1960 Buffalo Bills Highlight Reel

by VolBrian on Jun 27, 2009 7:51 AM EDT Comment 24 comments

As I mentioned earlier in another post, my family is in possession of a rare highlight reel of the 1960 Buffalo Bills. My grandfather, former Bills head coach Buster Ramsey, is featured in this film as well as Ralph Wilson, Elbert Dubenion, Johnny Green, and many others. I know I've posted a lot of historical stuff on here lately, but y'all seem to enjoy it, and, hey, what's the off-season for anyway right? I have another article I'm working on for next week, and then it's back to regularly scheduled programming for you guys (and gals?) in anticipation of the camp and new season. I'll follow along with you guys and maybe learn about the present-day Bills myself. I have a lot of other things to show y'all, but it can wait for now.

A few pointers for this video:

The quality is horrendous. This was a 16 millimeter film from 1960 that was converted to VHS in the 90's, then to DVD, and then to the web. The original reel is on a shelf here with me. Great old time stuff though, just hang in through the poorer visual segments.
The video runs about 28 minutes, so I've broken it up into 3 videos. I'm not that great with video editing though, so the cuts may not line up exactly.
My grandfather's golf cart was totally rad. Yes, I just said rad.
The filming of this and however they took audio definitely gives everyone the "old-time radio" voice, but, yes, we do talk like that down here.
Johnny Green attended the University of Chattanooga, which later became the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Similar to University of Buffalo's change to SUNY at Buffalo. This is the same alma mater as myself and Terrell Owens.
Elbert Dubenion was really, really good.

So, without further ado (save the jump), I give you your 1960 BUFFALO BILLS!

This FanPost was written by a registered user of Buffalo Rumblings. Its views do not necessarily reflect the views of Rumblings' editorial staff, but are just as valued as our own.

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I can’t wait to watch these. :-)

Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on Jun 27, 2009 8:36 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

First Video

That is one hell of a golf cart.
HAHA – polo
The O Line looked awful in that first game film.

Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on Jun 27, 2009 8:45 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Second Video

Nice downfield block on the Dubenion slow mo run and catch. Great elusiveness by Golden Wheels, too.
Man that guy looked fast on that reverse, too. Holy cow.
Kemp must have driven people nuts – in LA, SD, and Buff. Interceptions and bad choices.

Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on Jun 27, 2009 9:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Kemp must have driven people nuts – in LA, SD, and Buff. Interceptions and bad choices.

He averaged about 1.5 INT’s per game. That’s terrible! In that game in the video, he had his only career 5 INT game. He had numerous 3 and 4 INT games….

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on Jun 30, 2009 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly my point.

183 picks in 13 years. Jim Kelly is right behind him with 175 INTs in his 11 NFL seasons. Ouch. He did play a longer schedule than Kemp, though. Kelly threw 1.1 picks a game.

Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on Jun 30, 2009 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Third Video

All the empty seats in the first game.
Dubenion has been faking guys out of their shoes in all three videos.

So we hired the D Coordinator from Detroit who likes trick plays… Familiar?

Thanks a lot Brian. This is awesome.

Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on Jun 27, 2009 9:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Johnny Green attended the University of Chattanooga, which later became the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Similar to University of Buffalo’s change to SUNY at Buffalo. This is the same alma mater as myself and Terrell Owens.

So your Alma Matter isn’t your favorite college team?

No night spent pantsless is a wasted night.

by sireric on Jun 27, 2009 9:25 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No

Don’t get me wrong. I want the Mocs to do well, and I do cheer for them, but I’ve been a Tennessee fan since I was little. If Tennessee plays Chattanooga (usually in basketball), I’ll cheer for Tennessee to win, but Chattanooga to make a good game.

Tennessee WILL beat Georgia on the way to 9+ wins in '09!!!

by VolBrian on Jun 27, 2009 9:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

these are awesome. i’m going to show them to my dad – he was born in 1950, and grew up with some of these names.

by the_prophet on Jun 27, 2009 9:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

sorry for the double-post. does anyone notice how few celebrations are occurring in these videos? no spikes, no dancing, no sharpies…it was a different time, then, that’s for sure. more focus on team play than individual effort – at least, in the eyes of the players.

by the_prophet on Jun 27, 2009 9:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

thank you VolBrian

these are amazing and they really give a new perspective. Alot of naysayer fans will look at your grandfather’s record, but will never see any of this behind the scenes stuff and will never realize what all he had to do and how hard he had to work. But I can just tell that your grandfather really laid the foundation for the great teams to come out of the 1960s.

by pasaluki on Jun 27, 2009 10:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That was really fun to watch!

The talent problem that Ramsey had is illustrated by the nearly 100% roster turnover by the time the Bills had more success, just 3 years later. A 35 man roster! No wonder their were no specialists!
When the announcer said that the O line was like a sieve in that first video, the quality of the film was such that I couldn’t actually see any offensive linemen, and the straight lines that the D linemen were taking to the QB gave the impression that there weren’t any O linemen on the field.
Boy, that was a long time ago! That baton twirler in the parade is now on Social Security, and it’s hard to imagine paying $35 a season for the best season’s ticket in the house (although the house was the Rockpile, I guess.)
Thanks for sharing all your stuff, Brian! I wasn’t seriously watching the Bills until a year or so after your grandfather’s departure, but I do have a Head Coach Buster Ramsey trading card floating around in my house somewhere.

by Gino Parilli on Jun 27, 2009 10:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks

Some nice footage. Golden Wheels was great to watch – nice balance and very quick feet.

Ralphie looks quite a bit younger – sorry, it’s just hard to think of him that way when he’s looked old practically forever…

Get the Bills back to the big game!

by Blitz on Jun 27, 2009 2:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

really

these are incredibly awesome

Bills make me wanna SHOUT!

by silverstreak3k on Jun 27, 2009 5:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I have to agree. Very cool to be able to watch these.

The Prayer of Pass Rush - Hail Maybin, blessed with a quick first step, Bruce is with thee; most reverenced art thou among DEs in the AFC, and blessed be the fruit of thy pass rush. Holy Lord, Father of the swim move, we pray for our QB hurries to be numerous and our sacks to be plentiful. Be with us in Victory and at the hour of our Defeat. Amen.

by Joe P. on Jun 27, 2009 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great Videos

I especially enjoyed the rugby-style lateral pass post interception at 10:22 in the second video. Shows great awareness!

by AussieBill on Jun 28, 2009 8:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

American Football League

To see articles, football cards, etc. about the early Bills, as well as the Bills players in my American Football League Hall of Fame by going to http://www.remembertheafl.com

Remember the AFL!!

by Remember the AFL on Jun 28, 2009 9:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs