Research Catalog

Title

[Circus scenes] [videorecording].

Publication

[between 1957 and 1959]

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Nimura, Yeichi, 1897-1979.
• Kelly, Emmett, 1898-1979.
• Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Combined Shows.
• Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus.

Description

1 videodisc (NTSC) (11 min.) : si., col.; 4 3/4 in.

Summary

• Compilation of three film reels on a single videodisc, containing excerpts of various circus acts. Some are glimpsed for only a few seconds, and others were filmed under low lighting; also, there is a double exposure of fireworks at the beginning of Reel 1. Yeichi Nimura, who frequently coached performers in "Oriental" movement, may have coached the dance in Japanese costume on Reel 1. As a well-regarded teacher and a founder of the Ballet Arts studio in New York City, he also had many acquaintances in the dance world, and colleagues or students may be associated with these films as performers or creative staff.
• Reel 1 (4 min.): performing elephants (40 sec.); a female dance ensemble in pink and white Japanese kimono, with female aerialists in green spinning on ropes above them (1 min.); a performing pony and dogs (25 sec.). The kimono-clad number may be Cherry Blossom Time, described in Billboard's Apr. 13, 1957 review of the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus at Madison Square Garden, New York City.
• Reel 2 (4 min.): a pair of musicians on unicycles, accompanied by a female dancer; a white-clad couple spinning on an elevated platform, who may be the roller skaters Bob Top and Lauren (35 sec.); a parade of performers, costumed animals, and floats, apparently depicting nursery rhyme themes, around an onion-domed castle (2 1/2 min.). The last may be the Mother Goose Coronation Parade described in Billboard's Apr. 13, 1957 review of the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus at Madison Square Garden, New York City, which also included performances by Bob Top and Lauren.
• Reel 3 (3 min.): brief glimpse of a clown, possibly Emmett Kelly; a red-clad female juggler, part of a group (55 sec.); performing horses, accompanied by female dancers with feather fans (2 min.); performing chimpanzees. Also seen in brief glimpses are trampoline artists; various aerialists; tightrope walkers; acrobats. The Clyde Beatty and Cole Brothers Combined Circus, which performed at Palisades Amusement Park in Cliffside Park, New Jersey, in March 1959, included performances by Emmett Kelly.

Donor/Sponsor

Bequest of the Estate of Lisan Kay Nimura.

Series Statement

Yeichi and Lisan Kay Nimura Collection

Alternative Title

[Circus scenes]

Subject

• Circus
• Aerialists
• Circus performers
• Clowns
• Circus animals

Genre/Form

• Dance.
• Video.

Note

• Title supplied by cataloger.

Event (note)

• Recorded in 1957 and/or 1959.

Funding (note)

• Processing and cataloging made possible by the Estate of Lisan Kay Nimura.

System Details (note)

• DVD, transferred from 16mm film.

Source (note)

• Estate of Lisan Kay Nimura;

Call Number

*MGZIDVD 5-5703

OCLC

706826011

Title

[Circus scenes] [videorecording].

Imprint

[between 1957 and 1959]

Country of Producing Entity

U.S.

Series

Yeichi and Lisan Kay Nimura Collection

System Details

DVD, transferred from 16mm film.

Event

Recorded in 1957 and/or 1959.

Funding

Processing and cataloging made possible by the Estate of Lisan Kay Nimura.

Source

Gift; Estate of Lisan Kay Nimura; Sept. 2007. NN-PD

Added Author

Nimura, Yeichi, 1897-1979. Teacher

Kelly, Emmett, 1898-1979. Performer

Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Combined Shows.

Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus.

Added Title

[Circus scenes]

Research Call Number

*MGZIDVD 5-5703