Palmer, Christopher, Born 1930
Dates
- Existence: Born 6 March 1930
Biography
Christopher John Palmer was born on 6th March 1930 in Ilford Essex. Between 1941 and 1946 he attended St. Dunstan’s College in Catford, London. Straight out of school in 1946 Christopher was employed as an Architectural Draftsman, until 1948 when, age 18 he was conscribed to the RAF to complete his National Service. In 1950 he resumed his employment as a draftsman, until 1955, when he started a very successful career in television ranging from filming to programming, production and direction.
Christopher joined the Associated Rediffusion Television, London on September 19th 1955 as a Trainee Cameraman. Three years later he was employed by Tyne Tees Television Newcastle-upon-Tyne, as a Senior Cameraman, where he was promoted to TV Producer/Director in 1964. Production involved all types of Outside Broadcasts including the 1966 and 1970 World Cups, classical and religious musical programme and a range of sporting events. In June 1968, still employed by Tyne Tees Television, Christopher was promoted to Assistant Programme Controller. In April 1972, he joined Thames Television London as a Senior Outside Broadcast Director. Between 1973 and 1990 his work involved all types of outside broadcasts including horse racing, football, Chipperfields and Billy Smart’s circuses, classical and religious programmes and the holiday programme series ‘Wish You were Here’. Christopher produced Christmas and Easter circus specials between 1973 and 1983. The first five years were performed by Chipperfield’s Circus and the next five years by the Billy Smart Circus. The circus specials were an important part of TV schedules of the day and a huge seasonal treat for viewers.
As part of the research for the TV programmes, Christopher travelled to see acts with his Musical Director, Alan Braden, and was able to make notes on their performance and talk about the musical arrangements. The music, which was mostly played by an organist, drummer and sometimes a saxophonist, would have to be played by an orchestra of twenty-six.
Christopher Palmer considered the music to be an important part of the presentation along with lighting, sound and other elements and writes:
‘The most gratifying moment for me was when the artistes heard their music being rehearsed in the Big Top by the big band the evening before the first camera rehearsal the following day. They would all sit there with all their families, probably having driven half way across Europe during the days before, listening entranced to those wonderful musicians…The Christmas and Easter programmes were recorded back to back, the schedule for each show being: day 1 evening band call, day 2 camera rehearsal with piano and drums only, day 3 afternoon dress rehearsal with full band and evening recording with audience. Hard going but very satisfying.’
In 1991, age 61, Christopher retired from mainstream production and a year later joined P&O Cruises as Film & TV Consultant until May 2003. He produced and directed all their promotional videos and filmed the building of the cruise ships Oriana and Aurora in Germany.
Found in 79 Collections and/or Records:
Circus Busch Berlin and Circus Roland Bremen Programme, 1974 - 1975
Hassani-troupe acrobats, Flying Oscars trapeze and others. Contains photos, 24p.p.
Circus Krone Programme, 1979
Various artists. Contains illustrations on cover with photos, 48p.p.
Circus Krone Programme, 1980
Various artists including Oleg Popov, clown. Contains illustration on cover and photos, 44p.p.
Circus Krone Programme, 1 - 28 February 1979
Insert of programme only. Various artists. Contains illustration, 4p.p.
Circus Poster, c1970 - 1979
Rochdale Cronkeyshaw Common. Colour illustration of early circus poster. Folded colour. Printed by W.E. Berry, Ltd. Bradford.
Circus World Championships Programme, 1977
Cirkus Arnardo Programme, 1981
Posna und Kornelia jugglers, Duo Carrington dog act, Trio Siberia balancing act, Los Alamos Wild West act, Manesjen Klareres, Anita and Brandy illusionist, Miss Isabella trapeze, Barbereren, Nock and Nock, Six Maciva, Les Brumbach, Pio-Mario-Pio clowns, Richter-Truppen equestrian act. Contains illustraion, 4p.p.
Cirkus Merano Programme, 1977
Tito Reyes balance act, Hergotti poodles, Mical Chen trick cyclist, Gerard Edontrapeze, Bocky, Randel and Co. clowns, Burger Sisters aerialists, Martin granger puppets. Contains colour illustration on cover with photos, 16p.p.
Clown Postcard, c1970 - 1979
Postcard featuring a clown.
David Smart Super Circus Programme, 1980
Battersea Park. Yasmine Smart Arabian Liberty Horses, Davida Smart and Dany Cesar Equilibrists, Robert Brothers’ elephants, Constantini Troupe tumblers, Flying Lantonys trapeze act, Paulsons motorcycle act, Mimi di Lello, Bubi and Juli clowns, Doreen Pedesen’s Penguins and Sea Lions, Los Castros high wire, Koziaks tumblers. Contains illustraion on cover and photos, 12p.p.
Educational Poster About Circus, c1970 - 1979
Colour and black and white photos. Folded.
Films, 1979 - 1983
Circus films on VHS by Thames Television, including Billy Smart's Christmas and Easter circus and Big Top Variety Show.
Fossett’s Famous Circus Programme, 1975
Zoko fire eating, Sword Swallowing, The Duo Shandra roller balancers supreme, Bobo and Toni-clowns, Carlos Michele knife throwing, Elvin Pohl Juggler, Marcus and Rosita Strongman, Family Koon Quam Chinese group and elephants, lions and crocodiles. Clown illustraion with photos, 4p.p.
Gerry Cottle's Circus Programme, 1977
Cardiff. The Kansas Brothers jugglers, The Swinging Cottrellis balance act, Jimmy Scott and Co. clowns, Royal Bengal tigers, Duo Raycol, Jimmy Scott and Co., La Famille Santus French Wizards on wheels, Arab Stallions, Samson and Delilah strongmen, Mary Chipperfield’s elephants, The Loonies comedy act. Contians photos, 4p.p.
Gerry Cottle's Circus Programme, 1979
Poster magazine. Foldout poster with programme containing photos and articles, 4p.p.
Gerry Cottle's Circus Programme, 1976
Las Kansas jugglers, Khalil Oghaby Strongman, The Cimarro Brothers high-wire, Captain Sydney Howes with Lions, Orramic, Scott’s Californian Sea-Lions, The Inaros Sisters trapeze, The Santus Julian Troupe French wizards on Wheels, Billy Wild, Otaki and the James Sisters Wild West Show, Miss Babette’s Lovable Dogs. Colour with photos, 16p.p.
Gerry Cottle's Circus Programme, 1977
Royal Silver Jubilee, Binak Brothers knockabout comedy, Captain Sydney Howes and his lions, The Cimarro brothers high-wire, The Inaros Sisters trapeze, Sonny Fossett and Co. clowns, Otaki and the James Sisters Wild West Show, Batman and Robin aerial act, Captain Universe human cannonball. Colour illustration of human cannonball on cover. Fold out programme with photos.
International Circus Enis Togni Programme, 1972
First ever tour of Britain by Italy’s Greatest, Circus. The Chestons Cowboy Rodeo, Madame Lorent’s Sea Lions, Brian Andro comedy on the tight wire, Alan Alan escapologist, later Jack and Yvonne Unell, illusionist and escapologists, Miss Mariettta aerial artist, Los Sanders clowns, The Mazans perch act, The Nicolodis acrobats, The Flying Zemgannos trapeze and animal acts presented by Mary Chipperfield. Contains photos, 16p.p.
Jimmy Chipperfield's Circus World Programme, 1979
Mary Chipperfield and animals, Margaret Chipperfield and animals, Rochelle Flyers trapeze, Noe-Noe and Gary clowns, Brenda Larenty wire walker, Carl Fischer Junior wild animal trainer and others. Contains photos, 12p.p.
Jimmy Chipperfield's Circus World Programme, 1979
Margaret Chipperfield and animals, Carl Fischer Junior wild animal trainer, Rochelle Flyers trapeze, Noe-Noe and Gary clowns, Brenda Larenty wire walker. Contains photos, 12p.p