The Sports Parade (a.k.a. “The Sport Parade”) was a short film series of Warner Bros. that was regularly shown before the main studio feature, along with another Warner-Vitaphone short, Joe McDoakes comedy and/or Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons. The average running time of each film was between nine and eleven minutes.
Overview
Virtually all of these were filmed in Technicolor. (A few early ones used Cinecolor as it gradually replaced the Vitaphone Color Parade on Warner’s short subject program.) This gave them an advantage over rival series like Paramount Sportlights with Grantland Rice, Columbia World of Sports, RKO Pathé Sportscopes, Universal Variety Views, and MGM Pete Smith “Football Thrills”, which used color sparingly for special entries. Warner’s most prolific competitor in Technicolor live-action shorts, 20th Century-Fox, produced only 20 out of 100+ Movietone Sports Reviews from the late thirties through early fifties in color. In the era before television, it was considered more economical to shoot in black and white like the newsreels.
Although Warner Bros. separated this series from its less sports-oriented series Technicolor Adventure (film series) during the later 1940s, many post-war Sports Parades resembled high quality color travelogues of the period, showcasing a variety of recreational pursuits in the Caribbean, South America, Europe, Egypt, India and Australia. André de la Varre supervised many of the best international productions, while Edwin E. Olsen and ski expert Dick Durrance were particularly skilled at using hand-held cameras for up-front action shots. Howard Hill specialized in archery and Van Campen Heilner handled many fishing and camping reels for both Warner and studio rival RKO. Despite lacking high profile sports news commentators, key radio veterans like Art Gilmore and Marvin Miller put a lot of energy and enthusiasm into their narration.
The series won three Academy Awards and was nominated three other times. Despite being phased out in 1956, they were successfully reissued throughout the sixties since many of the topics had a timeless appeal and were always popular at the box office.
List of titles
Below is a listing of titles by year of release, listed by title / major credits / release date / notes of interest. Only a few have made DVD release.
1940 TitleMajor creditsRelease dateNotesFootball Highlights (Football Thrills) De Leon Anthony; narrator: Wendell Niles August 31 (preview) Overview of newsreel clips includes scenes with Knute Rockne (some footage in black & white)Fly Fishing Dick Miller & Del Frazier; music: Rex Dunn; narrator: Wendell Niles September 21Diary of a Racing Pigeon producer: Gordon Hollingshead; director: Del Frazier; music: Howard Jackson; narrator: Knox Manning November 30 birds showcasedCalifornia Thoroughbreds director: Del Frazier; music: Howard Jackson; narrator: Wendell Niles December 22
1941 TitleMajor creditsRelease dateNotesFight, Fish, Fight Bob Edge (director); music: Rex Dunn; narrator: Wendell Niles March 1 Hunting marlin in New ZealandSky Sailing music: William Lava; narrator: Knox Manning April 19 Covers sport of glidingBig Bill Tilden producer: Gordon Hollingshead; director: Del Frazier; music: William Lava; narrator: John Deering May 24 Tennis reel with Bill TildenSail Ho co-produced by Cinesound Productions; director: Del Frazier; music: Rex Dunn; narrator: Knox Manning June 14 Following a sailor in AustraliaIt Happens on Rollers director: Del Frazier; music: William Lava; narrator: Knox Manning July 12 Features Gloria NordskogLions for Sale producer: Gordon Hollingshead; director: Del Frazier; music: Rex Dunn; narrator: Knox Manning August 9 Sometimes billed as a “Color Parade”, filmed in a two-color process. Covers lions trained for circuses. On DVD for Sergeant York.Kings of the Turf producer: Gordon Hollingshead; director: Del Frazier; writer: Harold Medford; music: Rex Dunn; narrator: Knox Manning September 27 Covers Mortimer, a horse, being trained for harness racing. Nominee for Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. Included on DVD of The Great Lie. Water Sports director: Del Frazier; music: William Lava; narrator: Knox Manning November 1 Shot mostly at Beverly Hills poolKing Salmon director: Del Frazier; music: Rex Dunn; narrator: Knox Manning December 20 Profiles the fish life cycle.
1942 TitleMajor creditsRelease dateNotesRodeo Roundup director: Del Frazier; music: Howard Jackson January 31 Features Montie MontanaHunting Dogs at Work director: Del Frazier; music: William Lava; narrator: Knox Manning February 20 Shoot Yourself Some Golf producer: Gordon Hollingshead; director: Del Frazier; music: William Lava April 4 Jimmy Thomson instructs Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman. DVD release with Gentleman Jim (film)Rocky Mountain Big Game director: Bob Edge; music: Rex Dunn; narrator: Knox Manning May 2 Hiking in the Rockies, terrain of the bighorn sheep. DVD release Captains of the CloudsHatteras Honkers director: Del Frazier; music: Rex Dunn; narrator: Knox Manning June 6 Fishing at Cape HatterasA Hunter's Paradise director: Del Frazier; narrator: Knox Manning July 11 Covers jaguar and other wildlife in Matto Grasso (Brazil).Argentine Horses director: Del Frazier; music: Rex Dunn; narrator: Knox Manning August 8 Sniffer Soldiers director: Del Frazier; music: William Lava September 12 Training U.S. Army dogs at Fort MacArthur in San Pedro, Los Angeles.South American Sports directors: Del Frazier & James Bloodworth; music: Howard Jackson; narrator: Knox Manning October 17 Mostly covering ArgentinaThe Right Timing director: Del Frazier; music: William Lava; narrator: Art Gilmore October 31 Showcases USC athletes in training. A DVD extra with Gentleman Jim (film)America's Battle of Beauty music: Howard Jackson; narrator: Knox Manning & Sidney Blackmer November 21 Travelogue comparing California with Florida in their recreational pursuits.Horses! Horses! Horses! music: Howard Jackson; narrator: Knox Manning December 26
1943 TitleMajor creditsRelease dateNotesCuba, Land of Adventure and Sport music: Howard Jackson; narrator: Knox Manning January 16 vintage Cuba recreationWomen in Sports director: Del Frazier; music: William Lava; narrator: Knox Manning February 20 Sporting Dogs music: Howard Jackson; narrator: Knox Manning March 20 With Rod and Reel on Anticosti Island producer: A. Pam Blumenthal; director: Van Campen Heilner; music: Howard Jackson May 1 Canadian fishing reel shot at Anticosti IslandRover's Rangers director: Larry Lansburgh; music: William Lava; narrator: Art Gilmore May 22 Working dogs in agriculture and the Red Cross.Grey, White and Blue producer: A. Pam Blumenthall; director: Van Campen Heilner; music: William Lava; narrator: Lou Marcelle June 19 Profiles geese and other wildlife in Mississippi, Sacramento Valley and Cape HatterasSnow Sports producers: A. Pam Blumenthal & Van Campen Heilner; director: André de la Varre; music: William Lava; narrator: Art Gilmore July 24 Sports at Lake Placid, New YorkDude Ranch Buckaroos producer: Gordon Hollingshead; director: Arnold Albert; music: Howard Jackson; narrator: Lou Marcelle August 14 Horse-riding and lassoing in CaliforniaTropical Sportland producers: A. Pam Blumenthal & Van Campen Heilner; director: André de la Varre; music: William Lava; narrator: Sidney Blackmer October 9 Florida travelogueDesert Playground producer: Gordon Hollingshead; director: Arnold Albert; music: Howard Jackson; narrator: Art Gilmore November 13 Tour of Palm Springs, California
1944 TitleMajor creditsRelease dateNotesInto the Clouds director: James Bloodworth; music: William Lava; narrator: Lou Marcelle January 1 Ski troops train at Camp Hale and Mount McKinley.Baa, Baa, Blacksheep producer: Gordon Hollingshead; director: André de la Varre; music: Howard Jackson; narrator: Knox Manning January 22 Montana ranchingDogie Roundup producers: A. Pam Blumenthal & Van Campen Heilner; director: André de la Varre; music: William Lava; narrator: Knox Manning February 26 Montana ranchingChinatown Champs producers: A. Pam Blumenthal & Van Campen Heilner; director: André de la Varre; music: Howard Jackson; narrator: Knox Manning March 18 Tour of Chinatown, San FranciscoBackyard Golf producers: A. Pam Blumenthal & Van Campen Heilner; director: André de la Varre; music: Howard Jackson; narrator: Knox Manning April 22 Mexican Sportland Luis Osorno Barona; narrator: Knox Manning May 13 Mexico travelogueFilipino Sports Parade Howard Hill; music: William Lava; narrator: Knox Manning June 17 Howard Hill makes an appearance with ex-natives training at Camp Cook in California.Cattlemen's Days producers: A. Pam Blumenthal & Van Campen Heilner; director: André de la Varre; music: Howard Jackson; narrator: Knox Manning June 24 Rodeo reelColorado Trout producers: A. Pam Blumenthal & Van Campen Heilner; director: André de la Varre; music: Howard Jackson; narrator: Sam Balter July 1 Bluenose Schooner National Film Board of Canada directed by: Eduard Buckman & Douglas Sinclair; music: Rex Dunn August 4 Canadian release: December 1943. Initially 20 minutes but cut down to one-reel. Covers a Nova Scotia fishing fleet.Champions of the Future Howard Hill; music: Howard Jackson; narrator: Sam Balter November 18 Covers children and sportsCalifornia, Here We Are music: Howard Jackson; narrator: Knox Manning December 18 travelogueCuba Calling producers: A. Pam Blumenthal & André de la Varre; director: Van Campen Heilner; music: Howard Jackson; narrator: Sam Balter December 23 Cuba recreationThe Birds and the Beasts Were There producers: A. Pam Blumenthal & Van Campen Heilner: director: André de la Varre; music: Rex Dunn; narrator: Knox Manning December 30 Covers Jungle Island in Miami, Florida
1945 TitleMajor creditsRelease dateNotesGlamour in Sports producers: A. Pam Blumenthal & Van Campen Heilner: director: André de la Varre; music: Howard Jackson; narrator: Knox Manning January 13 Covers female athletes at Rollins College (Florida)Bikes and Skis producers: A. Pam Blumenthal & Van Campen Heilner: director: André de la Varre; music: Howard Jackson; narrator: Sam Balter February 10 Tour of Cypress Gardens (Florida)Swimcapades producers: A. Pam Blumenthal & Van Campen Heilner: director: André de la Varre; music: Howard Jackson; narrator: Knox Manning April 7 Silver Springs, FloridaWater Babies producers: A. Pam Blumenthal & Van Campen Heilner: director: André de la Varre; music: Howard Jackson May 19 Children sports in FloridaMexican Sea Sports producer: Gordon Hollingshead; director: Luis Osorno Barona; music: Rex Dunn May 26 Filmed in AcapulcoBahama Sea Sports producers: A. Pam Blumenthal & André de la Varre: Van Campen Heilner; music: Howard Jackson; narrator: Knox Manning June 23 Bahamas spear fishingFlivver Flying producer: Gordon Hollingshead; director: Randolph Clarity; music: Rex Dunn June 30 Contrasts new and antique planes and autos.Sports Go to War producers: A. Pam Blumenthal & André de la Varre; director: Van Campen Heilner; music: Howard Jackson; narrator: Knox Manning September 29 Focus is on Canadian soldiers in trainingArabians in the Rockies producers: A. Pam Blumenthal & Van Campen Heilner: director: André de la Varre; music: Rex Dunn; narrator: Knox Manning December 15 horse reelDays of '76 producers: A. Pam Blumenthal & Van Campen Heilner: director: André de la Varre; music: Howard Jackson; narrator: Roger Q. Denny December 22 Covers a festival at Deadwood, South Dakota
1946