Circus Knie (Established 1803)
Dates
- Existence: Established 1803
Biography
Circus Knie is the largest circus in Switzerland. Knie was founded in 1803 by the Knie family and it soon became renowned for its wild animal acts. As well as the circus Knie has operated Knie’s Zoo for many years. In 1999 Franco Knie was named Best Animal Tamer at the International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo.
Today the circus is an enterprise with about 200 employees, operated by Frédy and Franco Knie in partnership with insurance company Swiss Life.
In 1992 Knie co-produced a show with Cirque du Soleil and in 1999 it toured with the Swiss National Circus.
Princess Stéphanie of Monaco travelled with the circus between 2001 and 2002 while in a relationship with Franco Knie.
Circus Knie continues to operate in the twenty first century.
Found in 16 Collections and/or Records:
Blackpool Tower Circus Fantastic Programme, 1975
Charlie Cairoli and his Company, Mary Chipperfield and her animals, The Flying Marilees Flyers Aerialists, Circus Knie’s Horses, Franz R. Althoff elephants, Kris Kremo juggler, Fattini blancing act, Skating Rolwoods, Chy Bao Guy Troupe, The Six Bertinis trick cyclists and balancing act, Desmond and Marks clown, Helen Piderman. Notes of times handwritten on programme. Contains photos, 12p.p.
Blackpool Tower Circus Fantastic Programme, 1977
Charlie Cairoli and his company clowns, Bronley’s Space Rocket, Rogana balance act, Circus Knie’s Horses and Ponies presented by Franz R. Althoff, Tommy Chipperfield and his lions, Bratuchin Cossack Troupe, Gina, Orlando and Celinas, Los Hermans, Inge Lise, Tommy de-Vel Trio jugglers, Normans and his udgerigars, Professor Grimble clown. Contains illustration on the cover with photos, 12p.p.
Christopher Palmer Collection
Circus programmes and VHS tapes from Billy Smart’s Circus and Chipperfields’s Circus collected during the 1970s and early 1980s by the TV producer, Christopher John Palmer. There are also a number of promotional photographs of artistes and other ephemera related to the circus.
Circus Friends Association Collection
This collection consists of a large library of books and journals, as well as archival material including posters, programmes, photographs, films, handbills, research material, scrapbooks, original artwork and many other items of ephemera relating to British, Irish and European circuses
Circus Knie Advertising Material, 1953 - 1987
Advertising material for Circus Knie including their newspaper, containing extensive information on international performers and acts including Lilly Yokoi, Trubka, The Fratellis and the Flying Marilees, touring schedules and various souvenir brouchures for their zoo and menagerie, contain black and white and colour photographs with text and commercial advertising.
Circus Knie, Chinese Circus, Rivalen der Manege,23 Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain, Magie, Melo et Music-Hall 'What a Wonderful World' and Cirque de Soleil Films, 1987 - 2002
Circus Krone, Circus Knie, 7th Massy Festival and 24th Monte Carlo Circus Festival Films, 1999 - 2002
Circus Photographic Album, c1970 - 1989
Photograpic album containing colour photographs of a selection of British and European circuses including; Circus Barum, Hoffman, Moscow State Circus, Circo Medrano, Knie and Fossett's Circus and performers, 18p.p
Films, 1927 - 2007
Compilation of circus films showing acts on the ring as well as interviews with performers and proprietors, mainly produced by tv companies in the UK and Europe. Many of them narrated in German.
Geoff Stevens Collection
Collection of circus books, journals and films.
Hamilton Kaye Collection
Programmes, handbills, photographs and a digital copy of Hamilton Kaye's notebook which contained jokes and stories that he kept for using in his act.
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.
Programmes, 1970 - 1981
Programmes for various British and international circuses including Billy Russell's, Blackpool Tower, Fossett's, Chipperfield's and the Toni Boltini's Circus.
Programmes, c1800 - 2019
A collection of mainly British and international circus programmes and some variety and music hall programmes containing circus acts.
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, c1900 - 1999
Scrapbook of black and white photographs and newspaper cuttings, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Bertram Mills, Billy Smarts, Knie and Chipperfields, 52p.p.
Trade and Advertising Material, c1900 - 1999
A range of items of promotion and advertising from a range of circus companies and performers, including artistes' photographs with act descriptions used for seeking employment in circuses and pamphlets advertising independent performances and circus companies' literature and souvenirs for public distribution and promotion including Gerry Cottle's Circus, Belle Vue, Blackpool Tower, Bertram Mills Circus, Gandey's, Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey, Knie and many more.