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Inglewood's Greatest Show On Earth
And what shows they were! Huge parades, circus acts, athletics stars and spectacular crowds. 35 000 people were in Inglewood on the last day in September 1963 and most of them were at the show. Hundreds of volunteers helped run the shows and apart from the time a woodchopper sliced off his big toe and the trapeze artists had too many beers, hardly anything went wrong.
Crowds flock to Inglewood's Greatest Show in 1955
These days volunteers are becoming a little less keen to run events. If things go wrong, they might end up in court.
REWIND...To the 1950s and 1960s
True or false?
1. Bodgies and widgies were popular takeaway foods.
2. Some men rubbed grease in their hair and wore black shoes with pointy toes.
3. Some women backcombed or teased their hair until it stuck right up high.
4. The Jetsons cartoon showed characters talking on 'TV' phones. People wondered if the day might come when they really would be able to see the person they were talking to.
5. The All Blacks were never beaten by Australia.
Shutterbug
Do this by yourself or with a classmate.
It's 1963 and you're on your way to The Greatest Show On Earth but you need some gas. Fill up here (click here to view the picture). It's the Kiwi Service station on Eliot in New Plymouth.
Remember it's the last day in September 1963. Would you be able to buy...
- a topsy?
- a packet of jaffas?
- sunscreen?
- a pump bottle of water?
- bread?
>> Would your petrol come in litres or gallons?
>> Would you serve yourself or get served?
>> Would your CD be heard from across the road?
>> Would everyone do up their seat belts as your car heads off?
Click here now because you are heading into Inglewood.
>> What's the speed limit? 30mph, 30kph, 50mph or 50kph?
You pass a traffic officer hiding in a driveway. You can tell because the car colour is grey, black and white or blue and white.
It's a hot day. Do you turn on the air conditioning or open the window?
What do you think? Are you on time for The Greatest Show On Earth or quite early?
It's been a big day and it isn't over yet.
Tonight you are going out to dinner at La Scala (click here to see a picture). It's the restaurant in New Plymouth.
>> What do you think? Would those over 21 be able to buy wine?
>> Would you be allowed to wear your jeans and an old t-shirt?
>> Would you be able to order wedges?
>> Is there a high chance the meals will include meat?
>> Does La Scala have a drive through?
>> Can you call into Mac Donald's afterwards for a "top up" if you are still hungry?
Word-wise
Before you read this week's story choose the best meanings for these key words.
Quick-fire raffles: Raffles for barbecues or many raffles over a short time?
Escapologist: A magician or performs remarkable feats of escape from life threatening places or a very clever prisoner.
Trapeze artist: A bridge painter or a circus performer who flies through the air with the greatest of ease.
Acrobatics: Exercise to music or skilled performances often through the air.
Have a read
Get a grip on these times by searching for these things as you read The Greatest Show On Earth.
>> How did this show get its name?
>> What was the main reason for these shows?
>> How do we know the show organizers thought "outside the square?"
Heroes or villains?
>> King Jim and King Bob
>> The Diavolos
>> The ice rink makers
>> The tipsy trapeze artists
>> John Zealando
>> The person who found the toe
>> The toe surgeon
Programmed!
This old programme from the Greatest Show On Earth can tell you an amazing amount about life in these times. Just look for the evidence. Try this first. True or false?
>> Until the mid 1950s Inglewood kids had to head out of town to go to High School. Look here.
>> Some things never change. In pairs list the "must haves" that would still be part of a big event today. Now, one of you can draw the temporary "convenience" from 1955 while the other can draw the high - tech portaloo of 2003! Look here.
>> Check out the vintage cars. How old is the oldest one? Which country do you think most of them were made in? Which country is missing from the vintage car line up but has thousands of New Zealanders driving their cars today? Look here.
>> What do you think of the rule for the events on at 12:30 and 1 pm? Is it fair enough or a bit harsh? Write a brief letter to the editor of the Taranaki Herald 1955 giving your opinion! Here are the events.
>> Why didn't they hold the 2:45 demontration at the same time as the athletics events? (It could have been quite spectacular). Look here.
>> Drown the Clown and Crazy Heads. What's that? Look here!
>> These shows attracted Olympic champions. Find one of them here. What's his name?
Then and Now
Big shows may have changed but today they are as popular as ever. Think of WOMAD, Taranaki's Festival of the Arts, The Military Tattoo or a Super 12 Game.
Try this in an "organizing committee" of three or four. Just complete this chart for each of these two Greatest Shows on Earth.
| The job |
1955 |
2003 |
Contacting those
involved |
Phone and letter
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| Possible show food |
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| Ticket buying |
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| Lighting and sound |
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| Advertising |
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| Likely competition |
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| Possible acts |
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Fast forward...to 2003
A cycling race organiser was taken to court recently and blamed for a competitor's death. This court ruling is starting to make volunteers think very carefully before running an event. Last week the Taranaki organisers of a popular snowboard and surfing competition decided not to hold their event this year. They don't want to be sued if someone gets hurt and they can't afford to pay for insurance policies that guard against something going wrong.
Fact or opinion?
This story tells of more events that have been cancelled. Sort out the facts and opinions.
Who's responsible?
Event organizers are worried that all of the responsibility is going on the organiser and that none is being put on the participant. Think back to the Greatest Show On Earth story. Whose fault would it have been (the participants or the organizers) if...
>> a drunk acrobat had missed the safety net?
>> a girl had entered the "chase the pig competition" and been badly bitten?
>> John Zealando had drowned?
>> the nine-toed woodchopper had said the grass was slippery after seepage from the conveniences?
>> the radio race announcer had fallen off his car and then been pierced by one of the arrows that the archer had stuck neatly in the ground?
>> The "Slide of Death" acrobat really had slid to death after Chief the Wonder Dog (NZ Sheepdog Champion), barked at the most exciting moment?
Rules
Many people believe that today's law should be changed so that event organisers can't be prosecuted if a participant gets hurt. The judge from the cycling court case doesn't agree. He said the organization of the event was poor and this led to the death of a cyclist. Think, pair, write and then share a rule or law that you think is fair. One that clearly says who should be responsible if an accident happens.
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