Billy Smart - Revision history

Djando at 21:07, 31 March 2024

2024-03-31T21:07:50Z

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2024-03-31T21:06:46Z

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2023-09-28T23:23:57Z

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Djando: /* Billy Smart's Legacy */

2023-09-28T22:54:11Z

‎Billy Smart's Legacy

Djando: /* Billy Smart's Legacy */

2023-09-28T22:50:41Z

‎Billy Smart's Legacy

Djando: /* Billy Smart's New World Circus */

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‎Billy Smart's New World Circus

Djando: /* Billy Smart's Funfair */

2023-09-28T22:50:00Z

‎Billy Smart's Funfair

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2023-09-28T22:47:11Z

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Djando: /* Billy Smart's Legacy */

2023-09-28T22:44:03Z

‎Billy Smart's Legacy

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2023-09-18T19:41:24Z

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← Older revision		Revision as of 21:07, 31 March 2024
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−	[[File:Billy_Smart_2.jpg\|right\|~~300px~~]]	+	[[File:Billy_Smart_2.jpg\|right\|350px]]

	==Circus Owner and Impresario==		==Circus Owner and Impresario==

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 File:Smart_Billy_by_Terence_Cuneo.jpg|Billy Smart by Terence Cuneo (c.1960)
 File:Billy_Smart's_Royal_Windsor.jpg|Billy Smart in front of his "Royal Windsor" caravan (c.1960)
 Image:Billy_Smart.jpg|Billy Smart in his caravan (c.1960)
 File:Billy_and_Olga_Smart.jpg|Billy Smart and daughter-in-law, Olga Smart (c.1960)

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 File:Billy_Smart_2.jpg|Billy Smart (c.1960)
 File:Smart Billy circus overhead.jpg|Billy Smart's New World Circus - Aerial view (c.1960)
 File:Smart_Billy_by_Terence_Cuneo.jpg|Billy Smart by Terence Cuneo (c.1960)
 File:Billy_Smart's_Royal_Windsor.jpg|Billy Smart in front of his "Royal Windsor" caravan (c.1960)

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 Sir Billy Butlin, his old friend from his fairground days, said to the press that Billy Smart "was the greatest showman of his time&mdash;and probably the last of the great showmen." Under the management of his sons, Ronnie, David and Billy, Jr., The Billy Smart's New World Circus survived his founder as a traveling circus for only five years: by 1970, new economic conditions didn't allow a circus to survive on such a gigantic scale in Great Britain, and the giant folded its tents in 1971.
-A smaller-scale Billy Smart's Circus was revived in 1993 by Ronnie Smart's sons, Gary and Lord Smart; it didn't survive very long. The name was later rented out to circus operators, but it never met with great success. Billy Smart had had the right vision at the right time, and his name remains associated with his vision. Indeed, there will never be another Billy Smart, neither another Billy Smart's New World Circus true to his creator's dream. Somehow, the public knew it...
+A smaller-scale Billy Smart's Circus was revived in 1993 by Ronnie Smart's sons, Gary and Lord Smart; it didn't survive very long. The name was later rented out to circus operators, but it never met with great success. Billy Smart had had the right vision at the right time, and his name remains associated with his vision. Indeed, there will never be another Billy Smart, neither will it be another Billy Smart's New World Circus true to his creator's dream. Somehow, the public knew it...
 ==Suggested Reading==

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 ===Billy Smart's Legacy===
-[[File:Smart_Billy_smart-guvnor.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Billy Smart – The "Guv'nor"]]A man of imposing stature, with his large Stetson hat, his inevitable cigar and his unique flair for self-promotion and publicity, Billy Smart was a colorful character, a generous philanthropist, and a family man with a dry sense of humor who enjoyed a good parade and a rousing brass band&mdash;both of which were indeed prominent features of his circus. On September 25, 1966, Billy Smart was conducting the Romford Boys' Band in front of his mammoth circus tent, which had been set up in the morning at Ipswich for a two-week stand. Several thousand people enjoyed the concert, a typical Billy Smart's publicity stunt. Then he returned to his luxurious "Royal Windsor" caravan for a cup of tea, and collapsed: the Guv'nor, as he was popularly known in his circus, had given his last performance.
+[[File:Smart_Billy_smart-guvnor.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Billy Smart – The "Guv'nor"]]A man of imposing stature, with his large Stetson hat, his inevitable cigar and his unique flair for self-promotion and publicity, Billy Smart was a colorful character, a generous philanthropist, and a family man with a dry sense of humor who enjoyed a good parade and a rousing brass band&mdash;both of which were indeed prominent features of his circus. On September 25, 1966, Billy Smart was conducting the Romford Boys' Band in front of his mammoth circus tent, which had been set up in the morning at Ipswich for a two-week stand. Several thousand people enjoyed the concert, a typical Billy Smart's publicity stunt. Then he returned to his luxurious "Royal Windsor" caravan for a cup of tea, and collapsed: the Guv'nor, as he was popularly known in his circus, had given his last performance.
 Sir Billy Butlin, his old friend from his fairground days, said to the press that Billy Smart "was the greatest showman of his time&mdash;and probably the last of the great showmen." Under the management of his sons, Ronnie, David and Billy, Jr., The Billy Smart's New World Circus survived his founder as a traveling circus for only five years: by 1970, new economic conditions didn't allow a circus to survive on such a gigantic scale in Great Britain, and the giant folded its tents in 1971.

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 === Billy Smart's New World Circus ===
-[[File:Smart_Billy_circus_overhead.jpg|thumb|left|350px|Billy Smart's New Word Circus (c.1960)]]A horse lover since childhood, Billy Smart had long caressed the dream of having his own circus. He saw the perfect opportunity in the spectacular boon the British entertainment industry experienced immediately after WWII. In 1946, he purchased a second-hand circus tent, all the necessary equipment to go with it, and the [[Billy Smart's New World Circus]] became the latest addition to Billy Smart's funfair.
+[[File:Smart_Billy_circus_overhead.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Billy Smart's New Word Circus (c.1960)]]A horse lover since childhood, Billy Smart had long caressed the dream of having his own circus. He saw the perfect opportunity in the spectacular boon the British entertainment industry experienced immediately after WWII. In 1946, he purchased a second-hand circus tent, all the necessary equipment to go with it, and the [[Billy Smart's New World Circus]] became the latest addition to Billy Smart's funfair.
 It gave its first performance on April 5, 1946 at Southall Park, Middlesex. By 1952, the funfair, which had been increasingly overshadowed by the circus, disappeared to leave room for a bona-fide menagerie. Three years later, the two-poler was replaced by a giant 6,000-seat, four-pole, round big top, with a hippodrome track around the ring, in the manner of the old pre-war German giant, [[Circus Sarrasani]], and a vast entrance tent. The hippodrome track allowed the staging of parades, Wild West presentations and spectacles, which became a Billy Smart's Circus trademark.

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 ===Billy Smart's Funfair===
-This was apparently his debut as a showman, although he may have been traveling with his father since early childhood. Billy Smart married his wife, Nelly Rigby, later known as "Doll" or "Dolly," in 1925, and then embarked in his own funfair venture (what Americans call a "carnival"). Success didn't come immediately: at times, he had to moonlight to make ends meet, and on one occasion, his fellow funfair entrepreneur (and future leisure industry magnate), Billy Butlin, helped him out, which resulted in a lifelong friendship.
+[[File:Billy_Smart's_Circus_(1946).jpeg|thumb|left|400px|Billy Smart's Circus and Fun Fair (1946)]]This was apparently his debut as a showman, although he may have been traveling with his father since early childhood. Billy Smart married his wife, Nelly Rigby, later known as "Doll" or "Dolly," in 1925, and then embarked in his own funfair venture (what Americans call a "carnival"). Success didn't come immediately: at times, he had to moonlight to make ends meet, and on one occasion, his fellow funfair entrepreneur (and future leisure industry magnate), Billy Butlin, helped him out, which resulted in a lifelong friendship.
 Hard work paid off however, and by the late 1930s, Billy Smart owned one of Great Britain's most important traveling funfairs, with about ten rides and several other attractions, some of which participated in the spectacular indoor funfair that ran at London's Olympia during the Christmas season in conjunction with [[Bertram Mill's Circus]]. Billy Smart was a true showman: his enterprise was by no means a vulgar carnival, but a well managed operation, with attendants in resplendent uniforms, colorful rides, and brightly painted trucks.

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 Image:Billy_Smart.jpg|Billy Smart in his caravan (c.1960)
 File:Billy_and_Olga_Smart.jpg|Billy Smart and daughter-in-law, Olga Smart (c.1960)
-File:Yasmine_Margaret.jpg|Billy and Yasmine Smart with Princess Margaret (c.1963)
+File:Billy_Smart_with_Princess_Margaret.jpg|Billy Smart with Princess Margaret (1962)
 File:Smart's_elephants.jpg|Elephants on Parade (c.1965)
 File:Billy_Smart_and_kids.jpg|Billy Smart and Kids (c.1965)