“Circus Day” takes viewers to the Barnum & Bailey Circus at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. This film is actually a revision to an earlier film made by Arthur Barr in 1948, and then re-done nearly completely by Arthur Barr. This remake captures events during the circus’ Aug. 11-Aug. 24, 1965 stop, and opens with a clown putting on make-up at mark 00:35 as he welcomes the viewer to “Clown Alley.” Outside, parents and their children mill about and wait for the afternoon show at the concrete arena. The viewer is reminded the venue is a far cry from the days of a huge canvas tent.
The viewer is provided with the complete story of the circus, being allowed to take in the color and action as well as hearing the sounds. At mark 01:33 footage from the original 1948 production is used in a flashback, as we witness the arrival of the circus train in town (in this instance, footage from a Cole Bros. show and not Barnum & Bailey), followed by the unloading of work horses, wagons, equipment, and show animals — including Indian elephants, bulls, camels, llamas, and zebras — as they begin the journey to the lot.
At mark 06:22, the viewer watches as elephants slowly pull heavy wagons and workers drive hundreds of stakes into the ground in preparation to put up the Big Top. The “king pole,” or main center pole of the Big Top, is erected at mark 07:30 and held in place by guide ropes, followed by the remaining center poles. “One by one, the elephants pulled the heavy poles into the air,” the announcer explains.
Following breakfast the crews are back at work as roll after roll of tent canvas are pulled from the wagons, beginning at mark 09:25, as elephants are again put to work alongside their human counterparts. With the Big Top finally in place at mark 11:25, the crews — human and elephant alike — are given an opportunity to rest before the camera takes us to the Midway, “the front door to the big show,” at mark 12:00 as a circus barker does his thing. Circus fans (and the viewer) pass through the menagerie tent starting at mark 12:50 as caged animals peer through their bars. And then, at mark 13:30, the circus trumpeter signals it is time for the show while in the “backyard” clowns hurry to finish putting on their unique individual make-up and costumes as animals are led to the performance. By mark 15:15, the show has started as the camera captures the action not only in the center of the Big Top but also the squeals of excitement from spectators. “The circus is still the greatest show on Earth,” the film’s clown host concludes.
