Paulo Circus (Established c1900 - 1910)
Biography
The Paulo’s Circus was founded in Ireland in the early part of the twentieth century and although the business was folded or merged on a couple of occasions a branch of it can still be found travelling the UK today.
The Paulo family originated with the union of Henry Butcher and Caroline Baker, better known as Madame Blondin.
The most significant strains to the Paulo family are Frank’s family and Harry’s family, although Thomas also achieved fame around Ireland and Scotland.
At the time of the Paulo Circus inception, the family couldn’t have anticipated that the business would have to survive two major bellicose conflicts which would change the face of Europe. In 1914 at the outbreak of WWI life was interrupted, men were conscripted around the country and resources were redirected to the war effort including circus animals and transport. Frank Frisco was recruited to serve in France and didn’t join the family and the show again until the end of the war. He died of pneumonia in 1928-29 in Rotherham while on his way to St. Austell to merge his circus with the Anderton and Rowland Show. This was not to be the end of the Paulo Circus though, as in 1939 Frank’s widow and her children reformed the family circus and prospered through the WWII years taking morale boosting entertainment around the country. They continued running the Paulo Circus until finally folding it in 1949. It wasn’t until 1983 when another member of the family; Clara Paulo, the seventh child of Frank and Clara, and her husband Ken McManus decided to reinstate the Paulo Circus.
Clara was a proficient bareback rider, a contortionist and an acrobat and Ken was the brother of Henry ‘Lightening’ McManus, a boxer who married into the Paulo family.
Although Ken’s roots were outside the circus, he embraced showmanship and become a talented bareback rider and clown, playing the comedy role to the Sensational Friscos trampoline act and doubling up as Ringmaster. The renewed Paulo Circus run until Clara and Ken retired in 1996, although their legacy did not end there, as their grandson, Kenny Darnell, is one of the principals of the current Gilbert and Paulo’s Circus company.
Found in 21 Collections and/or Records:
British Circuses Programmes, 1921 - 2018
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 Photographs, 1953 - 1992
Colour and black and white photographs of Jay Miller's Circus, Mike Austin's Circus, Gerry Cottle's Circus, Robert Brothers Circus, Chipperfield's Circus, Circus Krone, Circus Paulos and Gandey's Circus including tents, performers and acts, also Bertam Mills and Blackpool Tower Circus posters, circus enthisiast events, circus models, also a wedding at Galaxy Circus.
Circus Research Material, 1872 - 1975
Circus Themed Watercolours, 1945 - 1960
Pen and ink and watercolour. Group of watercolours of circus tents and transport, including Fossett's, Rosaire, Reaneys, Reco Bros. Robert Bros., Chipperfields and Billy Smart.
Cyril Critchlow Collection
Durrant's Press Cuttings, 1930 - 1955
Harry Paulo Family Collection
This collection contains black and white photographs, postcards and negatives, newspaper cuttings, scrapbooks, posters, programmes, books and other miscellaneous items related to the Paulo Circus family. Other circuses and performers are also represented.
Monographs, Articles, Manuscripts and Research Material, c1795 - 1999
Compilation of monographs, articles, manuscripts and a range of research material about circus companies and performers in the United Kingdom, Europe and other parts of the world by various authors, the research was mainly compiled by Hal Thomas.
Newspaper and Magazine Cuttings on Circus, 1897 - 2005
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.
Original Artwork, c1800 - 2000
Original works of art including artists' prints, drawings, watercolours and paintings, and designs for circus posters.
Paulo's Circus Poster, c1980 - 1989
Freshwater Stroud Field. Colour illustration of clown and acts.
Paulo's Circus Poster, c1980 - 1989
Colour illustration of clown and acts. Left blank for overprinting location and date.
Paulo's Circus Poster, c1980 - 1989
Dover Lower Maxton Playing Fields. Colour illustration of clown and acts.
Photographs and Postcards, c1800 - 1999
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.
Posters, c1887 - 2010
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.
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, 1940 - 1946
Scrapbook of posters, newspaper cuttings, programmes and black and white photographs, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Blackpool Tower, Chessington, Chipperfield's, Paulo's, John Duffy and Belle Vue, 58p.p.
Unused Notepaper Headed 'Madam C Paulo's All British Circus', c1983
One sheet of unused notepaper, headed ‘Madam C Paulo’s All British Circus’ with Birmingham address; 1p.