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Circus Friends Association of Great Britain (Established 1934)

 Organisation

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:

Belle Vue 36th International Circus Programme, 23 December 1964 - 6 February 1965

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.472
Scope and Contents

Manchester. Colour illustration of clowns on the forefront with circus animals behind them including elephants, horses, dogs and lion on front cover, inside introduction, black and white illustrations and photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 20p.p.

Dates: 23 December 1964 - 6 February 1965

Belle Vue 37th International Circus Programme, 23 December 1965 - 5 February 1966

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.473
Scope and Contents

Manchester. Colour illustration of clown, chimpanzee, Native American and circus animals on a yellow background on front cover, inside introduction, black and white illustrations and photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 18p.p.

Dates: 23 December 1965 - 5 February 1966

Belle Vue 38th International Circus Programme, 22 December 1966 - 4 February 1967

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.474
Scope and Contents

Manchester. Colour illustration of clown and girl on a yellow background on front cover, inside introduction, black and white illustrations and photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 18p.p.

Dates: 22 December 1966 - 4 February 1967

Belle Vue 39th International Circus Programme, 21 December 1967 - 3 February 1968

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.475
Scope and Contents

Manchester. Colour illustration of circus acts in an orange circus ring including leopard, panther, seals, clown and acrobats on front cover, inside introduction, black and white illustrations and photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 18p.p.

Dates: 21 December 1967 - 3 February 1968

Belle Vue 40th International Circus Programme, 20 December 1968 - 8 February 1969

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.476
Scope and Contents

Manchester. Colour illustration of galloping white horses with feather head dress on a blue background on front cover, inside introduction, black and white illustrations and photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 16p.p.

Dates: 20 December 1968 - 8 February 1969

Belle Vue 41st International Circus Programme, 19 December 1969 - 7 February 1970

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.477
Scope and Contents

Manchester. Colour illustration of leaping tigers and man on a blue and black background on front cover, inside introduction, black and white illustrations and photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 18p.p.

Dates: 19 December 1969 - 7 February 1970

Belle Vue 42nd International Circus Programme, 23 December 1970 - 6 February 1971

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.478
Scope and Contents

Manchester. Colour illustration of female wire walker in a pink tutu kneeling down on the wire and a clown below watching her on a blue background on front cover, inside introduction, black and white illustrations and photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 16p.p.

Dates: 23 December 1970 - 6 February 1971

Belle Vue 53rd International Circus Programme, 26 December 1981 - 30 January 1982

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.487
Scope and Contents

Manchester. Colour cartoon illustration of clowns climbing up an elephant with a tin of paint and a brush next to stack up letters reading circus and ringmaster on the background on front cover, inside black and white photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising. Printed by Peter Scott (Printers) Ltd, Burnley, Lancs, 12p.p.

Dates: 26 December 1981 - 30 January 1982

Belle Vue Circus Bulletins, 1936 - 1956

 File
Reference code: 178I22.26
Scope and Contents

Various bulletings produced by Belle Vue, black and white photographs of performers and acts with news and reports about Belle Vue and comic strips including Belle Vue Bulletin, Belle Vue Circus Fun and International Circus News.

Dates: 1936 - 1956

Belle Vue Circus Programme, 1937 - 1938

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.449
Scope and Contents

Manchester. Photocopy of original programme in black and white, containing programme, photographs of performers with text and commercial advertising, 5p.p.

Dates: 1937 - 1938

Belle Vue Circus Programme, 1938 - 1939

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.450
Scope and Contents

Manchester. Photocopy of original programme in black and white, containing programme, photographs of performers with text and commercial advertising, 5p.p.

Dates: 1938 - 1939

Belle Vue Circus Programme, 1940 - 1941

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.451
Scope and Contents

Manchester. Colour illustration of laughing clown's face within a circle with yellow neck ruff on a blue background on front page, inside programme, black and white photographs of performers and commercial advertising, 4p.p.

Dates: 1940 - 1941

Belle Vue Circus Programme, 1942 - 1943

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.452
Scope and Contents

Manchester. Colour and black and white photocopies of original programme, showing a clown on the front and an elephant on reverse and programme inside, 2p.p.

Dates: 1942 - 1943

Belle Vue Circus Programme, 1943 - 1944

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.453
Scope and Contents

Manchester. Colour illustration of laughing clown in a blue circle in the centre and white horses below on a yellow background with red, blue and white stars on the front cover, inside programme and black and white photographs and Coco the clown on back cover, 2p.p.

Dates: 1943 - 1944

Belle Vue Circus Programme, 1944 - 1945

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.454
Scope and Contents

Manchester. Black and white photograph of lion's head in a circle in the centre and illustration of white horses below on a red background with yellow, blue and white stars on the front cover, inside programme and black and white photographs and black illustrations of circus acts on red background on back cover, 2p.p.

Dates: 1944 - 1945

Belle Vue Circus Programme, 1957 - 1958

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.467
Scope and Contents

Manchester. Colour illustration of elephant in stripey trousers seating on a circus platform on a 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.

Dates: 1957 - 1958

Belle Vue Circus Programme, 1958 - 1959

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.468
Scope and Contents

Manchester. Colour illustration of bear in a skirt, hat and scarf riding a motorbike and clown in a police man's uniform directing the traffic on a blue background on front cover, inside introduction, black and white illustrations and photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 18p.p.

Dates: 1958 - 1959

Belle Vue Circus Programme, 23 December 1960 - 4 February 1961

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.470
Scope and Contents

Manchester. Colour illustration of clown on a high wire over a cage full of lions on front cover, inside introduction, black and white illustrations and photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 18p.p.

Dates: 23 December 1960 - 4 February 1961

Belle Vue Circus Programme, 26 December 1980 - 31 January 1981

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.486
Scope and Contents

Manchester. Colour cartoon illustration of clown holding balloons, lion and horse on front cover, inside black and white photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising. Printed by Peter Scott (Printers) Ltd, Burnley, Lancs, 12p.p.

Dates: 26 December 1980 - 31 January 1981

Belle Vue Circus Spectacular Programme, 21 December 1979 - 2 February 1980

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.485
Scope and Contents

Manchester. Black and white photograph of leaping tiger on a yellow background with green and black type on front cover, inside black and white photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising. Printed by Alf Smith and Co, Bradford, 12p.p.

Dates: 21 December 1979 - 2 February 1980