Cole Brothers Circus Film "Circus Day in Our Town" 50844 (1949)

Synopsis

This 1949 black and white film about the Cole Brothers Circus arrival, setup, and show in a town is presented by Encyclopaedia Britannica Films Inc. A group of boys and men in 1940s clothing watches the Cole Bros. Circus train arrive (:03-:18). A horse is unloaded from a boxcar. A cart of tent poles is unloaded (:19-:41). Elephants leave the boxcar, with a head close-up (:42-:58). Men ride elephants through town. The wagon and elephants arrive at the field. An elephant pulls ropes to bring the center pole for the Big Top upright. (:59- 1:42 ). Men use mallets to pound in large tent stakes; a machine is also used ( 1:43 - 2:03 ). A group and an elephant unroll tent canvases. The men lace canvas pieces together ( 2:04 - 2:48 ). A crowd mingles. A man holds a child out to touch an elephant’s trunk ( 2:49 - 2:57 ). The canvas rises as an elephant pulls the ropes. The tent is fully deployed, including an American flag. The ‘Greatest Circus on Earth’ tent sign is raised. ( 2:58 - 3:44 ). A heavily decorated steam calliope plays at the Midway. A barker invites people to watch the side shows. Men, women, and children in 1940s clothing listen ( 3:45 - 4:17 ). The acts include Professor Browne’s Minstrel Jubilee and a sword swallower. Men with cigarette’s dangling out of their mouths and boys buy tickets ( 4:18 - 4:42 ). Clown costumes hang on a rack. A man in a suit and tie changes and applies clown makeup. Clowns put on makeup and apply big red noses. They enter the Big Top. A band…

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Details

Running time

14 minutes

Collection

Ephemeral Films

Subjects on the Internet Archive

• Stock Footage

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