Film and Video
Talburt Circus & Carnival Video Collection
For over a decade, Lane Talburt and his video camera chronicled the lives of circus and carnival people throughout the United States and beyond. His efforts have resulted in the more than 100 detailed video interviews collected below.
Organized by topic, these videos capture the spirit of the circus and carnival from the perspective of performers, owners, clowns and historians. Topics include circus animals, logistics and trains. The videos are also sorted by circus and carnival names.
About Lane: Lane Talburt is a video producer who lives in Texas. A former member of the Circus Historical Society Board of Trustees, Lane is a life-long circus fan with a keen eye and an inquisitive mind. These talents lend themselves perfectly to producing these extraordinary circus and carnival videos.
| Subject | Title | Link |
| Animals | 6-Horse Hitch Pulls Circus Wagon | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4MFpbbSXUM |
| Animals | Brian Franzen: Keeping Eyes on Tigers | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=logMScuvznw |
| Animals | Cat Man’ author Edward Hoagland – 1950s Circus Menagerie | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPnIkr4ROFI |
| Animals | Circus Animals in Cultural War; Defining Entertainment | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAjluVAOZE8 |
| Animals | Circus Donkey Photo Bombs Interview | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWHTm28sU0Q |
| Animals | Circus Elephant Spa | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89ZC10-Zn_s |
| Animals | Circus Elephant Welfare: A Conversation | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9zbpdfCIeU |
| Animals | Circus Elephants are Roadies Too | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTei7UgAWps |
| Animals | Eddie Steeples: Gypsy Bear Trainer | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UG7Ux0utxQ |
| Animals | Elephants Make Joyful Noises at the Fair | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_I-uBizgjOA |
| Animals | Laura Herriott: Talking to the (Circus) Animals | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGtOicNCIIA |
| Animals | Rare Camels Delight Big E Fair Crowds in Debut | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suVSfsFcNaQ |
| Animals | Ryan Easley: Anatomy of a Tiger Act | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kinmNvJ7pg |
| Animals | Terranova’s Tigers in Training | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOnGCbaK25M |
| Animals | Tim Frisco: How to Train a Baby Elephant | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99Ys0JOOpxo |
| Animals | Two Circus Elephant Guys | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWdwsUD4QNk |
| Subject | Title | Link |
| Carnivals | Coleman Bros. Carnival: A Family Album | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7HS0lvvhEY |
| Carnivals | Coleman Bros. Carnival: At 100 Years! | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlW9xBsxfmc |
| Carnivals | Coleman Bros. Carnival: Carnival Job-Love It Or Leave It | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7N1dYGUkdA |
| Carnivals | Coleman Bros. Carnival: Concessions & Games | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CegrZE5G-XQ |
| Carnivals | Coleman Bros. Carnival: Diner-The Gathering Place | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Wu8903OUC4 |
| Carnivals | Coleman Bros. Carnival: King of the Carnival Midway | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idi9LjCeGgk |
| Carnivals | Coleman Bros. Carnival: Rides-Everything’s on the Level | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npMYaIex5p4 |
| Carnivals | Hoorn (Holland): Dutch Fun Fair Rocks! | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MI3NmgT97m0 |
| Subject | Title | Link |
| Circuses | Big E Circus: Changing With Changing Times | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7sy3mYlhN0&t=161s |
| Circuses | Bindlestiff Family Circus: On Tour | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kz0I-36K1ZM |
| Circuses | Carson & Barnes Circus: Circus Crew Battles Wind | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quqoqXW_b-o |
| Circuses | Circo Hermanos Vazquez: 2015 in NYC | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnk2VhPR8Uw |
| Circuses | Circus Harmony: Circus Under Glass | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1VBQ0acgEM |
| Circuses | Circus Smirkus 2011 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_CRNdD6BpQ |
| Circuses | Circus Smirkus: 2014-A Fountain of Circus Youth | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=US2DH0OQY80 |
| Circuses | Circus Smirkus: 2015-Bon Appetit | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spynpI31GYE |
| Circuses | Circus Smirkus: A Life-Shaping Experience | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7C8imhToK4&t=24s |
|
Circuses
Circuses |
Circus Smirkus: Midnight at the Museum
Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus 1993 |
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PI6vnc6weUI&t=19s
1993 Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros Circus – YouTube
|
| Circuses |
Cole Bros. Circus: Coping with Tornadoes, Local Regs |
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVS-nrZyZG4 |
| Circuses | Cole Bros. Circus: It’s the Show | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnohtApLSmY |
| Circuses | Cole Bros. Circus: John Pugh’s New Big Top | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvltjRJDy7s |
| Circuses | Cole Bros. Circus: The Circus Comes to Meriden | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvAm864ZH2I |
| Circuses | Cole Bros. Circus: The Teardown (blow-off) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_8VHvN3IJw |
| Circuses | Culpepper & Merriweather: Small Circus, Large Impact | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2E7rDxqvMU |
| Circuses | Hamid Circus: Its in their Blood | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2g0hxvlFCsQ |
| Circuses | Indiana State Fair Circus: Behind the Scenes | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzpfSlLXJ2w |
| Circuses | Kelly Miller Circus: A World of Difference (2014 Tour) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqPTiSdGkPo |
| Circuses | Kelly Miller Circus: Elephant Power for Set-Up, Teardown | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oj6Xdk6X_3g |
| Circuses | Kelly Miller Circus: Two Women at the Helm | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xD6ZPO7uJwA&t=145s |
| Circuses | Peru Amateur Circus 2013 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoyI2nmVFX0 |
| Circuses | Piccadilly Circus | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BOCXLc2EDA |
| Circuses | Walker Bros. Circus: Own a Circus: ‘Are You Nuts?’ | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO-f2JHztCM |
| Circuses | Zirbini Family Circus: Alain Zirbini | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V20Kp3I7Mes |
| Circuses | Zirbini Family Circus: Tradition in a Small Lively Package | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoJqNOe-ByA |
| Subject | Title | Link |
| Clowns | Clown Hall of Fame Honors Merrymakers | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIGVzSl4PPo |
| Clowns | Greg DeSanto Part 1: Craft of Clowing, Ringling Style | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R02m8JL4uPg&feature=youtu.be |
| Clowns | Greg DeSanto Part 2: ‘Family’ Ties | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRWUe8P94f8&feature=youtu.be |
| Clowns | Greg DeSanto Part 3: Reinventing Circus | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPyjoN3ebtc&feature=youtu.be |
| Clowns | Jack Cook’s Classic Comedy Car Act | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ip6nVZ4Mb0 |
| Clowns | Lee Andrews: Circus Advance Clown | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytKXJJcowjQ |
| Clowns | Leo Acton: ‘Hairiest’ Circus Clown | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAw_41D_O2M |
| Clowns | Maudie ‘Flip the Clown’ Bayless – In Memoriam | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeu2VmhUuXo |
| Clowns | Meatball: A New Clown on the Block | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PFdNTov4wI |
| Clowns | Skeeter the Clown: Last Circus Advance Clown? | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayEC9ZPgzMk |
| Clowns | Steve & Ryan: At the Circus | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_GPnSneEOA |
| Clowns | Steve & Ryan: Clowns, Commedians, Vaudevillians | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oln4L1zsHrU |
| Clowns | Steve & Ryan: Feudin’, Fussin’ and Clowning | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kflwhkNdasE |
| Clowns | Wayne Bloomfield: Brisbane Balloon Artist | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ_AQlDxwnQ |
| Subject | Title | Link |
| Historians | Circus Ring of Fame 2011 – Induction & Tour | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMeNHhTeMzc |
| Historians | Richard Reynolds III: On Circus Animals & Clowns | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Fr6-dtwGgo |
| Historians | Spinning Tales of the Circus at the Jackpot Junction | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCEScpldEaE |
| Subject | Title | Link |
| Music | Calliope in Peru Circus Parade | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xmNxT3DWx0 |
| Music | Circus Life: Old-Time Organ Music | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHHAmsnaBaM |
| Music | Circus Music: And the Beat Goes On | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVLv6m3IIrE |
| Music | Larry Rothbard: Circus Music Maker | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8MtiI18_II |
| Music | Spine-Tingling National Anthem at Peru Youth Circus | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSoFjSJmhj4 |
| Subject | Title | Link |
| Owners | Barnum’s Birthday Bash in Bethel | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaLUfH7FRp0 |
| Owners | E. James Strates: A Carnival Life on Rails | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPHrBu_bMqs |
| Owners | John Pugh Tutored by ‘Digger’ | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuCyZ_bhLzU |
| Owners | John Ringling North: Keeping Traditional Circus Alive | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSHZwt1fY4U |
| Owners | Ward Hall: Art of the Sideshow Pitch | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA76KzsrLX4 |
| Owners | Ward Hall: Carnival Games, Girlie Shows | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2rprHptYkk |
| Owners | Ward Hall: His First Carnival Sideshow | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZvRJAo0Ai8 |
| Owners | Ward Hall: On ‘Building the Tip’ | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWxB-oqlcMI |
| Owners | Ward Hall: On Sideshow Illusions & Oddities-Part 1 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICCVQzMdkY0 |
| Owners | Ward Hall: On Sideshow Illusions & Oddities-Part 2 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiQJ-opwe_Y |
| Owners | Ward Hall: Recalls ’48 Carnival Life-Part 2 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nr8wzGm4MyI |
| Owners | Ward Hall: The Making of a Sideshow Talker | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgJuZ4EiRes |
| Subject | Title | Link |
| Performers | Circus hand-balancing Duo A&A wows State Fair Crowds | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOnW1g8OZtQ&t=154s |
| Performers | Albert Owens: Inventor of Unicycle Basketball | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQD8R_sw6RY |
| Performers | Amazing Sladek: Circus Life in Balance | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApURP7u3KfQ |
| Performers | Brian LaPalme’s Pet Peeve | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eqrfj7c9zM |
| Performers | Brian Miser’s Fiery Crossbow Liftoff | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DOtwGlPCQ8 |
| Performers | Christopher Conners: Cole Bros’ No 1 Fan | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PT383dYFiI |
| Performers | Circus Life with ‘Cheeko’ DeWitt | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6u6UyeFNVc |
| Performers | Deiter Tasso: A Jocular Juggler | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2_h-ZRus8A |
| Performers | Elliana Grace & King Charles Troupe: Circus ‘Fledglings’ | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aE5Zwrc1OXw |
| Performers | Elvin Bale: In the Shadow of the Cannon | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yAdRCXXyY4 |
| Performers | Circus Saurus Ringmaster Erik Bautista | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuNqPVE2J44 |
| Performers | Grace-ful Cannonball | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Timm58rtkM |
| Performers | Human Cannonball: Kellam’s Dream | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDjfrIM-rQc |
| Performers | John Kennedy Kane: All-Round Circus Storyteller | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATKnYw5UXpU |
| Performers | Johnathan Lee Iverson: Circus is ‘Community’ | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mASkOdKwzUY |
| Performers | King Charles Troupe: Keeping a Dream Alive | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G2_9tI-8zk |
| Performers | King Charles Troupe: NYC Unicycle Festival | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2d8m-7ohVM |
| Performers | Lamount-Human Volcano: Play With Fire, Get Burned | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bweGQYOHt_c |
| Performers | Leonard Zhabir Muhammed: ‘Reptile King” | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZiIojsTYvQ |
| Performers | Olinka Wallenda’s Story | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwFsCnOe7uw |
| Performers | Pete Cristiani: Recalls Joe Louis, Grift on Dailey Bros. Circus | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0-oQG3sYwM |
| Performers | Rebecca Ostroff: Flying Under the Big Top | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yi5BFxk7kA&t=4s |
| Performers | Ringmaster Peter Sturgis: In the Circus Spotlight | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaKy5wOFnX4 |
| Performers | Tino Wallenda: Madcap Antics | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6iURWfz4bw |
| Performers | TJ Howell: Juggling a Multi-Faceted Career | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7pJ1JdiZeU |
| Performers | Tommy Breen-Sword Swaller | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9t16wefRgU |
| Performers | Tribute to ‘Little Pete” Terhune | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7vTXjt-H2w |
| Performers | Tribute to Manuel ‘Junior’ Ruffin a/k/a ‘Prince Bogino’ | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPXIjtnZTlw |
| Performers | Troy & Sara Wunderle: Parenting on Circus Smirkus | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS6_H7EEeAk |
| Performers | Wesley Williams: Emerging Circus Star at 19 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoxSOQ4G_Lc |
| Performers | What Mike Vitka Learned on the Sideshow | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpbtyxYEZpA |
| Subject | Title | Link |
| Sideshows | World of Wonders: Rainy Day at the Sideshow | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkSdinwdhdA |
| Subject | Title | Link |
| Trains | Charlie Smith: Ringling Trainmaster Recalls 70 Year Career | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMypPCBA2yw |
| Trains | Circus Trainmaster: Moving the Show | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-Qff-zlGyg |
| Trains | Strates Shows Carnival Trainmaster: It’s Complicated | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KIAlMABN-o |
| Trains | Strates Shows: Moving America’s Last Carnival on Rails | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnlBK2WYaFU |