Wonderful newsreel footage (with sound!) of opening day at Yankee Stadium 1931

[obcbeatle]

Thanks for posting the link to this 1931 film (I love the banter between the Babe and Claire :-) ... plus the link to the USC video archive. Some cool film in there!

[irv]

Great video, thanks for sharing.

I noticed, at the 7:50 mark, the cameraman (seemed?) focused on 2 black gentlemen in the stands. The cameraman didn't move/pan away until the one black gentleman began to stare at the cameraman.

With Jackie not debuting until 1946, I also thought blacks had to sit in their own segregated areas while attending ball games and a whole other bunch of stuff. (back of the bus, etc)

I assume this was only certain states/ball diamonds?

History is funny, and I guess it all depends on who tells it, but I did find that surprising, those 2 gentlemen sitting there, among white people, all the way back in 1931.

[Buythatcard]

When was the last time any of us attended a game where almost every man wore a suit and tie?

[johnmh71]

I love this. Reminds me of the stories that my grandfather would tell me about going to games. I could close my eyes and smell the mix of cigarettes, cracker jack, and grass.

[Gary Dunaier]

Originally Posted by irv

I noticed, at the 7:50 mark, the cameraman (seemed?) focused on 2 black gentlemen in the stands. The cameraman didn't move/pan away until the one black gentleman began to stare at the cameraman.

I didn't think the camera was focusing on them. Didn't even notice them. Just a couple of faces in the crowd to me.

[mybuddyinc]

Fans in the bleacher seats:


"Pay less, cheer louder, and know more about Baseball than anyone else in the park .......... yet sit farthest away from home plate."

[irv]

Originally Posted by irv

Great video, thanks for sharing.

I noticed, at the 7:50 mark, the cameraman (seemed?) focused on 2 black gentlemen in the stands. The cameraman didn't move/pan away until the one black gentleman began to stare at the cameraman.

With Jackie not debuting until 1946, I also thought blacks had to sit in their own segregated areas while attending ball games and a whole other bunch of stuff. (back of the bus, etc)

I assume this was only certain states/ball diamonds?

History is funny, and I guess it all depends on who tells it, but I did find that surprising, those 2 gentlemen sitting there, among white people, all the way back in 1931.

Originally Posted by Gary Dunaier

I didn't think the camera was focusing on them. Didn't even notice them. Just a couple of faces in the crowd to me.

That's why I wrote seemed?

All that aside, I was just looking for a history lesson on what I asked. With Jackie not debuting until 1946, which was 15 years after this film was shot, it just struck me seeing these black gentlemen siting among whites.

I am glad to see it, don't get me wrong. It was just surprising for me to see them when I didn't think it was allowed/open like that back in 1931?