Billy Smarts Famous Elephants

This photograph shows the troup of Billy Smarts elephants arriving at the Lime Street station Liverpool in 1970 to commence a walking parade to the circus location. This would happen each arrival Sunday for a given town. ‘Stands’ or days in each town would be one week (in Liverpoor two weeks) and perhaps up to three weeks. There would be no performances on a Sunday.The crouds on this occasion numbered tens of thousands. Note how the elephants paraded without restrictions and a minimal of keepers.