{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1608019"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1608019/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MX3535/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MX3535/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2021MX3535","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1608019","accessionNumber":"S.3782-1995","objectType":"Poster","titles":[{"title":"Poster advertising Blackpool Tower Circus' summer season 1973","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"Blackpool Tower Circus, the beautiful Moorish-inspired circus situated within the four feet of the steel lattice Blackpool Tower, opened to the public as The Tower Aquatic and Variety Circus when the Tower first opened to the public on 14th May 1893. Originally designed by Maxwell and Turk,  featuring a ring that sinks within minutes to be flooded for water spectacle, and water fountains, the interior of the circus was redesigned in 1899 by the supreme theatre architect Frank Matcham (1854-1920). \n\nThe London hotelier John Bickerstaffe had the original idea of building the Tower after visiting the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The Bickerstaffe family remained the owners of the Tower until 1964, when it was bought by the record company EMI, whose logo appears on this poster. It has remained one of Britain's most popular circuses.\n\nThis poster advertises the wide range of acts for the 1973 summer show, highlights of which were shown on BBC television on 13th July 1973. The programme had two ringmasters, the celebrated Norman Barrett, and Harold Holt; with the Tower Orchestra, and the Glamorous Tower Circusettes. The clown Charley Cairoli and his Company appeared throughout, along with the flying trapeze artists Aerial Rodriquez; Dogsi's Football Dogs; the German plate spinner and glass balancer Wolfgang Bartscelley (1932-2008); Jose and Mary; the comedy wire walker Brian Andro (b.1932), known for his character tightrope act and for performing to Spanish music; the Swedish equestrienne Katja Schumann (b.1949) with the Robert Brothers' 8 Spotted Ponies; the trapeze artists The Two Palacys (Jean Palacy(1930-2010 and his wife Pauline Lacy sometimes known as The Daring Palacys); the comedy acrobats Desmond and Marks (Fred Desmond and Jack Marks); the balancing act Trio Elios; the juggling couple The Two Fudis, and Alham Sahari and Shira with their Crocodiles and Reptiles. \n\nThe legendary Italian clown Charlie Cairoli Snr. (1910 -1980) began his performing career aged seven. He first performed at Blackpool's Tower Circus in 1939 and went on to perform there annually until 1979 when ill  health forced him to retire.","physicalDescription":"Typographical and pictorial poster advertising  Blackpool Tower Circus' summer season, commencing 17th May 1973, featuring Charlie Cairoli and his Company. Printed in red, blue, yellow and black on white paper with an illustration of two crocodiles","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"},{"text":"printing ink","id":"AAT187371"}],"techniques":[{"text":"printing","id":"AAT53319"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Printed ink on paper","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Advertising","id":"THES49001"},{"text":"Posters","id":"THES252963"},{"text":"Circus","id":"THES261738"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2021MX3535"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"007","id":"THES345345"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"posters","id":"AAT27221"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Great Britain","id":"x32019"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1973","earliest":"1973-01-01","latest":"1973-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"63.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"09/06/2025","earliest":"2025-06-09","latest":"2025-06-09"},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"32.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"09/06/2025","earliest":"2025-06-09","latest":"2025-06-09"},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Poster advertising Blackpool Tower Circus' summer season commencing 17th May 1973","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.3782-1995"],"accessionNumberNum":"3782","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":1995,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-01-01","recordCreationDate":"2021-04-19","availableToBook":true}}