 Buckles,Here's a great interior view of the Chipperfield tent from the 1953-55period. As a youngster, when I got Pamela Macgregor-Morris' book"Chipperfields' Circus" shortly after its 1957 appearance, this picture from that book always impressed me. Some years later in 1997 David Jamieson published a thorough history of the show (and to theCorgi models) titled "Chipperfields Circus." This size tent was designed by Jimmy Chipperfield, Jim Stockley's grandfather, and first used for the 1953 season. It had 8 main poles each 67 feet high in four pairs, and 12 subsidiary ones (in additionto the quarter poles) and seated 6000 people. The Roman Spectacle was a principal feature utilizing the large hippodrome track with Georgie Scott and Harry Stebbings doing roman riding followed by four two-horse charioteers racing round the ring in grand style. Longtime World's Fair correspondent Don Stacey has noted that Chipperfields in this period was far bigger than either Bertram Mills (which still remained the polished, quality show of Britain, however) or Billy Smarts and rivalled anything on the continent including the big shows of Krone and Franz Althoff in Germany. With Jimmy Chipperfield's departure in mid-season 1955, the hippodrome track and races were abandoned and the big 20-pole tent seen in this photo came to an end.Dick FlintBaltimore  |
Thursday, May 10, 2007
From Richard Flint
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8 comments:
What an awesome big top. During one of my family's tours with Circo Atayde in Mexico, I recall showing in a top the same size as in the photo. Dark blue,eight masts and bridle the peaks.It was the largest
canvas top I had worked in or have seen. Hank Luick worked, I believe Betrum Mills tiger act also a gent by the name of Jouhsff Underlick quite the camel trainer. He also worked the elephants. Another gent that went by the name of Alan Alan did an straight jacket tied up with chian pulled up to the top of the tent on a piece of rope that was set on fire escape act. Quite a number at that time. The show had two flying acts and three troups of tetterboard acts. Also the Great Alzana high wire act. The large show I was told only remained that size during the larger citys.The show was cut back on the whole season.It would have been 69 or 70.
WOW - & 1953 makes sence.
" The Pinnacle " of the CIRCUS ARENA to me .
from: Jim Stockley
Hi Richard,
Thanks for this picture.
Jimmy Chipperfield was my Uncle, (not my Grandfather)being my Mother's brother ;-)
My Mum & Dad met during WW2, Uncle Jim was a pilot in the RAF and my Dad flew with him as his navigator (in two seater Mosquitoes). After the war Dad ran away and joined the circus !
To Jim Stockley,
My apologies! For an historian, its embarrassing to admit to such a careless error! I was looking at David Jamieson's book with the family tree and as the line for the same generation makes a jog across the double page spread, it angles down to have room for listing all the family. I carelessly saw that as a change in generations! And I did this on top of the confusion with the two Jamie's!
So glad you and other Chipperfield descendants are regular contributors! Never thought I'd learn so much about hyenas!
Dick Flint
Baltimore
I worked for a few producers who were "half-hyena", does that count for anything?
Mike,
Was that because they were Jackals,closely related to hyenas?
or laughed like hyenas ?
Or were hermaphrodite-like ? LOL
On second thought those producers were neither Hyena NOR Jackal, because those animals have warm blood and a heart. My apologies for insulting those animals.
hi there, I am writing a book on the largest tents in the world and would be grateful for information, specifications and photos of both the Chipperfields 'Big Show' 20 pole tent of 1953 and 1954 as well as any info on the Ringling Brothers big tents of the 1950's.
Thank you - Rudi Enos
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