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1946
BOSTON BRAVES
"Take Me Out To The Wigwam", the first Braves motion picture film ever produced as well as one of the oldest films made by any major league club, is now available on home video from Rare Sportsfilms! Narrated by long-time play-by-play voice of the Boston Braves Jim Britt, the 32-minute B & W film is similar in format to "The Braves Family", a color film which appeared a year later. An absolute must for Boston Braves fans, this new video is a historic look at the beginnings of the final glory days of the Braves in Boston!
The original film is partly promotional and emphasises the exciting changes occuring with the team and at the ballpark, including the advent of night baseball in Boston. The rest of the film is more instructional in nature, with closeups of individual members of the team giving tips on how to play good baseball.
The film opens with mention of the acquisition of 20-game winner Mort Cooper and the signing of the highly respected Billy Southworth to manage the Braves. Shown at the signing ceremony are Southworth, G.M. John Quinn and the "Three Little Steam-Shovels" (Joe Maney, Guido Rugo and Lou Perini). Interesting shots of old Braves Field and the surrounding neighborhood emphasize the recent improvements made both outside and inside the park. Covered in the film is the promotion of night baseball in Boston (the Sox were still playing only day games) and the new lighting system at Braves Field. Shots of the players in their unusual night game satin uniforms are included, however very little game action footage is shown. Brief shots show the very first night game in Boston (May, 1946), and Frank Fallon in the radio booth broadcasting night games over WMEX. One of the most spectacular shots in the film shows an air view of the park at night from a low flying single-engine plane buzzing over a packed Braves Field!
Other new players recently acquired by the Braves include Don Padget, Billy Herman, Johnny Hopp, Danny Litwhiler and Si Johnson. Coaches Jake Flowers and Johnny Cooney are also shown in nice close-up poses, along with Nanny Fernandez, Ed Wright, Jim Wallace and Bama Rowell. The instructional segment shows the Braves players themselves demonstrating how they play their positions. All are in uniform and in Braves field during a special morning filming session. Shown are Johnny Sain, Warren Spahn, Phil Masi, Johnny Hopp, Billy Herman, Dick Culler and Connie Ryan. Especially nice are shots of fan favorite Tommy Holmes demonstrating good batting form and right field play - great shots of the outfield fence signs and the Jury Box!
To get your own beautifully restored copy of this rare B & W film, send $29.95 plus $3.20 for shipping. (Illinois residents must add $2.00 tax.)
"RARE SPORTSFILMS N",
1126 Tennyson Lane,
Naperville, IL 60540
(630) 527-8890
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