You may remember the story six years ago in our January 2015 issue about Doak Ewing's film-buying trip to purchase over 275 NFL films out of a Natick, Massachusetts basement.   Almost a year ago the 72-year old owner of Rare Sportsfilms, Inc. went East on a similar venture to look at another group of NFL films, this time a very special one in Frederick, Maryland.

"I'm always interested in buying MORE vintage 16mm films on sports," says Doak.   "Often, I even buy films that I already own in an effort to get the very best copy of each title I have.  They don't make 16mm films anymore, so I figure it best to buy them whenever I can if they are in good shape."

A handshake and handful of cash completes the deal!

Now for a little NFL history not many people know.   After seeing Blair Motion Pictures' first pro football film, titled simply "NFL World Championship Game, 1962", NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle had wanted to work out a 1963 deal to sign Ed Sabol, owner of the fledgling company, to film the league.   Prior to Wolman's purchase of the Eagles, most of the owners had rejected the cost - $12,000 for each club.   But by the time Jerry had bought the Eagles (and was by now a multi-multi-millionaire), Rozelle approached Wolman, asking him to figure out a way to get the other owners to accept a Sabol-run film company in conjunction with the league.   The matter was again put on the agenda after the close of the season at a league meeting in Miami, Florida.   Jerry voted in favor of a Sabol-NFL combo, but others again held out.  They knew Sabol had no realistic place to operate professionally as would befit an NFL affiliate.   After thinking and listening silently as the other owners wrangled over Sabol's lack of proper accommodations required for the magnitude of the endeavor, Jerry stood up and declared he'd put their objections to bed. "I'll buy a building in which Sabol can operate."

With that proactive and positive support, the proposal this time passed, giving birth to what was to be named "NFL Films".   With his real estate experience plus almost $250,000 of his own money, Jerry Wolman secured the acquisition of the North 13th Street building in downtown Philadelphia, a grand building which even included a former theater!   This was the original building which housed NFL Films, and the company remained on the site until moving to Mount Laurel, New Jersey in 1981.   As the company is now recognized as an American institution, a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania historic marker was placed just outside the building in 2009, where it remains to this day!

          The lot of films totaled 108, including B & W and color film, both sound and silent film, most every team highlight from 1966, almost all 1966 Eagles games in color (including one that NFL films has lost) and several 1965 Play-by-Play Reports not even known to exist until now.   Almost a dozen B & W 1964 Eagle game films, never before seen were discovered in the lot.

We are already upgrading our collection and selling some films to serious collectors.   Others will be used to create more NFL DVD's for Rare Sportsfilms customers!  Thanks to Jody Koogle, another large collection of old NFL Films now has a new home at Rare Sportsfilms, Inc.   Doak asks, "Anybody else have any SPORTS films to sell??"

 

Also in storage with the films was an unopened case of the book titled "The World's Richest Man", the life story of Jerry Wolman, as told to Joe and Richard Bockol.

(See also related story below about this $32.00 hard-bound book, and get your own copy for only $5.00 + $4.00 shipping)