Bertram
Mills’ Circus all started with a wager in 1919. After visiting a
circus at Olympia, London, Bertram Mills was asked for his opinion
of the show - he replied ‘If I couldn’t put on a better show than
that, I would eat my hat'. A week later he had agreed to stage a
circus at this famous West-London site for the 1920-21 season - a
tradition that would continue for the next 48 years and mark the
revival of the UK circus scene.
Featuring
over 260 posters, hanging cards and other rare items of circus
ephemera, this book tells the story of the Bertram Mills Circus
through its amazing promotional artwork. It covers Mills’ initial
shows at Olympia, tenting as a joint venture with The Great Carmo in
1929 prior to going on the road with the Mills’ circus ‘under
canvas’ from 1930. Completing the story are posters from Mills’
Circus travelling the length and breadth of Britain via train until
1965 and the post-war shows productions at Olympia until 1967.
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