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Olympia London (Established 1886)

 Organisation

Dates

  • Existence: Established 1886

Biography

Olympia was originally conceived in the early 1880s as the National Agricultural Hall, a larger version of the Royal Agricultural Hall in Islington to function as an exhibitions, tournaments, sporting competitions and entertainments venue.

The site first opened its doors on 26th December 1886, already popularly known as Olympia. From its inception it has hosted some of the best regarded international events and shows including The London International Horse Show, The First Ideal Home Show, The Cycle and Motor Cycle Show, The British Industries Fair and Crufts. Olympia also became famous as a circus venue from its early days, especially for hosing the renowned Bertam Mills Christmas Circus spectacular and fairground for over thirty years.

In 2017 Olympia was acquired by a consortium of investors, whose aim is to transform it into a twenty first century world-leading arts, events entertainment and experiential district.

Found in 39 Collections and/or Records:

Bertram Mills Circus and Christmas Fair Programme, 16 December 1921 - 21 January 1922

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.489
Scope and Contents

Olympia. Colour illustration of clown in blue outfit with green duck on it, holding a whip on a yellow background and holding a white circle behind his head on the front cover, inside introduction, floor plan of circus and fair, black and white illustrations and photographs of scenes, performers and acts with text, short articles on rides and games and commercial advertising, 11p.p.

Dates: 16 December 1921 - 21 January 1922

Bertram Mills Circus and Fun Fair Gouache, c1920 - 1967

 Item
Reference code: 178V11.32
Scope and Contents

Gouache on card, poster design. Circus at Olympia, 18th December to 1st February. Colour illustration of two clowns, one in green holding the truck of an elephant, the other in red answering a telephone, background blue and pink, type multicoloured.

Dates: c1920 - 1967

Bertram Mills Circus and Fun Fair Gouache, c1920 - 1967

 Item
Reference code: 178V11.33
Scope and Contents

Gouache on card, poster design signed by 'L C', probably Leon Chossley. Circus at Olympia Grand Hall, 17th December to 1st February. Colour illustration of many circus acts including elephants, two chimpanzees, on on stilts, one on a top horse, horses, six performing poodles led by a woman in a pink dress, acrobats and a clown, background image of circus ring with night sky above, type yellow and white.

Dates: c1920 - 1967

Bertram Mills Circus and Fun Fair Gouache, 1962 - 1963

 Item
Reference code: 178V11.45
Scope and Contents Gouache on card mounted on a wooden board, paper cover on top, poster design. Olympia Grand Hall, 18 December to 2 February. Colour illustration of many circus acts including horses, elephants with a female trainer, a man carrying a cheetah on his shoulders, a tiger, lion, panther and polar bear, three chimpanzees riding a bicycle, three sea lions playing with a ball, a woman balancing on one leg on a bicycle, acrobats and a clown, background image of circus ring with night sky above, type...
Dates: 1962 - 1963

Bertram Mills Circus and Fun Fair Olympia Gouache, c1920 - 1967

 Item
Reference code: 178V11.36
Scope and Contents

Gouache on card, with type and illustrations glued on seperately, poster design. Olympia Grand Hall, 18 December to 30 January. Colour illustrations of a poodle, a clown and an elephant, background red and blue, type yellow, black and white.

Dates: c1920 - 1967

Bertram Mills Circus and Fun Fair Olympia Gouache, c1920 - 1967

 Item
Reference code: 178V11.40
Scope and Contents Gouche on card, paper covering on top poster design. Olympia, 17 December to 1 February. Senorita Mara aerialist, Phyllis Allen's poodles, The Johns trampoline comedy, Rudi Lenz's chimpanzees, The Schumanns present grand carousel, Hermané balacing, fiesta in Valencia by the Schumann family liberty spectacle, Jarz trapeze, Danion's sea lions, Leonardo juggler, Tonito,wire walker, Coco and a host of clowns, Laribles springboard, here comes Robin Hood by the Schumanns high school act, Bertram...
Dates: c1920 - 1967

Bertram Mills' Circus at Olympia Programme, Monday 21 December 1925 - Saturday 23 January 1926

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.493
Scope and Contents

Decorative cover containing a colour illustration of Mr Ducrow as the Courier of St. Petersburgh on card on the front cover and programme inside clown in a white outfit with red border ruffles holding a tray full of miniature lions and two black and white horses galloping underneath on a blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white illustrations and photographs of scenes, performers and acts with text and articles and commercial advertising, 24p.p.

Dates: Monday 21 December 1925 - Saturday 23 January 1926

Bertram Mills' Circus at Olympia Programme, 20 December 1926 - 22 January 1927

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.494
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of half clown, half white horse creature on a black background on the front cover, bound in black leather cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text pink insert with programme and commercial advertising, 33p.p.

Dates: 20 December 1926 - 22 January 1927

Bertram Mills' Circus at Olympia Programme, 22 December 1932 - 25 January 1933

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.503
Scope and Contents

Black and white illustration of Queen Victoria at Olympia watching the circus on decorative cover, inside artist illustration of clown's torso on a blue and red grainy background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs and illustrations of performers and acts, insert programme in the centre with road map, various articles and commercial advertising. Printed by Fleetway Press Ltd, 30p.p.

Dates: 22 December 1932 - 25 January 1933

Bertram Mills' Circus at Olympia Programme, 21 December 1933 - 25 January 1934

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.504
Scope and Contents

Black and white photograph of lion's head on decorative cover, inside artist illustration of female equestrian act standing on a white horse with a white face clown behind in a circus ring on the front cover, inside introduction, black white photographs of performers and acts, cartoons of circus acts with articles and commercial advertising. Printed by Fleetway Press Ltd, 32p.p

Dates: 21 December 1933 - 25 January 1934

Bertram Mills' Circus at Olympia Programme, 21 December 1933 - 25 January 1934

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.505
Scope and Contents

Artist colour illustration of female equestrian act standing on a white horse with a white face clown behind in a circus ring on the front cover, inside introduction, black white photographs of performers and acts, cartoons of circus acts with articles and commercial advertising. Printed by Fleetway Press Ltd, 28p.p

Dates: 21 December 1933 - 25 January 1934

Bertram Mills Circus Drawing, 24 December 1933

 Item
Reference code: 178V11.22
Scope and Contents

Ink on board drawing by Arthur Ferrier (1891-1973). Black and white illustration of circus acts including clowns, call-boy, boxing, kangaroo, female lion tamer, acrobat and juggling seal in individual windows with text, signed by Arthur Ferrier on bottom left corner in ink, on reverse in pencil 'Our artists sketches at Olympia', 'To Bertram Mills with the Editor's Compliments', 'Original of Arthur Ferrier cartoon from the News of the World Dec 24th 1933'.

Dates: 24 December 1933

Bertram Mills Circus Gala Performance in Aid of the Animal Health Trust Programme, Thursday 20 December 1962

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.593
Scope and Contents

Olympia, London. Black type on blue background and colour illustration of a clown seating on the floor on the front cover, inside black and white photograh of the Queen, introduction, commercial advertising, articles and programme, 36p.p.

Dates: Thursday 20 December 1962

Bertram Mills' Circus Programme, 19 December 1956 - 2 February 1957

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.532
Scope and Contents

Olympia, London. Green type and embossed figure of a clown on red faux velvet on decorative cover, inside colour illustration of three clowns' heads on a red background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre with illustrations and commercial advertising, 16p.p.

Dates: 19 December 1956 - 2 February 1957

Bertram Mills' Circus Programme, 18 December 1963 - 2 February 1964

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.542
Scope and Contents

Olympia, London. Golden type on red faux velvet background on decorative cover, inside colour illustration of circus acts including clown, chimpanzees, poodles, horses and aerial acts in the circus ring on blue background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre with illustrations and commercial advertising. Printed by Welbecson Press Ltd, London, 16p.p.

Dates: 18 December 1963 - 2 February 1964

Bertram Mills' Circus Programme, 22 December 1936 - 27 January 1937

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.510
Scope and Contents

Olympia, London. Colour illustration of Joe Craston in his signature clown's custome on front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts, some articles, section covering who is who of Bertram Mills circus and commercial advertising. Printed by Fleetwood Press Ltd, 30p.p.

Dates: 22 December 1936 - 27 January 1937

Bertram Mills' Circus Programme, 22 December 1938 - 26 January 1939

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.514
Scope and Contents

Olympia, London. Colour illustration of three clowns on colourful background on front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme with illustrations in the centre and commercial advertising. Printed by Fleetwood Press Ltd, 30p.p.

Dates: 22 December 1938 - 26 January 1939

Bertram Mills' Circus Programme, 20 December 1946 - 1 February 1947

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.518
Scope and Contents

Olympia, Londo. Colour illustration of Joe Craston on a blue background on front cover, inside black and white photographs of acts and performers with text, programme with illustrations in the centre and commercial advertising, 22p.p.

Dates: 20 December 1946 - 1 February 1947

Bertram Mills' Circus Programme, 20 December 1949 - 2 February 1950

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.522
Scope and Contents

Olympia, London. Outline illustration of horses head in profile within a star with red dots on a green background with golden stripes on decorative cover, inside colour photograph of two clowns holding a white poster with circus information on front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of acts and performers with text, programme with illustrations in the centre and commercial advertising, 24p.p.

Dates: 20 December 1949 - 2 February 1950

Bertram Mills Circus Programmes, c1900 - 1999

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178K43.488-548
Scope and Contents

Bertram Mills Circus programmes at Olympia and travelling shows.

Dates: c1900 - 1999