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:
Robert Brothers Circus Programme, 1966
Colour illustration of elephants performing with feathers on their heads and other animals on the top section over a blue background on the 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 Brothers Circus Programme, 1968
Colour illustration of elephants performing with feathers on their heads and other animals on the top section over a blue background on the 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 Brothers Circus Programme, c1900 - 1999
Colour illustration of lion jumping through a hoop on fire over a red background on the front cover, inside colour photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertisment on back cover, 8p.p.
Robert Brothers Circus Programmes, c1900 - 2008
Robert Brothers Circus programmes.
Robert Brothers Circus Research Material, 1948 - 1967
Black and white and colour photocopies of Robert Brothers circus posters, programmes and newspaper cuttings.
Robert Brothers Famous Circus Programme, c1900 - 1999
Colour illustration of large smiling clown's face in the centre and a blond woman in a white bikini hanging from a rope on a starry blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white and colour photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 6p.p.
Robert Brothers Famous Circus Programme, c1900 - 1999
Colour illustration of two clown faces in the centre and different circus animals below including, horses, tigers, lion, elephants, gorilla, camerls poodles and boxing kangaroo on a blue background on the front cover, inside programme with colour illustrations around the right, left and bottom edges, Thorney wildlife park advert on back cover, 2p.p.
Robert Brothers Famous Circus Programme, c1900 - 1999
Colour illustration of smiling clown's face, wearing a Union Jack top hat over a white and blue background on the font cover, inside colour photographs of acts and performers with text and programme in the centre, 6p.p.
Robert Brothers Famous Circus Programme, 1978
Colour illustration of two clown faces in the centre and different circus animals below including, horses, tigers, lion, elephants, gorilla, camerls poodles and boxing kangaroo on a blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, colour and black and white photographs of acts and performers,programme in the centre and wildlife park advert on back cover, 6p.p.
Robert Brothers International Circus Programme, Sunday 8 December 1985 - Saturday 26 January 1986
Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre. Colour illustration of elephant's head with trunk in a knot, a clown balancing a bucket of water on a stick on his nose and a juggler over a white background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p.
Robert Brothers Souvenir Brouchure, c1900 - 1999
Colour illustrations of circus acts along the left hand side and colour photograph of circus ring with four elephants performing in the centre on the front cover, inside introduction to the history of Robert Brothers Circus, black and white and colour photographs of family members with short articles and some celebrities, also commercial advertising, 8p.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, 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.
Robert Brothers Super Circus Programme, c1900 - 1999
Colour photograph of three Robert brothers on centre within a red, yellow and white star on light blue background on front cover, inside introduction, colour photographs of acts, performers and insert programme in the centre printed in black and white, 6p.p.
Robert Brothers Super Circus Programme, c1900 - 1999
Colour photograph of three Robert brothers on centre within a red, yellow and white star on light blue background on front cover, inside introduction, colour photographs of acts, performers, programme missing, 4p.p.
Robert Brothers Super Circus Programme, 1991 - 1992
S.E.C.C. Glasgow. Black and white photograph of three Roberts brothers and black and white type on front cover with introduction at the bottom of the page, inside programme and black and white photographs of performers and acts along the sides, on back cover black and white photographs of acts and performers and acknowledgements, 2p.p.
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1983 - 1984
Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Robert Brothers, Chipperfield's and Gerry Cottle's, 25p.p.
Spanish National Circus Programme, 2006
Colour illustration of flamenco dancer in red dress over a blue background and clown's face peaking from behind a curtain on top right corner on the front cover, inside introduction, colour photographs of acts and performers, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 10p.p.
The Bedford Theatre Programme, week commencing Monday 29 December 1947
Hip Hip Zoo Ray Circus, presented by The Robert Brothers,. Candem Town. Blue and white illlustration of a large building and landscape and blue type on white background on the front cover, inside programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 4p.p.