| CHINESE JUGGLERS Chinese jugglers perform an acrobatic act spinning plates, tumbling, contortions etc. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tape Master: | 6703 | |
| Catalog #: | 369850 | |
| Clip Number: | 369850-1 | |
| Orginal Film: | EP 8 | |
| Timecode: | 01:49:55 - 01:51:35 | |
| Location: | Europe | |
| Year Shot: | 1920 (Estimated Year) | |
| Audio: | No | |
| Color: | No | |
| Headings: | ENTERTAINMENT: Variety Show ENTERTAINMENT/STUNTS: Balance ENTERTAINMENT/STUNTS: Contortionist ENTERTAINMENT/STUNTS: Juggling LOCATIONS/EUROPE: Misc | |
| Description: | CHINESE JUGGLERS Chinese jugglers perform an acrobatic act spinning plates, tumbling, contortions etc. Box onstage says "Dack Shing"; no other info on identity. 5 people enter, maybe family group? They wear huge headdresses and robes of large-patterned fabric. They stand in a line and bow, in mid-bow the picture fades out & another fades in of them standing in same positions, but now only one girl wears a robe. The other 4 wear short white pants and shirts. 2 of the troupe do a very difficult trick, spinning plates on sticks. One boy spins 2 plates, the other spins 3, & while spinning them they also do somersaults, headstands etc. somehow balancing the plates and keeping them spinning all the while. Closer shot of guy's head w/ spinning plates above him. Next a very limber boy contortionist (c. 10 yrs?) sits on floor w/ legs spread, a long pole under his ankles. He raises the pole (and of course his legs with it) all the way up until he puts the stick behind his neck. In this position, completely folded in two, w/ head in front of stick and ankles in back, feet sticking up on either side of his head, he then walks around on his hands. He finally flips his folded body so that his feet touch the floor, then he suddenly jumps out of his contorted position. In the next trick, boy stands on 2 little pedestals which are mounted on a box. He starts to bend over backward, then extends the backbend, bending his knees all the way, grasping his thighs, and aiming his head downward between the pedestals. A glass sits on top of box; he grasps it in his teeth. MCU upside down boy drinking liquid from the glass while holding it with his teeth. Back to wider shot: boy starts to pull his torso upward, then raises back up from the backbend. Bizarre and amazing. Entertainment, children, balance, skills. | |
WPA FILM LIBRARY
