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 423 Collections and/or Records:
Billy Smart's New World Circus and Fun Fair Poster, 3 - 8 July 1950
Billy Smart's New World Circus and Fun Fair Poster, 26 June - 1 July 1950
Billy Smart's new World Circus and Menagerie Poster, 24 - 29 May 1954
Edinburgh, Murray Fields. Colour illustration of acts grouped around the poster with highland cattle, a white face clown's face and an elephant behind a wheel of death on the top section, horses, chimpanzees and cebras on the centre and lions, clown faces, polar bears and an elephant in a police hat riding a motorcycle on the bottom section. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.
Billy Smart's New World Circus and Menagerie Poster, 16 November - 5 December 1953
Billy Smart's New World Circus and Menagerie Poster, 16 - 18 July 1953
Billy Smart's New World Circus and Menagerie Programme, 1956
Colour illustration of laughing clown's face on a blue background and type on bottom section on a yellow background on front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of patrons, owners, performers and acts with text and programme in the centre, 12p.p.
Billy Smart's New World Circus and Menagerie Programme, 1955
Colour illustration of man in blue jacket riding a white horse out of a grey square and holding a gun up in the air, also a clown and a man in a coat inside the box, green and blue type on red and yellow background on front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of patrons, owners, performers and acts with text and programme in the centre, also commercial advertising on last page, 11p.p.
Billy Smart's New World Circus Programme, 1947
Southsea Common, Western Parade. Colour illustration of cowboy clown in the centre, equestrian acts and clowning on top section and caged animals on bottom section over a dark blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of patrons, owners, performers and acts and programme in the centre, 5p.p.
Billy Smart's New World Circus Programme, Christmas 1947
Gaumont State, Kilburn. Red outline illustrations of circus acts including a clown playing a drum, horses, elephants, a caged tiger and clowns on a blue background on the front cover, inside programme in blue and red type on a white background with red illustrations around the edges and blue and white photographs of Billy Smart and Lord Morrison on the back cover, 2p.p.
Billy Smart's Quality Big Top Show Poster, c1946 - 1999
Richmond Old Deer Park, Friday 15 October. Colour illustration showing a clown's face on centre right, over a Smart circus tent opening the entrace curtains and letting all the performers come out, over a blue background. Signed by Chris Pavely.
Blackpool Spectacular Tower Circus Programme, 1997
Colour photograph of clown on a black background with colour balls and scrolls on the front cover, inside introduction, colour photographs of performers and acts with text, and programme in the centre on glossy paper, 6p.p.
Blackpool Tower Circus Fantastic' 75 Poster, 1975
Charlie Cairoli, Mary Chipperfield. Colour illustrations of a clown, a woman riding horseback, horses, a zebra, a lion, tigers and an elephants against a blue background, type in yellow, orange and white.
Blackpool Tower Circus Fantastic' 75 Poster, 1975
Charlie Cairoli, Mary Chipperfield. Colour illustrations of a clown, a woman riding horseback, horses, a zebra, a lion, tigers and an elephants against a blue background, type in yellow, orange and white.
Blackpool Tower Circus Fantastic' 75 Poster, 1975
Charlie Cairoli, Mary Chipperfield. Colour illustrations of a clown, a woman riding horseback, horses, a zebra, a lion, tigers and an elephants against a blue background, type in yellow, orange and white.
Blackpool Tower Circus Fantastic' 78 Poster, 1978
Charlie Cairoli clown, Mary Chipperfield animal tamer, Lilly Yokoi, Yong Bros. Colour illustration of a pouncing tiger, main background is blue with yellow and white stars, main title in yellow and red, act announcements in red and black on a yellow background.
Blackpool Tower Circus Fantastic' 78 Poster, 1978
Charlie Cairoli clown, Mary Chipperfield animal tamer, Lilly Yokoi, Yong Bros. Colour illustration of a pouncing tiger, main background is blue with yellow and white stars, main title in yellow and red, act announcements in red and black on a yellow background.
Blackpool Tower Circus Fantastic' 80 Poster, 1980
The Rastellis. Colour illustrations of four clowns, two in identical dress and makeup, main background black and purple, main title in yellow and pink, act announcement in red and black on yellow background. Signed Barrie.
Blackpool Tower Circus Fantastic' 81 Poster, 1981
Colour illustrations of a clown, an elephant, five horses, a chimpanzee and three lionesses, main background red, type white and yellow. Designed by Barrie James at Artists Associates.
Blackpool Tower Circus Fantastic Programme, 1975
Colour portrait photographs of Charlie Cairoli and Mary Chipperfield in circles and illustration of animal heads in yellow and red scroll joining the photos on a black starry background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising. Printed by United Printing Services, Stanley Road, Blackpool, 6p.p.
Blackpool Tower Circus Fantastic Programme, 1976
Colour illustration of Charlie Cairoli, showgirls and circus animals and riders on a red background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising. Printed by Renault Printing Co. Ltd., 54 College Road, Birmingham, B44 8BS, 6p.p.