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 85 Collections and/or Records:
Hippodrome Programme, week commencing Monday 11 November 1946
Hip Hip Zoo Ray Circus. Aston. Black illustration on pink background of large building and landscape on the front cover, inside programme and commencial advertising, 2p.p.
Hungarian State Circus Progamme, c1900 - 1999
Colour illustration of large clown's face on left hand side and various smaller circus acts including poodles, horses and elephants on a blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text and space for autographs and programme on last page, all on a yellow background, 6p.p.
Jack Niblett's Circus Sketches, c1929 - 1990
286 loose sketches and 6 sketchbooks of circus acts, animals and performers from various international circuses including Smarts, Bertram Mills and Robert Bros. by Jack Niblett. Pen and ink, felt pen, watercolour, pencil and pastel.
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 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.
Palace Theatre Programme, Week commencing Monday 26 January 1953
Hip Hip Zoo Ray Circus, presented by The Robert Brothers. East Ham. Red, white and blue illustration of three girls in Mexican hats dancing and written music notes and stars on the front cover, inside programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 4p.p.
Palace Theatre Programme, week commencing Monday 25 February 1957
Hip Hip ZooRay Circus, presented by Robert Bros. Leicester. Blue, pink and white illustration of nude woman holding a large music note dancing and smiling crescent moon, wearing a top hat on the front cover, inside programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 4p.p.
Palace Theatre Programme, Monday 19 October 1953
Chelsea. Hip Hip Zoo Ray Circus. Blue and white illustrations of circus acts in three dimensional segments on the front cover on a red background, programme in centre and commercial advertising, 4p.p.
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.
Plans, c1900 - 1999
Ring and seating plans for Chipperfield, Bertam Mills, Fossett, Smart and Robert Brothers Circuses.
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.
Posters, c1800 - 2011
A wide range of British and international circus and menagerie posters ranging from the 19th to the 21st century including Astley's Amphitheatre, Pablo Fanque, Polito, Bostock and Wombwell, Ducrow, Cooke, Hengler, Sanger, Smart, Gerry Cottle, Bertram Mills, Chipperfield's, Robert Brothers, Fossett, Blackpool Tower, Billy Russell, Belle Vue, Great Yarmouth Hippodrome, Austen Brothers and many more.
Robert Bros. International Circus Programme, 1961
Colour illustration of two Robert brothers opening a curtain to reveal a circus behind it with many acts including performers and animals on front cover, inside black and white photographs of the Robert family and the acts and performers with text and programme in the centre, article on circus and commercial advertisement on last page, 8p.p.
Robert Bros. International Circus Programme, 1962
Colour illustration of two Robert brothers opening a curtain to reveal a circus behind it with many acts including performers and animals on front cover, inside black and white photographs of the Robert family and the acts and performers with text and programme in the centre, article on circus and commercial advertisement on last page, 8p.p.
Robert Bros. International Circus Programme, 1963
Colour illustration of two Robert brothers opening a curtain to reveal a circus behind it with many acts including performers and animals on front cover, inside black and white photographs of the Robert family and the acts and performers with text and programme in the centre, article on circus and commercial advertisement on last page, 8p.p.
Robert Bros. International Circus Programme, 1964
Colour illustration of two Robert brothers opening a curtain to reveal a circus behind it with many acts including performers and animals on front cover, inside black and white photographs of the Robert family and the acts and performers with text and programme in the centre, article on circus and commercial advertisement on last page, 8p.p.
Robert Bros. Mamooth Circus and Zoo Programme, 1954
Blue and white photograph of two Robert brothers and red type on white background on front cover, programme inside and text on back cover written by Bobby and Tommy Roberts, 2p.p.
Robert Bros. Mamooth Circus and Zoo Programme, 1959
Colour photograph of two Robert brothers on the front cover over a yellow star on a purple background, inside black and white photographs of the Robert family and the acts and performers with text and an essay about the origin of the modern circus on the last page, programme in the centre, 8p.p.
Robert Bros. Mamooth Circus and Zoo Programme, 1958
Colour photograph of two Robert brothers on the front cover over a yellow star on a purple background, inside black and white photographs of the Robert family and the acts and performers with text and an essay about the origin of the modern circus on the last page, programme in the centre, 8p.p.