| HOW DID THEY DO IT Bartel Sisters Acrobatic Stunts | ||
|---|---|---|
| This clip is not available for streaming at this time. Please contact WPA. | Tape Master: | 6776 |
| Catalog #: | 439851 | |
| Clip Number: | 439851-1 | |
| Orginal Film: | EP 242 | |
| Timecode: | ||
| Location: | United Kingdom | |
| Year Shot: | ||
| Audio: | No | |
| Color: | No | |
| Headings: | ENTERTAINMENT/STUNTS: Acrobatics | |
| Description: | HOW DID THEY DO IT The Bartel Sisters' balancing, trapeze & acrobatics act, c. 1907; shown again in 1932 as part of Eve Pics issue. United Kingdom 2 limber and coordinated young women perform a variety of wild funny or dangerous stunts; assisted by male helpers. Stage setting that looks like fancy interior, with trompe l'oeil painting on back wall 2 boys in breeches, long coats have just set a table down in FG. A man standing behind it presses on it. Then the man and boys back off, as a fat teenage girl with long curly hair walks forward, climbs onto table. MS she performs handstands backbends, etc. on top of the table, lies on her chest or neck with her chin on the table, facing camera, and her body bent up backwards with her feet on either side of her head. She does a few more contortions. Next, her sister, the other Miss Bartel climbs pole while one boy holds onto pole and other boy and man watch. MS girl reaches top of pole and steps onto a tiny platform attached to the pole. She stands on platform facing pole, then slowly bends over backward until she topples off. Cut to LS as she falls from above and lands on her feet. Next she climbs onto man's shoulders and thence to trapeze hanging in middle of stage. She does a few trapeze tricks, then hangs upside down with her legs wrapped around the ropes, and lifts the man by his hands, he flips over and hangs from her arms holding his body horizontal. Next, while Miss Trapeze sits up on her swing, her sister returns, does backbend then "runs" round her hands in circles, with back bent forward half of each circle and backward the other half. Sister 2 does cartwheel across stage to rt., picks up a chair with her teeth and swings it round her head a few times like a complete maniac. | |
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