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 1288 Collections and/or Records:
Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, 1964
Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, 1968
Charlie Cairoli and his Company clowns, Gerd Siemoneit's lions, tigers, leopards, pumas and panther, 6 Kludsky, Chy Bad Guy, The Four Rodriguez aerial acrobats, The Svenssons, Gabriella and her show dogs, Astralita, The Balcombes, Ivan Bratuchin and his Cossack riders, Concha and Concha, Giselle Palmas, Tower Circusettes, Desmond and Marks. Black and white photograph of a clown, type multicoloured on multicoloured background.
Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, 1969
Charlie Cairoli and his Company, Flying Marilees, Circus Franz Althoff's 7 tigers presented by Miss Yvonne, Circus Franz Althoff's elephants presented by F R Althoff, 8 Danish Tiger horses and ponies presented by F.R. Althoff, 6 Ferkos, 4 Castors, 4 Bertolas, jockey chimpanzees presented by Al de Jonghe, Toly M, Tower Circusettes, Desmond and Marks. Black and white photograph of a clown, type multicoloured on multicoloured background.
Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, 1970
Charlie Cairoli and his Company, Ruppert's bears, Valla Bertini Troupe, The Elwardos, Barbara Morris and her sea lions, The Svensons, The New Houdinys, David Rosaire and his Perky Pekes, Gerard Edon, Desmond and Marks, Freddie Kenton, Skating Sandras, The Charlies, Tower Circusettes. Small black and white photograph of a clown and black and white illustration of blackpool tower, type multicoloured on multicoloured background.
Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, 1971
Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, 1955
Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, 1956
Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, c1950 - 1959
Blackpool Tower Circus Posters, c1930 - 1990
Posters for Blackpool Tower Circus including shows by Knie's Circus, Circus Krone, Circus Schumann, Bertram Mills Circus, Robert Brothers Circus and performances by Charlie Cairoli, Doddles, Coco the Clown, The Rosaires, Lilly Yokoi, Alfred Court, Vojtek Trubka, The Great Wallendas and Mary Chipperfield among others.
Blackpool Tower Circus Programme, 1948
Colour photograph of tiger tamer in cage with seven tigers on blue background on front cover, black and white photographs of performers and acts inside and programme in the centre, 4p.p.
Blackpool Tower Circus Programme, 1967
Colour cartoon illustration of clown driving a car full of circus animals on orange background on front cover, black and white photographs of performers and acts inside with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 6p.p.
Blackpool Tower Circus Programme, 1971
Colour illustration of trapeze act in mid air over a green background with spot lights on the front cover, black and white photographs of the performers and acts inside with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 5p.p.
Blackpool Tower Circus Programme, 1972
Colour illustration of man in pink and white outfit on the floor and woman in blue outfit riding a rearing elephant on a blue background on the front cover, black and white photographs of the performers and acts inside with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 6p.p.
Blackpool Tower Circus Programme, 1951
Black and white photocopy of programme.
Blackpool Tower Circus Programme, 1950
Colour illustration of a cartoon clown wearing blue trousers and red braces from behind holdind a can of paint and a brush on a red background on the front cover, inside colour photograph of Carlie Cairoli with Paul, black and white photographs of performers and acts and programme in the centre, 6p.p.
Blackpool Tower Circus Programme, 1951
Colour illustration of a cartoon clown wearing blue trousers and red braces from behind holdind a can of paint and a brush on a red background on the front cover, inside colour photograph of Carlie Cairoli with Paul, black and white photographs of performers and acts and programme in the centre, 6p.p.
Blackpool Tower Circus Programme, 1952
Colour illustration of a cartoon clown wearing blue trousers and red braces from behind holdind a can of paint and a brush on a red background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts and programme in the centre. Autographed by Charlie Cairoli and Paul, 4p.p.
Blackpool Tower Circus Programme, 1958
Colour illustration of a cartoon clown wearing blue trousers and red braces from behind holdind a can of paint and a brush on a red background on the front cover, inside colour photograph of Charlie Cairoli and showgirl, black and white photographs of performers and acts and programme in the centre, 6p.p.
Blackpool Tower Circus Programme, 1962
Colour illustration of cartoon clown and animals riding a rocket into space over the Blackpool Tower on a blue background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts, colour photogaph of Charlie Cairoli and showgirl and programme in the center, 4p.p.
Blackpool Tower Circus Programme, 1964
Colour illustration of cartoon clown playing a large portable drum and animals around it on a black background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts with text and commercial adversiting, 4p.p.