Even in the 30s, actors needed stand-ins

A big thrill surged through the Harbor Area in 1934 when it was

learned that an international swim star named Buster Crabbe, who

would become a future romantic movie star, was scheduled to appear

for a rough water swim from the Balboa Pier to an area near the

Balboa Pavilion.

Crabbe, in the midst of a career which included such roles as

Tarzan and Flash Gordon, was prepared to face all comers as the

reigning gold medalist at the 1932 Olympic Games in the 400-meter

freestyle.

Olympic officials had little interest in the three Newport Harbor

High swimmers who would be extending a challenge to Crabbe, a product

of the University of Southern California.

The event featured quarterback Wayne Dye, fullback Al Irwin and

tackle Dave Phoenix, diving off the pier together.

Dye and Irwin got off to a fair start, while Phoenix was slowed at

an early point when he collided with a strange marine object.

“It was a seal,” Phoenix recalled, and it left him groping for a

quick decision. He finally chose to move swiftly away from the seal

and head for shore and just walk on to the Pavilion area.

Irwin recalled the rugged race, but could not recall who won the

event.

Phoenix was cheered to note that he remembered very well since he

got to witness the entire finish.

Said Phoenix, “Wayne Dye finished first and Al Irwin was second as

both of them were able to outdistance the world champion.”

*

Bill Clark, an All-Sunset League guard for the 1947 Newport grid

team, recalls an event out of a shaky hunting trip that was not funny

at the time, but took on amusement as the years passed on.

Clark always enjoyed trips with the Muniz brothers. Manuel was a

second-team All-CIF tackle on the ’42 champ grid team, and Al, who in

time, became an all-conference guard at Orange Coast College, were

with them.

And he noted that kid brother Al cold often spark things up with

great amusement.

Clark said this particular trip was “way up Ortega Highway near

San Juan Capistrano.”

He said Manuel had clearly explained the elements of safety to Al

before handing him a loaded shotgun.

Then Al tried to ease his 250-pound frame through a barbed-wire

fence with the loaded gun precariously slipping from one arm.

Clark said the gun then dropped, discharged and fired a blast

right between Manuel’s leg.

He laughed, then said, “Boy, Manuel was fit to be tied.”

One amusement from yesteryear was when the Pilot (and other

community members) started getting phone solicitations for donations

to DeBois Club, a controversial organization.

We thought it was The Boys Club.

Sensing something wasn’t quite kosher, he late Tom Keevil, Daily

Pilot Editor, chose to phone Costa Mesa police for a probe of the

fund drive.

Our recall is that the calls tapered off after they learned police

had been alerted. Even then-Mayor Alvin Pinkley got a laugh out of

that one.

*

Reflecting back via ’41 running guard Ed Stephens on a couple of

thoughts from Harbor High days ...

“I remember the long bus rides to away games and the spirit of

camaraderie among the players. I remember claiming on the bus after a

really awful game when I had played only a short time and played

poorly.

“Charlie Thompson was sitting on the bus and he smiled and said,

‘Good game, Eddie,’ and he seemed sincere and I remember thinking how

nice that was. I tried always to find something encouraging to say to

those who needed it, following his example.

“Thus we learned worthwhile rules for the conduct of life from our

peers, as well as the coaches, but all of course under their

leadership,” he said.

Continued Stephens of those days at Harbor High: “I remember that

we were all poor, but some were even more poor than others, which

sometimes led to different attitudes toward personal hygiene.

“Since the house I lived in did not have any shower inside, and

the one outside was only cold water, I happily took advantage of the

hot showers in the school’s locker room.

“But some of the boys evidently factored this sort of thing right

out of their thinking. They would arrive for practice a little

scruffy, work up a good sweat, then take off their uniforms and put

their clothes right on. Coach (Ralph) Reed would observe this, then

give us all a little lecture on the virtues of cleanliness and uses

of soap and water.”