Universal-International Newsreel[Knife-Thrower and Children] (ca. 1950s)

Texas: Knife-thrower Louella Gallagher throws knives at her daughters Connie Ann, 5, and Colleena Sue, 2-1/2, missing them skillfully as the knives enter a board. Newsreel story.

This item is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives

Producer: Universal-International Newsreel
Audio/Visual: Sd, B&W
Keywords: Newsreels; Mothers; Surrealism

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: Spuzz - - December 31, 2005
Subject: Lucky Daughters!

Mom brings her kids to work and uses them as human targets! Luckily she misses. Newsreel reporter doesnt express any irony in this story at all, which makes this equally troubling. Whats even more eerie is the cute poses the kid has when Mom is throwing knives at her head. Yikes!

Reviewer: Marysz - - February 16, 2004
Subject: What was this mother thinking?

The Archives rightly classifies this film under the dual categories of Motherhood and Surrealism, and motherhood has never seemed so surreal as we watch a grim-faced Texas mother hurl knives at her two desperately smiling daughters. This scary film was made in the 50s, but it seems more reminiscent of the kind of stunts that poverty-stricken Americans resorted to during the Depression. A crowd watches and circus music plays as she throws the knives. There doesnÂt seem to be a father around. Maybe she was a single mom and she supported her kids by taking them to rodeos and county fairs and doing this knife stunt. We can sympathize with her lot, but it certainly doesnÂt make this film any easier to watch. Connie Ann and Colleena Sue must be in their fifties now. It would be interesting to hear their side of this story.

Reviewer: Christine Hennig - - December 9, 2003
Subject: Whatever You Do, Don't Distract Her!

Can you spell Âchild endangermentÂ? I thought you could. In this newsreel featurette, a mom whoÂs a circus performer throws knives at her two daughters, ages 5 and 21/2. Now I know sheÂs a skilled performer and the point is that she misses, but donÂt scare me like that!
Ratings: Camp/Humor Value: ****. Weirdness: ****. Historical Interest: ****. Overall Rating: ****.

Reviewer: Lewis Payne - - February 13, 2003
Subject: Good Parenting

A wonderfully irresponsible knife-thrower, hurling cleavers (for a shortish distance) at her two very young daughters for a crowd of children. Charges of child endangerment would ensue if this ever happened these days; a cool little look into the into what was considered harmless entertainment way back when.

Shotlist

Texas: Knife-thrower Louella Gallagher throws knives at her daughters Connie Ann, 5, and Colleena Sue, 2-1/2, missing them skillfully as the knives enter a board
VS mom throwing knives at daughters
VS reaction shots, anxious audience, young girls
CU demented mother throwing knives
CU girl flinching as knives hit board alongside her head