The story of the Lions catching on in Detroit doubles as the story of professional football finding its place in American popular culture. Before the Portsmouth Spartans relocated to Detroit and donned the Honolulu Blue in 1934, several pro football teams tried and failed to gain a foothold in the city. What made the Lions different?

This presentation examines the instability of the infant NFL, and how the Lions (and professional football) won the hearts of Detroiters to become the institution they are today tracking the team from its small town roots, through its golden age in the 1950’s, and into the present. Presented by Jeremy Dimmick of the Detroit Historical Society.