Skip to main content

Robert Brothers Circus (Established 1944)

 Organisation

Biography

The Robert Brothers Circus was established by brothers Tommy and Bobby Roberts in Falkirk, Scotland in 1944 and became one of the most successful circuses in Britain and Ireland.

The Roberts family, which can be traced back to Sir Robert Fossett, prospered over ten generations of the family with the business tradition passing from generation to generation, down to Bobby Roberts Junior and wife Moira, who were the last owners of the circus.

The Robert Brothers Circus provided traditional circus entertainment including animal acts, and were very famous for their horses and elephants. They travelled their shows around Britain and Ireland all year round either tenting during the summer or at indoor venues through the winter with regular appearances at Kelvin Hall during the Christmas season.

During the 1970s Robert Brothers Circus provided the big top and show facilities for the televised Circus World Championships and their cicus also made several television shows for the BBC.

Bobby Jr. and Moira continued with the circus and still had elephants until circa 2011.

Found in 85 Collections and/or Records:

Belle Vue Circus, Manchester Programme, 6 December 1980 - 31 January 1981

 Item
Reference code: 178K41.36
Scope and Contents Norman Barrett ringmaster, Family Santus trick cyclists, The Brucksons Balancing act, Jacko Fossett and Little Willy clowns, Les Kansas jugglers, Martin Lacey and his lions, Dunban Nickol trampoline act, The Svensons equestrian act, The Great Darix balancing act, Camel Caravan presented by Beverley Roberts, Gina the Girl in the Moon trapeze, Robert Brothers’ Elephant Entertainment, Joan Rosaire and Goldy the Wonder Horse, Hsiung Family Oriental Acrobats, The Loonies comedians. Contains...
Dates: 6 December 1980 - 31 January 1981

Blackpool Tower Circus Posters, c1930 - 1990

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178R47.141-212
Scope and Contents

Posters for Blackpool Tower Circus including shows by Knie's Circus, Circus Krone, Circus Schumann, Bertram Mills Circus, Robert Brothers Circus and performances by Charlie Cairoli, Doddles, Coco the Clown, The Rosaires, Lilly Yokoi, Alfred Court, Vojtek Trubka, The Great Wallendas and Mary Chipperfield among others.

Dates: c1930 - 1990

Blackpool Tower International Circus Poster, c1980 - 1989

 Item
Reference code: 178R27.186
Scope and Contents

Starring Roberts Brothers International Circus. Contains colour illustration.

Dates: c1980 - 1989

Bobby Brothers Super Circus programme, 1994

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.150
Scope and Contents

Golden Jubilee 1944-1994. Colour photograph of Bobby Roberts wearing a white and gold jacket on the foreground and photograph of himself with three performing elephants on the background on the front cover, inside introduction, history of the circus and the Roberts family, colour photographs of performers and acts with text and other short articles, programme in the centre, 8p.p.

Dates: 1994

Bobby Brothers Super Circus programme, 1994 - 1995

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.151
Scope and Contents

Golden Jubilee 1944-1994. Colour photograph of Bobby Roberts wearing a white and gold jacket on the foreground and photograph of himself with three performing elephants on the background on the front cover, inside introduction, history of the circus and the Roberts family, colour photographs of performers and acts with text and other short articles with insert programme in the centre, 7p.p.

Dates: 1994 - 1995

Bobby Roberts Super Circus Programme, 2008

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.161
Scope and Contents

Colour photograph of Bobby Roberts on a horse, wearing a white jacket and holding a microphone in a circus ring on the front page, inside introduction and history of Bobby Roberts, colour photographs of acts and performers, programme in the centre, article about animal care and commercial advertising, 8p.p.

Dates: 2008

Bobby Roberts Super Circus Programme, 1993

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.164
Scope and Contents

Colour photograph and illustration of three elephants and two people in a circus ring, one of the elephants is laying down on the floor and the other two are standing on it with their front legs, on the front cover, inside history of circus and Roberts family, colour photographs of acts and performers, programme in the centre and other articles, 6p.p.

Dates: 1993

Bobby Roberts Super Circus Programme, 1998 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.165
Scope and Contents

Colour photograph of Bobby Roberts wearing a blue jacket on the foreground and stood in the circus ring wearing a silver coat and two female elephant riders on the background on the front cover, inside history of circus and Roberts family, colour photographs of acts and performers, programme in the centre and other articles, 8p.p.

Dates: 1998 - 1999

Bobby Roberts Super Circus Programme, 2007

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.166
Scope and Contents

Colour photograph of Bobby Roberts on a horse, wearing a white shirt on a brown background, on the front page, inside introduction and history of Bobby Roberts, colour photographs of acts and performers and programme in the centre, 8p.p.

Dates: 2007

Circus Bonanza Programme, c1900 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.163
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of circus tent in red and orange, and grey and white horse's head and elephant on platform, inside programme, black and white and colour photographs of acts and performers and celebrities, 4p.p.

Dates: c1900 - 1999

Circus Festival Programme, 1998

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.168
Scope and Contents

Bournemouth International Centre. Colour photograph of different circus acts on a black background on the front cover and the illustration of the earth with ribbon reading Circus Atlas, inside introduction and colour photographs of acts and performers with text and programme in the centre, 6p.p.

Dates: 1998

Circus Friends Association Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0122
Scope and Contents

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

Dates: 1795 - 2020

Circus Photographs, 1953 - 1992

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178C108.974-1170
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 1953 - 1992

Circus Themed Watercolours, 1945 - 1960

 File
Reference code: 178V11.57
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 1945 - 1960

Cyril Critchlow Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0089
Scope and Contents The Cyril Critchlow collection contains programmes, posters, handbills, books and magic journals, many of which relate to shows in Blackpool where Cyril resided and includes material on entertainment venues such as Blackpool’s North Pier, Central Pier, South Pier, Tower Circus and a small collection of programmes from other national venues. Additionally, it contains circus photographs and postcards mainly of the Ohmy Circus and Sanger Circus including individual circus troupes and performers...
Dates: c1837 - 2008

Den Curtis' Photographic Albums, 1936 - 1969

 File
Reference code: 178C108.329-332
Scope and Contents

Photographic albums put together by Den Curtis, containing black and white photographs of circuses, performers and animals with annotations, including Sanger, Chipprefields, Bertram Mills, Smarts, Hoxie Bros., Blackpool Tower, Belle Vue, Robert Bros., Fossett and Luckens Continental Circus and others, also some loose photographs removed from the albums.

Dates: 1936 - 1969

Edinburgh International Circus Programme, 1974 - 1975

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.140
Scope and Contents

The Leith Theatre. Black and white illustration of resting lion on front cover, inside introduction by Robert D. Moore and programme in the centre, 4p.p.

Dates: 1974 - 1975

Festival Circus Presented by Robert Bros. Circus Programme, 1953

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.113
Scope and Contents

Red type on off white background with illustration of a clown in red on the front cover and programme inside with illustrations, 2p.p.

Dates: 1953

Granada Presents the Robert Brothers Circus Programme, c1900 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.154
Scope and Contents

Black and yellow illustration of clown on a step ladder holding a paint brush on his hand and red type on yellow background on front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of acts and performers, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 6p.p.

Dates: c1900 - 1999

Granada Presents the Robert Brothers Circus Programme, c1900 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.155
Scope and Contents

Black and yellow illustration of clown on a step ladder holding a paint brush on his hand and red type on yellow background on front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of acts and performers, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 6p.p.

Dates: c1900 - 1999