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Circus Krone (Established 1905)

 Organisation

Dates

  • Existence: Established 1905

Biography

Circus Krone was founded by Carl Krone (1870-1943) in 1905, after he inherited his father’s Continental Menagerie in 1900. In 1919 Krone commissioned a permanent wooden structure in Munich to serve as a performance venue in the winter season and the circus’ headquarters. During the summer season when Krone went back on the road, the building was hired out for events and between 1920 and 1930 it was infamously used by the Nazi Party to deliver political speeches, including seven by Hitler himself.

The circus continued operating throughout the Second World War until in 1944 the building was destroyed by heavy allied bombardment. The following year a temporary structure was built in its place at the request of U.S. allied forces who wanted to present a show to General George S. Patton. Although the Krone family were able to go back to the business, this was only for a short time as the building was confiscated by the American governors between 1946 and 1948. Eventually, the building was returned to the family, which at this point the business was in the hands of Carl’s daughter Frieda Sembach-Krone and her husband Carl Sembach. The erection of a replacement permanent building however was not completed until 1962.

Between 1959 and 2008, the Circus Krone Building hosted the annual televised German gala, Stars in der Manege. During the 1960s and 1970s it hosted some of the biggest popular music names of all times including the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and AC/DC and a range of international personalities such as Muhammad Ali.

Circus Krone remains one of the largest in Europe and one of the few in Western Europe, along with Cirque d'hiver, Cirque d'hiver d'Amiens, Cirque Roya, Yarmouth Hippodrome and Blackpool Tower Circus to occupy a permanent building.

Circus Krone remains in the same family to this day and continues to operate the same business model as at is inception, travelling during the summer season while renting the building out, and delivering the family’s circus shows in the winter season.

Found in 31 Collections and/or Records:

Inside Circus Krone and Inside the Soviet Circus Films, 1988 - 2000

 Item
Reference code: 178D13.6
Scope and Contents Stylus Video, The National Geographic Society and WQED Pittsburgh. Colour, sound and background music. DVD 1 Behind the scenes documentary at Circus Krone, edition 2000, a film by David Riemer, narrated in German showing setting up of the circus, interviews, rehersals, build up work and marketing work, circus acts with international celebrities and Status Quo concert 0:44:34 mins. DVD 2 National Geographic Society Special documentary 'Inside the Soviet Circus' 1988, look at the circus in...
Dates: 1988 - 2000

Newspaper and Magazine Cuttings on Circus, 1897 - 2005

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178G21.95
Scope and Contents Newspaper cuttings and journals containing circus related articles on a range to topics including; animal rights, the death of Gordon Howes lion tamer, the Great Wallenda, George Sanger and Poppy Ginnett's wedding, other articles on Lord George Sanger and the Sanger Circus, The Smart Circus, Carlos Rosaire and Tina Paolo's wedding, King Ohmy's death, the death of Carmer Rosaire, the Paolo family, Circus Krone, Orfei Circus, Koringa, Circus Sarrasani, World War 2, Barbette, Omi, the Fossett...
Dates: 1897 - 2005

Newspaper Cuttings and Scapbooks, 1838 - 2007

 Series
Reference code: 178G21
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 1838 - 2007

Photographs and Postcards, c1800 - 1999

 Series
Reference code: 178C108
Scope and Contents

Black and white and colour photographs, negatives and photographic albums mainly containing images of British circus, circus performers, animals and circus personalities but also some menageries such as Bostock and Wombwell and other associated entertainments and non-British circuses taken by David Jamieson, Lindsay Temple, Den Curtis, Capt. Middleton, Jack Niblett and other photographers.

Dates: c1800 - 1999

Pierino and Olga, Circus Roncalli Xmas 2000, Circus Barum and Circus Krone-Festival Highlights Films, 2000 - 2001

 Item
Reference code: 178D13.7
Scope and Contents 3 Sat TV, MDR TV, N3 TV. Colour, sound and background music. DVD 1 Setting up Circus Krone, behind the scenes with Olga and Pierino circus performers and their animals, narrated in German, documentary for 3 Sat TV, Germany, a film by Stella Tinbergen and Gisela Tuchtenhagen. Different Roncalli circus acts in the ring tv programme for MDR TV, Germany. Different Barum circus acts in the ring narrated in German, including white tiger act and training and other act rehersals and behind the...
Dates: 2000 - 2001

Posters, c1887 - 2010

 Series
Reference code: 178R27
Scope and Contents

Circus, variety, pantomime and magic posters including Argyle theatre, Liverpool Empire, Blackpool Tower Circus, Robert Brothers, Austen Brothers, Sorcar, Vesta Tilley, Ken Dodd, Dan Leno, Florrie Forde and others.

Dates: c1887 - 2010

Posters, c1800 - 2011

 Series
Reference code: 178R47
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: c1800 - 2011

Programmes, 1970 - 1981

 Series
Reference code: 178K41
Scope and Contents

Programmes for various British and international circuses including Billy Russell's, Blackpool Tower, Fossett's, Chipperfield's and the Toni Boltini's Circus.

Dates: 1970 - 1981

Programmes, c1800 - 2019

 Series
Reference code: 178K43
Scope and Contents

A collection of mainly British and international circus programmes and some variety and music hall programmes containing circus acts.

Dates: c1800 - 2019

Programmes for Circus, Magic and Variety Shows, c1890 - 1999

 Series
Reference code: 178K27
Scope and Contents

Circus, magic and variety show programmes including the Great Ohmy Circus, John Sanger Circus, Bertram Mills Circus and variety shows at various locations in Blackpool, London, Manchester and other theatres in England. Some of the variety performers showcased are Morecambe and Wise, Hetty King, Mae West, Bob Hope, Shirley Bassey, Larry Lamb and Cliff Richards.

Dates: c1890 - 1999

Programmes for Circuses at the New World's Fair, Royal Agricultural Hall, 1900 - 1939

 File
Reference code: 178K43.650
Scope and Contents

Programmes for circuses at the new World's Fair, Royal Agricultural Hall including Billy Wilson's Circus, Carl Hagenbeck, Circus Krone and Althoff's Circus, containing monochrome and colour illustrations on the front covers, inside black and white photographs of perfomers and acts with some text and illustrations including the Naito Troupe, Alfred Court and The South China Troupe, programme and commercial advertising.

Dates: 1900 - 1939