Circus Friends Association of Great Britain (Established 1934)
Biography
The CFA, formerly known as the Circus Fans Association was stablished on Saturday 20th January 1934 in the ring of Bertram Mills Circus at Olympia, London by a group of enthusiasts. The CFA’s purpose remains the same as in its conception; to stimulate, foster and promote enthusiasm for circus and related performances as part of British culture.
During 1934, the pattern for CFA activities was established, with the formation of the library, the publication of The Sawdust Ring magazine and the first rallies, including ones to the Hippodrome Circus in Great Yarmouth and Blackpool Tower. The annual subscription at the time was one guinea for residents in a radius of 60 miles from London 'as defined by Automobile Association handbook', and half a guinea for those residing outside that area, in the provinces. 'For residents in the Colonies and foreign counties' the subscription was 7/6.
The first President of the CFA was Lady Eleanor Smith (1902-1945), the eldest child of the politician F. E. Smith. Lady Eleanor Smith was an author, a society reporter and cinema reviewer and worked as a publicist for circus companies.
Other notable presidents were; Dame Laura Knight (1877-1970), the most celebrated British impressionist female artist of all time and the first woman to ever be elected to the Royal Academy. The actor Sir Cedric Hardwicke (1893-1964), wine merchant and philanthropist Sir Walter Gilbey (1831-1914), theatrical manager and empresario Sir Charles B. Cochran (1872-1951), Sir William Savory (1882-1961), author Antony Hippisley Coxe and Commander W. J. Gerard.
The first five years of the CFA saw the firm establishment of the Association its activity, although it was active by Alfred 'Dickey' Bird. The post-war years were difficult but the CFA continued operating with the same aims and ambitions.
The library was started in 1937, as a gift of 30 books from A.C. McLachlan. Others titles were acquired by purchase or donation. It contains books on virtually every aspect of circus life from individual acts, to acts of Parliament, from erecting a Big Top, to the logistics of transporting circuses, works of fiction, photography and juvenile literature all of which help to create a greater understanding of the many contrasts in circus life; of the romance, tragedy, spectacle and hardships.
Notable authors who have contributed to the myth and legend of circus include Lady Eleanor Smith, who in 1945, donated all her circus books to the CFA, Ruth Manning-Sanders and Courtney Ryley Cooper, an American writer who, after having first joined a circus aged 16, went on to write crime books and ghost-wrote articles under J. Edgar Hoover’s name in the 1930s.
After the war lists of holdings were printed and distributed to members, who could borrow a book at a time by post. By the mid 1970s, the ‘Library Catalogue’ listed 525 books and a ‘Circusiana’ section was created for valuable books, for reference only.
The CFA continues maintaining the collection, ensuring its growth and establishing it as the primary, national collection of books on circus.
The CFA has also amassed one of the most fascinating and important collection of circus related material in the United Kingdom expanding over 200 years. This material has supported research and literature produced by its members over the years and has ensured that an important part of British circus history will be available for future generations of researchers and enthusiasts.
The association has always welcomed enthusiasts and circus artistes to it’s membership and has always produced a regular publication giving news, reviews and articles on circus artistes and personalities and reviews of British and foreign circuses. The current quarterly magazine King Pole, named after the masts, which support a circus tent, is regarded as one of the leading circus periodicals in the world.
The CFA continues to organise visits, formerly called rallies, for the members, to UK circuses and recognises the achievements of those involved in circus with special awards.
After almost 85 years in existence the CFA continues to flourish with membership being maintained in the region of 500 comprising both British and subscribers from abroad.
Found in 77 Collections and/or Records:
Acrobatic Act Print, 1974
Black and white etching showing a troupe of thirteen acrobats performing a pyramid act in a circus ring produced for the Club du Cirque 25th anniversary in April 1974, signed on bottom left [illegible].
Amphitheatre Poster, Monday 9 November 1829 and rest of the week
Anglo-American Circus Poster, Friday 4 Saturday 5 May 1945
Astley's Royal Amphitheatre Poster, Thursday 18, Friday 19 and Saturday 20 June 1818
Westminster Bridge. The Dandy Family and the Ascot Jockies, Mr. Avery equestrian act, The Troop of Voltigeurs acrobatics and clowning, Mr. Makeen on The Peasant's Frolic, Mr. Sloman comic singer, Mademoiselle Ferzi tightrope act, Mess. Brown and Williams clowns, Peregrine Pickle or Hawser Trunnion on Horseback, A Real Fox Chance. Black type on off white paper, also contains description of acts and listing of performers.
Belle Vue 35th International Circus Programme, 20 December 1963 - 1 February 1964
Manchester. Colour illustration of lions and acrobats on front cover, inside introduction, black and white illustrations and photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 18p.p.
Belle Vue 39th International Circus Programme, 21 December 1967 - 3 February 1968
Manchester. Colour illustration of circus acts in an orange circus ring including leopard, panther, seals, clown and acrobats on front cover, inside introduction, black and white illustrations and photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 18p.p.
Belle Vue Programmes, c1900 - 1999
Belle Vue Circus programmes.
Bertram Mills Circus and Fun Fair Gouache, 1950
Bertram Mills Circus and Fun Fair Gouache, c1920 - 1967
Gouache on card, poster design signed by 'L C', probably Leon Chossley. Circus at Olympia Grand Hall, 17th December to 1st February. Colour illustration of many circus acts including elephants, two chimpanzees, on on stilts, one on a top horse, horses, six performing poodles led by a woman in a pink dress, acrobats and a clown, background image of circus ring with night sky above, type yellow and white.
Bertram Mills Circus and Fun Fair Gouache, 1962 - 1963
Bertram Mills Circus and Fun Fair Olympia Gouache, 1966
Gouache on card, paper covering on top poster design. Colour illustration of a leaping acrobat and a single white star, type white, yellow and orange, background blue, 17 December to 29 January.
Bertram Mills Circus Drawing, 24 December 1933
Ink on board drawing by Arthur Ferrier (1891-1973). Black and white illustration of circus acts including clowns, call-boy, boxing, kangaroo, female lion tamer, acrobat and juggling seal in individual windows with text, signed by Arthur Ferrier on bottom left corner in ink, on reverse in pencil 'Our artists sketches at Olympia', 'To Bertram Mills with the Editor's Compliments', 'Original of Arthur Ferrier cartoon from the News of the World Dec 24th 1933'.
Bertram Mills Circus Drawing, 22 December 1929
Bertram Mills Circus Supershow Gouache, c1920 - 1967
Gouache on card poster design signed by Leon Chossley. Olympia Grand Hall, 18 December to 30 January. Colour painting of many circus acts including a woman riding an elephant, russian dancers, jugglers, equestrian acts, acrobats and performing dogs, as well as a man sitting on top of a lampost, a woman balancing on the moon and two astronauts with a rocket, main background red with yellow and white stars, type multicoloured.
Billy Russell's Circus Spectacular Programme, 1972
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Colour illustration of circus acts including trapeze on top section and Chinesse and Hungarian acrobats , woman riding a white horse and woman with poodels on the bottom section over a yellow and red background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 12p.p.
Billy Smart's Circus Poster, 25 October - 11 November 1961
Wood Lane, Scrub Recreation Ground. Colour illustration of female aerial acrobatic act in red suit on centre right and clown's face on centre left with elephants, camels, lions and other circus acts underneath. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.
Billy Smart's Circus Poster, 10 - 12 September 1962
Billy Smart's Circus Poster, 24 October - 12 November 1960
Billy Smart's New World Circus and Menagerie Poster, 16 November - 5 December 1953
Billy Smart's New World Circus and Menagerie Poster, 30 March - 11 April 1951
Nottingham Goose Fair site. The Sensational Puhlmanns aeroplane aerialist, over 150 animals. Colour illustration of acrobatic aerial act showing a woman hanging by the feet and a man hunging by the mouth from an aeroplane. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.