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  • Short Summary

    Swimmers in California tackle the cold waters for prize money.

  • Description

    Item title reads: " For his sick mother's sake. 17 year old Canadian boy swims dangerous San Pedro Channel in 15 and 3/4 hours and wins fame and £5,000! He was the only one of 102 starters to finish."

    Catalina Island, California, United States of America (USA).

    M/S on a palm tree beach, the swimming contestants are prepared by having a thick layer of black grease smarmed over them. L/S beach with groups of people by the water including various black greasy figures making their way into the sea. They set off on their swim, going past a jetty and out into a bay. C/U one boy as he is given a drink in a cup from people in a rowing boat. A lone swimmer does a slow crawl. The winner is wrapped in blankets, he looks as if he is very cold and ill.

    Note: the black grease looks horrible and the winner looked chilled to the bone.

  • Tags

  • Data

    Film ID:
    668.21
    Media URN:
    26591
    Group:
    Pathe newsreels
    Archive:
    British Pathé
    Issue Date:
    03/02/1927
    Sound:
    Silent
    HD Format:
    Available on request
    Stock:
    Black & White
    Duration:
    00:01:52:00
    Time in/Out:
    01:30:51:00 / 01:32:43:00
    Canister:
    G 1369

Comments (1)

  1. jamied says

    The swim featured here took place on 15-16 January 1927.

    "The winner is wrapped in blankets" - his name is George Young. A short article about him can be read here....

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geo
    rge_Young_(swimmer)

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