Trapeze Girl (1953)

Crawley, Sussex. M/S of young woman in swimsuit, Shirley Tate, getting onto horse with help from circus ringmaster Stanley Raymer. The ringmaster sprinkles some powder onto horse’s back - this is so when Shirley stands to do tricks she will not slip off. Various shots of Shirley riding around outdoor ring. She balances in various positions on back of horse. C/U ringmaster. More shots Shirley doing trick riding: she stands on the horse’s back. Another man sticks a small flag in the ground. Shirley leans backwards off the horse, holding on with her feet and picks up flag as horse rides around ring. Various shots of Shirley doing tricks on a trapeze suspended from a tree. A young man looks up at her in awe! Shirley, aged 16, recently left job in glove factory to become a circus performer. Note: letter from Raymer Bros. circus and newspaper article on file. FILM ID: A VIDEO FROM BRITISH PATHÉ. EXPLORE OUR ONLINE CHANNEL, BRITISH PATHÉ TV. IT’S FULL OF GREAT DOCUMENTARIES, FASCIN