Billy Smart Jr.
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.
The circus ceased touring in 1971, but televised performances continued until 1983, drawing audiences of up to 22 million at its height.
Smart lost the sight in his right eye in 1978 after cosmetic surgery severed the optic nerve, ending his career as an animal trainer.
1956/7 Billy Smart Sr is the subject of ‘This Is Your Life’, a BBC biography programme, presented by Eamonn Andrews.
Kay Smart guests on 'Desert Island Discs', a BBC Radio biography programme.
Birma, the favourite of the Smart family’s 20 elephants, walks over Jayne Mansfield and Tommy Steele.
1960 'Spinners of the Big Top', devoted to the Billy Smart show and written by Pamela Macgregor Morris, is published.
BBC award Billy Smart’s Circus the 'Silver Camera' for being the first programme ever to attract 20 million viewers.
Mrs Billy Smart Sr receives a standing ovation at charity circus performance staged at The Royal Albert Hall in aid of National Society for Mentally Handicapped Children.
Hollywood actress Joan Crawford joins Billy Smart’s Circus for production of the film ‘Berserk’ and does guest ringmistress appearances.
1967 BBC Two broadcast the first ever colour programme on British television: a special production of Billy Smart's Circus.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II attends Gala TV performance in the Smarts’ Big Top in Windsor.
Performers in this show and other Billy Smart productions, over the years, include Elton John, The Two Ronnies, David Frost, Joan Crawford, Stanley Baker, Jon Pertwee (as Doctor Who), Harry Secombe, Olivia Newton-John, Telly Savalas (Kojak), Bobby Moore (England football captain of world cup winners in 1966), Dorothy Squires, Mike Yarwood, Leo Sayer, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Bruce Forsyth, Lulu, Moira Anderson, Charles Aznavour, Pat Boone, Sacha Distel and David Essex.
1981 The Airey Neave Memorial Trust (https://www.aireyneavetrust.org.uk/) Thames Television Billy Smart’s Variety Show, with contributions, including those of Margaret Thatcher, UK Prime Minister at the time.
Estimated that total of 1 billion+ viewers of Billy Smart’s Circus, in UK and around the world, in 36 years of televised shows.
The Kennedy family spent some time living in this house (in order to avoid the London focused Blitz), during the Second World War, when Joseph Kennedy (JFK’s father) was United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom, from 1938 until late 1940.
In 1969 Princess Margaret (sister of Queen Elizabeth II of England) opens Windsor Safari Park, on behalf of the Smart family.
One time, Smart cousins were singing “Hey Jude” in the ballroom of the main house, when The Beatles, as a surprise, walked in.
1970s On a private visit, Prince Charles (now King Charles III of England) and Prince Andrew (middle son of Queen Elizabeth II of England) visited Windsor Safari Park, to swim with the family killer whale, accompanied by Ward Westley (Gary) Smart (son of Ronald (Ronnie) Smart, eldest brother of Billy Smart Jr).
