John Biddle (yachting cinematographer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Biddle
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Biddle on location, 1974
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| Born | June 7, 1925 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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| Died | October 1, 2008 (aged 83) Middletown, Rhode Island, U.S.
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| Occupation | yachting cinematographer/lecturer |
| Years active | 1956–2002 |
John Scott Biddle (born June 7, 1925 – died October 1, 2008) was a very important yachting cinematographer and lecturer. He spent over forty years making films about sailing. His movies showed not only how boats worked but also the exciting human stories from sailing events, like calm trips in Nova Scotia or big races like the America's Cup.
Contents
Early Life and Discovering Film
John Biddle was born on June 7, 1925, near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the fourth of five children in his family.
His father, Nicholas Biddle, was a general in the National Guard. He also traveled the world to film his adventures. When he came home, he let young John use his movie camera and extra film.
John loved experimenting with the camera at his family's summer home in Jamestown, Rhode Island. There, he also became very good at sailing in the ocean. He filmed his brothers, sisters, and cousins around Narragansett Bay. This helped him learn how to choose the best camera angles and make his films look great.
School and Military Service
John went to Meadowbrook School and then Kent School in Connecticut. When he turned 18 in 1943, he joined the army during World War II.
During a battle in Belgium, a bad tooth sent him away from the front lines. People noticed he could play piano and use a movie projector. So, he was asked to entertain the soldiers. Soon after, he learned that many of his friends in his army group had been killed in a fight. His entertainment skills likely saved his life.
After the war, John went to Trinity College. Later, he went to Germany during the Korean War with a special army unit from Philadelphia.
Becoming a Yachting Filmmaker
In the 1950s, John worked as an engineer and took photos of weddings and babies on the side. His father wanted him to join the family insurance business. But John had a different idea.
He saw a film about skiing and thought, "I could do this with sailing!" So, in June 1956, he took his film camera on the Bermuda Race aboard a boat called Souvenir. He used this footage, plus three other films he shot that summer, to create his first lecture show. He then booked shows at different yacht clubs.
For over 40 years, John filmed all kinds of sailing events. He filmed small dinghy races and huge Tall Ships events. His films showed more than 70 different types of boats. He filmed from 130 feet high on square-rigged ships and even 15 feet underwater!
He traveled from Greenland to the Islands, and from Greece to New Zealand, filming ocean races like the Fastnet Race, classic sailing events, and cruises. To keep his camera steady on the moving ocean, he used a special tool he invented called the "Biddlestick." It was like a monopod (a single pole) that attached to his camera, letting him hold onto the boat while filming.
Besides his yearly shows, John also made films for boat makers and sailing classes. He even filmed a five-episode TV series called "Let's Go Boating."
John Biddle the Lecturer
Every year, John would film three to four sailing events during the summer. In the fall, he would edit miles of film into a 90-minute show. He would write a script and add music to fit the film.
In winter, he would start a five-month tour across the United States, Canada, Bermuda, and the Caribbean. Sometimes he even went to Europe and Australia. He would present his films in person up to 100 times, mostly at yacht clubs. For many people, his show was the only way to see the best sailing moments from the past year.
People loved his shows because he captured the fun and excitement of sailing. He also had a quick, dry sense of humor. John did everything himself for his shows: he was the agent, scheduler, publicist, writer, photo developer, poster designer, accountant, cinematographer, film editor, scriptwriter, music editor, driver, and performer!
Family Life
John Biddle married Mary McMichael in 1961 in Jamestown, Rhode Island. They had two children, Sophie (born 1964) and Scott (born 1966). Mary helped John film the early America's Cup races. She passed away five years after Scott was born.
After Mary's death, John managed to spend time at home with his children while still traveling for his career. He even took Sophie and Scott on trips to Bermuda and Maine. In March 1977, he married Amy McKay van Roden in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. He also gained three stepchildren: Winifred, Peter, and Julie.
Amazing Career Highlights
John Biddle filmed two major races many times. He sailed the Bermuda Race 11 times to capture its stories. Even though this race has a long history, John is the only filmmaker who focused on it so much.
He also filmed the famous America's Cup international yacht racing event ten times, from 1958 to 1987. He filmed everything from the boat tests to the big parties and the final races. Important skippers like Ted Turner and Dennis Conner invited him to film on board their 12-meter yachts. They trusted him because he was skilled at sailing and could get great shots without getting in the way.
Later Years and Legacy
After moving to Jamestown, Rhode Island in 1980, John became active in his community. He was part of the Jamestown Community Chorus and directed the town's talent show for several years.
During his career, John Biddle made 140 sailing films. He put them into 41 annual lecture shows from 1956 to 1996. He gave over 3,000 presentations to audiences, some as large as 3,000 people!
In the summer of 2008, John was nominated to be in the America's Cup Hall of Fame at the Herreshoff Marine Museum in Bristol, Rhode Island. He became ill with cancer soon after and passed away on October 1, 2008, at age 83. The official induction ceremony happened in April 2009.
Gary Jobson, another famous sailor and filmmaker, said that John Biddle's film collection is "one of the most comprehensive and important yachting libraries in existence." John Biddle was also inducted into the National Sailing Hall of Fame in 2018.
Images for kids
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Biddle on location, 1974
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Introducing one of his shows, "And away we go to..."
