Ref NoPRG/TWV/6
CollectionTerry Weatherley Collection
TitleBertram Mills Circus programme
Date1955-1956
Extent1 item
DescriptionOne programme for Bertram Mills Circus, for their 29th season at the Olympia between 20 Dec 1955 and 04 Feb 1956. The programme includes a foreword by Richard Dimbleby, then blurbs and images of the different acts interspersed with advertisements. The order of the acts is as follows: Parade (A dazzling cavalcade that strikes the keynote of the Show and introduces the Circus world's leading personalities) -- The clowns (Hullo, hullo--here they are again! The clowns make their bow in a whirlwind extravaganza of eccentricity) -- The Argentine express (Just the sort of 10 h.p. model to five the driver a real kick) -- The Mathurins (Madness on the mess-deck! A pair of moonstruck matelots with a new line in humpsti-bumpsti table manners) -- Bennewis sealions ("Oliver Twists" of the animal world! Maybe this is the reason why we hear there's a herring shortage) -- Schaefer's midgets (Pygmy ponies match the midget folk in three charming presentations (a) Ponies at Liberty, (b) High School Pony, (c) Roman Gladiators -- The mascotts (Two attractive sisters with a whole repertoire of topsy-turvy notions on how to get from Point A to Point B) -- Dany Renz (Did Robin Hood really ride around Sherwood Forest on a rosinback? We doubt it--too many low branches) -- Reco and May (The hobo on the wire whose trip-happy antics play havoc with his lady friend's nerves) -- Knie's high school elephant and horse (Sandry the Educated Elephant is determined to prove that for once brain and brawn can be combined) -- Alex Kerr and his mixed wild animal group (Trainer and pupil get their heads together... A titbit of gossip? No, a choice morsel of meat) -- The two Ortons (The next time you get interference on your T.V. you'll know it's the sparrows doing Ortobatics on the aerial) -- The Arriola family (Fleet footwork and explosive charm characterise these talented trampolinists from sunny Spain) -- Kruse's elephant revue (The outsize babies in this team have a gift for covering their impudence with an even more outsize innocence) -- Schaefer's midgets (A trio of Lilliputian enchantments comprising (a) Cycling stars in miniature, (b) Scenes from the original "Snow White," (c) Sevres porcelain brought to life -- Coco and co. (Coco and Alby get jobs as nightwatchmen at a slightly haunted castle) -- Fredy Knie's 12 Lippizana horses (Rhythm, beauty and high spirits culminating in some of the classic leaps for which the Lippizana breed is famous) -- Sonny Moore's roustabouts (Organised chaos--maybe! Anyhow the dogs have got Sonny just where they want him) -- The flying Sylvests (Five intrepid space-fliers who specialise in a skilful blend of thrills and humour) -- Lenz' boxing chimpanzees (Light-hearted angle on the Big Fight. It looks as if the verdict's a K.O.--for the Ref). Finally, there is an article about the Betram Mills chimpanzees.
SubjectAnimals
Entertainment
Clowns
PhysicalDescription21 x 18.5 cm pamphlet comprising nine sheets folded and stapled together; in colour. In fair condition.
ArrangementChronological
Related OrganisationOlympia
Betram Mills Circus Ltd.
Related PlaceLondon
CategoryProgrammes (circus)
Access conditionsThis material is available for consultation at the University of Kent's Special Collections & Archives reading room, Templeman Library, University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NU (specialcollections@kent.ac.uk).
LevelItem
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