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 1302 Collections and/or Records:
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
Chipperfield's Circus and Menagerie Programme, 1951
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, 7p.p
Chipperfield's Circus and Menagerie Programme, 1957
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, 11p.p
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 Zoo Programme, 1947
Red type on white background on the front cover, inside black type on white background containing programme, 2p.p
Chipperfield's Circus and Zoo Programme, 1946
Red and green type on white background with green stripes across the top and bottom sections on the front cover, inside black type on white background containing the programme and handwritten notes on back cover, 2p.p
Chipperfield's Circus Poster, c1950 - 1999
17 to 19 July. The Four Dressiers, The Royal Bengal tigers, The Five Caesars double perch act, black grizzly and polar bears, The Percheron stallions, Susan and Sidi high school act, The Cowboy round-up, Fiery Jack and Co, Chipperfield's zebras, The Golden Palomino horses, Bradfort Springboard Troupe, canine capers, Jackie Sloan, Los Argentinos, Chipperfield's elephantasia.
Chipperfield's Circus Poster, c1950 - 1999
Chipperfield's elephants, cowboy round-up, Jackie Sloan, The Bratfort Troupe springboard act, performing zebras, The Four Dresslers, Bengal tigers, 10 African lions, The Caesars double perch, 20 polar and black grizzly bears, Fiery Jack and Co, John's wonderful performing dogs, The Palominos, The Royal Percheron stallions, Susan and Sidi high school act. Printed by Swinton Signcraft.
Chipperfield's Circus Programme, 1960
Colour illustration of wild animals around the edges on a dark red background and blue and black type on a yellow background in the centre on the front cover, inside introduction and black and white photographs of acts and performers with text on colour and white background, insert with programme and commercial advertising, 12p.p
Chipperfield's Circus Programme, 1962
Colour illustration of wild animals around the edges on a dark red background and blue and black type on a yellow background in the centre on the front cover, inside introduction and black and white photographs of acts and performers with text on colour and white background, programme in the centre and 2p.p insert with programme, also commercial advertising and entrance tickets, 12p.p
Chipperfield's Circus Programme, 1976
Colour illustration of roaring tiger's face surrounded by clowns heads, performing elephants, lion's head polar bear, poodles and two horses, on a blue background on the front cover, inside introducion, history of the Chipperfield circus, black and white and colour photographs of performers and acts and commercial advertising, also 2 p.p insert with programme and blue and white photographs, 8p.p
Chipperfield's Circus Programme, 1976
Colour illustration of roaring tiger's face surrounded by clowns heads, performing elephants, lion's head polar bear, poodles and two horses, on a blue background on the front cover, inside introducion, history of the Chipperfield circus, black and white and colour photographs of performers and acts and commercial advertising, also 2 p.p insert with programme and blue and white photographs, 8p.p
Chipperfield's Circus Programme, 1975
Colour illustration of roaring tiger's face surrounded by clowns heads, performing elephants, lion's head polar bear, poodles and two horses, on a blue background on the front cover, inside introducion, history of the Chipperfield circus, black and white and colour photographs of performers and acts and commercial advertising, also 2 p.p insert with programme and blue and white photographs, 8p.p
Chipperfield's Circus programme, 1974
Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. Colour illustration of tiger leaping from the circus ring towards the viewer and blue curtains on front cover, inside introduction, black and white and colour photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p