1948 Cole Bros. Circus #1 (From Eric Beheim)

In 1948, the Cole Bros. Circus appeared in yet another informational film intended for use in the classroom. Entitled CIRCUS DAY, it was produced by Barr Films (a Los Angeles-based outfit) with the filming taking place in Pasadena. Augmenting the Cole Bros. footage were some additional scenes filmed on the Clyde Beatty Circus, presumably that same year and on the same lot. During filming, sound recording equipment was used to obtain “on location” audio of the train being unloaded, the big top being set up, conversations going on inside the dining tent, the sideshow band playing on the midway, the big top band playing during the performance, etc. By the late 1960’s, many children were more familiar with circuses that appeared inside sports arenas, so the film had to be updated. While the 1948 footage was retained, a new narration track explained that it showed how circuses were “back then.” A few years ago, Buckles posted a few “thumbnail” frame enlargements from this film, which showed the train being unloaded. Here is a more complete look at CIRCUS DAY, and this time the frame enlargements are bigger and the color has been restored back to its original appearance. Many of you are familiar with both the Cole Bros. and the Clyde Beatty circuses from the late 1940s, and your comments as to who and what we are seeing (and which scenes were filmed on which circus) will be greatly appreciated by the rest of us.