Skip to main content

Showman

 Subject
Subject Source: Local sources

Found in 23 Collections and/or Records:

Bertram Mills' Circus at Olympia Programme, 21 December 1927 - 24 January 1928

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.495
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of Astley performing an equestrian act in 1827 and black and white illlustration of a recreation act on bottom of page on decorative cover, inside elephant's head covered in Spanish head dress and net and holding a tamborin with its trunk on a yellow background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs and illustrations of performers and acts with text, various articles and commercial advertising, 24p.p

Dates: 21 December 1927 - 24 January 1928

Bertram Mills Circus Programmes, c1900 - 1999

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178K43.488-548
Scope and Contents

Bertram Mills Circus programmes at Olympia and travelling shows.

Dates: c1900 - 1999

Bertram Mills Circus Royal and Gala Performance Programmes, Great Carmo, Bostock and Wombwell's, and Bailey's Circus Programmes, c1900 - 1999

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178K43.586-609
Scope and Contents

Bertram Mills Circus Royal and Gala Performance programmes, Great Carmo's Circus, Bostock and Wombwell's menagerie and Bailey's Circus programmes.

Dates: c1900 - 1999

Christopher Palmer Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0105
Scope and Contents

Circus programmes and VHS tapes from Billy Smart’s Circus and Chipperfields’s Circus collected during the 1970s and early 1980s by the TV producer, Christopher John Palmer. There are also a number of promotional photographs of artistes and other ephemera related to the circus.

Dates: 1973 - 1983

Circus Friends Association Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0122
Scope and Contents

This collection consists of a large library of books and journals, as well as archival material including posters, programmes, photographs, films, handbills, research material, scrapbooks, original artwork and many other items of ephemera relating to British, Irish and European circuses

Dates: 1795 - 2020

Cyril Critchlow Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0089
Scope and Contents The Cyril Critchlow collection contains programmes, posters, handbills, books and magic journals, many of which relate to shows in Blackpool where Cyril resided and includes material on entertainment venues such as Blackpool’s North Pier, Central Pier, South Pier, Tower Circus and a small collection of programmes from other national venues. Additionally, it contains circus photographs and postcards mainly of the Ohmy Circus and Sanger Circus including individual circus troupes and performers...
Dates: c1837 - 2008

Digger Pugh Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0179
Scope and Contents

Archive of the Digger Pugh family including newspaper cuttings, photographs, negatives, business records, programmes, research material, posters and films.

Dates: c1930 - 2010

Durrant's Press Cuttings, 1930 - 1955

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178G21.98
Scope and Contents A collection of newspaper cuttings of circus articles mostly provided by Durrant's Press Cuttings from a range of sources including; North Mail and Newcastle Chronicle, News Chronicle, Cork Examiner, Empire News, Midland Daily Telegraph, Sunday Dispatch, Pearson's Weekly, Nottingham Evening Post, The Listener and other mainstream newspapers on a range of topics including Bertram Mills, wild animals, Pricilla Kayes, Koringa, The Hagenbecks, Blondin, Paulo Circus family, Togare, Grimaldi,...
Dates: 1930 - 1955

Films, c1930 - 1990

 Series
Reference code: 178D5
Scope and Contents

Amateur and commercial films on multiple formats, focusing mainly on Circus but also including transport, fairs, fairground rides and other types of travelling entertainments.

Dates: c1930 - 1990

Joe Stumcke Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0162
Scope and Contents

This collection contains scrapbooks, programmes, photographs of performers at the Kursaal, Bertram Mills Circus and sideshows as well as some business records related to the Stumcke family and their work at the Kursaal and Bertram Mills Circus.

Dates: 1829 - 1974

Madison Square Garden Productions in Association with Cyril Bertram Mills Presents Centre Circus Programme, 20 July - 28 August 1978

 Item
Reference code: 178K41.21
Scope and Contents

Mills present Centre Circus. Brighton Centre. The Four Vulcanus fire act, Hoppes’s rodeo Mules, The Kam-Tai troupe balancing act and others. Contains photos, 12p.p.

Dates: 20 July - 28 August 1978

Monographs, Articles, Manuscripts and Research Material, c1795 - 1999

 Series
Reference code: 178B30
Scope and Contents

Compilation of monographs, articles, manuscripts and a range of research material about circus companies and performers in the United Kingdom, Europe and other parts of the world by various authors, the research was mainly compiled by Hal Thomas.

Dates: c1795 - 1999

Newspaper and Magazine Cuttings on Circus, 1897 - 2005

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178G21.95
Scope and Contents Newspaper cuttings and journals containing circus related articles on a range to topics including; animal rights, the death of Gordon Howes lion tamer, the Great Wallenda, George Sanger and Poppy Ginnett's wedding, other articles on Lord George Sanger and the Sanger Circus, The Smart Circus, Carlos Rosaire and Tina Paolo's wedding, King Ohmy's death, the death of Carmer Rosaire, the Paolo family, Circus Krone, Orfei Circus, Koringa, Circus Sarrasani, World War 2, Barbette, Omi, the Fossett...
Dates: 1897 - 2005

Newspaper Cuttings and Scapbooks, 1838 - 2007

 Series
Reference code: 178G21
Scope and Contents

A collection of newspaper cuttings on circus, circus proprietors and performers and scrapbooks containing newspaper cuttings, posters, programmes and other items of ephemera, covering mainly British circuses and venues such as Belle Vue and also some international circuses.

Dates: 1838 - 2007

Newspaper Cuttings on Bertram Mills Circus, 1934 - 1991

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178G21.90
Scope and Contents

Newspaper cuttings and magazine articles on Bertram Mills' circus, including an issue of Modern Railway News journal and Bertram Mill's obituary. Original and photocopies.

Dates: 1934 - 1991

Noel Drewe Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0058
Scope and Contents

A large collection of films entitled Circusama containing amateur and professional films on the themes of circus, performing animals and zoos, and edited clips from commercial Western and comedy films. The films are in a variety of formats including 8mm, Super8, 9.5mm and 16mm and contain related correspondence and notes. This collection also contains some sound reels mainly of fairground music.

Dates: c1930 - 1990

Photographs and Postcards, c1800 - 1999

 Series
Reference code: 178C108
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: c1800 - 1999

Photographs and Postcards, c1899 - 1969

 Series
Reference code: 178C57
Scope and Contents

Photographs, postcards and negatives of fairgrounds taken by Rowland Scott and other fairground enthusiasts.

Dates: c1899 - 1969

Programmes, 1970 - 1981

 Series
Reference code: 178K41
Scope and Contents

Programmes for various British and international circuses including Billy Russell's, Blackpool Tower, Fossett's, Chipperfield's and the Toni Boltini's Circus.

Dates: 1970 - 1981

Programmes, c1800 - 2019

 Series
Reference code: 178K43
Scope and Contents

A collection of mainly British and international circus programmes and some variety and music hall programmes containing circus acts.

Dates: c1800 - 2019