Titles tagged with ‘performers’
33 titles - sorted alphabetically or by year
1890s
Patineur Grotesque historical – 1896
This footage of a man performing on rollerskates for a crowd in a park is thought to be Australia’s earliest surviving film.
1900s
Chant Vénitien music – 1904
This is an early surviving commercial recording made by international opera star Nellie Melba in her London home in 1904.
Street Scenes in Perth, Western Australia historical – 1907
Leonard Corrick recorded actuality-style footage in places where the Corricks were currently performing.
1920s
Wirth’s Circus Film historical – c1925
Wirth’s Circus, one of Australia’s most well-known family circuses, toured the country extensively in the 1920s and embarked on world tours to England, South Africa and South-East Asia.
1930s
Miss Minnie Love in Impressions: Maurice Chevalier historical – c1931
Australian performer Minnie Love mimics the popular French comedian and singer Maurice Chevalier for Frank Thring’s Efftee Entertainers series.
Stan Ray and George Moon Jnr: Specialty Dancers historical – 1931
Entertainers Stan Ray and George Moon Jnr perform a tap dancing routine on one of the stages inside His Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne.
Magical Powers short film – 1936
The idea behind Magical Powers was to show the audience some of the illusions and simple tricks that can be created with a moving image camera.
Colleano on Tightwire, Rehearses in Arena home movie – c1939
Con Colleano was the first performance artist to perfect the toe-to-toe forward somersault on a wire.
Colleano on Tightwire Rehearsing at Home home movie – c1939
This footage offers a unique behind-the-scenes look at one of Australia’s most accomplished circus performers from the early twentieth century.
1940s
Sydney on Show documentary – c1940
This documentary from about 1940 shows Sydney’s progress as a modern city. It is from the large private film collection of Roger McKenzie and Bernard Kent.
The Circus Comes to Town documentary – c1943
The great circus families of the past had a huge impact but not after the arrival of the animal rights movement.
Family Antics documentary – 1945
This is very strange but oddly compelling: a father, his son, and three fox terriers do acrobatics and balancing acts for the camera.
Persil Washing Powder: Their Day advertisement – 1946
This washing powder’s particular magic is its ‘oxygen dazzle’ which allows the powder to lather easily without the need for rubbing and scrubbing.
Behind the Big Top documentary – 1949
The Wirth Brothers Circus, one of Australia’s largest and most successful, survived another 15 years after this film was made.
1950s
1960s
Cinesound Review: That Mersey Sound: Beatles at the Stadium newsreel – 1964
This newsreel special of the 1964 Beatles tour captures footage of the band in Sydney, Melbourne and New Zealand, concert excerpts and the attendant 'Beatlemania’.
1970s
Footscray 1971 historical – 1971
Shot by prominent film lover and collector Harry Davidson, this footage features numerous attractions of Footscray, Melbourne, in 1971.
Just the Beginning music – 1971
'Just the Beginning’ was the first Australian jazz recording to earn a gold record for sales.
The Loner music – 1973
‘The Loner’ by Vic Simms is regarded as Australia’s great lost classic album of Aboriginal protest songs.
Sydney Opera House Opening Concert music – 1973
A magical night in the history of Australian music: the first official concert in the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall.
1980s
A Personal History of the Australian Surf: Being the Confessions of a Straight Poofter documentary – 1981
His father told young Sydney-born theatre director Michael Blakemore that the world was divided into three groups, 'fools, crooks and gentlemen’.
Clowns and their Make-Up documentary – 1985
As the title indicates, this is about how to apply clown make-up and not about much else.
Gillies documentary – 1987
Max Gillies, probably best know for his portrayal of Bob Hawke, feels more confident and secure when he creates a character to hide behind.
1990s
Angst documentary – 1993
Sandy Gutman, one of the comedians featured, released Australiana in 1983 and it is still the biggest-selling local comedy record.
Lowering the Tone: 45 Years of Robyn Archer documentary – 1993
Archer considered A Star is Torn a tribute to women who influenced her music: Patsy Cline, Bessie Smith, Janis Joplin and Marie Lloyd.
Doesn’t Everybody Want a Golden Guitar documentary – 1995
A theme of this foot-tapping documentary, set in Tamworth, is that country music fans are also down-to-earth like country people.
2000s
A Walk with Words: The Poetry of Romaine Moreton short film – 2000
This short biographical film showcases the life and poetry of performance artist Romaine Moreton and her struggles to gain freedom.
Diaries of Vaslav Nijinsky documentary – 2001
Vaslav Nijinsky, from Russia, was widely considered the most talented male dancer of the 20th century.
Chinese Take Away documentary – 2002
An adaptation of a physical theatre show by performer Anna Yen, which explores stories about her family.
I Told You I Was Ill: The Life and Legacy of Spike Milligan documentary – 2004
Milligan’s affection for Australia, particularly the suburb of Woy Woy which he quips is a great place to commit suicide, had a significant impact on his life.
Summer Heights High – Episode 5 television program – 2007
Summer Heights High walks an interesting tightrope between observation and comedy, often seeming quite real and quite ridiculous at the same time.
