In 1949, Encyclopedia Britannica sent out a team of motion picture cameramen to film the Cole Bros. Circus. Beginning with shots of the train being unloaded, the cameramen obtained footage of the setup, the midway, clown alley, and most of the acts that appeared that year. In order to get good coverage of the performance as it was taking place, at least three cameras were used: one up in the stands, one located next to the center ring, and one in the backyard to obtain some behind-the-scenes shots. I have no information as to when and where the show was playing when the filming took place. (It was probably early in the season, since people can be seen wearing jackets and overcoats.) This footage was edited down into two educational films: CIRCUS DAY IN OUR TOWN and LET’S GO THE CIRCUS. (This was back in the days when the schools still taught a unit on the circus.) Here is the first in a series of frame enlargements that were taken from these two films and combined together. (Buckles will be parceling out more of them over the next few weeks.) With one exception, none of the performers are identified by name in the films’ narrations. However, many of you will recognize who and what is being shown, and your sharing this information with the rest of us will be greatly appreciated. |
Monday, December 31, 2012
1949 Cole Bros. Circus #1 (From Eric Beheim)
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8 comments:
Had any of the railroad shows ever
owned their own power (locomotives)
Other than when Mr John was owner
of several railroads
Doesn't a white flag on the locomotive indicate that this was a "special" that wasn't part of the regular schedule?
No Eric it means "surrender"
Yes Eric a special
Eric,
Yes sir right on as that was an extra or special not regularly scheduled train.
Harry in Texas
The white flags of the Special, in this case, always signalled the circus train. No private concern owning their own cars was allowed by law to own locomotives.
My ardent requests finally booked LET'S GO TO THE CIRCUS for Margaret England's sixth-grade class at Crestview Elementary, in Waco, and I was the hero of the room. ERIC is right. We had circus units--a unit usually ran six weeks of intermittant study--in my school years from first to sixth grade. One year, it was in the weeks before the Beatty show came in. In reflection, I wonder if enterprising publicists generated such interests in school systems? I'll send Buckles my artistic concept of Mr. Beatty from 1951.
Go to AVGEEKS.COM. This and other similar films are avaiable on DVD for around $10. Name of the DVD is "C is for CIRCUS".
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