The North East Film Archive is one of a network of regional film archives established to collect, preserve and show film made in, or about the North East of England. Our collections are non-fiction, and date from the early 1900s to the present day, providing a rich record of life in the region over the 20th century. Many of our films are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
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Circus Comes to Town: Carnival Days at Boldon
A Wild West Show, big cats and little clowns lure South Shields folk to Billy Smarts Circus and juvenile jazz bands play for the crowds and carnival queen at Boldon.
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Overview
There’s a glorious promise of circus sawdust, glitter and adventure on the murky streets of South Shields in May as Billy Smarts arrives with a pistol-packing Wild West Show, clown posse and exotic menagerie of decorated zebras, elephants, camels and Highland cattle. In the pit villages of Boldon a carnival showcases a magnificent parade of North East juvenile jazz bands and the mock wedding of a colliery king and queen.
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