Smart, whose real name was Stanley, was the tenth child and third son of Billy Smart Sr. His father was a showman and fairground proprietor, who bought a circus in 1946. He would travel with the Circus and go to local schools when at a location for a lengthy period. One school was 'All Saints' at Blackheath, London in 1958, the heath being a regular location for the circus. The first appearance of the Billy Smart circus was on 5 April at Southall Park in Middlesex.[1] The circus toured alongside Smart's funfair; the tents blew down and the circus carried out its performances for two days in the open air. Smart made his circus debut with "Billy Smart's New World Circus" as assistant ringmaster aged 12. He was soon performing with ponies and horses, but became best known later for his elephant acts. In one famous incident, he tamed a herd of performing elephants when they stampeded in the ring. At its peak, Billy Smart's four-masted Big Top could hold over 6,000 people, with a show including hundreds of animals and performers.
Smart, together with his brothers, Ronald Smart and David Smart, took over management of the circus when their father died in 1966 at Ipswich. The circus ceased touring in 1971, but televised performances continued until 1983, drawing audiences of up to 22 million at its height. The Smart Brothers also developed GuernseyZoo, selling it in 1972, and opened Windsor Safari Park in 1969 before selling it in 1977, for the equivalent of £30m in 2017 (it is now the site of Legoland Windsor). He lost the sight in his right eye in 1978 after cosmetic surgery severed the optic nerve, ending his career as an animal trainer.
In 1985, the Smart circus Winkfield winter quarters were sold for the equivalent of £20m in 2017.
The "Billy Smart's" touring circus was revived by his brother Ronald and nephew Gary in 1993, but Smart concentrated on a second career as a property developer, based in Spain.
In popular cultureedit
In the Netherlands, Billy Smart was known for the annual "Billy Smart's Kinderkerstcircus" ("Billy Smart's Children Christmas Circus") TV broadcast. Dutch singer Fay Lovsky listed Billy Smart in her 1981 hit "Christmas Was A Friend of Mine" as one of her favourite Christmas traditions.
"Circus of Horrors" (1960), directed by Sydney Hayers, was filmed in Billy Smarts Circus. In the picture, it was called the "Schuler" circus. It was used in the film Berserk! (1967), starring Joan Crawford and Diana Dors. In the movie the circus was called the Great Rivers Circus.
billy, smart, born, stanley, smart, october, 1934, 2005, british, circus, performer, impresario, billy, smart, circus, cambridge, 2004, contents, biography, popular, culture, references, obituaries, external, linksbiography, edit, nbsp, grave, peter, church, c. Billy Smart Jr born Stanley Smart 15 October 1934 23 May 2005 was a British circus performer and impresario The Big Top of Billy Smart s Circus Cambridge 2004 Contents 1 Biography 2 In popular culture 3 References 3 1 Obituaries 4 External linksBiography edit nbsp Grave of Billy Smart Jr at St Peter s Church Cranbourne Berkshire Smart whose real name was Stanley was the tenth child and third son of Billy Smart Sr His father was a showman and fairground proprietor who bought a circus in 1946 He would travel with the Circus and go to local schools when at a location for a lengthy period One school was All Saints at Blackheath London in 1958 the heath being a regular location for the circus The first appearance of the Billy Smart circus was on 5 April at Southall Park in Middlesex 1 The circus toured alongside Smart s funfair the tents blew down and the circus carried out its performances for two days in the open air Smart made his circus debut with Billy Smart s New World Circus as assistant ringmaster aged 12 He was soon performing with ponies and horses but became best known later for his elephant acts In one famous incident he tamed a herd of performing elephants when they stampeded in the ring At its peak Billy Smart s four masted Big Top could hold over 6 000 people with a show including hundreds of animals and performers Smart together with his brothers Ronald Smart and David Smart took over management of the circus when their father died in 1966 at Ipswich The circus ceased touring in 1971 but televised performances continued until 1983 drawing audiences of up to 22 million at its height The Smart Brothers also developed Guernsey Zoo selling it in 1972 and opened Windsor Safari Park in 1969 before selling it in 1977 for the equivalent of 30m in 2017 it is now the site of Legoland Windsor He lost the sight in his right eye in 1978 after cosmetic surgery severed the optic nerve ending his career as an animal trainer In 1985 the Smart circus Winkfield winter quarters were sold for the equivalent of 20m in 2017 The Billy Smart s touring circus was revived by his brother Ronald and nephew Gary in 1993 but Smart concentrated on a second career as a property developer based in Spain In popular culture editIn the Netherlands Billy Smart was known for the annual Billy Smart s Kinderkerstcircus Billy Smart s Children Christmas Circus TV broadcast Dutch singer Fay Lovsky listed Billy Smart in her 1981 hit Christmas Was A Friend of Mine as one of her favourite Christmas traditions Circus of Horrors 1960 directed by Sydney Hayers was filmed in Billy Smarts Circus In the picture it was called the Schuler circus It was used in the film Berserk 1967 starring Joan Crawford and Diana Dors In the movie the circus was called the Great Rivers Circus References edit Billy Smart Jnr The Stage 1 BFI Screenonline Big Top Variety Show 1979 1982 2 The Telegraph Billy Smart and Savoy Connection Obituaries edit Obituary The Guardian 24 May 2005 Obituary The Telegraph 24 May 2005 Obituary The Times 24 May 2005 3 The Herald Scotland 24 May 2005External links editBilly Smart s Circus Billy Smart Sr in Circopedia Only Circus attended by a reigning monarch Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Billy Smart Jr amp oldid 1214523393, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
