Hall of Fame inductee Earle Gatchell was one of the leading pioneers and proponents of the game.
Gatchell was a great supporter of junior players and the trophy for the Boys Junior Championships which started in 1964 was named after him. [Also see APTA 1963 Annual Meeting Minutes]
Blanchard kept two valuable scrapbooks covering the development of the game in the early years. This one covered the years through 1940. The second one covered 1928 – 1963 (the year of his death).
There is some considerable overlap in material between the two and this one has a number of historical photographs that have been “borrowed” by others in writing about the sport and have been lost.
Nevertheless, there is a fascinating tale being told in both books for those interested in the very early days of the game.
The article “Paddle Game a welcome Member of Tennis Family” by Howard Cohn appeared in the January 1950 edition of American Lawn Tennis. Cohn wrote that “tennis with a paddle not only teaches youngsters the fundamentals of lawn tennis, but it also provides wonderful off-seasom recreation for thousands of devotees of the older sport.”
The article provided and excellent account of the development of paddle tennis and platform tennis.
The Manhattan Platform Tennis Club on East 48th Street in New York City was the venue. Eight teams competed for $4,000 in prize money.
Passport Scotch felt that they were not getting their expected value from their level of financial commitment.
The APTA President Packard felt it was imperative to replace Passport Scotch with another sponsor for the Nationals and preferably not a liquor company so that it might be possible to get television coverage
Source: APTA Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, July 1, 1980
From 1929 until his death in 1963 Blanchard had kept a detailed Scrapbook about how the game started and developed and those that made it happen. It provides a unique insight into the early years of the game.
Blanchard also had an earlier scrapbook covering 1928 – 1940. There is significant overlap between the two and the earlier one has a number of old photographs that were “borrowed” and not returned.
Welcome to the best location in the nation – Cleveland, of course. To all our old friends its super to see you again, and to you new faces, its great to see you guys as well.
For the men it is a historical occasion! Who would believe we would be pounding the pill for the long hard green. For the first time in the history of our favorite sport, dollars are replacing the firm handshake and the clasp on the back
Masters? You know what masters are. Masters are the top of their professions, the best of whatever they are trying to do; and what we have gathered here this weekend, male and female, is exactly what we hope to do as the years slide by. We think we have the right formula for Paddle Tennis success in continuing the innovations that hopefully we are known for in Cleveland.
We have two companies in particular that are making this possible and many, many others in the supporting role. Myles Reilly, President of R. J. Reilly, Jr. Inc., paddle tennis court builders extraordinaire, called on the phone on a typically Cleveland dreary fall day and said that their firm would be interested in sponsoring the first, and hope· fully, the best sanctioned monied tournament ever played in the U.S. Myles said his company wanted to do it in Cleveland where innovations have become commonplace. Flattered we were, and accepted their kind offer we did. Not only is their support a valued cash donation, but the center aluminum court at the Cleveland Racquet Club is also installed and loaned to the Masters by their company as well.
We are also fortunate to have in town one of the great companies with an eye not only for the girls but for the sport-minded as welL Jess Bell of Bonne Bell Cosmetics was asked if he and his company would have an interest in joining hands to support the Masters, and Jess responded quite so. The final details were ironed out one morning when Jess was running his daily five-mile jog from home to office. Bonne Bell also is the only company, believe it or not, in greater Cleveland to have its own paddle tennis court less than one hundred steps from the President’s office! To all of the Reillys and all of the Bells, we in Cleveland so thank you for sponsoring our First Masters. We are also most appreciative for all of the other sponsors from the Corporations as well as to the Individual Sustaining Sponsors that are making the tournament possible.
Why Prize Money? Cleveland was most anxious to trap the best athletes in the country to play the game we all love. At some point in time we are hopeful of spreading the game to the inner-city and other places where it might not normally be found. We think controlled
commercial ism is good for the game and we want a part in it, to help direct the game on a direct course rather than have it slide into the hands of people that sell their interest first and the game itself somewhere less than last place. It is our way of helping the APT A to sponsor junior tournaments, Executive Secretary, training films, year book and whatever.
We are glad you are here to participate in the First of what we hope will be many fantastic Masters. We have to apologize to everybody about the draw — – but don’t call us, we’ll call you.The Directors
Source: Cleveland Masters Tournament Brochure, November, 1974
Note 1: Not so. The first APTA-sanctioned professional tournament was the Vat Gold Cup held in 1973 and the Mercedes Benz Classic which had been held the week before the Cleveland Masters on Amelia Island, FL was the first tournament for cash
Life magazine edition of March 8, 1937, publish an article on Sun Valley, ID which had been founded by W. Averell Harriman and had just opened. The pictures included one of a platform tennis court.
Ever the promoter, Blanchard wrote to Harriman to inquire about the state of the game at the resort.
A new notice appeared on the Old Army Athletes bulletin board on March 30, 1930.
A Scarsdale banker suffering from excessive shyness and protruding ears had become a success in society and business as well as quite the ladies man as a result of playing the game.
Frederick Allen, editor of Harper’s magazine and poet laureate of the OAA, and his wife were the suspects.
The nationwide broadcast took place on November 21, 1935 at 6:15 pm in conjunction with WJZ- NY.
The noted sportswriter John R. Tunis moderated the event which included the Old Army Athletes, Frederick. L. Allen, Fess Blanchard and Charles O’Hearn.
In typical fashion some Old Army Athletes, in this case Peggy Brent and others, used the broadcast to tease Cogswell – see letter
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