Billy Smart's Circus, Paisley, 1960

Cowboys & Indians, Polar Bears and Elephants, a more politically incorrect spectacle is unlikely to be seen again on Greenock Road in Paisley.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• circus
• paisley
• 1960
• 8mm
• cine
• film
• scotland
• billy
• smarts

[mcqueenFAKE]

where id you get this video? My gran has pictures of a parade going up Kirkcaldy High Street in Fife form like way wy back, well there black and white anyway! lol really ae! x

[donaldwh]

My Father took this film using a clockwork (yes wind up) Kodak 8mm cine camera from the window of a friends house in Paisley. I transferred it to video.

[KitChurchward]

@katrina1reading - lol this is my sons account, I didn't realise would post in his name so obviously that doesn't make much sense as the child I was name after was called Sherady

[KitChurchward]

@katrina1reading wow my mum worked for Billy Smarts too, riding the horses and elephants and occasionally helping the high trapeze...I was even named after a little boy from the arabic Tumbling troupe that sadly died in an accident. Its amazing to find a connection out there, my mum was Anne did your parents know her?

[TheBossjock]

@maidofbute I was brought up in Shortroods and also seen many a parade to the Racecourse, probably even this one. I can remember watching them unloading a Circus in the railway siding at St James which I'm sure was the one with Bronco Bill, I'd probably be about 7-8 at the time...Happy Days!. Used to always love the BB parades too, and can you remember the massive Army displays at the Racecouse with all the Trucks & Artillery. Also got some great memories of HMS Sanderling now Glasgow Airport

[DJCossie]

@mcqueenFAKE could you make a Slideshow of the pics and put them on here so we can see them Please

[DJCossie]

do you have any more Videos ?

[maidofbute]

Thanks so much for posting this. I grew up near the Greenock Road in Paisley and I went with my school class to see this circus at the Racecourse. I saw several circuses parade down Greenock Road (including the infamous Bronco Bill's - does anybody else remember them?), but I'm not sure if I saw this particular parade. However, it's a safe bet that I knew some of the weans you can see watching from the pavements. And it was obviously sunny and warm!

[holmsatlarge]

brings back childhood memories.i must have seen this live...we always went to the parade...sometimes we couldn`t go to the circus for lack of funds.

[tom080955]

Wow~I remember these parades when I was a kid there back then...thanks for the memory...appreciated.

[katrina1reading]

Hi, I will find out for you from my mum.