WBKB Channel 7 - Midwest Sports Special - "Inside the World of the Chicago Blackhawks" (1964)
Here's the complete (higher video quality) Midwest Sports Special documentary about the Chicago Blackhawks as aired over WBKB (now WLS) Channel 7. The host was Frank Sweeney.
This was transferred from the original film, and thus there are no commercials or promos.
Includes:
Academy leader countdown
Segment 1, with last moments of a game, after which players file into locker room, followed by host who calls this game's end "only the beginning" of this inside look, and a preview of what's to come
Opening titles (theme: "King Cotton March" by John Philip Sousa)
Segment 2, featuring the club's general manger Tommy Ivan, player-coach Billy Reay, and a demonstration of certain plays, stick handling and other ice skills by Phil Esposito (#7), Chico Maki (#16), John McKenzie (#18), Eric Nesterenko (#15), Fred Stanfield (#6), Stan Mikita (#21), Bill Hay (#11), Al MacNeil (#19), captain Pierre Pilote (#3), and Bobby Hull (#9)
Bumper
Segment 3, with more demonstrations of offensive moves by Hull, Hay, Elmer "Moose" Vasko (#4), Esposito, Matt Ravlich (#5) and goalie Glenn Hall (#1), followed by defensive demonstrations by John Brenneman (#12), Fred Stanfield (#6), Vasko, Ravlich and Mikita, and a demonstration of illegal moves by Nesterenko and Wayne Hillman (listed on databases as #18, but wearing #20 which was listed as Doug Jarrett's number) and explanations of moves by Coach Reay
Bumper
Segment 4, where Hull, his (second) wife Joanne McKay, and two children Brett and Bobby Jr. are interviewed; a look at Joanne's figure skating abilities, and children's budding hockey skills; and interviews with Mikita, McKenzie and Pilote; Coach Reay is heard but not seen at various points
Bumper
Segment 5, in which Hull speaks of hard parts of hockey, Vasko commenting on how he's one of three in NHL to stand 6' 3" while the average player's height, according to GM Ivan, is 5' 10"; hockey players' changes in behavior between on the ice and off it (as explained by Coach Reay), GM Ivan comments of "roughness" of hockey, explaining football's also pretty rough; a look at the injuries inherent in hockey as explained and shown by Pilote, Mikita and Esposito (who hadn't had any prior to becoming a Blackhawk), followed by trainer Nick Garen who shows how player injuries are dealt with (in a demonstration with McKenzie)
Bumper
Segment 6, including Bill Hay who demonstrates changing into hockey gear; a look at 'Standby Club' members Larry Chetienne (?) (president), Elaine Urich (?) (secretary), and "Big Chief" Maya (?) Lerman (?), 72 who attended games for 25 years through thick and thin; and interviews with NHL referee Vern Buffey, linesmen George Hayes and John D'Amico, and team GM Ivan, before shots of audience showing their appreciation and program end.
Closing credits (with "King Cotton March" music):
Midwest Sports Special
Produced by Cliff Braun
Directed by Sam Ventura
Associate Producer - Ronny Born
Production Assistant - Roger Goodman
Coordinators - Paul Frumkin, Arthur Morse
Cameraman - Bill Butler
Editor - John Oertel
Sound by Walter Oakes, William J. Blitgen
A Kupcinet Production in Association with WBKB Sports
This aired on local Chicago TV on Saturday, December 19th 1964 (and repeated on Saturday, March 20th 1965) during the 5:30pm to 6:30pm timeframe
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Love that in the intro, Billy Reay was arguing with the officials on the way down the steps. This is the Hockey I loved...nothing watered down...6 teams and only the best of the best made it to the show. If you put those same restraints on the NHL today....6 teams...only the best....wow....would that be a game!
Those were the good old days,total team effort, we all want out together after the games ,had fun fun 😊
Ms. Vasko, I played with the Cheyenes out of the Willow Springs Ice Chalet 1974-1975. Our coach was Mr. Vasko. Mr. Vaskos two sons played on the bantams, at the this time. Would you be related to Coach Vasko?
Hull doing pirouettes! Hysterical thought. What a great film this is. Thanks.
This brought back lots of fond memories from my childhood.
Me as well.
This is terrific. Sports journalism, and hockey, has come long way.
Great documentary!
I love this!
Producing sports specials seemed to be a thing with ABC O&O's. One, at WABC Channel 7 in New York, was a look at the Polo Grounds as it was being demolished in 1964 (after both the Mets and Jets moved to the brand-new Shea Stadium). Such specials were usually hosted by Howard Cosell.
Great documentary. Hull, Mikita, Espo, and Glenn Hall in net. And they still didn't win the cup. Goes to show how great the original six were in those days. Check out the footage at the 33 minute mark, great scene with Gordie Howe and those famous elbows.
The 1961 Blackhawks hold the distinction of being the only team not named Detroit,Montréal or Toronto to win the Stanley Cup during the six-team era of the NHL (1942-67).
And Pierre Pilote on D
Hawks could’ve and probably should’ve won at least one more Cup in the 1960s. The 1965 team lost to Montreal in seven games and in 1967, the Hawks had the best record in the league only to lose to eventual champion Toronto in the first round. Worst of all was 1971, a seven-game defeat to the Canadiens, who overcame a 2-0 deficit in games and a 2-0 deficit in Game 7.
@@oldsingingstudentdougbillf1665, PILOTE was a half French Canadian, half "First nationer". You can see how all "first natives" actually came here, and to Canada from MOSTLY Asia, see it when you look at Pierre's eyes.. Mikita from CZECHOSLOVAKIA originally, shows the RUSSIAN or UKRAINIAN ancestry in his background; again, its visible when you look at his face and eyes..
As a lifelong hockey fan since I was a kid in the '50s and '60s and the days of the Original Six, these kinds of hockey documentaries are extremely important historical documents. This is a truly excellent film to watch. It takes me right back in time to the days when those great players were my idols and heroes.
Excellent
This is a treasure trove!
Love the countdown at the beginning!
Couldn’t imagine these athletes..some that could play in today’s game speed and physical wise..playing it without a helmet. Easy concussions ice/boards/fist wise. 🏒🥅
Bill Masterton suffered the first (and so far, the only) on ice fatality when he hit his head on the ice and died as a rookie with the 1967-68 Minnesota North Stars. The hockey helmet was designed for him, what the warning track was designed for baseball great Pete Reiser. By the end of the 1970s, all players were required to wear helmets. The last former NHL stars to go helmetless were popular Washington Capitals defenseman Rod Langway and Guy LaFleur. The NHL has named an award after Masterton, which honors a player for his dedication on and off the ice.
Love that part with the trainer and John McKenzie getting stitched up and then heading back out to the ice. Makes you wonder just how much big badass LeBron's leg cramp hurt.
Nice appearance of Bobby Hull and his family in this film.
The trainer stitching up Pie McKenzie in the middle of the game 😮
Man, all those great names….what a team. Hard to believe no cup that year….
Stan the Man Mikita! No. 21. And Robert Marvin Hull. Force of nature. The perfect mesomorph, Time Magazine called him way back. Got both their autographs after a game against Blues in St. Louis. Mikita was unfriendly; Hull was super nice. Hawks had to wait on the bus while Golden Jet signed autographs for everyone!
Bill Hay is the brother of my mum's best childhood friend Donna Hay Ludwig. We stayed for a night or two at Bill Hays summer place in Alberta one time. He was a trip. Donna and her daughter LuAnn always visited us every year. When I went to Toronto for the ALA conference I went to the Hockey Hall of fame. Strangely I had no idea that Bill was the president at the time (20 years ago) and I missed him by like a minute. I wish I had known so could have probably gotten a personal tour....
amazing
The dynasty that wasn’t. Great teams from 60 to 67 that would just come up short when the rubber hit the road. Some blame it on the lack of defensive support, but I watched many games when the Hawks went into a shell, only to shut it down too early. The big nemesis was the Red Wings and their upsets in 62-63 and 63-64. 66-67 tore my heart out after winning the Prince of Wales and them looking like a sure thing to go all the way. I miss the old Madhouse on Madison. Had many a happy and glorious night there watching the great Hawk players.
Is the PA Roger Goodman the same guy who was a force at ABC Sports later?
So much fun to see these legendary players shown as if the audience has no idea what hockey is. Even if you don't you can still see that Bobby Hull is fast as f##k, Stan Mikita can deke you out of your jock and Espo will score on your mama. And thanks to the brilliant Chicago GM for giving us Espo, Stanfield and Hodge for Gilles Marotte, some sticks and pucks. 😂
Bruins definitely got the best of that trade, but don't forget the Hawks got Pit Martin in that trade. He had a great career with the Hawks.
Vern Buffey..one of the most disliked referees in the NHL along with Frank Udvari..not too many in their fan clubs..
lmao. Esposito is so young here....
I am still friends with Frank Sweeney's daughter
Dennis Hull as a teenager
Dennis' rookie year.
Who's the little kid on the ice at 3:20?
Bobby Hull Jr.
Now, looking at the end credits, I have to ask: Did Irv Kupcinet have his fingers in this production pie, given "A Kupcinet Production in association with WBKB Sports"?
Yes.
IRV's second job in addition to the media, was NFL on-field official/"zebra".
Tommy Ivan had absolutely no choice but to trade Phil Esposito. Absolutely no choice. My problem with that trade was in including Ken Hodge and Fred Stanfield.
So what did Esposito do do be traded? must have been stories I never heard of and I've been a Blackhawk fan since 64-65
A drunken Phil insulted Tommy Ivan at a postseason get together in full view and earshot of most of the team.@@michaelleroy9281
A previous Chicago cent-rick semi pertinent rant re NHL/WHA Etc: Bobby Hull & Stan Mikita~Pure Class! The International Amphitheater "On the South side of Chicago" and it's neighboring watering holes/Restaurants ~not far from where "The Boss"~(That's what Superb Newspaper Columnist Mike Royko named his Mayor Daley The 1st aka King Richard named his Daley Bio Book) Mayor Daley lived, he of the 1968 Democratic convention Riots ("The Whole World is Watching" & they were) TV/Radio/Newspaper quote "...The Police are here to Preserve Disorder...") were old school GR8 places! I had a fake Illinois Drivers License(~my Good Hearted oldest Brother is a Police Officer in Chgo...,Chgo cops gave family & friends "Get Out of Jail" Monopoly game knockoff business cards that worked in case there was ever ANY issues with "The Fuzz" etc. Born 11/19/56 & i looked like a 12/14 y/o Hippy in the early to late 70's but living in Chicago Taverns were "Liberal"~ie they wanted my money & i was thirsty & Dug the Drunk Hockey Dames, condoms were sold from machines in the Mens & Ladies rooms ba da bing! My very way cool GREAT FAMILY MAN Uncle Jim (James) Gimm RIP (WENT TO THE MONTREAL OLYMPICS!) took me to see The Hawks In the Late 60's/early to mid 70's, very loud especially if Bobby was on the ice & would stand up if He was on ice/near the Puck which He refers to as "The Biscuit", as Loud as Led Zeppelin~(1973 & 1975 as i "RAMBLE ON") at The Hawks home~The Chicago Stadium, the cigar/cigarette smoke filled the stadium 2/3rd's from above the boards & up for Black Hawks games the way Rock concert pot filled the air for Rock concerts, TightWad Booze magnet owner Wirtz thank goodness was to frugal/cheap to have decent ventilation & who would not allow home games to be televised (he thought it would keep fans from attending games~Big Dip S***) so home games on radio were called by The GREAT very smart businessman/Sports Fan Lloyd Pettit who also did the Cubs games way pre night games (now "the cubs" marketing tools hoi paloi yuppie hipsters in a bad way & bad drunks Rich persons team) and retired from announcing way early to open successful Rinks in Chgo area & Milwaukee! Uncle Jim and his work friend (who schooled me on Wingsmanship) knew where the players hung out & showed me, the Player's & Fans were awesome! DetRIOT Fans would come here for Red Wings games and were also a Blast, saw many hot tough Chicago Babes kick their drunk unsportsmanlike conduct butts at the drinking establishments after games, Gordy Howe would sit and enjoy watching when he was there. Robert Marvin Hull still say's Bobby Orr was The Best All around Player He Ever saw!.Keith Magnusen~sp & i think Pat Stapleton~sp both took Boxing Lessons in case there were any "extracurriculars" (as the Green Bay Packers Color radio announcers during games call it). Nobody ever would mess with Mr Howe! Cool how Hull's & Howe's kids became polished ice players. Our Sharp Suave Big Russian Teacher at Lane Tech HIGH school was also the Hockey Coach (Daley & Kool Coach Alderman Ed Kelly built McFetridge~sp Ice Rink near the school) and a Big Chic Magnet"! That is All", over but never out, Have Fun~Don't get Caught!, Bests, dtf . Ps, RIP to afore mentioned who are goners!
Chain of consciousness ramblings..
39:36 johnnie pie mckenzie sitting there alongside bill hay