The Circus Comes to Town

Series

Series Name

Rhodesian Spotlight

Issue

Issue No.

53

Length of issue (in feet)

956

Stories in this Issue:

1. 1Farming on the Mkushi Block
2. 2Operation Air-Drop
3. 3Parishioners Build Own Church
4. 4The Circus Comes to Town
5. 5Search for Radio-ACtive Minerals

Story

Story No. within this Issue

4 / 5

Summary

Rhodesian Spotlight synopsis: Wilkies Continental Circus Visits Lusaka.
Rhodesian Spotlight Commentary - After its successful South African Tour, a super Continental circus arrived at Lusaka, and Jumbo the dancing elephant was first to trumpet a welcome inviting us to visit the "Big Top". Followed by cheering children, Wilkies famous horses were led into the huge tent that had sprung up like a magic giant mushroom. Very soon a big crowd gathered clamouring for admission, and inevitably there were those who just naturally found their own way in.
The tiger act was packed with thrills ... especially as the audience were aware that one of the great cats had had a taste of human flesh when the Circus arrived at Ndola. An African, trying to retrieve a coin from the tiger cage was badly bitten in the arm by "Delilah", temperamental star of the act.
The interested crowd of spectators had enough spectacle to last them until the return visit of their great organisation. A thrill suspence was felt when the aerialists flew through the air with a dizzying height between the frail swinging bar and the hard saw-dust below. And then an air of expectation as Leon Rousseau prepared for his death-defying "Dive-of-Death".
At last Jumbo joined the act with two stooges. An amazing mountain of flesh moving around with the grace of a ballet-dancer. A great thrill for the kids as trainer Joe Barry orders the elephant to mount the pedestal and do a Rock ‘n’ Roll. Yes, a wonderful evening crammed with entertainment ... as always when we drop in to join the fun under the "Big Top".

Keywords

Entertainment and leisure; Animals; Performing arts

Written sources

Movietone boxfile no.1   Used for synopsis

Credits:

Production Co.

Central African Film Unit

This series is held by:

Film Archive

Name

British Film Institute (BFI)

Email

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Phone

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Fax

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Address

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Notes

The BFI National Archive also preserves the original nitrate film copies of British Movietone News, British Paramount News, Empire News Bulletin, Gaumont British News, Gaumont Graphic, Gaumont Sound News and Universal News (the World War II years are covered by the Imperial War Museum).

Series held

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