Poster
1949 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Cody’s Continental Circus and Zoo was founded around 1942 by the versatile circus performer, clown, ringmaster and broadcaster Harry Coady (1905-1971), born in 1905 at Airdrie, Scotland, into a fairground family. He joined Biddall’s Circus aged 17, worked in boxing booths and in 1934 married Doris ‘Dolly’ Sloan whose mother was a member of the Yelding Irish circus family that used the professional name Sloan. Doris Sloan, who also had a comedy zebra act, appears on this poster as Rosita, performing with Jocko: ‘the world’s cleverest monkey’ who Coady insured for £1,000. Harry Coady is billed as ‘Harry Cody Britain’s most versatile clown’, and always used this spelling of his name in association with his circus.
Having sold his first big top to Billy Smart in 1944, Coady bought a new big top in 1945 and billed his show as Cody’s Continental Circus and Zoo. He gave up his circus in 1960 but revived his knife throwing and sharp-shooting act later and returned to clowning in winter 1970/1971 with the Robert Brothers circus and in early 1971 with Circus Markus.
Having sold his first big top to Billy Smart in 1944, Coady bought a new big top in 1945 and billed his show as Cody’s Continental Circus and Zoo. He gave up his circus in 1960 but revived his knife throwing and sharp-shooting act later and returned to clowning in winter 1970/1971 with the Robert Brothers circus and in early 1971 with Circus Markus.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Printed ink on paper |
| Brief description | Poster advertising Cody's Colossal Continental Circus and Zoo, Knowle, 1949 |
| Physical description | Photographic and typographic. The image is a photograph of Harry Cody in top hat, white bow tie and white gloves, a carnation in his buttonhole. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Object history | Associated Production: Cody's Circus. Performers: Forest Bred Lions presented by Madame Bernett; Carino's Amazing Dogs, Monkeys and Gees; The Flying Biddalls; Jocko 'the World's Greatest Monkey' presented by Rosita; 5 Liberty Horses presented by D. Bentley Equestrian Director; Spuds the Funny Clown; 3 See-Saw Ponies; Clare and Mario on the Flying Trapeze; Phil Joey Wlliams 'the Children's Favourite Clown'; Jolly Jack and Partner; Darty the Continental Clown; Trigger 'Britain's wonder horse' presented by H. Cody; Olly the Unrideable Mule; the American Riding Machine; Harry Cody 'Britain's most versatile clown comedian'; Millicent 'the Lovely Ballerina of the Circus'), the 4 Anzacs 'the World's Greatest Riders'; the 5 Internationals (trampolinists). Leinster Avenue Field, Knowle. 15.5.1949-16.5.1949. Performance category: circus, zoo. In small type the circus is advertised as having: 'an array of artistes from Bertram Mills' Circus, Tower Circus, Blackpool, Moss' and Stolls' Theatres etc'. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Cody’s Continental Circus and Zoo was founded around 1942 by the versatile circus performer, clown, ringmaster and broadcaster Harry Coady (1905-1971), born in 1905 at Airdrie, Scotland, into a fairground family. He joined Biddall’s Circus aged 17, worked in boxing booths and in 1934 married Doris ‘Dolly’ Sloan whose mother was a member of the Yelding Irish circus family that used the professional name Sloan. Doris Sloan, who also had a comedy zebra act, appears on this poster as Rosita, performing with Jocko: ‘the world’s cleverest monkey’ who Coady insured for £1,000. Harry Coady is billed as ‘Harry Cody Britain’s most versatile clown’, and always used this spelling of his name in association with his circus. Having sold his first big top to Billy Smart in 1944, Coady bought a new big top in 1945 and billed his show as Cody’s Continental Circus and Zoo. He gave up his circus in 1960 but revived his knife throwing and sharp-shooting act later and returned to clowning in winter 1970/1971 with the Robert Brothers circus and in early 1971 with Circus Markus. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.233-1994 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | July 23, 2010 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSON
