Skip to main content

Fairs

 Subject
Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings

Found in 16 Collections and/or Records:

Billy Smart's New World Circus and Fun Fair Poster, 3 - 8 July 1950

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.80
Scope and Contents Salisbury, Cook's Field, Wilton Road. The Elleanos, high wire act, Jolly balancing act, Miss Olga trapeze act, The Grand Carousel, The Crazy Car, The Great Alexanders springboard act, 12 Royal Welsh Liberty ponies, Performing bears, Vinicky, English clowns, Highland Oxen trained by J. Vinicky, elephants, 8 Friesian black horses, Nicolai and his performing lions, Leona on the steel mast. Yellow, blue and black type on red, white and yellow stripe background with illustration of elephant and...
Dates: 3 - 8 July 1950

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

Correspondence, c1936 - 1993

 Series
Reference code: 178F17
Scope and Contents

Letters and telegrams primarily relating to the performing lives of Ralph Norman (aka Hal Denver) and his wife, Olga Norman, known as The Sensational Denvers, in the 1950s, as well as Ralph Normans's family life and later career endeavours in both the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Dates: c1936 - 1993

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

Interview with Kate Smart, 1981 - 1982, 25 February 1982, 21 January 1981

 Item
Reference code: 178E.1
Scope and Contents

Interview with Mrs Kate Smart, Mr Buller Hatwell and other showmen/women conducted by Rod Spooner at Barnt Green and Cassington on cassette tape format. First four people interviewed on 25 February 1982 at George Smart’s house, Barnt Green, Birmingham. Buller Hatwell interviewed at Cassington, nr. Oxford on 21 January 1981.

Dates: 1981 - 1982; 25 February 1982; 21 January 1981

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

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

Norman Family Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0087
Scope and Contents This collection comprises letters, business contracts and agreements, advertising material, printed ephemera and photographs, relating to the life and career of Ralph Norman (also known as Hal Denver), a knife thrower who performed as part of The Sensational Denvers. There are also writings by Ralph Norman, concerning his father, Tom Norman (aka 'The Silver King'), as well as draft chapters for his autobiography, which he titled, 'Knife and Hatchet Man'. Accompanied by a set of throwing...
Dates: c1900 - 2002

Original Artwork, c1800 - 2000

 Series
Reference code: 178V11
Scope and Contents

Original works of art including artists' prints, drawings, watercolours and paintings, and designs for circus posters.

Dates: c1800 - 2000

Photographic Album, 1905 - 1953

 Item
Reference code: 178C57.13688
Scope and Contents Photographic album containing black and white photographs of fairgrounds, fairground rides, fairground organs, amusement parks, steam engines, living wagons, fairground shows and showpeople, including Marshall, Manders, Randall Williams, Codona, Holland, Smart, Wilson, Kaye, Jervis, White, Peters, Thurston, Pat Collins and Turner at Nottingham Goose Fair, Coventry Pot Fair, Poole Fair, Ashton, Newcastle, Widnes Fair, Birmingham Whit Fair and Knutsford and other locations and showmen and a...
Dates: 1905 - 1953

Photographic Album, 1941 - 1955

 Item
Reference code: 178C57.13696
Scope and Contents Photographic album containing black and white photographs of fairgrounds, fairground rides, steam engines and transport, circus and fairground shows including Crow, Harry Lee, Smart, Bertram Mills, Farrar, Butlin, Codona, Silcock, Shaw, Marshall, Pat Collins, M.A. Collins, Harry Lee and Wallis at Oldham Fair, Lincoln Fair, Bootle, Huddersfield, Southport, Hull Fair, Knottingley Fair, Stanley Park and other locations and showmen with notes. Photographs taken and collected by Rowland Scott,...
Dates: 1941 - 1955

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, 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

Rod Spooner Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0011
Scope and Contents

The collection includes photographs taken by Jack Mellor and includes images of fairground rides, sideshows and traction engines. There are copies of Rod Spooner's photographs of South and Midland Fairs from 1952-1953. Also included is a cassette recording of an interview With Kay Smart and other showmen/women.

Dates: c1900 - 1989

Rowland Scott Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0037
Scope and Contents

Photographs related to all aspects of British travelling fairgrounds including; rides, transport, living wagons, showpeople, fairground shows, circuses and organs by Rowland Scott and other authors, a selection of manuscripts by Rowland Scott and a small amount of correspondence.

Dates: c1899 - 1989

Smart Family Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0079
Scope and Contents

This collection contains posters, programmes, letters, film, business records and a large number of family and circus photographs. This unique family collection charts the history of the Smart family from their beginnings as fairground showmen to presenting one of the greatest British circuses.

Dates: c1880 - 2014