SPORTS OF SAILORMEN

Dating to 1934, this short film depicts some of the various athletics and recreational activities available for Navy seamen and U.S. Naval Academy cadets. The film opens with shots of a group of bluejackets on a vessel -- probably an aircraft carrier -- located in Pacific waters conducting physical training exercises (:20). The Navy Band plays as the men limber up (:44). A few sailors are seen imitating a bronco ride with a saddle attached to ropes as other sailors jostle the rider about (:52). The top swimmers of the fleet dive into waters for a swimming meet (1:15). The winners were to bring trophies back to their ships (1:22). It was important for all sailors to know how to swim in full uniform (1:53). A few are seen racing against one another (2:03). The winner of the swim meet holds a large trophy among his shipmates (2:14). Indoor baseball training takes place in the Naval Academy gymnasium (2:37). Encircled by nets, sailors swing at balls and practice their pitches (2:42). These trainings were enacted as the fleet prepared to move southward (2:52) and whenever they were to visit a foreign port, the Navy put on an exhibition game (2:58). The midship fencing team practices to keep their skills sharp (3:16). Boxing is very popular for Navy men and a version where the participants are blindfolded and can only hear their opponent through the rattling of their tin cups follows (3:54). A roller skate battle pitches sailors against one another while rolling across the floor on roller skates (4:12). Boxers duel over a long cylindrical pole to entertain their fellow shipmen (4:31). The most popular event was the traditional form of the sport (8:13). Fleet Athletic Officers observe the boxers (5:22). In Central Park, New York, the city’s skyline is viewed while Navy men row small boats through the water (5:47). The Navy Whaleboat Race is seen as sailors race in long boats (6:14). Football techniques for midshipmen are practiced (6:37) on the ship’s deck (6:57). The men here are training for a game which was to played ashore -- likely against the Army team (7:16). This game is then shown with packed stands in a massive stadium (7:26). The film concludes as confetti is tossed upwards in celebration (8:23).

Complete catalog record

Transcription

here's the crew of just one of Uncle Sam's many ships limbering up for the busy day ahead of them besides keeping in trim for their jobs sailors are always training for one spot for another I would want a place to train in the Pacific salt air seagulls in flying fish daily audience and the ship's band to make it easier no wonder the Navy produces champion lots of the Navy boys come from the cow punching plains of the West nah they at home with a seahorse talk about freewheeling and knee action right on sailor just like ducks to water but a whole lot faster the best swimmers from the battleships in the swimming meet in every man out to bring home the trophy for his shift this may be called a crawl but with a speed it doesn't look like one come on the relay in white working uniform all Navy men must learn to swim with their clothes on while these boys putting on speed winning this race will give those extra points needed for the championship right Audi don't hit my face and now we proud after a cruise or two at sea Navy men get over seasickness but baseball fever never indoor baseball training at the Naval Academy gymnasium and these boys are getting ready for the big game that will be played when the fleet goes south whenever ships visit a foreign port the Navy's out to put on an exhibition game to show the natives just how American baseball should be played another navy sport swordplay was once an important part of naval fighting the midshipman fencing teams have been mainly responsible for keeping alive this ancient game of skill in China or turkey at san diego or hampton roads wherever there's a navy ship you'll find boxing's boxing for sport Roxy Poupon and sometimes to settle a small argument among shipmate the board ship you'll find every known variety of the manly art the chin cup game a free-for-all blindfold boxing match with a dish in one hand you can tell where your opponents are by hearing the tin cups rattle a roller skate battle royal this little parlor game was invented by the Navy there are no rules and it isn't pattinson you can try it anytime you want just the thing to liven up any doll park another version of the manly art it looks rough but they're just a couple of buddies providing entertainment for the rest of the crew during a ship's happy hour every ship has its quota of wrestlers and wrestling fans there's a big crowd on hand for every match but serious boxing is the Navy's most popular attraction bouncer held aboard ship and on the shore under the careful supervision of the fleet athletic officers and from the ranks of shipboard boxers have come many champion jockey and Tony were two of them central four and a sure sign that the fleets in town those ships are driven by steam and electricity every sailor likes to keep his hand on the oar Blue Jackets work hard for the honor of representing their ship and available great another big event in the Navy life Oh while school and college levels may train on bills the blue jacket gridiron candidates must prove their worth on hard deck let's go 94 38 let me one every man must lose his sea legs and get his land lay all the games will be played a show football is almost a religion in the Navy lucky is the man who makes the team characteristic of all navy sports and sportsman the Naval Academy 11

Sources

YouTube channel: PeriscopeFilm · video ↗ — title, year, format, description, catalog record, video

Original permalink · Record added 2025-01-23 16:38:32