U-Matic

Grand Prix Party 85

U-Matic tape containing footage and interviews shot by the Department of Public Information at the 1985 Detroit Grand Prix, followed by portions of a WXYZ-TV news broadcast from September 27, 1984.

The tape opens with a pan from the roof of the Veterans Memorial Building showing the crowd gathered on bleachers in front of Cobo Hall, as well as on its roof. The sounds of the race cars can be heard in the background, as we as throughout most of the footage. The next shot appears to be taken from an elevated position north of Cobo Arena, and shows race cars on the track between Cobo and the Veterans Memorial Building. The LANSDOWNE is docked along the Detroit River in the background, and more spectators are gathered on the embankments overlooking the road, as well as on the balcony of Cobo Arena.

The third shot is taken from the ground on the mall outside of the Veterans Memorial Building. Food vendors line the south side of the scene. Corn dogs, French fries, and sausage are among their offerings. The barricades along the edge of the track are on the north side of the scene. The scene is crowded with spectators along the barricades, people waiting in line, and people walking past the camera.

The next section of the tape begins with an introduction from Dana Ferris of "WDPI News," (referring to the Department of Public Information) who appears with a microphone to interview attendees to the Grand Prix. She, and later another woman, ask a series of individuals and families for their opinions on the event, the city, where they're from, their concerns about construction for the race, the possibility of moving the race to Belle Isle, and about ideas for improving the race. During her interviews, Ferris invokes the city's "Be a Part of the Heart of Detroit" slogan from the "Do It In Detroit" campaign several times. Reactions to the race and city are generally positive, but several of the people interviewed complain about the difficulty of viewing the track.

The remainder of the tape contains a recording from a September 1984 broadcast of WXYZ-TV including WXYZ Action News and ABC World News . The recording begins with a WXYZ News segment on radio personalities Paul Harvey. The first commercial break features the "Now Showing" movie preview segment listing theaters and spotlighting "All of Me," "The Woman in Red," "Until September," and "The Evil That Men Do." After the commercial break Jerry Hodak gives a weather forecast.

After a brief cut in the recording, Action News returns with anchor Diana Lewis. She briefly discusses meetings between President Ronald Reagan, and Democratic presidential candidate Walter Mondale with Soviet minister Andrei Gromyko. Anchor Mike Holfeld then covers Vice President George Bush's appearance at Eisenhower High School in Saginaw. Reporter Mary Conway then discusses the Motivote get-out-the-vote campaign at Detroit churches. Organizer Rev. James Wadsworth is interviewed during the piece. Mike Holfeld then interviews Mondale supporter John Anderson about the election in a pre-recorded segment. Before the broadcast again cuts away to a commercial, Lewis also briefly covers Velma Barfield's execution in North Carolina and the discover of counterfeit money in Waterford. The Michigan State Lottery numbers are included in the following commercial break.

The next portion of the news broadcast begins with Lewis discussing the potential for price drops from the Michigan Consolidated Gas Company. Holfeld then reports on lower prime lending rates from Comerica and the National Bank of Detroit. Bob Dickerson of the Star-Lincoln Mercury dealership is featured for comment in this story. Lewis then mentions a new national contract for the United Mine Workers labor union. Sports reporter Steve Garagiola then presents the highlights from recent games by the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, and Michigan State Spartans' football team. He also covers the loss of Detroit boxer Alvin "Too Sweet" Hayes loss to Pedro Montero at Joe Louis Arena.

After the break, Lewis returns to cover an event by the International Association of Singles at the Troy Hilton Hotel. Jerry Hodak then again provides a weather report. making mention of Tropical Storm Isidore. The broadcast breaks for another set of commercials, then returns with more from Hodak, before this recording ends.

The recording then resumes with ABC World News Tonight with Peter Jennings. Reporter Sam Donaldson covers a White House press conference with George P. Shultz about Soviet/American relations, and John McWethy reports on the Soviet response. After a story about Walter Mondale meeting with Andrei Gromyko, the tape cuts briefly to another ad break before coming to an end.

The WXYZ-TV recording portion of the tape features advertisements for Orthodontic Treatment Centers, Father and Son Construction Company, the restaurant Bonanza, Spartan Stores Dollar Days, Amoco Ultimate motor oil, Chrysler Fifth Avenue at Greater Detroit Chrysler-Plymouth Dealers, Highland Appliance, Tri-County Pontiac Dealers, the 3M Window Insulator kit, the "Come On Up" Canadian tourism campaign, AAA Home Owners' insurance, a Dragnet-themed Toshiba copier spot, Kuppenheimer Direct, Mobile oil, Heineken, an Art Van computer-themed sales ad, Whirpool Home Appliances, Sanka, Jello, and V8.

The video is on a Sony 60 minute U-Matic tape with a Department of Public Information Video Production Label on the top. The label reads, "Grand Prix Party 1985, 6-23-85, 1/2" to 3/4" dub, Date: 6-24-84, Time: 00:18:00." The tape is housed within a black plastic case with a 3M UCA 60 label card in its plastic window sleeve.