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WIRTH, MAY, Australian bareback rider, Hollywood screen test (USA, 1917)

In 1917, Australian-born May Wirth, a sensational bareback rider, was a “center ring” attraction of America’s largest circus, Ringling Bros. That year, May undertook a four-minute long screen test for a Hollywood Studio for the title role of Polly in the silent film, “Polly of the Circus”. May was not given the role – or, in view of her starring Ringling commitment, may have chosen not to accept it. The role was given to an established film star, Mae Marsh. We have nevertheless been left with this priceless legacy, the earliest footage we have of May Wirth, indeed of any Australian circus artist. Unfortunately, the screen test did not capture May performing but, at least, we see her wearing her trade mark bow and turning a few “flips” that show her diminutive 4′ 11″ figure to advantage.

Australia’s Colleano Family in Colour (c.1930-36)

These clips were extracted from the home movie footage of the late, great Con Colleano (1899-1973), Indigenous Australian tightwire artist. Originally in B & W, they were colourised for inclusion in the series Australia in Colour (Ep 2), produced by Stranger Than Fiction Films.

Colleano Footage – NFSA Promotional Clip

In 2015, Australia’s National Film & Sound Archive (NFSA) prepared this brief clip to promote the deposition of restored and digitised home movie footage of the late, great Indigenous Australian tightwire artist, Con Colleano (1899-1973). Colleano shot this footage between the late 1920s and early 1940s, while travelling throughout the USA (with the Ringling circus), Europe and South America.

The Colleano Heart – Regniting the Legacy

The remarkable Colleano circus story is told in reverse chronology, through American-born octogenarian drama teacher Molly O’Donnell as she steps onto Australian soil for the first time. This home of her Colleano ancestors stirs her heart and sense of identity. The story unfolds through never-before-seen footage, (archival and contemporary) colourised archives, family interviews, interviews with circus and First Nations historians, and re-enactments by choreographer Kirk Page and his young Aboriginal acrobatic troupe. The colour palette of the film weaves in brightness between the black and white footage and the kodachrome colours, the rich country of Lightning Ridge’s red dust and white limestone along with Con’s signature red cape embedded through the visual style. An up-and-coming First Nations musician will provide the contemporary soundtrack.

Australian taxpayers are invited to make tax-deductible contributions through the Australian Government’s Documentary Assistance Fund.

Truxa – Germany, 1937, featuring tight wire artist, Edgar Eitner

While appearing in Berlin, UFA studios offered Con Colleano, the Indigenous Australian tightwire star, the title role in the film Truxa, a fictional story about a tightwire artist. Colleano’s contractual commitments prevented him from taking the time off to appear in the film. As a result, the title role was given to Edgar Eitner, a German tightwire specialist. Eitner’s performances in the film can be seen at the following time points:

00:01:15 Screen credit

00:01:52 Variety performance with accident

00:03:10 Lassoing on the tightwire

00:32:15 Variety performance

00:43:04 Rehearsal scene

00:49:45 Variety performance with accident

01:26:37 Variety performance with back somersault