“Kingdom of the Sea” was a television series created by John D. Craig; a diver, author and soldier among other things, and actor Bob Stevenson which ran from 1954 to 1959. This particular episode looks at water champs of a different breed. It shows water skiing stunts, surfing as well as other water acrobatic stunts and features rare gymnastics footage shot at Muscle Beach, Santa Monica, California. The narrator is Colonel John D. Craig (:28) and Bob Stevenson hosts (:40). These water champs take up their various water sports for more personal pleasure and less for competition (1:22). Pete Peterson (2:40), former lifeguard and world champion, is seen water skiing. He dips in and out of breakwater and rocks with ease in the Santa Monica Bay (2:49). The zig zagging motion he is using (3:28) is called slalom water skiing. A helicopter swoops in and lifts him up and over obstacles in the water (4:29). Patty Saunders (5:10) leaps from a boat as Pete catches her while in motion. She steps back onto the boat with ease even though the pair is still moving at full speed (5:36). Pete takes 360-degree spins with a movement called the flying saucer (5:42). He moves in close to the boat and releases the rope in order to free ski which means to ride the hill in the wake of the boat (5:58). Pete conducts 360 degree turns on a chair (6:19). From a single ski, he moves onto the shoreline, swaps his ski’s and runs back out to the water (6:45). An up and coming eight-year-old water skier rides piggy back with Pete (7:04) and then uses the man as a surf board (7:13). A slew of surfers are seen riding waves to the shoreline near Diamond Head in Hawaii (7:34). Doubles ride the boards and women are lifted to the men’s shoulders (7:52). A female water skier and Pete ski on surf boards (8:52) and the woman steps from the board with ease onto the boat while it is still in motion (9:29). Two champion high divers (9:35) provide a demonstration of competition dives (9:47). A cutaway double jack knife (9:50), half twist (9:54), half gainer (10:06) and a running forward one and a half with full twist are all shown (10:38). A hand stand cutaway follows in reverse as the film is rewound (11:03). The Santa Monica recreational playground, known as Muscle Beach (11:38) hosts thousands of spectators as amateur and professional acrobats workout (11:45). Johnny Robinson (11:59) whom was a national high bar champion, does a giant swing with a crossover. Lee Thompson is seen conducting the fly away on the high bar (12:35). Patty Saunders is seen tossed into the air and caught by a male acrobat (13:19). A pair conducts stunts on the top of a roof (14:24) and Bob Gordon catches Patty as two men swing and then toss her (14:41). Acrobats are seen working out on the low rings (16:46). A double somersault and half twist from the low rings follows (17:00). Another man on the high rings takes giant swings and does pull ups (18:22). The film then returns to the host and the guide who present a demonstration of how and what to buy for some of these water sports (20:22). A young woman named Joan goes to a sports store to select appropriate outfits (20:51) and selects Bel-Aqua swim aides. A pioneer diver helps her to select the outfits (21:07). He shows her how to test the gear by placing it over her nose and inhaling which holds the face plate in place (21:25). She is then shown how to chose a proper rubber snorkel (21:41) and flippers (21:56). A tank and regulator can be used to enable longer and deeper dives (22:33). The two-stage diaphragm of the regulator is pointed out (22:51). Depending on personal preference a dry suit (23:09) or a wet suit can be utilized (23:22). Along with the wet suit, a tight-fitting rubber cap may be used (23:34). Weighted belts are required to be used with exposure suits as they tend to be extremely buoyant (23:49). The most important rule is to test the equipment in a pool first as a scuba diver hits the bottom of one equipped with diving gear (24:12). The film was an Emperor Production (25:08) and a Guild Films presentation (25:10).

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