. They soon changed the name of the circus to Cottle & Austen's Circus, name they used until their partnership disolved in 1974 and Gerry established Gerry Cottle's Circus.

By the mid-1970s Gerry Cottle's Circus was enjoying great success and was touring three different shows across Britain. Always lookin to innovate and reinvent itself, Gerry Cottle's Circus brought to England some of the most prestigious international circuses for the first time such as the Moscow State Circus and the Chinese State Circus. Cottle's circus also travelled to parts of the world no other European circus had travelled before such as Iran and Hong Kong in the late 1970s.

In 1995, he co-created The Circus of Horrors with Doktor Haze, inspired by the alternative French circus Archaos. The Circus of Horrors debuted at the Glastonbury Festival and travelled internationally. Today it is the longest running alternative circus in Britain.

Cottle's Circus ceased to trade in 2003, although it travelled briefly in 2012 as Magic Circus to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the birth of Cottle's Circus.

Found in 82 Collections and/or Records:

Gerry Cottle's Christmas Circus plus Gigantic Indoor Fun Fair Programme, 20 December 1991 - 12 January 1992

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.385
Scope and Contents

Wembley Halls 1, 2 and 3. Colour photograph of Jeremy Beadle riding an elephant in circle in the centre of the front cover, over a yellow background, inside introduction, Gerry Cottle's story, colour photographs of acts and performers, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 18p.p.

Dates: 20 December 1991 - 12 January 1992

Gerry Cottle's Christmas Circus Programme, c1900 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.415
Scope and Contents

Wembley Grand Hall. Programme on the centre in green type over yellowish background and illustration of seal balancing a Christmas pudding on its nose on the front, on reverse history of circus by Sandy Davidson.

Dates: c1900 - 1999

Gerry Cottle's Christmas Circus Programme, c1900 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.416
Scope and Contents

Wembley Grand Hall. Programme on the centre in green type over yellowish background and illustration of seal balancing a Christmas pudding on its nose on the front, on reverse history of circus by Sandy Davidson.

Dates: c1900 - 1999

Gerry Cottle's Christmas Circus Programme, 1977

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.417
Scope and Contents

Royal Silver Jubilee programme. Blue and white illustration of clown on the left, roaring lion in the centre and ice skater on the right with circus tent and elephants and horses on the background and international flags above on the top section and programme below on the front cover, inside blue and white photographs of the circus and text, on back cover blue and white photographs of performers and text, 2p.p.

Dates: 1977

Gerry Cottle's Circus, Cottle and Austen and Burnt Stub's Circus Programmes, c1900 - 2001

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178K43.385-442
Scope and Contents

Gerry Cottle Circus programmes including Circus of Horrors, Cottle and Austen, Cottle-Chipperfield Circus, Continental Berlin Circus, Moscow State Circus and Gerry Cottle's Circus abroad.

Dates: c1900 - 2001

Gerry Cottle's Circus, Jumbo Colouring Book and Programme, c1900 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.392
Scope and Contents

Blue illustration of an elephant wearing a coat with details of event on a blue background on the front cover, inside programme and different circus scenes for colouring, 6p.p.

Dates: c1900 - 1999

Gerry Cottle's Circus Pamphlet, c1900 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178I22.1
Scope and Contents

Three fold pamphlet containing black and white photographs and various essays about Gerry Cottle's circus, the site of the circus, safety and comfort, animals and noise and nuisance.

Dates: c1900 - 1999

Gerry Cottle's Circus Parade Programme, c1900 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.440
Scope and Contents

Colour photograph of performers posing in the circus ring and green, yellow and purple type on the front cover, inside introduction to Gerry Cottle's story and his family with colour photographs and various articles on animal welfare, the history of circus and others with colour photographs, programme missing, 6p.p.

Dates: c1900 - 1999

Gerry Cottle's Circus Poster, Magazine Programme, 1978 - 1979

 File
Reference code: 178K43.401
Scope and Contents Bradford programme. Six fold poster/programme with colour photograph of circus ring with acts and performers in circles around the edges on the front cover, year of the clown article with colour photographs, article on history of circus with black and white and colour photographs, show business on wheels article with colour photographs and poster inside with the same image as the front cover, two additional inserts, one contains the programme with a black and white photograph of Charlie...
Dates: 1978 - 1979

Gerry Cottle's Circus Programme, 1976

 Item
Reference code: 178K41.11
Scope and Contents

Las Kansas jugglers, Khalil Oghaby Strongman, The Cimarro Brothers high-wire, Captain Sydney Howes with Lions, Orramic, Scott’s Californian Sea-Lions, The Inaros Sisters trapeze, The Santus Julian Troupe French wizards on Wheels, Billy Wild, Otaki and the James Sisters Wild West Show, Miss Babette’s Lovable Dogs. Colour with photos, 16p.p.

Dates: 1976

Gerry Cottle's Circus Programme, 1977

 Item
Reference code: 178K41.15
Scope and Contents

Royal Silver Jubilee, Binak Brothers knockabout comedy, Captain Sydney Howes and his lions, The Cimarro brothers high-wire, The Inaros Sisters trapeze, Sonny Fossett and Co. clowns, Otaki and the James Sisters Wild West Show, Batman and Robin aerial act, Captain Universe human cannonball. Colour illustration of human cannonball on cover. Fold out programme with photos.

Dates: 1977

Gerry Cottle's Circus Programme, 1977

 Item
Reference code: 178K41.19
Scope and Contents

Cardiff. The Kansas Brothers jugglers, The Swinging Cottrellis balance act, Jimmy Scott and Co. clowns, Royal Bengal tigers, Duo Raycol, Jimmy Scott and Co., La Famille Santus French Wizards on wheels, Arab Stallions, Samson and Delilah strongmen, Mary Chipperfield’s elephants, The Loonies comedy act. Contians photos, 4p.p.

Dates: 1977

Gerry Cottle's Circus Programme, 1979

 Item
Reference code: 178K41.26
Scope and Contents

Poster magazine. Foldout poster with programme containing photos and articles, 4p.p.

Dates: 1979

Gerry Cottle's Circus Programme, 1974

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.429
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of large clown's face and roaring lion's head on right hand side with circus ring on the left showing three elephants and their trainer performing below world flags on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of acts and performers and programme, commercial advertising on back cover, 6p.p.

Dates: 1974

Gerry Cottle's Circus Programme, 1974-1975

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.430
Scope and Contents

Sophia Garden Pavilion, Christmas Season. Colour illustration of large clown's face and roaring lion's head on right hand side with circus ring on the left showing three elephants and their trainer performing below world flags on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of acts and performers and programme, commercial advertising on back cover, 6p.p.

Dates: 1974-1975

Gerry Cottle's Circus Programme, 1991

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.434
Scope and Contents

The grand Programme. Black type on white background with programme below and star border around it.

Dates: 1991

Gerry Cottle's Circus Programme, c1900 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.435
Scope and Contents

Colouring book and puzzle pages programme. Colour illustration of smiley clown on front cover with yellow and blue type on a red background on the top section on the front cover, inside programme and circus scenes to colour and central puzzle page, 8p.p.

Dates: c1900 - 1999

Gerry Cottle's Circus Programme, Tuesday 18 - Saturday 29 March 1980

 File
Reference code: 178K43.436
Scope and Contents Southampton. Six fold poster/programme with colour photograph of circus ring with acts and performers in circles around the edges on the front cover, year of the clown article with colour photographs, article on history of circus with black and white and colour photographs, show business on wheels article with colour photographs and poster inside with the same image as the front cover, additional insert programme, seaside special article with colour photographs on reverse. Printed by W. E....
Dates: Tuesday 18 - Saturday 29 March 1980

Gerry Cottle's Circus Programme, c1900 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.386
Scope and Contents

White, red and blue type on white background with name of circus and programme on the front. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd, Bradford.

Dates: c1900 - 1999

Gerry Cottle's Circus Programme, c1900 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.387
Scope and Contents

Black and white photograph of Gerry Cottle with a circus tent and a BBC truck on the background and a blue border with white dots on the front cover, inside black and white portraits of performers in circles with their names and programme towards the bottom right, on the back cover advertising for world tour, 2p.p.

Dates: c1900 - 1999