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Home Movie Robbins Brothers Circus Parade & Raising the Big Top Ringling Brothers Xd14764 (1938)

1938 · Short film · 17 min

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Synopsis

This silent, 1938 black and white and color mixed home movie footage depicts operations of the Robbins Brothers Circus including a promotional parade, livestock unloading, and raising a big top tent (TRT 17:22). Around the time the film was shot, the Robbins Brothers Circus merged with Cole Brothers and both eventually became part of the Ringling Brothers Circus. A poster advertises Robbins Bros. Circus (0:08). A circus wagon is wheeled along the bed of a railroad train car labeled “Robbins Bros. 3 Ring Circus” (0:13). Two horses pull another wagon and unload it from the train (0:28). Horses trot past onlookers (1:00). A wagon hauling tentpoles is unloaded (1:20). Workmen ridge a group of ponies from right to left. Children follow (1:33). Full view panning across painted circus train cars: “World’s Premiere Amusement” with “Hoot Gibson, The Screen’s Most Popular Western Star” (1:42). Animal trainers lead a group of 10 elephants into formation outdoors. Feeding Time. The elephants eat hay (1:55). Workmen take turns hammering stakes into the ground with mallets (2:46). A team of men spread and shake out the circus tent (3:22). A zebra grazes (3:43). Punched holes (3:54). A team of horses pull wagons (3:59). A calliope circus wagon decorated ornately with golden lions (4:18). A patriotic “United States” wagon display with stars, stripes, swords, and a heraldic eagle (4:26). Men and horses stand under a raised tent. Hanging laundry, bales of hay. Washing in a bucket. (4:37).…

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Details

Running time
17 minutes
Collection
Ephemeral Films

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