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:
Theatre Royal Poster, Saturday 30 November 1867, Monday 2 December and during the week
Birmingham. Cattle and Dog Shows, Miss Adah Isaacs Menken, Paris and Back for £5, Mazeppa's equestrian act, Programme of Scenery and Incidents, Sarah's Young Man. Black type on off white background. Printed at the Theatre Royal Printing Office, Birmingham.
Theatre Royal Poster, c1800 - 1899
Mr. A. Abel and his Dogs, Hector and Wallace. Black and white illustration of man standing in the centre of the image in tribal attire, holding a spear with a dog at either side and name of the act in scrolls along the sides.
Theatre Royal Poster, 5 June 1848
Williamson Square, Van Amburgh animal trainer, Morok the Beast Tamer, The Irish Tutor. Black type on white background, listing of acts and dramatic incidents. Printed by W. Ellis, Printer, 21 Castle Street, Liverpool.
Theatre Royal Poster, 5 June 1816
Theatre Royal Poster, 13 February 1863
Theatre Royal Programme, Monday 20 August 1888 and following nights
Threatre of Variety Programmes, c1880-1978
Tom Arnorld's Harringay Circus Programmes, 1925 - 1959
Programmes for Tom Arnorld's Harringay Circus and Wild West Show and Tom Arnold presenting Big Top, Mammoth Circus and others at various locations containing black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, illustrations, programme and commercial advertising.
Tomorrow's Town Manuscripts, c1900 - 1999
A collection of circus poems by Zahrat, including poems about Chipperfields, Duffy's and Fossett Bros. Typescript and manuscript.
Tony Felix's New Royal English Circus Programme, c1800 - 1899
Tower and Winter Garden Programme, 1934
Embossed silver illustration of Blackpool Tower and Winter Gardens in the centre with a circular and then square border on a strong pink background on the front cover, inside colour illustration of a circus parade outside the tower building, blue and white photographs of performers and colour illustrations of tower scenes with text, circus and other event programmes and commercial advertising, 22p.p.
Tower and Winter Garden Programme, 1934
Embossed silver illustration of Blackpool Tower and Winter Gardens in the centre with a circular and then square border on a strong pink background on the front cover, inside colour illustration of a circus parade outside the tower building, blue and white photographs of performers and colour illustrations of tower scenes with text, circus and other event programmes and commercial advertising, 22p.p.
Tower and Winter Gardens Blackpool Programme, 1937
Embossed gold illustration of Blackpool Tower and Winter Gardens on red background on the front cover, inside blue and white photographs of performers and colour illustrations of tower scenes with text, circus and other event programmes and commercial advertising, 22p.p.
Tower and Winter Gardens Blackpool Programme, 1936
Embossed gold illustration of Blackpool Tower and Winter Gardens on blue background on the front cover, inside blue and white photographs of performers and colour illustrations of tower scenes with text, circus and other event programmes and commercial advertising, 22p.p.
Tower Circus Blackpool Programme, Summer Season, 15 April - 16 October 1954
Silk cover with red ribbon, containing colour illustration of a cartoon clown wearing blue trousers and red braces from behind holdind a can of paint and a brush on an off white background, inside programme with same illustration on a red background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts and programme in the centre, autographed on back cover, 8p.p.
Tower Circus Blackpool Programme, 1961
Silk cover with red ribbon, containing colour illustration of a cartoon clown wearing blue trousers and red braces riding a rocket into space on an off white background, inside programme with same clown holding tring of world flags at the bottom from a circus ring which raise up to the top of the cover across space into earth on a black background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts and programme in the centre, 6p.p.
Tower Circus, Blackpool Programme, 1947 - 1948
Black and white photocopy of programme, 4p.p.
Tower Circus Blackpool Programme, Summer Season, 7 April - 15 October 1955
Silk cover with red ribbon, containing colour illustration of a cartoon clown wearing blue trousers and red braces from behind holdind a can of paint and a brush on an off white background, inside programme with same illustration on a red background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts and programme in the centre, autographed on back cover, 8p.p.
Tower Circus Blackpool Programme, Summer Season, 29 March - 20 October 1956
Silk cover with red ribbon, containing colour illustration of a cartoon clown wearing blue trousers and red braces from behind holdind a can of paint and a brush on an off white background, inside programme with same illustration on a red background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts and programme in the centre, autographed on back cover, 8p.p.
Tower Circus Blackpool Programme, Summer Season, 26 March - 17 October 1959
Silk cover with red ribbon, containing colour illustration of a cartoon clown wearing blue trousers and red braces from behind holdind a can of paint and a brush on an off white background, inside programme with same illustration on a red background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts and programme in the centre, 8p.p.