Robert Brothers Circus (Established 1944)
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 9 Collections and/or Records:
Belle Vue Circus, Manchester Programme, 6 December 1980 - 31 January 1981
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
Films, c1930 - 1990
Amateur and commercial films on multiple formats, focusing mainly on Circus but also including transport, fairs, fairground rides and other types of travelling entertainments.
Noel Drewe Collection
A large collection of films entitled Circusama containing amateur and professional films on the themes of circus, performing animals and zoos, and edited clips from commercial Western and comedy films. The films are in a variety of formats including 8mm, Super8, 9.5mm and 16mm and contain related correspondence and notes. This collection also contains some sound reels mainly of fairground music.
Original Artwork, c1800 - 2000
Original works of art including artists' prints, drawings, watercolours and paintings, and designs for circus posters.
Robert Brothers Circus Programmes, c1900 - 2008
Robert Brothers Circus programmes.
Robert Brothers Super Circus Programme, c1985 - 1989
Colour photograph of three Robert brothers on bottom section and circus tent within a red, orange and white star above on front cover, inside colour photographs of acts, performers and circus tent and programme in the centre, also a loose page with programme in black and white with black and white illustration of ringmaster holding a whip, 7p.p.
Robert Brothers Super Circus Programme, c1985 - 1989
Colour photograph of three Robert brothers on bottom section and circus tent within a red, orange and white star above on front cover, inside colour photographs of acts, performers and circus tent and programme in the centre, also a loose page with programme in black and white with black and white illustration of ringmaster holding a whip, 6p.p.
Robert Brothers Super Circus Programme, c1985 - 1989
Colour photograph of three Robert brothers on bottom section and circus tent within a red, orange and white star above on front cover, inside colour photographs of acts, performers and circus tent and programme in the centre, also a loose page with programme in black and white with black and white illustration of ringmaster holding a whip, 6p.p.