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Magic on Music Mountain: The Story of the Lambertville Music Circus (2014) Online

Magic on Music Mountain: The Story of the Lambertville Music Circus (2014) Online
2014 Dick Button Jon Case Art Frank Gary P. Cohen Michelle Massa
Original Title :
Magic on Music Mountain: The Story of the Lambertville Music Circus
Genre :
Creative Work / Documentary / Biography / History / Music
Year :
2014
Directror :
Gary P. Cohen,Michelle Massa
Cast :
Dick Button,Jon Case,Art Frank
Writer :
Gary P. Cohen,Paul Kaye
Budget :
$5,000
Type :
Creative Work
Time :
48min
Rating :
9.2/10

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Magic on Music Mountain: The Story of the Lambertville Music Circus (2014) Online

From 1949 until 1970, St. John Terrell's Music Circus in Lambertville, NJ presented B'way musical comedies and the top jazz, folk and rock-n-roll artists of the time period. "Sinjin", as Mr. Terrell called himself, was the first to create a theater-in-the-round housed under a huge circus tent. The first decade or so was devoted to B'way musicals, and many stars began their careers at the Music Circus, including Bernadette Peters, Dom DeLuise, Shirley MacLaine and Robert Goulet. Once the tent moved to a larger location about a mile away, artists such as Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, The Four Seasons, the Supremes, The Lovin' Spoonful and Liberace gradually replaced the legit shows. This documentary tells the story of the venue through interviews with people from both sides of the curtain, including set designers, musical directors, stage managers and performers such as Olympic skater Dick Button and Vince Martell from "The Vanilla Fudge".
Credited cast:
Dick Button Dick Button - Himself
Jon Case Jon Case
Art Frank Art Frank - Himself
Vince Martell Vince Martell - Himself
Joyce Randolph Joyce Randolph - Herself (voice)

The painted horse on the old Barnum Restaurant site, which is now is Oxford Communications,identified as being from the original Music Mountain carousel was actually done by an more recent artist and painted as a tribute to Music Mountain.

The DVD version has three extras - the complete version of Vinny Martell singing "Baby, I'm Blue", and interview with Florence Moonan discussing her Music Circus-related artwork, and a tour of the original site by resident Judy Wycoff.

Official Selection in the Documentary Short Category at the 2014 Garden State Film Festival in Atlantic City.


User reviews

Daizil

Daizil

This was a very interesting documentary on the Lambertville Music Circus. As a kid I remember going to this wonderful theater in the round under a tent but never knew the story about its beginning. I found out so many interesting facts on the start of the Music Circus and its founder St. John Terrell. I also never knew, until watching this video, the extent of the talent that performed at the Music Circus. So many big names! For anyone growing up in Lambertville during the time of the Music Circus this is a must see. It will bring back wonderful memories and I do believe that St. John Terrell's Music Circus put my sleepy little town on the map! Thank you.
Quttaro

Quttaro

Excellent documentary. What a fascinating topic! The film contains great choices of visuals and interviews. The pacing was great and I didn't want it to end. I had so many "Huh! I never knew that" moments while viewing. The list of celebrities who performed at the Lambertville Music Circus is impressive. The behind-the-scenes segments concisely establishes the dedication and incredible hard work musical theater performers of earlier decades possessed. The evolution of the Music Circus through the decades was an interesting lesson in how a theater needs to change in order to survive. This documentary is a wonderful way to preserve an important piece of New Jersey history.