Title:
1948 Philadelphia National Boat & Sportsman’s Show
REEL ID:
L063R010
RUN TIME:
0:08:21
FORMAT:
16mm motion picture film
FILM TYPE:
Color
SOUND:
Silent (no synchronized sound)
Description:
This historic home movie documents the 1948 Philadelphia National Boat & Sportsman’s Show, capturing both exhibition-related activity and public spectacle during the postwar expansion of American outdoor recreation. Shot on color film, the reel reflects a moment when boating, fishing, and sporting culture surged in popularity following World War II.
The film opens along a river where crowds gather to watch speedboats race across the water. Sleek powerboats cut through the river as spectators track the action with binoculars from the shoreline. A tug boat tows a speedboat between runs, while a plane passes overhead—suggesting coordinated demonstrations likely tied to promotional events associated with the show.
The footage then situates the event within the urban landscape of Philadelphia, with brief views of the cityscape reinforcing the scale of the gathering. The reel transitions into a visit to the Philadelphia Zoo, a common companion destination for families attending large city exhibitions in the late 1940s.
At the zoo, visitors stroll through walkways and fountains while observing a wide range of animal exhibits, including monkeys, parrots, Siberian tigers, lions, bears, elk, anteaters, tortoises, hippos, and polar bears. One standout sequence features a performing monkey riding a tricycle, while bears climb enclosure bars and stand upright—moments that drew strong public interest during the era.
Together, these scenes preserve a vivid record of postwar leisure culture in 1948—where trade exhibitions, live demonstrations, and family entertainment converged in one of America’s largest cities.
Tags:
1948, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Postwar America, National Boat and Sportsman’s Show, Boating exhibition, Outdoor recreation, Powerboat racing, Speedboats, River racing, Spectators, Binoculars, Tug boat, Aerial flyover, Trade show, Cityscape, Urban leisure, Philadelphia Zoo, Zoo visitors, Animal exhibits, Monkeys, Parrots, Siberian tiger, Lions, Bears, Polar bears, Elk, Anteater, Tortoise, Hippo, Monkey performance, Tricycle act, Midcentury Americana, Vintage exhibition footage, 16mm film, Color home movies, Analog film, Archival footage, Nostalgic footage