<strong>Babe</strong> The Media Star NEWSREEL TELLS THE STORY OF BABE AT THE OLYMPICS During the Great Depression, going to the movies was one of the few treats Americans could afford. For about 25¢, a person could see two movies, a short film about animals or unusual people or places, a couple of cartoons and a newsreel. A newsreel was a short film that shared the news of the day in an entertaining way. Below is the actual script from “The Wonder Girl,” a 1933 newsreel from Blackhawk Films about <strong>Babe</strong>’s triumphs at the 1932 Olympics. Read it aloud in class. In this version, it has been broken into parts for three announcers, but you can make more parts if you want to. Be like a real newsreel announcer and read with lots of enthusiasm. ANNOUNCER 1: In the discus throw you see the perfect coordination and timing that let the famous <strong>Babe</strong> win a big track meet single-handed that made her the main attraction of the recent Olympic games. Her discus record is 133 feet seven inches. It was “The <strong>Babe</strong>’s” first javelin throw that broke a world’s record for women and lifted 80 thousand cheering spectators to their feet at Los Angeles. ANNOUNCER 2: She broke a world's record by 11 feet, her first attempt by throwing a javelin 143 feet four inches. The final lash of hand, wrist and strong right arm does the trick. She’s never off balance. ANNOUNCER 3: In addition to speed, skill and grace, “The <strong>Babe</strong>” is amazingly strong. But again, it is her knack of timing that brings the women's shot putt record of 39 feet. ANNOUNCER 1: Along the ground or in the air, it makes no difference. High jumping is a difficult event. A sport for only the specialist. But the Texas cyclone conquers this one as easily as all the others. Watch the flexibility of her splendid leap. That kick and body twist are called the Western roll, and it’s the last word in style. And don’t forget the bar is resting five feet and four inches high. Her take off is perfectly timed. And she gets the height needed for distance. ANNOUNCER 3: Her broad jump record of 18 feet 8 inches is only one of her many world’s marks. ANNOUNCER 2: What is the answer Unusual physical quality, timing, coordination and competence. And a complete lack of tension tell the story of everything Miss Didrickson attempts in sports. ANNOUNCER 3: Miss Didrikson was the first girl to run 100 yards in 11 seconds. On your marks, get set, they’re off. ANNOUNCER 2: You get here the perfect picture of beautiful muscular development that gives her both speed and power needed for so many sports. She has the long stride needed for fast time. ANNOUNCER 1: “The <strong>Babe</strong>” has no fear of failure, and no discouragement in any sport. The 80 meter hurdle race brought her another Olympic crown when she established the world's record time of 11 and seven-tenths seconds. Few women are graceful hurdlers. Here is the hardest test in this respect. And there is no flaw to be found in her technique when she races neck and neck with a collegiate champion. ANNOUNCER 3: Track and field are only part of her play. Golf is one of her favorites of 20 sports. Her drives range from 240 to 260 yards. Olin Dutra, the famous golf pro, watched her free lashing motion and straight left arm. ANNOUNCER 2: And after she hit two drives he said, “I still don’t believe it.” That was a nice approach shot, <strong>Babe</strong>. ANNOUNCER 3: And sink the putt, because that’s all the golf we have time for today. ANNOUNCER 1: You might not believe she had any time left for tennis, but here’s the proof. All she needs again to reach championship class is more time for practice. Even Mrs. Helen Wills Moody has little more stroking power. The service looks more like a Vine or Tilden in action. And no leading tennis player has her foot speed around the court. Speed that is perfectly placed. Her forehand drive carries a world of smoke. ANNOUNCER 2: Now for some team play. Yes, “The <strong>Babe</strong>” is one of the greatest women basketball players of all time. You see her here as a member of the Golden Cyclone team of Dallas, Texas. ANNOUNCER 3: This team is composed almost entirely of All America girl stars.With its speed, skill, power, and dazzling passing ability it is one of the basketball sensations of the sporting world. But again it is “The <strong>Babe</strong>” who leads the parade. Her quickness, strength and her uncanny knack of timing tell the story. ANNOUNCER 2: And she happens to be a basket hawk, a sniper who can hit the mark. ANNOUNCER 1: On your mark, get set, go! ANNOUNCER 2: When it comes to swimming, the Texas marvel is only a fraction of a second back from the world mark for 100 meters. So far as swimming goes, there is hardly a flaw in her style of swimming the American crawl. ANNOUNCER 3: Water or land, it makes very little difference to her. ANNOUNCER 2: Here is another sport that <strong>Babe</strong> would like to try against champion competition, the swan dive. She has mastered almost every dive. Here is the half gainer. ANNOUNCER 1: The back jack proves that she’s close to championship form. And now the difficult two and a half. ANNOUNCER 3: “The <strong>Babe</strong>’s” skill at baseball is the most amazing feat of all. Few women ever learn how to properly throw a ball. But our wonder girl has all the form of a big leaguer. Miss Didrikson lines up for another and lets go one that would fool the toughest batters. ANNOUNCER 2: Watch her perfect delivery as she speeds a fast one right over the home plate. And as <strong>Babe</strong> Ruth remarked, “That girl bats like a Big Leaguer.” She rounds first, and it looks like a two-bagger. Look at that hook slide and she’s safe. ANNOUNCER 3: Can she field ANNOUNCER 1: Say, her accepted record throw is 296 feet and they land right at the plate. ANNOUNCER 2: Football Certainly, the Texas marvel takes it in her stride and is here working out with a strong Southern Methodist team. All she can do is kick, run, tackle and pass. A great Colgate coach Andy Furr remarks, she throws a pass perfectly, and her footwork is remarkable. ANNOUNCER 1: How is that for a pass, as straight as a bullet You can figure out yourself how much help a well powdered nose would be in a situation like this. She snares a pass and alludes all tacklers and is away for a score. Here’s the actual proof, this girl kicks like a veteran. <strong>Babe</strong> could probably outkick any front row girl in a Broadway chorus. ANNOUNCER 3: But no Broadway girl and few college players could match the Texas wonder girl for perfect timing in getting away a long soaring punt and then crashing through the defense to get her man with a flying tackle. ANNOUNCER 1: And watch out, boys of Notre Dame, California or Pitt, when <strong>Babe</strong> tackles you, you stay tackled. ANNOUNCER 2: <strong>Babe</strong> hasn’t any time yet for contract bridge or Ping-Pong, but lookout when she does.Well, let <strong>Babe</strong> Didrikson kick a placement for the winning point and call it a day. 8 Character of a Champion:
Comic Book Hero As <strong>Babe</strong>’s amazing athletic feats captured the national imagination, she was featured in newspaper articles, newsreels, and even a special edition comic book. Below are some images from that 1945 comic book. Do the math to match each block of text with the panel in which it belongs. 18 + 6 + 9 23 + 4 - 7 14 + 5 - 9 7 + 9 - 5 <strong>Babe</strong> Didrikson <strong>Zaharias</strong> 9
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