Spills and Thrills (1950s)

This happy pair make figure skating look deceptively simple. Their wealth of talent hiding the unending practice hours necessary to achieve such artistry. >> [music] >> They capture first place Olympic honors and end with the skaters all revoir. >> [music] >> They're off on the speed skating dash with competition roaring hot on the oval ice rink. >> [music] >> In the Olympics, two men skate at a time and each is clocked separately. >> [music] [music] >> America and Norway fight it out straining every fiber and muscle to swiftly cover the icy course. >> [music] [music] [music] >> Finn Helgesen of Norway forges ahead and sets up a new Olympic record for the 500 meter event. 43 and 1/10 seconds as he crosses the line. More speed as the daring bobsled riders face a mile of sheer ice downhill and around breakneck curves. Despite sub-freezing winds biting their exposed faces, they rocket down the icy course oblivious to the elements. >> [music] >> In both the two-man and four-man events, Americans take high honors and boost their scores to new heights. >> [music] [music] >> And now, beauteous Barbara Ann Scott, Canada's sparkling ballerina of the ice, thrills the crowds to loud applause and shouts of bravo with an outstanding exhibition of figure skating. This is the tremendous moment for the 18-year-old queen of the ice. >> [music] >> Difficult spins, turns, and jumps appear effortless as she delineates the most difficult routines in graceful, rhythmic style. >> [music] >> Long before the judges announce their scores, the cheering crowds acclaim Miss Scott the winner and champion of all in her class. Here, Canada's glamorous ambassadress exceeds the expectations of her host of admirers. >> [music] [bell] >> Beauty and talent flash to new brilliance as her teammates hold high the queen of the flashing blades. Another Olympic and World's Championship is in the making as 18-year-old Richard Button of Englewood, New Jersey, makes a clean sweep of both the school figures and free skating. The New Jersey lad gives the most amazing exhibition of his career in a flawless display of ice artistry, overcoming the lead of his staunch competitor from Switzerland. >> [music] >> Jumps and tingling spins executed with grace and precision lift the New Jersey lads point standing [music] far and above all rivals. His mastery of the art belies his youth and outshines all more mature competition. >> [music] [music] >> Dick Button, prince of the silver blades. Another victory in the making for Uncle Sam as 31 women plummet down the zigzag slalom course, cutting corners with twists and turns in a race against time. Forging ahead of all competition is Mrs. Gretchen Fraser of Vancouver, Washington, who makes a spectacular run to capture the slalom honors for America for the first time in history. Pigtails and all. Now all eyes were pit their skill against the vast Alpine reaches of snow and ice. It's speed, speed, and more When they spill, they spill fast and many come to grief on the hazardous slopes. >> [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] >> Come. Come over the snow-covered slopes as the Winter Olympics come to a roaring finish and become sports history as nations meet in a spirit of friendly competition and brotherhood. >> Zig zagging Kam al lulu. Here where white crested combers roll in on famed Waikiki beach, the sport is riding the surf, not the sea. These outrigger canoes of traditional native design, built for swift passage in the boiling surf, though seaworthy, are extremely tricky to handle. >> [music] [music] [music] >> Roaring in on the foaming crest, only expert teamwork and perfect coordination are between a thrill and a crashing spill. >> [music] [music] >> But surf boarding is the island pastime, probably more closely associated with Waikiki than even the hula. Paddling out these 100 lb slabs of koa wood is no easy job for the novice, for it takes practice and plenty of back muscle. >> [music] >> Finding an incoming wave, the rider assumes his stance on the slope of the roller just ahead of the crest. Using one foot as a rudder, no little skill is required to hold one of these dancing planks on the crest of a comber that may reach a height of 15 ft before breaking. >> [music] >> Hey there, WATCH IT, COWBOY. OH, WHAT A SPILL. But others go on to new records, new racing models. Larger and faster, these streamlined torpedoes fairly fly over the Potomac in their dash for the President's Cup. Their thundering engines driving them practically through the churning waters. They skid dangerously around the hairpin turns in their death-defying struggle for fame and fortune. Bluebird II, built and designed by that racing king of speed, Sir Malcolm Campbell, is the fastest thing afloat. >> [music] [music] >> Here on the placid waters of Lake Coniston, she is launched for a trial run. >> [music] >> And she's away with Campbell at the wheel, hitting an all-time record speed.