The history of the travelling circus like that of travelling fairs has a long and intriguing history.
In Devon, the annual circus visits played a vital role in bringing the exotic outside world into the lives of the pre-television and cinema populations of rural communities. Perhaps the most well-known was Chipperfield’s circus. Another big name in the field was Sangers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chipperfield%27s_Circus
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_George_Sanger
Wild West Shows had some similarities but were often more extravagant and minus the white-faced clowns, who scared many of children despite their slap-stick humour.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_West_shows
Buffalo Bill’s Wild West toured Europe eight times, the first four tours between 1887 and 1892, and the last four from 1902 to 1906.
From a Devonshire perspective the Wild West Shows did leave a lasting legacy in Okehampton. The Electric Picture Palace was the first picture house in Okehampton, which opened in 1911. The owner and founder was Billy Ezard, who had performed in Wild West shows. His story is quite remarkable as this article published (and reproduced for Educational purposes only) in the Tavistock Times Gazette https://www.tavistock-today.co.uk/news/a-real-live-cowboy-came-to-okehampton-365378 shows:
“The decision by Okehampton Town Council to look to convert the market hall into a cinema has attracted controversy but if the scheme were to go ahead, it would not be the first time films have been shown in the hall. There are echoes of the remarkable story of Billy Ezard, a real Wild West cowboy who opened a cinema in the market hall with authority by the then Okehampton Borough Council back in the pioneering days of moving pictures in 1911. The proviso was that Billy could not use it on a Saturday, as the hall had to be available for the popular market. Billy Ezard was born in Bury in 1883, but by the age of ten was working in a factory. At eleven, he became a cabinet maker, but wanderlust saw him run away to join a circus. Still aged only eleven, he emigrated on his own to America. Using his initiative, he went to a labour bureau and got a job in Manitoba, looking after a shanty and cooking for the men. Promotion was swift and by the age of 12, he was a ploughman with four horses working from the break of day through to sunset and all for sixty dollars a year, little enough even in those days. He succeeded at a number of other jobs, before obtaining work as a cowboy. It was in this capacity that the legendary Buffalo Bill offered him a job at his Long Rest Ranch in Wyoming. He was so good that Buffalo Bill selected the young man for his Wild West Circus, where he was one of the rough-riders. When the show came to England, Billy returned to his homeland but decided to leave the circus party, and instead concentrate on appearing in pantomime, music hall and concerts, where his cowboy skills were much in demand. Billy’s one dream, however, was the new medium of motion pictures and he was determined to open a picture palace. He chanced upon Okehampton and liked the area so much, he decided the town would be the ideal place for this venture. In 1911, still aged only 28, he achieved his dream and opened the Electric Picture Palace at the market hall. There were two-hour performances every weekday with a change of programmes each Monday and Thursday. The bills advertised a show of pictures equal to anything in London. A bigger attraction than the movies perhaps was the chance to see a real-life American cowboy in full dress. Every Tuesday and Friday night, Billy would appear in full attire, complete with his Colt revolver. However, despite the popularity of Billy Ezard and the interest in the exciting new world of cinema, the determined speculator could not make it a success, and the Electric Picture Palace was quickly consigned to history.”
Circus Bim Bom launches March 1. – Cliff Lovette’s thriller is on a much grander scale than a typical circus, but it does focus on the way in which the circus could act as a catalyst for change and intrigue. The author explains that Circus Bim Bom is, “A Cold War Adventure Based on a True Story: In 1990, a privately owned Soviet circus toured America as the Soviet Empire collapsed behind them.”
Cliff Lovette’s debut novel brings this true story to life, “ with an ensemble of acrobats, clowns, and animal trainers caught between worlds. The book features 45+ embedded YouTube links to period music and footage, plus a companion website with animated character avatars and an interactive media hub.”
See the Press Train: https://bimbombookclub.com/media
The Author’s Edition paperback is available now (signed bookplate, circus poster, free virtual book club membership + exclusive bonus content): https://books.by/bim-bom-books
Cliff Lovette –Author Circus Bim Bom: A Cold War Adventure links:
Review links: https://bimbombookclub.com/reviews
Circus Bim Bom: The Great Escape: due late 2026
