Billy Smart was a
successful fairground showman who began his New World Circus in
1946. It grew rapidly and became Britain's largest travelling show
complete with:
- over 100 animals, including 20
elephants
- top circus acts from around
the world
- colourful productions such as
the Arabian Nights, Fairyland Fantasy and the Wild West Show.
Billy Smart and his family became
synonymous with circus. It was frequently on TV, its Christmas Day
programmes attracting record audiences. Royal Performances took
place in London, raising thousands of pounds for charity.
The circus stopped travelling in
1971 but continued its TV spectaculars until 1983. During the
Queen's Silver Jubilee Year, the Royal Windsor Big Top Show combined
circus and variety at Billy Smart's in front of the Queen and Prince
Philip. In the 1990s, a new era arrived with Billy Smart's Quality
Big Top Show and now Tony Hopkins presents Billy Smart's Circus on
tour throughout the UK. This book contains a unique collection of
photographs from archives and individual collections, including,
thanks to Ronnie and Gary Smart, material from the Smart Family
Archive in the National Fairground Archive at the University of
Sheffield. More on Billy Smart's
Circus...
This is the Life: On the
Road with Billy Smart's Circus DVD
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