An amateur film that records the arrival of Billy Smart's Circus in South Shields and street carnivals taking place at Boldon. The circus parade shows a number of the acts which will perform during their visit as well as a menagerie of wild animals such as elephants, zebras, camels and caged African lions parading down terraced streets in South Shields. The Boldon carnival parade show various juvenile jazz bands from the North East marching through the town and the crowning of a Boldon...

An amateur film that records the arrival of Billy Smart's Circus in South Shields and street carnivals taking place at Boldon. The circus parade shows a number of the acts which will perform during their visit as well as a menagerie of wild animals such as elephants, zebras, camels and caged African lions parading down terraced streets in South Shields. The Boldon carnival parade show various juvenile jazz bands from the North East marching through the town and the crowning of a Boldon Colliery King and Queen. The film opens on a fairground carousel ride and people onboard enjoying it. Title: The Circus Comes To Town A poster for Billy Smart's Circus is pasted on a wall. It announces the circus visit to South Shields and lists its main attractions such as the Wild West Show and the Arabian Nights Review. The show runs between May 16th to 21st. A brass band marches towards the camera. Majorettes in red tunics twirl batons ahead of the band. A circus clown (possibly 'Little Billy' Merchant) dressed in an old style Keystone Cops uniform walks by swinging a truncheon. They are followed by Wild West characters including cowboys, native American indians and covered wagons. Some of the circus animals parade past including elephants ridden by women wearing extravagant pink dresses. A lorry acting as a mobile display shows members of the trapeze act. A woman sits on a trapeze flanked by two male partners. A very dark shot shows a caged animal, possibly a lion. A Northumbrian pipe band follow in kilts and full ceremonial uniform. They stop and mark time, but continue to play. Beneath the overhead wires of the trolley bus system, the elephants and other acts from the circus wait for the parade to move on again. General views follow of the crowd watching the pipe major[?] playing at the front the band. Dappled grey horses are led by their handlers in the parade. The horses have red feathers attached to their bridles. A brief general view of another marching band follows. A large Jaguar or Daimler car drives past. On both sides of the bonnet two women, perhaps part of the circus or a beauty queen contest, sit almost at full length. On the roof sits the third member of the trio. A covered wagon from the Wild West Show follows. The passenger sitting next to the driver fires a pistol. Another dark shot of an animal cage, only a shadowy outline of its occupant is visible. A closer view follows of the elephant parade seen earlier, with its colourful riders looking down on an enthusiastic crowd. Highland Cattle are next in the parade, with ferocious looking horns and straggly brown coats, they walk by with their handlers wearing a contrasting green work coat. Other animals follow on including a llama and two zebras. The zebras also have feathers attached to their bridles and saddles. Camels walk nose to tail past the crowds and terraced houses. A very tall man bizarre costume and a shorter young woman in a green dress walk in the parade leading a small Shetland pony. The sequence ends with a 'traction engine' pulling a trailer. The engine is a cleverly disguised tractor. Title: Carnival Days at Boldon The sequence begins with a view of a main street in South Shields. A high angle shot follows of brass bands marching towards the camera. A horse-drawn float crosses a railway line. The Heortnesse Juvenile Jazz Band march behind their banner in distinctive red kilts and green tunics. The jazz band following is the Legionnaires from West View, Hartlepool. High angle shot of another marching jazz band. A man dances down the street dressed in a grass skirt, wig and earrings much to the amusement of the crowd. His arms and torso are heavily tattooed and around his waist he wears a notice which reads 'The Tattooed Lady' . A float goes past with young women sitting with blue capes around their shoulders and carrying small bunches of flowers. At another location in Boldon there is another appearance of the Heortnesse Highlanders and the West View Legionnaires seen earlier. The Ashington Gay Geordies Juvenile Jazz Band follow on. The crowd shows its appreciation clapping as the drummers march past. The film cuts to a different location in the town where the Silksworth Juvenile Jazz Band marches towards camera. A woman marches alongside the children at the front carrying the banner. A man supervises the children further back. Another jazz band banner comes into view with a large black cat on it; the Newbiggin-on-Sea Panthers. The band wear distinctive 'pill box' hats. A float passes by with the passengers in regal finery. This carries the women wearing blue capes seen earlier in the parade. A man wears a crown and an ermine trimmed mantle. A bagpipe band march past and go further up the street. They are followed by a number of other jazz bands including the Newbiggin Panthers. There are various views of jazz band members playing kazoos. A close-up shows the marching brass band, followed by a reappearance of the regal float seen earlier. The Scottish pipe band are next in the procession. The regal float goes by again, the notice on the rear of the lorry reading 'Boldon Colliery Carnival Queen'. As well as the 'king' and 'queen' and the women wearing blue capes, young girls dressed in white sit holding small bunches of flowers. The float stops at a fairground in front of what appears to be an amusement arcade set inside a marquee. The film cuts to the carnival king and queen and their entourage standing in front of the marquee posing for the camera. A man and woman stand behind the king and queen and place a crown on the head of the king and a tiara on the queen. In the next sequence the king and queen of the carnival are back on the float. They head off smiling at the camera and cross a level crossing at Hedworth Lane. Another banner carried by a juvenile jazz band reads 'Boldon Melody Makers 1954 Jazz Band'. They are wwearing lime green and pink uniforms. More general views of marching bands follow including the Scottish themed uniform of the Burnside Highlanders juvenile jazz band. The film cuts to an open green space where jazz bands members relax and wait patiently in front of a number of bungalows. The carnival king and queen ride past in their windswept float. More general views of marching bands. The camera catches three women looking out of an upstairs window of a terraced house as they watch proceedings. They smile and laugh at the camera. General view follows of a marching band in red and white uniform marking time. Onlookers watch from their gardens at the entertainment in the street. A high angle shot follows of the Newbiggin Panthers. Umbrellas start appearing in the crowd as overcast skies produce rain. Next, there's a high angle shot of a majorette leading her band. She raises her hand and they stop marching and mark time. High angle shots follow the action from various vantage points. At a junction traffic waits as the marching bands cross. The camera zooms in on the marching band of the British Legion. Women carry banners at the head of the band. The Silksworth Jazz band make another appearance marching towards the camera, they turn to their right down another road. The Heortnesse Highlanders have some enthusiastic women footballers following them, dancing and singing. The films ends showing streets back to normal following the parade with traffic and pedestrians. This section has been filmed at high speed.