Biography

The World’s Fair Newspaper was born out of the idea to provide a means of communication for the different showpeople in the various regions of the country.

Frank Mellor, supplier to the travelling showmen often found himself delivering messages between friends and family in different areas of the country, cross reporting on all aspects of fairgrounds and generally keeping people up to date with the latest innovations on the business. This naturally developed into the idea of a newspaper publication which would be primarily for and about travelling showpeople. In 1904, the first issue of The World's Fair was born in Oldham, Lancashire. This initially modest, single broadsheet soon became a thriving newspaper with a circulation of 20,000 and the main portal of reference for the trade.

Thomas Murphy in his ‘History of The Showmen's Guild’ writes that 'It was the first newspaper to devote its entire space to the news and interests of the travelling showmen'.

All aspects of fairground society are represented in the World's Fair, ranging from accounts of fairs in different regions, grounds to let, the buying and selling of equipment and the hiring of labour. Almost every aspect of the showman's business and personal life is catered for.

During the late twentieth and early twentifirst centuries, World’s Fair was run by Paul and Lynne Whatmore, members of the family that began the publication. Covering industries such as travelling circuses, magic, traction engines and theme parks as well as fairgrounds.

With a circulation of 27,000, and distribution outlets which included high street newsagents such Smiths, World’s Fair expanded its portfolio with the launch of Coinslot, which first emerged as a magazine in the 1960s, in recognition of the move by many showmen toward setting up permanent arcades and fairs in seaside resorts around the UK.

After selling Coinslot at the turn of the millennium to Bacta, from which it moved to Clarion and then to GB Media, World’s Fair remained focused on its existing titles until its recent decision to enter administration late in 2019. One of the primary factors in the failure of the publication was technology as the introduction of mobile telephones and social media weakened the publication’s standing in the sector. Although the printed version of the newspaper ceased to be published at this point an online version was launched, which has kept the publication alive.

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