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Billy Smart Jr. (born Stanley Smart, 15 October 1934 – 23 May 2005) was a British circus performer and impresario.


Biography

Smart, whose real name was Stanley, was the tenth child and third son of
Billy Smart Sr. William George Smart Sr. (25 April 1894 – 25 September 1966) was a British showman, fairground proprietor and circus proprietor, the founder and owner of Billy Smart's Circus. Biography Born in London, Billy Smart was one of 23 children in a ...
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. 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 Guernsey (; Guernésiais: ''Guernési''; french: Guernesey) is an island in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy that is part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, a British Crown Dependency. It is the second largest of the Channel Islands ...
Zoo, selling it in 1972, and opened
Windsor Safari Park Windsor Safari Park was a popular family attraction built on St Leonard's Hill on the outskirts of the town of Windsor in Berkshire, England; it has since been converted into the site of Legoland Windsor. Billed as "The African Adventure", the ...
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 Plastic surgery is a surgical specialty involving the restoration, reconstruction or alteration of the human body. It can be divided into two main categories: reconstructive surgery and cosmetic surgery. Reconstructive surgery includes craniofa ...
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

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 Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and List of cities in Oceania by population, Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metro ...
, 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



(" BFI Screenonline: Big Top Variety Show (1979-1982))

(" The Daily Telegraph, The Telegraph", Billy Smart and Savoy Connection)


Obituaries


Obituary
('' The Guardian'', 24 May 2005)
Obituary
('' The Daily Telegraph, The Telegraph'', 24 May 2005)
Obituary
('' The Times'', 24 May 2005)

("
The Herald Scotland ''The Herald'' is a Scottish broadsheet newspaper founded in 1783. ''The Herald'' is the longest running national newspaper in the world and is the eighth oldest daily paper in the world. The title was simplified from ''The Glasgow Herald'' in ...
", 24 May 2005


External links


Billy Smart's CircusBilly Smart Sr. in ''Circopedia''Only Circus attended by a reigning monarch
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smart, Billy Jr. 1934 births 2005 deaths Deaths from lung cancer British entertainers Circus owners