Film, Motion Picture

The Detroit Lions 1954 Football Highlights

16mm black and white film "The Detroit Lions 1954 Football Highlights," produced by Tel Ra Productions for the Goebel Brewing Company. Detroit Lions announcer Van Patrick introduces the film and announcer Jim Leaming provides voice over. The game footage comes from "seven of the most exciting, most dramatic games," from the regular season, omitting the Championship Game.

The reel opens with title cards stating the film is presented by the Goebel Brewing Company. Van Patrick is then shown seated in an office set where he introduces the film.

Highlights follow from the opening day game at Briggs Stadium against the Chicago Bears. The footage from this game's first half includes a 100 year touchdown by Bill Bowman (33), an interception by Bill Stits (20), a field goal kick by Jim Martin (62), a 18-yard gain by Doak Walker (37), a touchdown pass from Tom Dublinski (19) to Jug Girard (23), and a touchdown by Dorne Dibble (84) following passes by Dublinski and Bob Hoernschemeyer (14). Following a clip of the half time show, plays featured in the second half include a 53-yard gain by Walker, a touchdown pass from Hoernschemeyer to Bowman, a 35-yard gain by Hoernschemeyer, a touchdown play by Dublinski and Lew Carpenter (34), Walker making a touchdown following a punt by Chicago, and Walker's final touchdown of the game.

The next game featured is the is Los Angeles Rams at the Detroit Lions on October 10th. The footage from this game's first half includes gains made by Lew Carpenter and Bill Bowman culminating in a touchdown by Tom Dublinski, a field goal by the Rams, a play where Leon Hart (82) makes it to the Ram's 32 yard line, and an interception by Bill Stits (20). After a some brief footage of the half time show, highlights from the second half are featured. These include a touchdown by Carl Karilivacz (21), and a 60 yard touchdown by Lew Carpenter.

Next, the October 24th game between the Detroit Lions and the undefeated San Francisco 49ers at Kezar Stadium, is featured. In this game, the 49ers establish an early lead. The Lions unsuccessfully attempt to turn the tide with major plays that include passes from Bobby Layne (22) to Dorne Dibble and from Layne to Jug Girard, a touchdown pass from Layne to Jim Doran, a 55-yard gain by Doak Walker, a trap play centered around Bob Hoernschemeyer, a touchdown pass from Tom Dublinski to Doran, passes from Dublinski Walker and Dibble that culminates in a touchdown by Hoernschemeyer, and another touchdown pass from Dublinski to Walker.

The October 31st game in Los Angeles against the Rams is featured next. Highlights from the Lions here include a 9-yard advance by Hoernschemeyer, a 33-yard field goal by Doak Walker, a touchdown by Dorne Dibble, a touchdown by Leon Hart following a fumble, a pair of passes from Bobby Layne to Jim Doran, a field goal by Walker, an advance by Lew Carpenter, and a touchdown by Hoernschemeyer that results in a come-from-behind victory.

Next, the Lions get a rematch against the 49ers in a November 14th game at Briggs Stadium in front of what's noted to be a record crowd. Highlights here include Sonny Gandee (85) delivering a hit that results in a fumble off of the opening kickoff, a field goal by Doak Walker, a pass from Layne to Walker, an advance by Hoernschemeyer, a touchdown by Layne, a 47-yard advance by Walker, a touchdown pass by Layne to Jim Doran, a 24-yard advance following a pass from Layne to Leon Hart, an 18-yard advance by Walker, a field goal by Walker, an interception by LaVern Torgeson (53), a touchdown pass from Layne to Jug Girard, a long pass from Hoernschemeyer Walker resulting in a touchdown, a touchdown by Bill Bowman following a 66-yard run, and a 43-yard touchdown sprint by Bowman.

The next section of the film contains highlights from the Thanksgiving Day game against the Green Bay Packers at Briggs Stadium. Plays of note here include a gain of 13 yards by Bob Hoernschemeyer after a pass from Bobby Layne, a pass from Layne to Dorne Dibble, Layne's 100th touchdown pass which is caught by Doak Walker, an interception leading to a touchdown by Jack Christiansen (24), Dibble maneuvering around several Packers players after a pass from Layne, a touchdown by Lew Carpenter, and a 60-yard touchdown by Christiansen.

The final game of the regular season against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Municipal Stadium on December 19, 1954 is featured next. The game is played during a snowstorm. Lions highlights in the first half include a 32-yard gain by Leon Hart. A marching band is shown performing in the snow during the half time show. In the second half, clips include advances made by Doak Walker and Bill Bowman, a pass from Bobby Layne to Bowman, a quarterback sneak made by Layne, a touchdown pass from Layne to Dorne Dibble, a 30-yard gain made by Layne, a missed field goal by Doak Walker, an 18-yard and 14-yard pass from Layne to Jug Girard, a pass from Layne to Walker, and two more passes to Girard culminating in a last minute touchdown.

The film omits the 1954 Championship Game, and instead ends by returning to Van Patrick and the office set for closing remarks.

The film is housed in a grey metal tin with a Goebel Brewing Company form from a loan of the film to the St. Philomena Dads Club taped over the cannister's Tel Ra label.