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:
Peter Jay's Superdrome Circus Programme, 1992
Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Colour photograph of circus ring and curtain with neon sign above reading Peter Jay's Superdrome Circus and performers waiving underneath on the front cover, inside introduction, colour photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p.
Peter Spier's Circus Print, 1992
Colour print of two circus tents in a field, the tent on the foreground is open and performers, animals and the public can be seen enjoying the circus, also trucks and animals can be seen on the field, published by Doubleday Books for Young Readers.
Photographs and Postcards, c1800 - 1999
Black and white and colour photographs, negatives and photographic albums mainly containing images of British circus, circus performers, animals and circus personalities but also some menageries such as Bostock and Wombwell and other associated entertainments and non-British circuses taken by David Jamieson, Lindsay Temple, Den Curtis, Capt. Middleton, Jack Niblett and other photographers.
Photographs and Postcards of Various Performers and Circuses, c1900 - 1999
Black and white and colour photographs, postcards and promotional photographs of acts, performers, circus tents, animals and others.
Photographs of Circus Performers and Showmen, 1903
Black and white photographs of circus performers and personalities including a portrait of Buffalo Bill dedicated to Lord George Sanger and Sanger's Britannia tableau waggon.
Photographs of Hans Brick Animal Trainer and Circus Performers, c1900 - 1999
Black and white photographs and postcards of people, animals and performers, including a portrait photograph of Hans Brick and photographs of Circus Busch with text in German and English and a small negative.
Photographs of Hans Brick Animal Trainer and Circus Performers, c1900 - 1999
Black and white photographs of journey's around different parts of the world, caged animals, people and circus performers, approximately 42p.p.
Pierino and Olga, Circus Roncalli Xmas 2000, Circus Barum and Circus Krone-Festival Highlights Films, 2000 - 2001
Pinder and Jean Richard Circus Programmes, 1931 - 1979
Programmes for Circus Pinder, Jean Richard Circus, Pinder Jean Richard Circus, Pinders Royal Circus and Menagerie, Pinder's New International Circus, Pinder's Grand Imperial Circus and Pinders Big Zoo Circus containing colour illustrations and photographs on the front covers, inside black and white and colour photographs of perfomers and acts with some text including Koringa and Rogana, introduction, programme and commercial advertising.
Pinders Circus Ticket Booklets, c1900 - 1999
Booklet of circus tickets containing duplicate tickets from No.3201 to No.3299 with prices for reserved seats, black type on off white background and off white covers and booklet of free tickets containing duplicate tickets in red type. Various sizes.
Plans, c1900 - 1999
Ring and seating plans for Chipperfield, Bertam Mills, Fossett, Smart and Robert Brothers Circuses.
Polito's Superb Menagerie Poster, c1800 - 1899
Male lion and lioness, horned horses or nilghau, zebra, elephant, royal male tiger, hyaena, panthers, leopard, jaguar, porcupine, lynx, wolf, sloth, kangaroos, emew, cassowary, pelican of the wilderness, adjutant, royal crown cranes, black swan, condor minor. Black type on off white paper with illustration of lion on the top half section. Printed by W. Major, Printer, John's Steps, Bristol.
Portrait Wallet, c1900 - 1999
Small card wallet presented on an easel and set on a decorated card, containing a black and white groupe portrait of three women, a photograph of a man and two photographs each a portrait of a woman
Posters, c1800 - 2011
A wide range of British and international circus and menagerie posters ranging from the 19th to the 21st century including Astley's Amphitheatre, Pablo Fanque, Polito, Bostock and Wombwell, Ducrow, Cooke, Hengler, Sanger, Smart, Gerry Cottle, Bertram Mills, Chipperfield's, Robert Brothers, Fossett, Blackpool Tower, Billy Russell, Belle Vue, Great Yarmouth Hippodrome, Austen Brothers and many more.
Powell Bros. Victory Circus and Zoo Poster, Wednesday 7 May 1946
Redditch, Beoley Road. The Sensation of 1946, The Lady over the Lions, performed by Janet, earial act, Alexis trick rider, Tony and Partner comedy wire act, Eve on top of the globe, funny clowns, Les Freres acrobatic tumbling act, Zadowsky Troupe equestrian act, The Flying Demons earial act, The Crackerjacks wild west act, Squibs and Jojo clowns, 2 miniature Shetland ponies, Sonya Allan's performing lions. Red and blue type on off white background with illustration of lion on centre left.
Powell's Circus Royal Poster, c1800 - 1899
Powell's Circus Royal Poster, c1800 - 1899
Prince's International Circus and Prince Cox's International Circus Programmes, 1949 - 1961
Prince's International Circus, Prince Cox's International Circus and Prince's Royal Victory Circus programmes containing black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, illustrations, programme and commercial advertising.
Proclamations, 1836 - 1888
Proclamations announcing Pablo Fanque's benefit event and speaches and appearances about the horse killing wolves incident at Lord George Sanger's theatre.
Programmes, c1800 - 2019
A collection of mainly British and international circus programmes and some variety and music hall programmes containing circus acts.