Trinidad Carnival from 1950's

The keepers of our past...

[film Footage captured of Trinidad Carnival by a American visitor in 1956-57 ]

The still of the masquerader sitting on the back of a donkey during Trinidad and Tobago's carnival was filmed by an American visitor from 1956-7 according to Ray Funk. It shows the track to the Queen's Park Savannah's stage, and how masqueraders played their mas as they marched across the stage recorded with a 16mm home movie camera.

Recently, a discussion on the preservation of Trinidad carnival stressed that footage such as the sample may have been taken by members of the society who were wealthy enough to own recording devices, and there is the likelihood the spools of film may be tossed in some cardboard box gathering dust from the grandchildren of people who filmed the festival over fifty years ago. Thanks to Ray Funk, the archivist of Trinidad and Tobago's Steelband, Calypso and Carnival, he is preserving a collection by seeking out finds as with this footage.

The youtube is a commentary by Ray Funk, Allyson Hennessy and Holly Betaudier on local television.

http://thebookmann.blogspot.com/2008/01/playing-yuh-self-trinidad-carnival.html

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• thebookman
• art
• carnival
• trinidad

[ricardo14975]

@ricardo14975 If Trini Revellers or Brian MacFarlane can recreate this, they good, they real good.

[ricardo14975]

Excellent piece of footage. This is history in action. If only we can re-create the atmosphere of those days. Colourful costumes.

[TriniCana]

@nicolewism Allyson passed away last night!

[nicolewism]

Is that Holly Betaudier and Allison Hennessy's voice i'm hearing. My goodness they have been around for a long time. Allison still going strong.

[islandmango75]

Sad now how we gone from art to duttiness now :( no wonder so many Trinis have diseases now ...

[goodhbadm]

kool stuff..

[alienspikes2]

@bronco3250

In Brazil they do the nudity to my friend...I wouldn't be surprised if they started the trend.

[bronco3250]

who is doing the narration? You are doing a great narration. This was the carnival I remember & love. I am so disgusted by carnival today - the costumes are all the same every year - maybe more & more vulgar each year. No character, no taste, music you cannot even chip or jump up to! Brazil has taken over Trini carnival unfortunately!

[grenadian11]

Fantastic; a great time with out the vulgarity and nudity of today. Bravo, I'll take the old days any day!

[sinfuldavy0]

I want to thank you for sharing this video. i have been away from Trinidad for over 50 years so it was very nostalgic. There should also be a wonderful story behind the flim. Who made it? Who are the people currently presenting it? Again, thanks to making it available to the world