Guide to the Papers of Cletus Ball

Searching...

MS 10720

National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record

Created: May 2023

Collection Summary

Creator
Ball, Cletus
Title
Papers of Cletus Ball
Date Range
1943 - 2000
Collection Number
MS 10720
Extent
5.1 metres (9 MS boxes + 1 medium folio box + 3 map folios)
Language of Materials
English
Repository
Special Collections (Manuscripts)

Introduction

Content Description

Cletus Ball was a performer who helped to develop what is recognised internationally as Australia's prowess for acrobatic comedy, known as "Australian Knockabout". He was a leading proponent of this style of performance, as well as other dance-like partner acrobatics. This collection comprises Cletus Ball's notebooks, correspondence, photographs, programs, circus and performance routines and other papers relating to The Flying Fruit Fly Circus and the various acts he performed with during his career.

Conditions Governing Access

Access conditions may apply to this collection, please refer to the collection's catalogue record for further information (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn8813396).

Conditions Governing Use

Conditions for copying and publishing of this collection may apply, please refer to the collection's catalogue record for further information (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn8813396).

Preferred Citation

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Cletus Ball, National Library of Australia, MS 10720, [class/series/file/item number(s)]'.

Finding Aid Source(s)

Please note: This finding aid contains descriptive information provided by donors, researchers and/or volunteers.

Item Descriptions

Class 1. Consignment received April 2023, 1943 - 2000

This consignment comprises the papers of Cletus Ball. Cletus Ball was a performer who helped to develop what is recognised internationally as Australia's prowess for acrobatic comedy, known as "Australian Knockabout". He was a leading proponent of this style of performance, as well as other dance-like partner acrobatics. This collection comprises Cletus Ball's notebooks, correspondence, photographs, programs, circus and performance routines and other papers relating to The Flying Fruit Fly Circus and the various acts he performed with during his career.

Articles about Cletus Ball's life and Service Order for his funeral, 1990's to 2022 (File 1) - Box 1 (MS 10720)

Service Order includes eulogy. Note: this item contains racially sensitive content that may be disturbing to some viewers. Discretion is advised.

Certificates and photos from attendance at Marist Brothers' School, 1943 to 1945 (File 2) - Box 1 (MS 10720)

Certificates of secondary study, photos of premiership rugby team and cricket averages.

Royal Performance Program, 3 November 1958 (Item 3) - Box 1 (MS 10720)

Performance for Her Majesty the Queen, The Coliseum, London.

Royal Performance Program, 14 November 1966 (Item 4) - Box 1 (MS 10720)

Performance for Her Majesty the Queen Mother, The Palladium, London.

The Three Warrens, 1950s (File 5) - Box 1 (MS 10720)

Collection of photographs and newspaper clippings.

Dior Dancers, 1950s (File 6) - Box 1 (MS 10720)

Includes newspaper clippings, list of performances and other artists, photographs and routines.

Australian Contemporary Dance Company – Beth and Victor Dean, 1959 to 1961 (File 7) - Box 1 (MS 10720)

Includes programs, newspaper clippings and program for Princess Alexandra's visit.

Beth Dean Ballet, 1959 to 1961 (File 8) - Box 1 (MS 10720)

Includes photographs, newspaper clippings, programs and notes.

Bal Caron Trio (Cletus Ball, Ian and Heather Maclaren), 1963 to 1965 (File 9) - Box 1 (MS 10720)

Collection of photographs and programs from Latin Quarter, New York.

Bal Caron Trio (Cletus Ball, Ian and Heather Maclaren), 1960 to 1966 (File 10) - Box 2 (MS 10720)

Includes programs, notes, photographs and newspaper clippings.

Bal Caron Trio (Cletus Ball, Ian and Heather Maclaren), 1962 to 1966 (File 11) - Box 2 (MS 10720)

Includes programs, notes, photographs and newspaper clippings.

Bal Caron Trio (Cletus Ball, Ian and Heather Maclaren), 1963 to 1968 (File 12) - Box 2 (MS 10720)

Includes programs, notes, photographs and newspaper clippings.

Bal Caron Trio (Cletus Ball, Ian and Heather Maclaren), 1963 to 1968 (File 13) - Box 2 (MS 10720)

Includes programs, notes, photographs and newspaper clippings.

Bal Caron Trio Routines, 1963 to 1968 (File 14) - Box 2 (MS 10720)

Collection of photos and programs.

Menu from Valescure, France, 1963 (Item 15) - Box 3 (MS 10720)

International performance programs, 1950s-2010s (File 16) - Box 3 (MS 10720)

Part 1.

International performance programs, 1950s-2010s (File 17) - Box 3 (MS 10720)

Part 2.

Winter Gardens Pavilion Blackpool poster, c. 1960s (Item 17/1) - Map-Folio 13 (MS 10720)

Includes the Bal Caron Trio.

International performance programs, 1950s-2010s (File 18) - Box 3 (MS 10720)

Part 3.

Newspaper clippings, 1950s-2010s (File 19) - Box 3 (MS 10720)

Part 1.

Newspaper clippings, 1950s-2010s (File 20) - Box 3 (MS 10720)

Part 2.

Personal documents, 1950s-1960s (File 21) - Box 4 (MS 10720)

Telegrams and letters, 1950s-1970s (File 22) - Box 4 (MS 10720)

Postcards and event invitations, 1950s-2000s (File 23) - Box 4 (MS 10720)

Reflections on early days written by Cletus Ball, 1930s-1960s (File 24) - Box 4 (MS 10720)

Handwritten notes.

Reflections on time in show business written by Cletus Ball, 1950s-1970s (File 25) - Box 4 (MS 10720)

Handwritten notes.

Schedules of performances, 1950s-1990s (File 26) - Box 4 (MS 10720)

Handwritten notes.

Bal Caron Trio (Cletus Ball, Wayne Price and Leanne Miller), 1980s (File 27) - Box 4 (MS 10720)

Collection of photographs and routine outlines.

The Common Clown Company, 1980s (File 28a) - Box 5 (MS 10720)

Scripts and routines.

The Common Clown Company, 1980s (File 28b) - Box 5 (MS 10720)

Scripts and routines.

Performing acts trained by Cletus Ball, 1980s-1990s (File 29) - Box 5 (MS 10720)

Includes photographs, pamphlets and notes.

Price and McCoy (Terry Price and Tim Freeman, in later years Henning Pedersen), 1980s-2000s (File 30) - Box 5 (MS 10720)

Includes photos, letters and newspaper clippings.

The Leaping Loonies (Norman Anderson, Daniel Thew, Tim Freeman and later Gwendoline Trimboli), 1980s-1990s (File 31) - Box 5 (MS 10720)

Includes notes, programs and photographs. Recipients in Mo Award for variety act. Note: this item contains racially sensitive content that may be disturbing to some viewers. Discretion is advised.

The Two Dags (Cletus Ball and Tim Freeman), 1990-1994 (File 32) - Box 5 (MS 10720)

Includes programs, newspaper clippings, schedules and photographs.

Cletus Ball's collection of notes on the circus, 1970s-2000s (File 33) - Box 6 (MS 10720)

Includes Lessons for Clowns booklet and newspaper clippings.

Flying Fruit Fly Circus - Albury, NSW, 1990s-2010s (File 34) - Box 6 (MS 10720)

Includes routines, notes and newspaper clippings.

Fruit Bats (part of Flying Fruit Fly Circus for over 50s), 1980s (File 35) - Box 6 (MS 10720)

Includes routines and photographs.

Photos of Cletus Ball clowning, 1980s (File 36) - Box 6 (MS 10720)

Includes newspaper clippings and notes.

Training and routines, 1970s-2000s (File 37) - Box 6 (MS 10720)

Handwritten notes.

Diagrams of routines, 1970s-2000s (File 38) - Box 6 (MS 10720)

Handwritten notes and illustrations.

Routines for trios and duos, 1950s-1960s (File 39) - Box 6 (MS 10720)

Handwritten notes.

Knockabout slapstick and comedy routines, 1950s-1980s (File 40) - Box 7 (MS 10720)

Handwritten notes.

Circus routines and tricks, 1980s-2000s (File 41) - Box 7 (MS 10720)

Handwritten notes.

Routines for clowns, 1980s-2000s (File 42) - Box 7 (MS 10720)

Handwritten notes.

Routines, 1970s-2000s (File 43) - Box 7 (MS 10720)

Handwritten notes.

Routines, 1980s-2000s (File 44) - Box 7 (MS 10720)

Handwritten notes.

Routines, 1980s-2000s (File 45) - Box 7 (MS 10720)

Handwritten notes.

Notes of interest copied by Cletus Ball, 1950s-2000s (File 46) - Box 8 (MS 10720)

Hand written notes.

Collection of songs suitable for knockabout routines, n. d. (File 47) - Box 8 (MS 10720)

Magazines and programs, 1950s-1990s (File 48) - Box 8 (MS 10720)

Pages of interest have been bookmarked by Cletus Ball. Note: this item contains racially sensitive content that may be disturbing to some viewers. Discretion is advised.

Photographs, 1950s-1980s (File 49) - Box 8 (MS 10720)

Including wedding photographs to Heather Maclaren.

Small photograph album, 1950s-1980s (Item 49/1) - Box 8 (MS 10720)

Large photograph album, 1950s-1960s (Item 50) - Box 9 (MS 10720)

Magazines, 1950s-1980s (File 51a) - Box 9 (MS 10720)

Pages of interest have been bookmarked by Cletus Ball.

Magazines, 1950s-1980s (File 51b) - Box 9 (MS 10720)

Pages of interest have been bookmarked by Cletus Ball.

Documents relating to performance group, c. 1960s (File 52) - Box 9 (MS 10720)

Note: this item contains racially sensitive content that may be disturbing to some viewers. Discretion is advised.

Poster for performance in New Zealand, c. 1960s (Item 52/1) - Map-Folio 10 (MS 10720)

Note: this item contains racially sensitive content that may be disturbing to some viewers. Discretion is advised.

Poster for performance in New Zealand, c. 1960s (Item 52/2) - Map-Folio 11 (MS 10720)

Note: this item contains racially sensitive content that may be disturbing to some viewers. Discretion is advised.

Large photograph album, 1940s-1950s (Item 53) - Folio-Box 12 (MS 10720)

Newspaper clippings, 1960s-1990s (File 54) - Folio-Box 12 (MS 10720)

Include articles about Cletus Ball.

Issue of "The Illustrated London News", 26 November 1966 (Item 55) - Folio-Box 12 (MS 10720)

Issue of "The Australian Women's Weekly", 11 March 1970 (Item 56) - Folio-Box 12 (MS 10720)

Scrapbook, 1950s-1960s (Item 57) - Folio-Box 12 (MS 10720)

Includes newspaper articles, cards and programs. Note: this item contains racially sensitive content that may be disturbing to some viewers. Discretion is advised.


Top