1930’s SPORTS NEWSREEL

Year Published: 1920’

Format: 16mm

Description: This film from the Van Beuren Corporation was part of a series called the "Grantland Rice Sportlights", named after commentator Grantland Rice. Rice began his career as a sports writer for the New York Tribune, and eventually contributed to films such as this one. Van Beuren Studios (:07) was a New York based studio which provided live action shorts for Paramount from the 1920’s to 1936. The film begins with the Moore-McCormack cargo / passenger ship SS Honolulu on a voyage to Hawaii (:16). (The ship was scrapped in 1934 so this footage predates that year.) Guests on the ship deck are seen walking across as a music band leads them (:26). The crowd is seen gathering around the band (:44). Ring tennis is played by passengers (1:16) as a ring is tossed back and forth over the net between teams of two. Target practice is shown with two men with rifles aim and fire at clay pigeons (1:43). Humorous footage follows of guests conducting relay races with players racing on kiddie bikes as spectators line the deck (2:18). Three women then race back and forth gathering potatoes for another relay race (2:41). A baby bottle contest shows pairs of women feeding men from baby bottles (3:26). The men are blindfolded for the contest (4:09). The film turns to Greenwich, Connecticut to catch speed boats (4:19). Speed boats are seen zooming across waters (4:32). Spectators watch the race as the boats bounce off the water’s waves (5:01). In Larchmont, New York, Regatta Day is shown at a yacht club (5:26). Sail boats are seen moving through the water (5:53). In Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, outrigger canoes are seen riding alongside surfers (6:18). A long line of surfers riding waves follows (6:29). A small passenger plane (6:57) provides tourists with aerial views of roads and bridges connecting islands over waterways (7:20). As the plane touches down, along its side reads "Tri-Motored Air Tours" (7:56). The film begins to conclude as the passengers unload from the plane (8:12).

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