Skip to main content

Sideshows

 Subject
Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings

Found in 252 Collections and/or Records:

Blueprints of Plans and Elevation Drawings for Various Fairground Rides, c1875 - 1939

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178M15.34
Scope and Contents Plans and elevation drawings for various fairground rides, including No.2 car track, Whirlwind racer, Switchback frames for J. Whiting, Weymouth Ghost Train, No.1 and No.2 Swoops, No.1, No.2, No.3, No.11, No.16 (alterations), No.33 (extension), No.47, No.52, No.54 and No.64 Arks, No.30 Noah’s Ark, No.31 Ark extension and No.4 alterations to the front for Frank Codona, cut out of motorcycle, Yo-Yo, No.8 Ghost Train, survey of ground for the Ghost Train Westover Amusement Park Bournemouth and...
Dates: c1875 - 1939
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Plans

Blueprints of Plans and Elevations for Various Fairground Rides and Details, c1915 - 1949

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178M15.33
Scope and Contents Plans and elevations for various fairground rides including No.24 Monorail, arrangement of swing boats, plan for Burton bridge widening, Collins Battersea cars, Wall of Death, Rocket Speedway, Coaster plan for John Collins in Yarmouth, No.7, No.8 and No.1 Ghost Trains, Weymouth and Ramsgate Ghost Trains, Monkey Roundabout, No.8 Dodgem for Yarmouth, plans for Leeds Amusement Park, No.48, No.49, No.57, No.53, No.52, No.68, No.22, No.29, No.35, No.66 and No.14 Dodgems, Codona Dodgem, No.1 Water...
Dates: c1915 - 1949
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Plans

Bob Wallace as ‘Old Funny Face’ Poster, c1930 - 1949

 Item
Reference code: 178R45.12
Scope and Contents

‘Believe it or Not’ he swallows his nose, homeliest man on earth. Colour illustration of man’s face with his bottom lip covering his nose. Face in white with navy shading on red and navy background and white and red type.

Dates: c1930 - 1949
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Enquirer Printing Company Collection / Sideshow and Freak Show Posters

Bob Wallace Character Impersonations Poster, c1930 - 1949

 Item
Reference code: 178R45.13
Scope and Contents

‘Believe it or Not’, the children’s delight, Pop Eye the sailor. Colour illustration of bust and waist of man dress as Popeye in the centre in white and navy over a red and black background with a navy footer and red and white type.

Dates: c1930 - 1949
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Enquirer Printing Company Collection / Sideshow and Freak Show Posters

Bostock's Menagerie Front Design, c1890 - 1910

 Item
Reference code: 178V10.54(iv)
Scope and Contents

Front elevation of Bostock's menagerie, showing heaving carving jungle decorations, scale.

Dates: c1890 - 1910
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Original Artwork / Design Drawings for Ride and Show Fronts

Bostock's Menagerie Front Design, c1880 - 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178V10.54(xi)
Scope and Contents

Jungle design wih statues of people and animals for Bostock's menagerie show.

Dates: c1880 - 1899
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Original Artwork / Design Drawings for Ride and Show Fronts

Bostock's Menagerie Front Design, c1890 - 1910

 Item
Reference code: 178V10.54(xiv)
Scope and Contents

Front elevation of Bostock's menagerie truck, showing heaving carving decorations, scale 3/4".

Dates: c1890 - 1910
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Original Artwork / Design Drawings for Ride and Show Fronts

Boxing Booth Elevation, December 1934

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.33(l)
Scope and Contents

Front elevation of Stewart's boxing booth, scale 3/4".

Dates: December 1934
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Plans / Blueprints of Plans and Elevations for Various Fairground Rides and Details

Brian Steptoe Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0061
Scope and Contents

An audio cassette recording of a conversation between Maggie Bird (formerly Mrs. Margaret Waddington and nee Shufflebottom) and Brian Steptoe on 15th June, 1993 at Bramerton, Norfolk. There is a ten page transcript to accompany the recording.

Dates: 1993
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive

Broadway Trailer Design, c1920 - 1939

 Item
Reference code: 178V10.54(xii)
Scope and Contents

Detailed design for a three dimensional advertising trailer for a show, with text reading Rialo now showing, 100% singing and dancing, showing dancing girls in a city scape full of sky scrappers.

Dates: c1920 - 1939
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Original Artwork / Design Drawings for Ride and Show Fronts

Business and Personal Correspondence Belonging to Billy Wood, 1951 - 1979

 File
Reference code: 178F42.1
Scope and Contents

Various items of correspondence addressed to Billy Wood, mostly of personal nature, some mention his business, includes a letter from Bill Tomlinson regarding council refusal to grant Billy a licence to run his boxing show. Typescript and manuscript.

Dates: 1951 - 1979
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Billy Wood Collection / Correspondence

Business Records, 1931 - 1974

 Series
Reference code: 178H33
Scope and Contents

Billy Wood's business records including boxers' personal details and promotional images.

Dates: 1931 - 1974
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Billy Wood Collection

Business Records, 1961

 Series
Reference code: 178H20
Scope and Contents

Small amount of Alfred Grey's business records.

Dates: 1961
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Alfred Grey Collection

Business Records Relating to Billy Wood's Boxing Booth, 1931 - 1974

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178H33.1
Scope and Contents Billy Wood's business records including address books, boxing and wrestling fight details including names of fighters and locations, takings ledger, personal contact directory from 1932 to 1959, business cards for himself and F. Ward amusement caterer, Showmen's Guild membership cards for 1971 and 1974, Ilkeston market toll fair deposit and receipts, a cheque, receipts and correspondence from Orton and Spooner for the construction of show fronts in 1931, City of Nottingham notices to...
Dates: 1931 - 1974
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Billy Wood Collection / Business Records

Captain Baker presents Lady Luck Handbill, c1930 - 1939

 Item — Box John Barmwell Taylor Box 2: Series 178T1
Reference code: 178T1.201
Scope and Contents

Lady Luck the racehorse with eight feet. "The only thoroughbred Race-Horse in the world born with Eight Perfect Feet & Fetlocks". Printed Shentons Printing Works, Cheltenham.

Dates: c1930 - 1939
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / John Bramwell Taylor Collection / Handbills / Handbills for Assorted Venues, Mainly in London

Chamberlain's Show Front Design, c1890 - 1910

 Item
Reference code: 178V10.54(iii)
Scope and Contents

Front elevation of Chamberlain's show front with woodcarvings by W.G. Hilton, Burton-on-Trent, containing war and patiotric references

Dates: c1890 - 1910
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Original Artwork / Design Drawings for Ride and Show Fronts

Christ Rejected Handbill, 1838

 Item — Box John Barmwell Taylor Box 1: Series 178T1
Reference code: 178T1.156
Scope and Contents

Christ Rejected at the Egyptian Hall Piccadilly. "A full length model of the fiend Greenacre representing him as he appeared at his trial". Printed by Star Press, 20 Cross Street, Hatton Garden.

Dates: 1838
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / John Bramwell Taylor Collection / Handbills / Baker Street, Portman Square, and Egyptian Hall Piccadilly Handbills

Circus Research Material, 1891 - 1935

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178B30.37
Scope and Contents A large volume of typed and handwritten material referring to information published in newspapers and journals including the Strand Magazine, The Royal Magazine, McClure's Magazine, Cosmopolitan Magazine, The Bookman, The World Magazine, Cassells's Magazine, American Magazine, The Toronto Star Weekly, Everybody's Magazine, Collier's Illustrated Weekly, St. Nicholas Magazine, Popular Science Monthly, Pearson's Magazine and Saturday Evening Post on animal training and other aspects of wild...
Dates: 1891 - 1935
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Circus Friends Association Collection / Monographs, Articles, Manuscripts and Research Material

Cliff Marston and Cedric Conway Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0021
Scope and Contents

Photographic collection of fairground lorries, rides, shows, organs and preservation vehicles at various fairs and rallies as well as notebooks, correspondence and newspaper cuttings.

Dates: 1949 - 1992
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive

Col. Tim McCoy Poster, c1930 - 1949

 Item
Reference code: 178R45.14
Scope and Contents

In person, famous Western and TV star. Black and white photograph of Tim McCoy in cowboy outfit riding a horse and holding his hat up high on his right hand on a red background with black and white and navy type and a white border.

Dates: c1930 - 1949
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Enquirer Printing Company Collection / Sideshow and Freak Show Posters

Public only; | Accessibility statement | v3.4.1 | Send Feedback or Report a Problem