Film, Motion Picture

1946 Mackinac

Silent, color 16mm reel containing footage shot during the 1946 Port Huron to Mackinac Boat Race. The reel combines footage shot from an observer's point of view with footage taken on board one of the participating boats.

The reel opens with a series of shots taken on board an observation vessel. Most shots focus on the sailboats involved in the race, however the camera does turn toward the crowd on the observation vessel in several shots.

Following a brief shot of the race's course traced on a chart of the Great Lakes, the film resumes with the camera now aboard a sailboat involved in the race. Much of this portion of the film focuses on the activity of the boat's crew; however the camera does get several shots of the water, and passing boats.

A shot of an airplane flying overhead begins the next section of the reel. Here the camera is on board the Island Transportation Company passenger steamer ALGOMAH II. An "RC" burgee flies above its bow. After shots of people aboard the boat, the camera films the Mackinac Island, as the boat approaches. On the island, the camera captures people at the island's dock, Fort Mackinaw, a view of Main Street from the fort, the docks, a horse-drawn carriage, and the Grand Hotel.

The film then includes another shot of the chart showing the race course, this time focusing on upper Lake Huron and Mackinac Island. Then the camera films on a beach at dusk where a group of people--some in maritime dress uniform--are gathered. Several members of the group watch the water through binoculars, and the camera catches passing sailboats. A Bayview Yacht Club banner is visible in the background of some shots.

After a cut, the film resumes with daytime shots of sailboats, sailors, and bystanders along a pier off Mackinac Island. Shots of life preservers identity some of the boats as the IRIS of Alpena, the FAIR WIND, the MALABAR VI of the Detroit Yacht Club, and the JOSEPHINE III of Grosse Pointe. THE MARJORIE Q V of Spring Lake is also visible in the background of a shot. A group of sailors from the Detroit Yacht Club inspect a sail on the lawn below the Old Fort Mackinaw sign. After a brief shot of a sailboat under sail and of the island from a departing boat, a title card lists the race's winners:

A- CARINA
B- STORMY PETREL
C- HOOT MON
Racing- RANGOON

The film ends with a title card that reads, "A.Y.N., The end."

The film is on a metal reel housed within a metal canister. An adhesive label marked "1946 Mackinac" is on the canister's lid. "SC-34" is painted on the edge of the canister.