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 939 Collections and/or Records:
Bertram Mills' Circus Programme, 1962
Colour illustration of elephant wearing a pink ribbon and playing with a yellow balloon in a circus ring with a blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre, articles and commercial advertising. Printed by Welbecson Press Ltd, London, 12p.p.
Bertram Mills' Circus Programme, 1961 - 1962
Golden type on red faux velvet background on decorative cover, inside colour illustration of elephant wearing a pink ribbon and playing with a yellow balloon in a circus ring with a blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre with illustrations and commercial advertising. Printed by Welbecson Press Ltd, London, 16p.p.
Bertram Mills' Circus Programme, 18 December 1962 - 2 February 1963
Olympia, London. Golden type on red faux velvet background on decorative cover, inside colour illustration of circus acts including clown, chimpanzees, elephants, horse, aerial act, cage animals and trick cyclist on blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre with illustrations and commercial advertising. Printed by Welbecson Press Ltd, London, 16p.p.
Bertram Mills' Circus Programme, 18 December 1963 - 2 February 1964
Olympia, London. Golden type on red faux velvet background on decorative cover, inside colour illustration of circus acts including clown, chimpanzees, poodles, horses and aerial acts in the circus ring on blue background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre with illustrations and commercial advertising. Printed by Welbecson Press Ltd, London, 16p.p.
Bertram Mills' Circus Programme, 1963
Colour illustration of elephant wearing a pink ribbon and playing with a yellow balloon in a circus ring with a blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre, articles and commercial advertising. Printed by Welbecson Press Ltd, London, 10p.p.
Bertram Mills' Circus Programme, 1964
Colour illustration of circus acts including aerial act, Cossacks, girl with drum and man in red and gold outfit with golden head dress on a blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre, articles and commercial advertising, 8p.p.
Bertram Mills' Circus Programme, 1965 - 1966
Red outline of horses and red type on yellow faux velvet decorative cover, inside colour photograph of white face clown wearing a colourful sequence outfit, holding a white circle with circus information on a black background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 16p.p.
Bertram Mills' Circus Programme, 1966 - 1967
Colour illustration of elephant wearing a pink ribbon and playing with a yellow balloon in a circus ring with a blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising. Printed by Welbecson Press Ltd, London, 14p.p.
Bertram Mills Circus Programmes, c1900 - 1999
Bertram Mills Circus programmes at Olympia and travelling shows.
Bertram Mills Circus Research Material, c1900 - 1999
Two colour photocopies of Bertram Mills circus posters.
Bertram Mills Circus Royal and Gala Performance Programmes, Great Carmo, Bostock and Wombwell's, and Bailey's Circus Programmes, c1900 - 1999
Bertram Mills Circus Royal and Gala Performance programmes, Great Carmo's Circus, Bostock and Wombwell's menagerie and Bailey's Circus programmes.
Bertram Mills Circus Supershow Gouache, c1920 - 1967
Gouache on card poster design, signed by 'L C', probably Leon Chossley. Olympia Grand Hall, 18 December to 30 January. Colour illustration of many circus acts including a man in Indian dress, a woman riding an elephant, three horseback riders, three jugglers and three women balancing on spheres, background red with yellow and white stars and white, type multicoloured.
Bertram Mills Gala Performance in Aid of World Refugee Year Programme, c1900 - 1999
Black and pink illustration of clown, ringmaster and female performer on a black background on the front cover, inside introduction, articles, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 16p.p.
Bertram Mills Great International Circus and Christmas Fair Programme, 17 December 1920 - 24 January 1921
Olympia. Colour illustration of clown in yellow outfit with black duck and star and green moon on it, holding a fishing rod, standing on a white and red chair with a white circle behind him on a blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, floor plan of circus and fair, black and white illustrations and photographs of scenes, performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 12p.p.
Bertram Mills International Circus and Christmas Fair Programme, 22 December 1922 - 20 January 1923
Olympia. Front cover missing, inside introduction, floor plan of circus and fair, black and white illustrations and photographs of scenes, performers and acts with text, short articles on rides and games and commercial advertising, 9p.p.
Bertram Mills International Circus and Fun Fair Programme, 20 December 1923 - 23 January 1924
Olympia. Colour illustration of woman in an orange dress standing on a black horse with a whip on her hand, over a white background on the front cover, inside introduction, floor plan of circus and fair, black and white illustrations and photographs of scenes, performers and acts with text, short articles on rides and clowns and commercial advertising, also an insert for a programme painting competition, 13p.p.
Bertram Mills International Circus and Fun Fair Programme, 18 December 1924 - 21 January 1925
Olympia. Colour illustration of boy in white, green and yellow jockey outfit standing on a white horse holding a red cap on his hand next to a clown in a circus ring with expectators on the forefront on the front cover, inside introduction, floor plan of circus and fair and road and rail maps to Olympia, black and white illustrations and photographs of scenes, performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 18p.p.
Bertram Mills Royal Circus Performance Programme, 17 December 1959
Olympia, London. White type on blue background and a circle cut out in the centre throught which a male equestrian riding a horse stainding up can be seen on the front cover, inside colour photographs of the Princess Margaret, introduction, commercial advertising, articles and programme, also insert page on Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal, 28p.p.
Bertram Mills Royal Circus Performance Souvenir Programme, 18 December 1952
Olympia, London. Red, yellow and white type on blue background with Royal sheal on top section and a circle cut out in the centre throught which a clown can be seen walking the high wire on the front cover, inside colour photographs of the Queen and Prince Philip, introduction, commercial advertising, articles and programme, 54p.p.
Bertram Mills Royal Circus Performance Souvenir Programme, 1955-1956
Olympia, London, 21 December. Yellow type on marron background with Royal sheal on top section and a circle cut out in the centre throught which a female equestrian riding a horse stainding up can be seen on the front cover, inside colour photographs of the Queen and Prince Philip, introduction, commercial advertising, articles and programme, 36p.p.