Thursday, January 31, 2008

GEORGE CARL: Stockholm Sweden, 1970s



While I certainly believe that this was shot at the same performance as the other clown footage from the Swedish television special CLOWNS (the one that features The Rastellis, Joe Jackson Jr, Eric Braun and Charlie Rivel), I have no way to confirm the date.

It looks to have been shot in the same building, by the same crew but features far more cutaway shots of the audience than the footage that I've seen of other acts shot during that taping.

The American TV special that I found this on gives the place as Stockholm, Sweden (the name of the show or the building is not given) and the year as 1979, which I believe is incorrect and only given to make the footage seem more current.

2 comments:

Raffaele De Ritis said...

The year is 1979.
ASnd George appeared in two different shows, at the same building, the Djugarten Royal circus in Stockolm. The same where Jacques Tati shot his last movie, Parade.
CLOWNS was originally filmed in two 90-minutes parts: winter 1978 and winter 1979.
The producer was Francois Bronett, the director of Circus Scott, for the Swedish state television, and co-produced by other european state tvs.
At the same time, Bronett and Svedish tv organized a Ropyal Command Circus every year, 1977 to 1979. Becaause it was co-produced by an American tv company, the King and the Queen accepted to be filmed at the show and being interviewed, and inserting excerpt about tourism and culture of Swden, to be promoted in the Usa. This is the last edition, 1979, with George Carl. The Rastelli were in the previous year. And Katja Schumann assured two equestrian presentations at each edition.
This building in the 60s and the early 70s was the legendary Cirkus Schumann, being with Medrano and Mills the most awaited winter season in the world. The Schumann lost it I think in 1975. The building is now closed, and not a circus anymore.

Javi said...

I had dated Clowns Clowns in 1984 as I have seen in cirkusscandinavia.dk at the Rastelli´s page but now I see that it is impossible because Rivel died in 1983… so thanks Raffaele for the info and thanks Pat for the video!