Duke Paoa Kahanamoku Centennial, 1914-2014

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Re: Duke Paoa Kahanamoku Centennial, 1914-2014

Post by surfresearch » Wed Dec 31, 2014 6:53 pm

Thursday 31st December 1914: Duke’s Lost Films
(and The Charge of the Australian Light Horse).

(For Albie Thoms and Jack McCoy)

As reports of Duke’s exhibition at Freshwater spread across the Australian press, by New Year’s Eve, he was appearing on-screen. At Goulburn’s Empire Theatre, the multi-feature program included the weekly edition of The Australian Gazette.

"The Australian Gazette presents Duke Kahanamoku, the swimmer, who is at present visiting Australia, and the Light Horse manoeuvres at Liverpool recently which resulted in damage to the camera and operators.”

The Australian Gazette was a package of recent news events and novelty items filmed by the local production unit of Union Theatres and Australasian Films, formed in 1913. Largely through their distribution of imported films, the company dominated cinema in Australia until the late 1920s. The Duke films, along with all the Gazettes, were screened nationally.

Although Australia Screen, previously the National Film and Sound Archives, has some material from the Australian Gazette, it has only a miniscule portion of the catalogue of over 1,000 weekly installments. Regrettably, none of the Duke films have survived.

Apart from appearing in the amusements section of the classifieds, no other contemporary report indicates that movie cameras were at any of the events on the Duke tour. It is possible that this reflected company policy, with some newspaper proprietors aware that this new media, the first being radio, could be a potential threat to their business. Their fears appear to have been realised, even if the process has required lots of new media, and about a hundred years.

Duke’s first appearance on Australian screens at the end of December could have been film of the arrival of the steamer in Sydney and the reception at the wharf. Or it may have been footage shot during the inspection of the Domain Pool on the following day; or a combination of both; or something else. Certainly, they would be all outdoor shots as cameras of the era could not operate effectively indoors.

However, the recording of the “Light Horse manoeuvres at Liverpool”, the other event in this release, is well documented. The footage was shot on Saturday, 12th December, two days before Duke’s arrival. This indicates that production, from filming to processing, cutting and adding the captions, normally took about two weeks. Still 15 years before the introduction of sound, and although these films are usually referred to as “silent,” in most cinemas there was musical accompaniment. Usually this was an in-house pianist, with some of the larger theatres featuring a small band.

At Liverpool, where the Light Horse was encamped, the Australian Gazette was there to record “the chief feature of the day, a cavalry charge.” The plan was for the troops to diverge to each side of the “three cinemato-graph photographers,” secured behind a barricade of bags and boxes. Two of the riders (and/or their horses) failed to turn in time. Fortunately the camera crew “escaped with a few scratches and bruises,” for one, merely “injuries to his leg and a slight wound from a bayonet in the head.” Most importantly,”although the camera was smashed to pieces, the film was not damaged.”

By Saturday 23rd January the Australian Gazette was showing “Kahanamoku winning the 220yds. Championship,” filmed at the Domain Pool during early January.

During March, after Duke and George Cuhna had left Sydney for a further round of exhibitions and competitions in New Zealand, film of Duke riding his board appeared in the Australian Gazette, teamed with footage from the State Championship Swimming Carnival held in Melbourne on the 17th February.

The most likely surf carnival would be Dee Why on 7th, the last of the surf riding exhibitions in Australia with the most promotion and the largest attendance. As previously noted, all this invaluable footage has been lost.

Shown all around the country, some of the more rabid enthusiasts along the coast could have arranged to see the surfing footage several times. The program for 9th March at Grafton’s Theatre Royal included the footage, described as “the great swimmer Kahamanoka (sic) at a surf carnival giving an exhibition on the surf board”, and no doubt Tommy Walker’s mates at Yamba made sure they had a ticket.

Australian Screen holds copies of a limited number of programs from the Australasia Gazette of this era, see:
http://aso.gov.au/titles/collections/au ... n-gazette/

The earliest known surfing film is by Mr. Bonine for the Edison Moving Picture Company in 1906, unfortunately this does not appear to be available online.

There is film of Waikiki in the 1920s with William and David Kahanamoku (and Dave's dog, Spot) riding solid wood boards, preceded by a unique sequence of Waikiki with a large swell running. Note that the three guys flopping around in the foreground (at Canoes?) are kooks, and the hot surfers are riding the larger waves outside of them.
Sons of the Surf, Waikiki Beach, Oahu, circa 1920
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUNh6dIqty0

Duke is shown winning a second Olympic gold medal at Antwerp in1920 at: http://www.olympic.org/videos/the-fathe ... mpic-games

In 1931, Duke appeared in an episode of Douglas Fairbank’s travel series, giving the famous film star a lesson in surfboard riding.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdhE1JVbisc

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Re: Duke Paoa Kahanamoku Centennial, 1914-2014

Post by surfresearch » Mon Jan 05, 2015 1:08 pm

Friday 1st January 1915: New Years Day
The Sydney Morning Herald and the Evening News presented a detailed outline of the competitors and events for tomorrow’s championship carnival to be held at the Domain Pool.The competitors In the final of the100 yard championship of New South Wales were Duke Kahanamoku (Hawaii), George Cunna (Hawaii), A. W. Barry (Sydney), B. J. Page (Randwick and Coogee), W. Longworth (Rose Bay), and L. Stedman (Melbourne).

As indicated in the classified section, the carnival started at 2.30 pm and reserved seats were 5/-, with general entry at 3/-, 2/- and 1/-.

Saturday 2nd January 1915:
Duke Dominates the First Domain Carnival.

Duke dominated the race, winning by over a body-length with, and his time for the straight 100 Yards was 53 4/5seconds. Cuhna was second, followed by Barry, W. Longworth, Page and Steedman.

Some of the spectators at the Domain Carnival may have had a copy of the Saturday Referee and the Arrow, in which, over a week after Duke’s first surf riding exhibition, Cecil Healy reported , somewhat remarkably, the following scene:
‘What's the boat for,' queried the Duke, in a surprised tone, when he espied the Manly L.S. Club's surf boat putting into Freshwater on Thursday last.
'We got them to bring it round to pull your board out for you.' replied Don Mclntyre, beaming with pride and delight at the thought that his favorite haunt was to be the scene of the famous Kahanamoku's first exhibition in Australia.

This is remarkable because Healy was not there, and demonstrates the speed and enthusiasm with which “Duke Stories” were generated. McIntyre was surely aware, if only through W. W. Hill, that the paddle-out is an integral component of surfboard riding, let alone distinct possibility that Duke had already test-ridden the board before the press arrived, even if it was only early that morning.

If the Manly surfboat was there, and Healy’s is the only report of this, it is more likely that, rather than being “summoned,” someone at the club was aware of the demonstration and a quick trip up to Freshwater and back in the surf-boat was not uncommon.

The record for the most outrageous “Duke Story” is his “terrific battle with a high-powered, man-eating eel" of January 1913, which was quickly dismissed with considerable ridicule. Healy’s story, however, regularly appears in accounts of the day, although often dated as sometime in January 1915.

Healy also noted that the supplement to the Surf-Bathing Association's handbook was now available and there had been contact with clubs from Wollongong, Port Macquarie and the Maranui Surf Club, in New Zeland. The Rev. Mr. Purnell, of Gerringong on the south coast, had requested “a complete life-saving outfit as a first step towards the formation of a local club.”

Following a recent carnival at North Steyne, plans were being made to regulate club colours and the wearing of caps, as the “colors worn in several instances were calculated to cause confusion to officials.” (my emphasis)


Sunday 3rd – 10th January 1915:
World’s Press notes: World’s Record Smashed!

Duke’s time of 53 4/5 seconds reduced the world record for the straight 100 yards by a full second, previously set by Duke himself in Honolulu earlier in the year. In 1915 this was seen as a remarkable achievement, in 2015 it is inconceivable.

By the end of the week, news of the record was reported by papers across the country, and progressively around the globe.

Duke had certainly made his mark in Australia, and the swimming officials could have only dreamed of such a performance, even if it saw their local heroes thrashed. However, they were competitive with George Cunha and clearly Duke was an exceptional athlete. The fact that the carnival was a sell-out erased any previous misgivings about the financial viability of the tour. A full-house and a world record also gave further impetus to complete the negotiations for an appearance in Melbourne.

For Duke, the pressure was largely “off,” and there could be no expectation that he could, or should, improve on his first appearance in the pool.

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Re: Duke Paoa Kahanamoku Centennial, 1914-2014

Post by surfresearch » Tue Jan 06, 2015 2:56 pm

5th January 1915:
Tommy Walker, New Year’s Day at Yamba.

During the first week of the 1915, the local press covered Yamba Surf Life Saving Brigade Carnival held on New Year’s Day. One paper wrote of Tommy’s “interesting exhibition of shooting the breakers on a redwood surf board 11 ft. long and 3 ft. wide,” while another reported that “it was fine to see him standing (sometimes on his head) on the board, sailing in at a fast rate of speed.” Aware of events at Freshwater widely acclaimed by the Sydney press, they commented:
“We can safely say that in Sam (sic) we have a great rival of ‘Duke’ Kahanamoukua (sic), who is at present creating such a sensation amoungst the surfing fraternity of Sydney."

6th January 1915:
The Second Domain Pool Carnival – Duke Can Be Beaten (Just)

Australian pride was somewhat restored with the final of the 440 yard championship, hotly contested between Duke and Tommy Adrian, of Manly. In the final lap, Adrian was ahead, but Duke stormed back to force an exciting finish with Adrian winning by the narrowest of margins. However, the time was slow, considerably above the world record set by Frank Beaurepaire, of Victoria, in June, 1910.

There was some disappointment in the crowd that Cunha and Barry would not compete head-to-head in the final of the 110 yards Inter-Club Handicap, both being eliminated in the heats. However, George Cunha did set a new Australian record for the distance. At 1 minute: 3 3/5, this took two-fifths of a second off the previous record, set by Duke four days earlier.

During the first Domain Carnival the program was adjusted, probably due to time constraints, and some of the scheduled high diving events were dropped. This prompted a letter of complaint to the Herald, the writer hoping that the diving would feature prominently at the next carnival. His wishes were answered, and the carnival of the 6th had a full program of diving exhibitions and competition, one reporter commenting that “there was a good deal of diving- a little too much in fact.”

Tommy Adrian wasn’t the only winner from Manly on the day. F. Lough, also representing the Manly Club, was victorious in “the chase the glow worm.” While this was clearly a novelty event, the actual rules or method are unknown.

7th January 1915:
“Money, Money, Money”- ABBA.

The Evening News gave details of the success of the first two carnivals, “takings on Wednesday night's carnival amounted to £160, a total of £750 for the two fixtures.”

The journalist went to some lengths to quash any rumours questioning the amateur status of Duke and Cunha. Those who “stated that Kahanamoku is to receive a big percentage of the receipts ... are making a huge blunder.” He confidently reported that “the visitors do not handle a single penny (and) Kahanamoku is not even allowed any pocket money.”

When questioned, Mr. W. W. Hill, who would have been fully aware of all the tour’s financial arrangements, noted that the American authorities had guaranteed Duke's amateur status. They also requested that the Australian organisations ensure this was not compromised, and he stated “We said we would do that, and we intend to keep our word.” It appears Billy Hill took every step necessary to ensure that Duke's amateur status was preserved.

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Re: Duke Paoa Kahanamoku Centennial, 1914-2014

Post by surfresearch » Wed Jan 07, 2015 1:13 pm

Friday 8th January 1915:
Duke Interviewed.

In an interview with the W. H. Corbett, of Sydney’s Sun, Duke commented on the antiquity of surfboard riding, and noted that, contrary to some theories:
“Shooting on a board and in a canoe must have started further back than body shooting.”

Corbett attributed the introduction of body-surfing (“surf-shooting”) to “Mr Fred C. Williams (who) picked up the art from a South Sea Islander and spread knowledge of it amoung the surfers on the favored beaches of the time.” The un-named “South Sea Islander” was Tommy Tana, who began body-surfing at Manly before the turn of the century.

Duke compared the waves and the body-shooting techniques of Sydney and Waikiki. He insisted that he was not the Hawaiian champion surf shooter, “because we had no competitions,” which may not strictly have been the case. From the early 1900s, surfboard events were scheduled at the annual Waikiki Regatta and by 1908 they came to be conducted by the Outrigger Canoe Club. Although, as any contest director knows, there was always the chance that the swell may not arrive as required.

Duke was listed as an entrant in the surfboard contest for the Waikiki Regatta scheduled for New Year’s Day 1907, The other competitors included Harry Steiner, Curtis Hustace, Dan Keawemahi, William Dole, Keanu, Dudy Miller, Atherton Gilman, Lane Webster, and James McCandless; all were noted for their skill on the surfboard and in the outrigger canoes. The swell conditions on the day were of little consequence, the whole regatta was cancelled with the arrival of “a storm in full blast.”

The Regatta was re-scheduled to February, and there was sufficient swell to swamp two of the sailing canoes. The surfboard riding contest was won by Harold Hustace, with honourable mentions for Harry Steiner and James McCandless. The surf riding contest in canoes, was won by Dr. A. C. Wall's Hanakeoke.

Most importantly, Duke was secure in his reputation as a surfboard shaper, as “there were none around Honolulu (who were) able to shape better than me.”

Finally, Corbett asked about his ear infections and Duke replied that “three or four times he had to seek medical attention, and found filling his ears with rubber plugs, which are procurable in Sydney, or using wadding saturated with oil, every time he swam till a cure was effected, helped him a great deal.” To ensure that he heard the starter's signals, he had plugged only one ear for his record breaking swim at the Domain Pool.

Saturday 9th January 1915:
An Easy 220 Yards, with a Sweet Turn, and a Ukulele “Serenade.”

While the weather was not ideal, with consistent showers, the attendance at the last championship carnival in Sydney was healthy. In the 220 yards final Duke cruised to an easy win in conservative time of 2 minutes 32 2/5 sec, four seconds shy of the late B. B. Kerian’s record of 1906.

Duke took the lead after the first three stokes and was a full length ahead before the turn. This was accomplished with so quickly that many in the crowd missed it, and on the way home his only potential competitor was Cunha, who swam off course and opened up the way for Page to come in second, although still three yards behind the winner. As Duke commented, “You can't smash records every time you go into the water.”

Following the carnival, the Hawaiian swimmers were entertained at dinner at the Fresh Food and Ice Company Cafe, King Street, Sydney, where there were a number of speeches and many toasts were proposed.

When it came time for Duke to respond, he did so by presenting a musical number, accompanying himself with the ukulele that had been provided by Manly’s George Walker. With Cunha and Evans in harmony, they performed Meliana e, and, for an encore, By the Sea. Although the performance earned a wonderful reception, one reporter found it unusual, “something between the high pitched notes of a mosquito and the angry hum of a swarm of bees on the wing.”

Back at Waikiki, the local surfers were engaged with a fight to preserve their environment , mounting opposition to an application before the Harbor Commissioners for the construction of an amusement pier. While some saw the project as a considerable financial asset, the surfer’s were concerned that “it will mar the beauty of Waikiki and interfere with bathing and surfing.”

Sunday 10th January 1915:
Surf-Shooting at Freshwater and Manly.

Unlike the surfboard exhibition for the Sydney press at Freshwater two weeks earlier, on this morning there was a sizable crowd, evidenced by several widely reprinted the photographs of the day. One long-shot depicts Duke leaving the water and another standing with S. Mound, the club captain in front of the Freshwater clubhouse indicate a crowd of approximately three hundred.

Duke was also photographed with his board standing in front of the clubhouse, the crowd parted around him and with Don McIntyre prominent in the background. There are a number of these, with Duke’s right arm in different positions, and some copies have been roughly cropped.

There are several shoots of Duke at Boomerang with, not surprisingly, Don McIntyre along with Fred Williams, Harry Hay, and others. These were possibly shot after the morning’s exhibition and before the surfers travelled south to Manly in the afternoon.

Strangely, there are no images of Duke riding the board on the day. One, which Tim Baker accredits to Don McIntyre, has only two bathers in the foreground and it is most likely that this was shot on some other day during a “free-session.”

The most significant photograph is one of Duke returning to the clubhouse with his board on his shoulder, surrounded by spectators and enthusiasts. This shows the surf as relatively clean and the swell about four feet, breaking about two hundred metres from the beach and with three lines of white-water. Most of the crowd are in swimming costumes including four juvenile enthusiasts carrying small hand boards and one with a prone board. Meanwhile, in the shore break a local is attempting to ride a large board.

According the, not wholly reliable, recollections of Isabel Letham and Claude West, it could be expected that they might appear in some of the Freshwater crowd shots. However, their presence has yet to be detected.

While Duke gave an exhibition of his body-surfing skills before he used the surfboard, most journalists gave all their attention to the later. The surf was considerably better than in December and Corbett reported:

"The Hawaiian spent the morning at Freshwater, where he had a favorable easterly roll, and what he did there in the way of board and surf shooting surprised every spectator.
He, as he put it himself, 'got it right' several times, and consequently was, on each occasion, seen at his best."

After the exhibition, Duke gave Fred Williams and H. M. Hay instruction in the use of the board, going to “considerable trouble explaining the how and why of his pet pastime.” Both novices were enthusiastic, telling Corbett that “we've already ordered a board each.” It is clear by now that reliable supplies of redwood billets had been located, but as he was about to leave for Queensland it probably wasn’t until Duke returned to Sydney at the end of the month that he would have been able to satisfy the demand for his boards.

The surf at Manly in the afternoon was not as good as the waves at Freshwater, but the crowd on the beach was significantly larger, some suggesting around a thousand. The crowd in the water was also larger, and Duke had to compete for the attention of the spectators with “local surfers, who wished to give exhibitions of their own at the same time.”

On his return from Queensland, Duke would give two further surfing exhibitions in February, one at Cronulla and on the following day at Dee Why where he demonstrated tandem surfing with a young girl from Freshwater, Isabel Letham.

While I intend to further cover the rest of the tour, it will now be at a more leisurely pace.

A Digression: I have also note the comment (question?) posted by Slobadan Madicubich, above.
If The Duke was white I wonder if this would still read like he was an owned commodity, being used for the benefit of his hosts capital return/ financial gain & ego.

Slobadan raises the issues of race and commoditisation. From another medium, the issue of sex has also been canvassed. In addition there is the matter of death; that is The War. By 1915 the first Australian troops had embarked for Europe and while columns were devoted to Duke’s exploits, despatches from the front consumed whole pages of newsprint. The honour- rolls of those who would not return would soon appear, and, before the conflict ended, they would include Duke’s competitor and enthusiastic supporter, Cecil Healy.

These are complex issues. I am attempting to allocate some time to think about these and I may comment more fully in the future.

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Re: Duke Paoa Kahanamoku Centennial, 1914-2014

Post by surfresearch » Fri Jan 09, 2015 6:49 am

Friday 9th and Saturday 10th January 2015.
Duke's 1914-1915 exhibitions are being celebrated this weekend at Freshwater Beach.
Assuming that someone has read this far, if you see me, say hello.

My own contribution is a paper (with the rather immodest title):
On the Origin of Surfboards
By Means of Design and Experimentation
or, A Natural Philosophy of the Art of Surf Riding.


Online at:
http://www.surfresearch.com.au/0000h_Origins.html

Geoff.

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Re: Duke Paoa Kahanamoku Centennial, 1914-2014

Post by Skipper » Fri Jan 09, 2015 8:14 pm

thanks for your efforts here Geoff.
Looked like a great day out (saw 7.30 report story just now..)

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Re: Duke Paoa Kahanamoku Centennial, 1914-2014

Post by surfresearch » Mon Jan 12, 2015 6:46 pm

Sunday 10th January 2015:
Dukes Day at Freshwater

Everyone associated with the event deserves congratulations for the immense amounts of time, effort and enthusiasm that made it such a success.

Firstly, whoever was responsible for ensuring the excellent weather and the +four foot easterly swell deserves everyone’s sincere thanks.

In particular, the efforts of Eric Middledorp (Don McIntyre) in the restoration of Duke’s board and the construction of the replica, Jack McCoy’s presentation of historical surfboards and the Surf Talk seminars organised by John Ogden, were outstanding.

Apologies to those subjected to my numerous faux pas.
Fred Hemmings- the 53 states of America (and yes Fred, I did get your resume)
Jack McCoy- for some ill-timed and ill-considered remarks on the status of replica surfboards.
Jodie Holmes – daughter of Darryl, not Paul.
Terry Fitzgerald-

Special thanks to the person who found my camera and handed it in to the office.

The Duke Team.
The word legend is often over-used, however as the only surfer to have a manoeuvre named after him, the Strauch Crouch, the status of Mr. Paul Strauch Jr. is unique (in the absolute strict sense of that word).

Mr. Fred Hemming’s water-skills and contribution to surfing is indisputable.

Mr. Joey Cabell ... sorry, I am simply lost for words.

Simply being in the presence of these three gentlemen was a humbling experience.

My personal fetish - It was some trepidation that I asked Mr. Cabell my question:
On the North Shore in the winter of 1967-1968 you rode a Hobie surfboard with a yellow bottom with a blue foil on the deck. This has been variously reported as 9ft 3” and 9 ft 5’’ and as shaped by Dick Brewer?
Joey responded that the board was about 9ft 5” and that he shaped it.

Students of the era would recall that this winter has been often proclaimed as the beginnings of the Short Board Revolution, said to be initiated by Nat Young, Bob McTavish and Dick Brewer, then on Maui. Joey’s board was virtually the same length as Nat’s, but with significantly less area or volume. All the available articles, photographs and film clearly demonstrate that Joey Cabell was the most outstanding surfer in Hawaii that season.

I can hardly wait for the Bi-centennial celebrations.

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