Scarsdale Golf Club erects court

The History of Platform Paddle Tennis appears on the front page of the Scarsdale Inquirer

The article was in the March 1, 1935 edition and had been written by Fessenden S. Blanchard

Ardsley Country Club builds a court in response to APTA efforts to grow the game

The Ardsley Country Club in Ardsley-on-Hudson, NY was one of the first clubs to build a court based on the APTA's grow the game initiative. Blanchard's Scrapbook included a picture of the court being used in 1935 although the caption was Ardsley Racquet and Swim Club which had by then merged with the Ardsley Club2, an informal offshoot of The Ardsley Casino1, that year to form The Ardsley Country Club. Interestingly the player in the dark sweater is very likely Stuart R. Stevenson3, an avid racquets player, who was the club's representative to the APTA. He was the grandson of one of the founder of the The Ardsley Casino in 1985, Amzi Lorenzo Barber "The Asphalt King", and his wife Julia. The courtIt was removed during WWII as the wood was rotting and could not be replaced due to lack of materials during the war. Note 1: The Ardsley Casino was created through the support of some of[...]

Henry B Eaton develops inexpensive portable platform helping to grow the game

Fox Meadow Tennis Club member and former FMTC President (1936) Henry B Eaton, designed a collapsible platform that could be laid on an existing tennis court during the off-tennis season without damaging it. Eaton talked the New York lumber company company he worked for and the the forerunner of the Gates Sports Platform Company, to make the Eaton portable platform. The court was easy to transport and set up and only cost about $500, which made it affordable even during the Depression. These easy to install and cheap platforms were invaluable in growing the game. Source: Adapted from Fessenden S. Blanchard, Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959 Historical Factoid: Eaton's wife, Jean Eaton, was the winner of the Women's Doubles and Singles Nationals in 1935 (the inaugural tournaments) and the Women's Doubles in 1936.

The paddle evolves into the form used for almost the next four decades before innovations in the early 1970s; Jim Tate covers the history of the paddle through the early 1990s

In the early stages of the game, players used the lightweight, solid, rectangular shaped paddle (The Paddle Tennis Company’s standard paddle), but it was too light for a fast game. At the request of the Old Army Athletes The Paddle Tennis Company1 modified the shape of the paddle to a more oval design and added holes (the Tennette paddle) but this also proved to be too light and the edges tended to chip as there was no protective rim. A perforated, oval, mahogany stained paddle with a metal binding around its edges proved to be the answer and was first introduced in the late 1930s. It became the standard for the next four decades despite several efforts by the APTA to investigate better alternatives. After the 1930s, the history of the paddle gets a little fuzzy. Apparently, the Reverend Frank Beal, who had invented playground paddle tennis, had a son who was living in the Scr[...]

Tracing the origins of Paddle Tennis

For some time, Blanchard wondered whether or not he and Cogswell had been carrying on with a game invented many centuries before. The matter arose when Esquire magazine requested some information on the game and Blanchard sought the help of an eminent historian and Old Army Athlete by the name of C. Alison Scully. Source: Adapted from Fessenden S. Blanchard, Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959 In December 1935, Scully shared the bulk of his research in a letter to Blanchard as part of an article Blanchard was writing for Esquire. The origin of the game of paddle tennis is lost in the mists of antiquity. The recent widespread interest in the game has renewed the desire for certitude as to its beginnings and, as a result, much that is new and enlightening to the students of the history of the game has been developed. Recent discoveries on the Coast of Wales establish that a game,[...]

NBC broadcast on platform paddle tennis

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 Radio Broadcast Transcript

The appeal of the game

“It is a splendid means of entertainment for all of those who have places large enough for a court and who are sociably inclined. But don't put up a platform if you are a social isolationist or want to enjoy complete peace and quiet, uninterrupted by the sounds of laughter and exclamations in many keys. For once you have a court and have invited your friends, you’ll find it hard to keep them away. “ Source: Fessenden S. Blanchard, Paddle Tennis, 1944

Non-slip court surface developed

The members of the Tremont Place Paddle Tennis Club of Orange, NJ, developed the textured court. Sprinkling beach sand into the freshly painted deck before the paint dried produced the non-skid surface. When properly applied, the sand prevented both players and balls from skidding in wet conditions. The surface also eliminated glare from the reflection of a bright sun. Source: Adapted from Fessenden S. Blanchard, Paddle Tennis, 1944 The APTA gave the following information to its members in its 1936 report: "An improved court surface has been developed at the Tremont Place court in Orange, thanks to the research of Richard Grant, Herbert Pease and others. This is accomplished by sprinkling about 40 pounds* of fine beach sand on the platform as it is painted and while the paint is wet. This gives a less slippery surface, enabling the court to be played upon even when slig[...]

Profile of the game rises

On January 25th, 1936 George Trevor (1892-1951), remembered as one of the best sports writers in the business, began an article on Platform Tennis as follows: Paddle Tennis Gains Place as Winter Sport Look! That's the answer to the riddle that has been puzzling the winter-bound business athlete for generations. It solves the problem of how to get outdoor exercise in a competitive game when snow covers the ground and the thermometer is down around the freezing mark. Incidentally, this new game will mean financial salvation for many a country club that needs an appealing winter pastime to bring in revenue during the dead months. Trevor gave his impressions of the exhibition match he had watched (Charley O'Hearn and Jim Hynson vs. Kip Couch and Ed Grafmueller): The writer was impressed by the rapid-fire tempo of the game and the skill of the players. Charley O'Hearn's cannon bal[...]