London’s Screen Archives enables Londoners see their past come alive on film. Managed by Film London, we are a unique network of historic film collections that cares for, collects and screens heritage film across the city. Together we preserve London’s rich film heritage from feature films to home movies, public information films, newsreels, and records of the capital’s many different industries.
This film is part of Free
Post-War Backstage Stables and Ring Scenes, Ascot & Olympia
Hair-combing chimps, performing elephants and a toothsome cheetah feature in this film of the Bertram Mills Circus.
From the collection of:
Overview
This short film of the Bertram Mills Circus mainly features backstage footage, showing animals being fed and trained, including elephants, a chewing cheetah, horses and chimps, one of which simulates combing its hair while looking in a mirror. There are also scenes of horses training in the ring. The Bertram Mills Circus performed each Christmas at Olympia and wintered at Ascot.
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