An exciting find on eBay, this previously unknown film* on the Chesapeake Bay Retriever was made in 1936. The setting is Long Island NY-the beach is at Montauk, just down the road from the Amagansett home of Harry Conklin. Long Island NY played an important role in the development of the breed and was a hotbed of Chesapeake breeding in the 1930's. It was also the birthplace of retriever field trials.

        Found in time for this year's 200th Anniversary of the breed, we are given the wonderful and nearly unbelievable opportunity to see two of the breed's most significant dogs in the flesh! Through research in AKC breeding records, books and magazines of the 30's, comparison to historic photographs and Ethel Osborne's recollection that the two dogs appeared in some "cute" film on the breed, we can be 99% certain that two "rivals' of the story line are FC Skipper Bob/Harry Conklin & DC Sodak's Gypsy Prince/Tony Bliss ! While the narration is a "story" about the breed, it is known that Harry Conklin was a fisherman and sometimes called Skipper Bob "Captain". Photos available of Tony Bliss & Harry Conklin match the men in the film. The kennel scene is similar to a view of the Chesacroft kennel seen in ads. The field trial scenes maybe from another movie known to have been made but lost. If you listen closely as the trophy is handed out, you will hear the judge say "congratulations Harry".

        In the film, "Captain Jack" is FC Skipper Bob and he is often seen in photos standing with one leg raised. "Sea King" is DC Sodak's Gypsy Prince. The other dogs are unknown and the litter and bitch is possibly Chesacroft Gypsy and her litter whelped 4/1/1936 sired by FC Skipper Bob.

        FC Skipper Bob was the FIRST retriever (any breed) to become a FC; DC Sodak's Gypsy Prince was the FIRST retriever (any breed) to become a DC. This DVD makes a special addition to any Chesapeake lover's collection!

        Much thanks to Joanne Silver for spotting this unknown film on eBay and the ACC for being willing to buy such an unknown entity! It is a historic gem.

Dyane Baldwin
Former ACC Historian

Cost and Ordering Information:
$15 DVD
$3.00 S/H USA and Canada
$18.00 Total

$15 DVD
$5.00 S/H Europe
$20.00 Total Europe


Payable: ACC
Order: Joanne Silver
ACC Historian
412 Woodbury Dr
Wyckoff, NJ 07481