South Side in Peril as Raging Fire Takes $6,000,000 Damage Toll (Universal Newsreel, Aug 1932)

Description

The original release sheet reads: 1. SOUTH SIDE IN PERIL AS RAGING FIRE TAKES $6,000,000 DAMAGE TOLL: CHICAGO, IL - A grain dust explosion in the five-story Quincy Elevator starts the Windy City’s worst conflagration in a decade. Leaping to the Omaha Packing plant and to the Crane Lumber Yard, the flames turn the Chicago River front into a seething furnace. Half the city’s fire apparatus, including several fire-boats, seek to stem the blaze. Thousands of spectators risk danger to watch the billowing flame-clouds and falling walls. More than a thousand hogs, sheep and cattle are burned to ashes and a million bushels of grain go up in smoke. The most spectacular holocaust seen here since the Great Fire of ’71. 2. 8 COUPLES REMAIN IN GRUELING 3-MONTH DANCING MARATHON: CONEY ISLAND, NY - 2185 consecutive hours of one-stepping, fox-trotting and waltzing, is the amazing achievement to date, of the long-distance “hoofers” who are “stepping out” the Summer in a special arena at the nation’s playground. There were 66 couples at first, but the 91st day of the contest sees only a few left, and they have to be dragged out on the floor and set on their feet following their brief rest periods. The men and women take turns about, sleeping on each other’s shoulders and moving their feet in their slumber. A remarkable spectacle of human endurance — or something. 3. LAVISH ARRAY MARKS ANNIVERSARY FETE OF ANCIENT METROPOLIS: KYOTO, JAPAN - A score of huge floats, elaborately decorated and embellished, are drawn through the streets of this wealthy city in the Flowery Kingdom’s most colorful celebration. Built 1200 years ago and costing a half-million dollars a year to repair and maintain, the great juggernauts awe thousands, gazing rapturously at their golden and bejeweled splendor. Hundreds of gaily dressed school children, aided by strong men, drag the beautifully carved vehicles through Shijo-Dori, the local Main Street, in Nippon’s most gorgeous festival. 4. THE TIDE TURNS, PART II - Business optimism rises as revival of industry puts thousands back on nation’s payrolls. CLIFTON HEIGHTS, PA - State’s leading woolen mill re-opens at capacity as overjoyed workers again take their places at machines. MILWAUKEE, WI- Big shoe factory, swamped with orders, re-hires 600 former employees and now runs full blast. SACRAMENTO, CA - Huge fruit-packing plant puts 2200 to work canning this year’s peach crop. Happy factory girls storm the doors as the whistle blows for “start work.” NEW YORK, NY - Business up-turn and slump “relief” reflected by crowds dining and dancing at hotel roof gardens and other pleasure palaces. 5. U.S. INCREASES LEAD IN OLYMPICS AS MORE WORLD RECORDS FALL: LOS ANGELES, CA - Cheered by 85,000 speed-mad spectators, track and field aces from the four corners of the globe outdo all previous efforts in strength and stamina and new world heroes rise to unheard of heights of prowess. Bill Miller of Stanford upholds the supremacy of America by a hair’s breadth in the pole vault against a dark horse from Japan. George Saling, the Iowa flash, outraces his team-mates to make the 110-meter hurdles a one-two-three sweep for the U.S. Eddie Tolan, the Michigan marvel, does it again, showing his heels to the pack in the 200-meter dash. Another 1-2-3 for Uncle Sam, the colored boy emerging as a twenty-year record breaker with both the 100- and 200-meter scalps in his belt. Finland takes one-two-three in the javelin throw with powerful Matti Jarvinen hurling the spear 20 feet further than the former Olympic mark. “Babe” Didrikson, the Dallas whiz, noses out her team-mate, Evelyn Hall, by two inches in the 80-meter hurdles for women. Japan’s sun rises for the first time in the 1932 games when Chuhei Nambu sets a new world and Olympic record of 51 feet 7 inches in the Hop, Skip and Jump. Italy provides an upset as Luigi Beccali runs the field off its feet in the 1500-meter race. Bill Carr, the Arkansas Traveler, again outruns his West Coast rival, Ben Eastman of Stanford, to win top honors for the U.S. in the 400-meter run. Finland jumps into second place with Iso Hollo’s walk-away in the 3000-meter steeplechase, resulting in a 70-yard margin for the young Scandinavian typesetter. And again, Finland is awarded top laurels as Lauri Lehtinen, in a sensational finish, gets first place in the 5000-meter run, with Ralph Hill, Oregon college star, a surprising second by three inches. The greatest, most breath-taking series of athletic spectacles ever seen in this country. (LOCAL – CANADA) PREMIER HENRY AT LEASIDE PARK DEDICATION.

Collection

MCA/Universal Pictures Collection

Series

Motion Picture Releases of the Universal Newsreel Library