Joe Louis, Father Charles Coughlin, and 1935 World Series Newsreels (c. 1935)

detroithistori...
2002.022.001
35mm reel with optical audio containing a series of newsreels from the mid-1930s, covering the June 19, 1936 fight between Joe Louis and Max Schmeling, a new policy concerning the price of gold from Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau Jr., a positive response to said policy from Father Charles Coughlin, and the 1935 World Series between the Chicago Cubs and the Detroit Tigers. The reel also includes a theatre advertisement for Western Electric's Mirrophonic Sound Equipment.
The reel begins with a newsreel clip covering the first fight between Joe Louis and Max Schmeling on June 19, 1936. Title cards announce, "Extra! / Max Schmeling vs. Joe Louis Fight Pictures / The most thrilling and sensational upset in the history of the ring." Following brief high-contrast footage from the fight, additional title cards read, "See Max's wicked right in slow motion! / See the knockdown in the 4th round! / See the knockout in the 12th round!" The only audio during this segment is a musical soundtrack.
The second newsreel clip on the roll comes from Paramount News, and is titled "Concerning Your Dollar." It features U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau Jr. explaining a c. 1934 New Deal policy to raise the price of gold. Father Charles Coughlin is also filmed speaking in support of the policy. The story's opening title card reads, "Washington-New money laws aimed to steady purchasing power of dollar! Secretary of the Treasury Morgenthau explains President's gold policy."
A segment follows extolling the fidelity of Western Electric's Mirrophonic Sound Equipment. The scroll explains that the management of the theater is upgrading to the system.
The first of several newsreels recounting the 1935 World Series comes next, with a Hearst Metrotone News segment on the first game titled "World Series Special! Detroit Tigers defeated by the Chicago Cubs as baseball classic opens." This story opens with a pan across the packed stands of Navin Field. Featured highlights of a game include a shot of Augie Galan of the Cubs batting a double, then getting home in the first run of the game on an error while Billy Herman was at bat, Tiger Jo-Jo White at bat, Pete Fox batting a double in the Tiger's first hit of the game, Tigers Goose Goslin and Hank Greenberg making a unsuccessful runs to first base, and fans existing the stadium below the scoreboard.
Next, in a Paramount News clip titled "Detroit Tigers World Champs," the series' sixth and final game at Navin Field is detailed. This reel features Tigers pitcher Tommy Bridges catching Billy Herman's foul ball, Pete Fox bringing Mickey Cochrane home in the bottom of the first, Billy Herman's home run in the 5th inning, and Goose Goslin's winning hit (and subsequent crowd reaction). The story ends with a brief remark from Mickey Cochrane.
Another Paramount News clip follows. This one focuses on the first game of the series, and is titled, "Cubs Win Opener, 3 to 0." This newsreel again opens with a pan across Navin Field. Afterward, Mickey Cochrane and Charlie Grimm are shown shaking hands and exchanging works for the press before the game. This story also feature's Augie Galan of the Cubs getting the game's first hit, Billy Herman scoring two separate runs, Pete Fox getting to second base, and the final play of the game.
Next, a Hearst Metrotone News reel titled, "World Series Special! Chicago Cubs in first home game loss to Detroit Tigers," covers the third game of the series. This reel features a pan across Wrigley Field, Frank Demaree's home run off Tigers' pitcher Elden Auker, Stan Hack scoring the Cubs' second run, fans in the stands, Billy Jurges scoring the team's third run, and the Tiger's turnaround in the 8th inner thanks to plays by Pete Fox, Charlie Gehringer, Goose Goslin, and Jo-Jo White. Charlie Grimm is also shown being ejected from the game by an umpire.