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 27 Collections and/or Records:
All New Superdrome Circus Programme, 1996
Peter Jay presents the Big One Hundred Celebration. Colour photographs of ringmaster and performers on a pink background on the front cover, inside introduction, colour photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p.
Belle Vue 24th International Circus Programme, 1952 - 1953
Manchester. Colour illustration of circus performers and animals in a circus ring with illustration of George Lockhart on the right on yellow background on front cover, inside introduction, black and white illustrations and photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre, other short articles and commercial advertising, 18p.p.
Belle Vue 27th International Circus Programme, 1955 - 1956
Manchester. Colour illustration of George Lockhart, a tiger, a horse and a clown on a red background on front cover, inside introduction, black and white illustrations and autographed 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.
Belle Vue Winter Circus International Programme, 22 December 1977 - 4 February 1978
Manchester. Black, red and yellow illustration of roaring lion's head in a circle and head of ringmaster on a yellow background on front cover, inside black and white photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 12p.p.
Bertram Mills Circus Gala Performance in Aid of the Animal Health Trust Programme, Monday 21 December 1964
Olympia, London. Colour illustration of ringmaster wearing a red tail jacket, black trousers and top hat and colourful curtains on the sides on the front cover, inside black and white photograh of the Queen, introduction, commercial advertising, articles and programme, 28p.p.
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 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.
Blackpool Tower Circus Programme, 1999
Colour photograph of ringmaster, ventriloquist with bird, clown and man in orangutan outfit 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 Programmes, c1900 - 2009
Blackpool Tower Circus programmes.
Circus Friends Association Collection
This collection consists of a large library of books and journals, as well as archival material including posters, programmes, photographs, films, handbills, research material, scrapbooks, original artwork and many other items of ephemera relating to British, Irish and European circuses
Continental Circus Berlin Programme, 1991
Continental Circus Berlin Programmes, 1991 - 1992
Programmes for the Continental Circus Berlin shows in Great Britain.
Great Yarmouth Hippodrome Circus and Liverpool Stadium Programmes, c1900 - 2004
Great Yarmouth Hippodrome and Liverpool Stadium circus programmes including Billy Russell, Peter Jay, Jasmine Smart and Sally Chipperfield among others.
Heysham Head Circus Programmes, 1950 - 1964
Three colour illustrations of circus acts on coloured paper with ringmaster in the centre or clown's face design on front cover, inside some black and white photographs of acts and performers, programme and some commercial advertising. Printed by The Morecambe Bay Printers Ltd., Bridge Road, Morecambe.
Lord George Sanger's Circus Programme, 1935
Black and orange illustrations of ringmaster, roaring lion, female equestrian act and performing dog on blue background on the front cover, inside programme and after performance show on back cover. Printed by Stafford and Co., Ltd., Printers, Netherfield, Nottingham, 2p.p.
Lord George Sanger's Circus Programme, 1937
Black and orange illustrations of ringmaster, roaring lion, female equestrian act and performing dog on blue background on the front cover, inside programme and Circus Fans' Association information on back cover. Printed by Stafford and Co., Ltd., Printers, Netherfield, Nottingham, 2p.p.
Lord George Sanger's Circus Programme, 1938
Black and orange illustrations of ringmaster, roaring lion, female equestrian act and performing dog on blue background on the front cover, inside programme and Circus Fans' Association information on back cover. Printed by Stafford and Co., Ltd., Printers, Netherfield, Nottingham, 2p.p.
Lord George Sanger's Circus Programme, c1939 - 1945
Black and orange illustrations of ringmaster, roaring lion, female equestrian act and performing dog on blue background on the front cover, inside programme and Circus Fans' Association information on back cover. Printed by Stafford and Co., Ltd., Printers, Netherfield, Nottingham, 2p.p.
Nelly Janc Poster Design, 1972
Gouache on card poster design showing Nellie Janc on the foreground dressed as a ring master with a pyramid of six elephants on the back, over a yellow background.