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Dancing Man

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For the 1934 film, see Dancing Man (film). For the Los Angeles Clippers fan, see Clipper Darrell.

Dancing Man, Sydney, Australia, 15 August 1945

Dancing Man is the name given to a photograph of a man who was filmed dancing on the street in Sydney, Australia, after the end of World War II. It is frequently reported that this was just a spontaneous, lucky on the spot filming co-incidence, but this is not the case. On 15 August 1945, it was shot in 35mm movie film by a senior Movietone News cameraman, Jim Pearson. Another report says he took note of a man's joyful expression and dance and asked him to do it once again. The man consented and was caught on motion picture film This was actually not the case.

In fact the truth is the complete opposite. His son, Bill Pearson (who followed his father to become a Movietone cameraman), recalls his father frequently telling the story of this Armistice Day around the family dinner table from as young as he can remember. Jim cleverly orchestrated this sequence from beginning to end, phoning up the dancer the night before, and paying him to perform as he directed. Jim also bribed the tram driver to allow him to tie his heavy tripod to the front of the tram, and also arranged the soldier holding the newspaper with "Peace" on the cover, to hold it up for the camera at just the right time. Nothing happened in this filming by chance. It was all cleverly arranged and directed.

As a result, the story unsurprisingly literally went around the world, and still remains the first film library clip documentaries and television show producers turn to today to illustrate the joy of the Armistice. The film and stills from it have taken on iconic status in Australian history and culture, and symbolize joyous elation to the war's end.

Identity

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There has been much debate as to the identity of the dancing man. Frank McAlary, a retired barrister, claims that he was the man photographed pirouetting in Elizabeth Street, Sydney, on 15 August 1945. A Queen's Counsel, Chester Porter, and a former Compensation Court judge, Barry Egan, both claim to have seen McAlary being filmed dancing.[1] The television programme Where Are They Now?, produced by Australia's Seven Network, attempted to solve the mystery of the dancing man's identity. The network hired a forensic scientist who examined the film reel and picture and came to the conclusion that it was indeed McAlary.

The Royal Australian Mint, however, chose to portray Ern Hill as the dancing man on a 2005 issue $1 coin commemorating 60 years since the World War II armistice. Hill has made a statement: "The camera came along and I did a bit of a jump around."[1] The coin, sculpted by Wojciech Pietranik, does not bear any name.

Rebecca Keenan of Film World Pty. Ltd., says the dancer may be Patrick Blackall.[2] Mr. Blackall has claimed, "I'm the genuine dancing man," and has signed statutory declarations that he is the man in the film.[2] These remain not alone as many others maintain a claim to the moment, it is not conclusive and may never be.

Frank A. Epton, a retired Chartered Accountant living in Alstonville, New South Wales before he died in February 2013, claimed that he was one of the soldiers in the background of the still image of the dancing man (the soldier without a hat). Papers and photos found in his possession during the administration of his estate support his assertion.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Who is the dancing man?." Macy, Richard. Sydney Morning Herald 8 December 2004
  2. ^ a b Stephens, Tony (29 July 1995). "Is Ern Hill the mystery dancing man of 1945?". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  3. ^ Swan, Robert (13 April 2013). "Immortalised in a historical reel". The Northern Star. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
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