12234 “PLAYGROUND BY THE SEA” KINGDOM OF THE SEA TV EPISODE LAS CRUCES, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO

This episode of the TV show “Kingdom of the Sea” dates to 1956 and showcases a hacienda or resort called Las Cruces on the Baja California in Mexico. It follows an interview format and is co narrated by Bob Stevenson and John D. Craig. The focus is mainly on fishing, it begins with a small group spear-fishing stingrays. This is followed by relaxation opportunities including at a pool and on the beaches near the Hacienda. The group then begins deeper sea fishing for swordfish with a woman in the grouping spending a long time fighting with one until it can finally be brought on board. It ends underwater footage on how to rescue someone that is drowning. The Historic Rancho Las Cruces still exists, and is an exclusive Baja seaside resort located on a natural sanctuary of more than 10,000 acres and 7 miles of private pristine coastline. Its hotel is situated along the white sandy beaches of the Sea of Cortés yet only a short drive from the La Paz, BCS international airport.

0:23 Title “Kingdom of the Sea: Playground by the Sea”, 0:34 John D. Craig, 0:48 Bob Stevenson introducing himself and Craig, 1:49 an aircraft taking off and flying over Gulf of California, 2:19 Aerial overview of Las Cruces Hacienda in Baja California, 3:25 overview of the pool area, 3:53 Swordfish and Marlin hanging by ropes, 4:31 a couple going into the water with the man armed with a spear gun, 5:22 underwater footage of schools of fish swimming including surgeon fish, leopard rays, and normal stingrays, 6:27 group of swimmers grab spear guns to go spear fishing, 7:15 woman aims and fires at a stingray who struggles and is brought up to the surface, 8:12 stingray is pulled up onto shore, 8:22 Manta rays, 8:29 speared Manta ray being pulled up to the surface and then being released again, 9:20 group gets on a boat, drives out, and begins fishing, 9:57 woman pulls out a needle fish, 10:14 man pulls out a golden bass, 10:32 scenes of people enjoying the swimming pool, 10:56 children playing around the pool, 11:42 a man water skiing, 12:08 a group drinking coconut milk out of a coconut, 12:53 tile plaque depicting Cortez making peace with Native Americans, 13:19 the three stone crosses at Las Cruces, 13:49 a group of people picking mangoes from trees, 13:12 couple walks on a beach collecting shells and messing with crabs, 14:56 men preparing a large boat for off shore sword fish fishing, 15:57 camera man on second large fishing boat, 16:39 a Marlin bites the line and jumps on the surface as the woman tries to reel it in, 20:09 man jumps off boat with underwater camera to get footage of the hooked fish, 21:15 fish was brought aboard and then hung by rope, 21:42 Craig and Stevenson talking to each other as Craig demonstrates a stingrays stinger, 22:26 demonstration in a pool of how to rescue a drowning swimmer with underwater footage of how to grab the victim, 24:02 a submarine surfacing, 24:24 the submarine beginning to dive, 24:50 periscope footage of a ship being hit by a torpedo, 25:11 Stevenson giving closing remarks, 25:27 Executive Producing Marlin Ross.

John D. Craig (1903–1997) was an American businessman, writer, soldier, diver, Hollywood stuntman, film producer, and television host. He worked in the commercial surface-supplied diving industry from the 1930s on. He is best known for using film and television to show the United States public the beauties and dangers of Earth’s underwater worlds.