Billy Smart Jr. (born Stanley Smart, 15 October 1934 – 23 May 2005) was a British circus performer and impresario.
Billy Smart Jr. (born Stanley Smart, 15 October 1934 – 23 May 2005) was a British circus performer and impresario.
Smart, whose given name was Stanley (but, as his eldest brother, Billy Jr, died prematurely, was known as Billy Jr from childhood, eventually changing his name, from Stanley to Billy, by deed poll, in 1977), was the tenth (and youngest) surviving child and third surviving son of Billy Smart Sr.
Billy Smart Jr 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. At other times, Smart was educated by tutors in a mobile classroom.
The first appearance of the Billy Smart's Circus was on 5 April at Southall Park in Middlesex. The circus toured alongside Smart's funfair.
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, with up to 20 elephants 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 (it is now the site of Legoland Windsor).
Smart 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.
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 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.
1946
1940s/1950s
1950
1951
1952
1953
1955
1956
1956/7
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1965
1966
1967
1968
1970
1971
1977
1978
1980
1981
1983
1986
1965/66
1970s
1977
