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Want to see film of Charlie “Choo Choo” Justice, a football legend at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, in action in the 1950 Cotton Bowl?

Want to see film of Charlie “Choo Choo” Justice, a football legend at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, in action in the 1950 Cotton Bowl?

How about “Famous Amos” Lawrence rushing against East Carolina in 1978?

Such footage and more will be shown in UNC’s Wilson Library Oct. 2 and Oct. 30 during Tar Heel Town, a collection of games, information and more on Polk Place for three hours before every home football game.

The films will precede games against East Carolina University Oct. 2 and The College of William & Mary Oct. 30. Game times have not yet been set.

In the library, “Gridiron Glory” will run in a 20-minute continuous loop until shortly before kick-off. The showings will be free to the public. A preview is available online at http://www.youtube.com/unclibrary.

The library also will display football memorabilia from its collections, including programs, news clippings and photographs by late North Carolina photographer Hugh Morton.

The film loop will include 13 games from 1934-1985. Highlights will include:

  • UNC’s first match-up against No. 1-ranked Notre Dame at Yankee Stadium in 1949, with a brief appearance by an injured Justice (No. 22);
  • Justice passing, running and kicking in the 1950 Cotton Bowl game against Rice University;
  • All-American No. 85 Bob Lacey in the 1963 UNC vs. University of Virginia game;
  • Lawrence rushing against East Carolina in 1978;

The films are drawn from the University Archives in Wilson Library, where they are among the records of the UNC Football Office. In the 1930s, the office began filming games to help coaches evaluate and train players and review strategic plays.

“Many of the films provide unique camera angles and views of games that were not captured by broadcasters,” said University Archivist Jay Gaidmore. “Most are the original 16-millimeter recordings, and they are badly in need of preservation. We’d like to be able to share more of these films, but many are too fragile to use or digitize.”
Gaidmore said he hopes that the showing will raise awareness about the collection.

For information, contact Wilson Library at (919) 962-3765 or wilsonlibrary@unc.edu.

Home page, UNC Football Office records in University Archives:
http://www.lib.unc.edu/mss/uars/ead/40291.html

Carolina football history Web site: http://alumni.unc.edu/print.aspx?sid=421

Photos: Left to right, UNC All-America Halfback Don McCauley (No. 23); Bill Dooley (UNC Head Football coach, 1967-1977); and UNC fullback Geoff Hamlin (No. 33) at game in Kenan Stadium, 1970.:
http://uncnews.unc.edu/images/stories/news/campus/2010/p081_prbp8_000682.jpg

A 1930s Carolina football program: http://uncnews.unc.edu/images/stories/news/campus/2010/1930program.jpg

Wilson Library contact: Jay Gaidmore, (919) 962-6402, gaidmore@email.unc.edu
News Services contact: LJ Toler, (919) 962-8589

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