France v Scotland, January 1930 in Stade de Colombes... at half time French forward - and future Rugby League star - Jean Galia is chatting with this unknown (to me....) radio commentator ideally located on the rugby field... Is that guy working for French radio ? no idea...
Edit Feb.17 : this gentleman is Edmond Dehorter (nicknamed "Le Parleur Inconnu" - "the unknown speaker") who was the first sports radio journalist in France. He started covering live sports in 1923 for radio company Radiola (boxing : Carpentier v Nils). A quick search on Google shows he broadcasted the 1924 Olympics in Paris from a Michelin Airship... as well as the "24 heures du Mans"... and obviously rugby... cf some links (in French) below in the comments
Terra Media explains that "First live commentary of the England v Wales rugby international match from Twickenham [in 1927] is also the first British sporting radio outside broadcast; the commentator is Teddy Wakelam. A plan of the field divided into numbered squares is published in the Radio Times so that reference can be made to the position of play; this gives rise to the phrase ‘back to square one’."
Some sources indicates that the very first live sports radio broadcast occured in 1922 in Sydney, where a journalist named Lionell Wattt covered a cricket match at the SCC...
A few words about this "Equipe de France"... quite a strong team, indeed... first win against England in 1927..., first win against Wales in 1928... 2nd in the 5 Nations Championship 1930 and 1931... but difficult times for French rugby contaminated by endemic violence and professionalism issues... resulting in being banned from all international relations with Home Countries after 1931 Championship... But that's another story!!
About old school medias... and about this France v Ireland tomorrow in Paris... here is a small chunk of this 9,5mm Pathé news reel - January 1931 - bringing some rare images of "Les Bleus" defeating Ireland in Stade de Colombes 3 - nil (1 try : Ribère)... Good omen ?...
My editing is only 20s long (rugby only... not sure that you're interested in the funeral of Marechal Joffre and other news topics from the 30s...) but, say, that's history!
(music via Qobuz )
