We apologize for not having the blog updated at the normal time (the early morning hours), but we were experiencing intermittent internet service. It’s not normally a problem, so we were surprised. We’re back with the second installment of our series spotlighting “The Grandstand Franchise,” an early 1980’s video about the history of the Green Bay Packers. Above and below, we get a glimpse of the Packers Hall of Fame several incarnations ago. And, we get to see some fans stylin’ those Eighties fashions.
The video’s narrator, former Packers’ CBS-TV broadcaster Ray Scott, looks over some items in the Hall of Fame’s “locker room” re-creation.
This is the old Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame exterior, which can be seen here at the southeast corner of Oneida Street and Lombardi Avenue. If you were standing here, your view of Lambeau Field would be blocked by the building.
The video then goes into “Chamber of Commerce” mode, highlighting several aspects of living and working in Green Bay. The city’s paper mills and their output is given top billing.
Just some of the fine products that were produced in Green Bay at that time.
This may come as a surprise, but cheese-making is a big industry in the state of Wisconsin. The Pauly Cheese Company, shown here, was sold off at some point, and we’re not sure if it’s still there or not.
Without the Green Bay area’s meat-packing industry, our team would have a different name, and may not exist at all.
The Port of Green Bay also gets a mention, and its place in Great Lakes shipping history.
An aerial view of the city some 30 years ago.
Another shot inside the old Hall of Fame, showing a variety of Lombardi-related awards.
Now we get to see a few images of old teams in action.
O.K., let’s see… on the line (from left to right), we have Finley, Bulaga, Sitton, Wells… oh, wait a minute. Never mind.
Another view of the inside of Lambeau Field in the early 1980’s.
Some 1938 game action.
And some from 1950.
Now the video goes back to the 1920’s when the Packers — and the N.F.L. — were founded. Hey lady, watch out! That car is zooming down the alley!
A rainy day in downtown Green Bay. How much would those cars be worth now?
A Packers crowd decked out in suits, ties, and hats.
A higher-up view showing a downtown Green Bay street.
Don’t you wish that there were still street cars?
A high school-age Earl “Curly” Lambeau.
Without George Whitney Calhoun of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, we probably wouldn’t have the Green Bay Packers of today.
Snow flurries in downtown Green Bay.
Let’s stop in and get some candy and cigars!
Just look at that snow! They had extreme weather back then, even without global warming.
A Green Bay city snow plow clears a path on a downtown street.
John Torinus is another key piece to Green Bay Packers history. The book that he authored (mentioned above) is shown below.
His book was the first Packers history book that we purchased back in the 1980’s. It is an excellent overall synopsis of the greatest N.F.L. team ever.
