By 1970, there were an estimated 150,000 people playing platform tennis. Based on a survey of court builders and ball and racquet manufacturers, the growth during the next five years ranged from 15 to 25 percent per year.
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Kim Kimberly and Tad Bowen installed the new aluminum decks pioneered by Richard Reilly of R. J. Reilly, Inc. that were the first installations of what has become the modern standard. They were built in the Wilton & New Canaan, CT area.
Read MoreRichard J. Reilly, Jr. had been building wooden courts since the mid 1960’s and had made numerous innovations over time. But, it was Wilson Sporting Goods that ultimately gave Reilly his best idea. Wilson had come out with a metal tennis racquet and their major rival, Head, was anxious to catch up and had some consultants working on an aluminum racquet as a competitive response. It so happened that Reilly had built a wooden court for Peter Fisher in Katonah, NY and Fisher suggested he visit George Vaughn and Dick Hargrave who, along with an engineer with a PhD in the aluminum field, were the principal consultants for Head. This Princeton, NJ based team helped Reilly develop all the technology (specifications, extrusion dyes and techniques), required to manufacture an aluminum deck. As a woodworking purist, he hated the idea of using aluminum, but saw it as providing the longevit[...]
Read MoreAPTA sought reaction from players to this innovation by the United States Lawn Tennis Association (USLTA1) Note 1: The USTA was previously known as the United States National Lawn Tennis Association that was established in 1881. In 1920 the word “National” was dropped and in 1975 the word “Lawn” was dropped
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The September APTA Paddle Newsletter reported: “Starting this winter, paddle in New York City is a reality. The place is the Town Tennis Club. Sports Marketing Associates Corporation1 has joined with the exclusive Town Tennis Club in a joint platform tennis venture. They have three lighted courts available for lunchtime or after work play or all the time if you live in New York or don't want to go home. Also, complete clubhouse services from cocktails to meals to locker rooms with saunas. Sounds pretty plush. By membership only and same covers the paddle facility only from November I thru March 31." Note 1: SMAC was owned by "Mr. Paddle", the future Hall of Fame inductee Dick Squires Source: The APTA Paddle Newsletter, Vol. 2 No. 3
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Another Dick Squires promotional video extolling the virtues of the game and its growing popularity. Includes instructions of how to play and footage of various matches in the 1970 including the finals of the Mixed Nationals in 1971.
Read MoreFrom the APTA Annual Minutes: “Robert Frothingham reported on efforts with Barr Rubber Company to improve the ball and asked Stan Greene of Marcraft to report on their efforts to enter this activity. Mr. Greene stated that they have a source for balls but are still working on the flocking problem. They hope to have limited quantities available this season.”
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On the recommendation of Eagle Rubber Company, the APTA introduced a yellow ball (the “night ball”) in 1972. Other ball manufacturers soon followed their lead. Vittert produced the V-29 ball while Marcraft introduced both a red and yellow ball named “Big M.” Other manufacturers, like Barr, Puma and Bullet began producing orange and red balls as the game took off through the 1970’s. Source: Christina Kelly,Passing Shots: A Pictorial History of Platform Tennis, 2010 and Robert A. Brown,personal communication.
Read MoreAt their annual dinner, the Western Pennsylvania Platform Tennis Association (WPPTA) elected Neil Van Horn as President, replacing Eldridge (Woolly) Birmingham, who was a founding member. Birmingham had been largely instrumental in the development of paddle tennis in the Pittsburgh area, from court building to initiating the Men's, Women's and Mixed Doubles Invitational Tournaments. The WPPTA now had 10 member clubs. Source:The APTA Paddle Newsletter, Vol. 3 No. 3
Read MoreIn a 1972 article about the Nationals in The New York Times, Tournament Co- Chairman Dick Balzac noted that teams had participated from as far away as Illinois, North Carolina, and Texas.
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