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:
Chipperfield's Bingley Hall Circus Programme, 1960 - 1961
Colour illustration of elephant wearing a crown on right hand side and yellow, black and white type on red, yellow and blue background on front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, red comical illustrations, programme in centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p
Chipperfield's Bingley Hall Circus Programme, 26 December 1959
Birmingham. Colour illustration of elephant wearing a crown on right hand side and yellow, black and white type on red, yellow and blue background on front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, red comical illustrations, programme in centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p
Chipperfield's Bingley Hall Circus Programme, 26 December 1959
Birmingham. Colour illustration of elephant wearing a crown on right hand side and yellow, black and white type on red, yellow and blue background on front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, red comical illustrations, programme in centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p
Chipperfields Bingley Hall Xmas Circus Poster, c1950 - 1999
Chipperfield's Bingley Hall Xmas Circus Poster, Starting 23 December 1961
Bingley Hall, Birmingham. Colour illustrations of a clown holding up a flag pole, a tiger and four horses, main background blue, type multicoloued on multicoloured background. Notice of extra opening performance on 22nd December glued on. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd
Chipperfields Bingley Hall Xmas Circus Poster, 1958 - 1959
Chipperfields Bingley Hall Xmas Circus Programme, c1900 - 1999
5th season. Colour illustration of white rearing horse on the right hand side, clown face on bottom left and black illustration of wild cat and tamer in cage on a green background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p
Chipperfields Bingley Hall Xmas Circus Programme, c1900 - 1999
6th season. Colour illustration of white rearing horse on the right hand side, clown face on bottom left and black illustration of wild cat and tamer in cage on a green background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p
Chipperfields Bingley Hall Xmas Circus Programme, c1900 - 1999
7th season. Colour illustration of white rearing horse on the right hand side, clown face on bottom left and black illustration of wild cat and tamer in cage on a green background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p
Chipperfield's Circus Advertising Material, c1980 - 1989
Various items including a souvenir brouchure and a Christmas season promotional booklet.
Chipperfield's Circus and Menagerie Programme, 1947
White and blue photograph of roaring tiger's head on top section and blue and pink type on pink and white background in the bottom section on the front cover, inside introduction, blue and white photographs of performers and acts with text and programme in the centre, 8p.p
Chipperfield's Circus and Menagerie Programme, 1949
Black and white photograph of roaring tiger's head on top section and black and red type on red and white background in the bottom section on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text and programme in the centre, 4p.p
Chipperfield's Circus and Menagerie Programme, 1954
Colour photograph of roaring tiger's head breaking out of the paper cover on centre and gold, white and orange type on red and blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 12p.p
Chipperfield's Circus and Menagerie Programme, c1900 - 1999
Colour photograph of roaring tiger's head breaking out of the paper cover on centre and gold, white and orange type on red and blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text and programme in the centre, 8p.p
Chipperfield's Circus and Menagerie Programme, c1955
Colour photograph of roaring tiger's head breaking out of the paper cover on centre and gold, white and orange type on red and blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, also contains an inset with update programme, 12p.p
Chipperfield's Circus and Menagerie Programme, c1900 - 1999
Colour photograph of roaring tiger's head breaking out of the paper cover on centre and gold, white and orange type on red and blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text and programme in the centre, 8p.p
Chipperfield's Circus and Menagerie Programme, 1958
Colour photograph of roaring tiger's head breaking out of the paper cover on centre and gold, white and orange type on red and blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, also contains an inset with update programme, 12p.p
Chipperfield's Circus and Menagerie Programme, 1957 - 1958
Colour photograph of roaring tiger's head breaking out of the paper cover on centre and gold, white and orange type on red and blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, commercial advertising and contains an inset with programme, 10p.p
Chipperfield's Circus and Menagerie Programme, 1953
Colour photograph of roaring tiger's head breaking out of the paper cover on centre and gold, white and orange type on red and blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p
Chipperfield's Circus and Menagerie Programme, 1956
Colour photograph of roaring tiger's head breaking out of the paper cover on centre and gold, white and orange type on red and blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text and commercial advertising, also contains an inset with programme, 12p.p