Big Top, The. [1951 September]
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Hills Bros. Coffee, Inc.
setName: label: See more items in
content: Hills Bros. Coffee Company, Incorporated Records
label: See more items in
content: Hills Bros. Coffee Company, Incorporated Records / Series 13: Audiovisual Materials / 13.1: Moving Images / 13.1.2: Television Programs
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 2 Film reels (16mm black and white composite optical track print (kinescope) , 16mm, R1: 1000 feet, R2: 1000 feet)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1951-09
container: label: Container
content: Reel OF 395.5-1
label: Container
content: Reel OF 395.5-2
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Moving Images [31983000017392]
label: Type
content: Moving Images [31983000017400]
label: Type
content: Film reels
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: Broadcast: September 1, 1951 produced at WCAU - TV through the CBS Television Network.
                  
Sponsored by Sealtest
                  
Credits:

Ringmaster - Jack Sterling

Script - Robert Forrest

Director - Paul Ritts

Producer - Charles Vanda

Performers - Ed McMahon (clown)

Chris (Laffy) Keegen (clown)

This program is a kinescope recording of a one hour, live broadcast of Sealtest's BIG TOP, a regional program that was broadcast (nationwide) on Saturdays (in September 1951 it was broadcast live from 12:00 to 1:00). Sponsored by Sealtest, this program is essentially a few circus acts framed by numerous commercials for Sealtest products. This particular episode was a "salute to the Scouts," so the studio audience was comprised primarily of Boy Scout troops who parade around the studio at the opening of the show including at least one African-American troop. 

Circus acts include a trampoline act; the Edwards Brothers, a balancing act; Professor (?), a wild animal trainer; a juggler; a female aerial act; an Olympic gymnast; and a clown act Several things about the series and this particular episode are of interest. During the middle of the program the Ringmaster promotes TV Great Circus Show: The Big Top Comic Book, a companion comic book sold at newsstands and produced by Al Capp (of Mad Magazine fame). During the wild animal routine it is possible to see that cameras and camera men at work shooting the program. This segment includes excellent scenes of cameras in use.

For more information about THE BIG TOP series see Children's Television Part II, The First 35 Years, 1946-1981.