Classic American West Coast Boxing

[CNorkusJr]

Bruce - Thanks for info on The San Francisco Aud. exhibit. It wasnt a whole hell of alot but it was worth the trip. The old boxing photos from the SF scene and Art Aragon posters and stories were great. There were some old gloves and equipment on display and the history of SF Boxing via newspaper articles were great. I hope you guys recover it and find a nice space for it.

I got a Streisand story for you. I was a NYC fireman for 20 years. All 20 years were in midtown Manhattan(Times Sq & Theater District). Every now and then, our guys would hoist a few ales with the Riggers,Stagehands ,electricians after the shows. On one particular occasion, Streisand just got done finishing 2 or 3 shows at Radio City Musical Hall, I think. This was 10-15 years ago. Every union guy bitched about her and her attitude and uppity-ness. On the first night, she did a sound check,and placed her marks for the microphone and spotlights. She left and the crew began to tape everything down and finalize everything. A hour before show time-she comes in and decides she wants to move everything over 6 inches. 6 inches mind you. No obvious reasons to the workers.
They ripped everything up and when they finally repositioned, the show was 45 minutes late. Afterwards she called the union workers the lamest she ever dealt with.
After the last show, I guess its customary to by the star a gift.(I guess to Thank her for putting them to work).
Well, the unions handed her a small wrapped box. She opened it. Inside, A One way ticket back to LA. and they walked off.
Each guy loved the look on her face. She just walked out.
Now, I'll drink to that.

[THEHAMMER321]

Anybody remember Bill preazant, I think he was a trainer and cut man, I met him at the showboat in about 1983 he gave me a pair of gloves from a fight he was working, I think he died the next year

[kikibalt]

Anybody remember Bill preazant, I think he was a trainer and cut man, I met him at the showboat in about 1983 he gave me a pair of gloves from a fight he was working, I think he died the next year

Sure don't Paul...

[raylawpc]

Anybody remember Bill preazant, I think he was a trainer and cut man, I met him at the showboat in about 1983 he gave me a pair of gloves from a fight he was working, I think he died the next year

Bill Prezant was a cutman for several fighters, mostly East Coast guys, if memory serves. I specifically remember he was in Chuck Wepner's corner when Wepner challenged Muhammad Ali for the title. He had a reputation as a good cut man.

[raylawpc]

Bruce - Thanks for info on The San Francisco Aud. exhibit. It wasnt a whole hell of alot but it was worth the trip. The old boxing photos from the SF scene and Art Aragon posters and stories were great. There were some old gloves and equipment on display and the history of SF Boxing via newspaper articles were great. I hope you guys recover it and find a nice space for it.

I got a Streisand story for you. I was a NYC fireman for 20 years. All 20 years were in midtown Manhattan(Times Sq & Theater District). Every now and then, our guys would hoist a few ales with the Riggers,Stagehands ,electricians after the shows. On one particular occasion, Streisand just got done finishing 2 or 3 shows at Radio City Musical Hall, I think. This was 10-15 years ago. Every union guy bitched about her and her attitude and uppity-ness. On the first night, she did a sound check,and placed her marks for the microphone and spotlights. She left and the crew began to tape everything down and finalize everything. A hour before show time-she comes in and decides she wants to move everything over 6 inches. 6 inches mind you. No obvious reasons to the workers.
They ripped everything up and when they finally repositioned, the show was 45 minutes late. Afterwards she called the union workers the lamest she ever dealt with.
After the last show, I guess its customary to by the star a gift.(I guess to Thank her for putting them to work).
Well, the unions handed her a small wrapped box. She opened it. Inside, A One way ticket back to LA. and they walked off.
Each guy loved the look on her face. She just walked out.
Now, I'll drink to that.

Chuck, thank you for your service as a firefighter.

[Rick Farris]

Bruce - Thanks for info on The San Francisco Aud. exhibit. It wasnt a whole hell of alot but it was worth the trip. The old boxing photos from the SF scene and Art Aragon posters and stories were great. There were some old gloves and equipment on display and the history of SF Boxing via newspaper articles were great. I hope you guys recover it and find a nice space for it.

I got a Streisand story for you. I was a NYC fireman for 20 years. All 20 years were in midtown Manhattan(Times Sq & Theater District). Every now and then, our guys would hoist a few ales with the Riggers,Stagehands ,electricians after the shows. On one particular occasion, Streisand just got done finishing 2 or 3 shows at Radio City Musical Hall, I think. This was 10-15 years ago. Every union guy bitched about her and her attitude and uppity-ness. On the first night, she did a sound check,and placed her marks for the microphone and spotlights. She left and the crew began to tape everything down and finalize everything. A hour before show time-she comes in and decides she wants to move everything over 6 inches. 6 inches mind you. No obvious reasons to the workers.
They ripped everything up and when they finally repositioned, the show was 45 minutes late. Afterwards she called the union workers the lamest she ever dealt with.
After the last show, I guess its customary to by the star a gift.(I guess to Thank her for putting them to work).
Well, the unions handed her a small wrapped box. She opened it. Inside, A One way ticket back to LA. and they walked off.
Each guy loved the look on her face. She just walked out.
Now, I'll drink to that.

The Witch of Tides . . .

Charley, great story on Streisand. I know your stagehands in NYC, they don't take crap from anybody.
I'd have given anything to see her face. I have seen her upset on more than one occasion.
I have also seen her with no make up, no glamour lighting, etc. What can I say? She's just plain ugly.
To you and the NYC Fire Dept. -

[kikibalt]

Sugar Shane Mosely looks fat...

[THEHAMMER321]

Sugar Shane Mosely looks fat...

Yeah but his bankroll just got fat also, thanks to the PPV customers
,

[Rick Farris]

Streisand & Kristofferson, A Star is Born . . . "Evergreen"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7AIBlzC ... re=related

[Rick Farris]

Sugar Shane Mosely looks fat...

Yeah but his bankroll just got fat also, thanks to the PPV customers
,

He was a good one. Now I hope he does the smart thing.

[CNorkusJr]

Thanks guys for your comments. I certainly enjoyed my time in Manhattan.My firehouse that I retired from in 2005 was diagonally across the street from where the old Mad. Sq Garden stood on 50th St. I swear that on some cold quiet nites on 8th Ave. you can hear the timekeepers bell ring every so often. The site was a block long pavement parking lot in 1985 and 20 years later stands a huge highrise complex of businesses on 8th Ave and Condos on 9th Ave called the "Worldwide Plaza". The "Neutral Corner Bar" is where the writers and who's who gathered after the fights is now a Korean Fruit/Deli Bodega and Old Stillmans Gym location is torn down for a Apt complex. "Dempseys Bar and Grill" on Bdwy (seen in the "Godfather" movie) was the ground floor of the Brill Bldg. Still standing, but A Records and DVD Store is there now. A small basement fire in the bldg brought me there around 1988. In the basement, believe it or not, was a couple of boxes of Jack Dempsey's bar tabs cards. They belonged to no one so we took the cases and through the years gave them to all our friends. They were all scooped up in a year or two. They had his picture on the tabs. Very cool.

[Rick Farris]

Thanks guys for your comments. I certainly enjoyed my time in Manhattan.My firehouse that I retired from in 2005 was diagonally across the street from where the old Mad. Sq Garden stood on 50th St. I swear that on some cold quiet nites on 8th Ave. you can hear the timekeepers bell ring every so often. The site was a block long pavement parking lot in 1985 and 20 years later stands a huge highrise complex of businesses on 8th Ave and Condos on 9th Ave called the "Worldwide Plaza". The "Neutral Corner Bar" is where the writers and who's who gathered after the fights is now a Korean Fruit/Deli Bodega and Old Stillmans Gym location is torn down for a Apt complex. "Dempseys Bar and Grill" on Bdwy (seen in the "Godfather" movie) was the ground floor of the Brill Bldg. Still standing, but A Records and DVD Store is there now. A small basement fire in the bldg brought me there around 1988. In the basement, believe it or not, was a couple of boxes of Jack Dempsey's bar tabs cards. They belonged to no one so we took the cases and through the years gave them to all our friends. They were all scooped up in a year or two. They had his picture on the tabs. Very cool.

Charley, thanks for the guided tour of NY boxing past. We do that here about L.A. boxing landmarks. How I wish I'd have once visited Dempsey's legendary Broadway bar & grill. I would love to have sat across from him in a booth, talked to my all-time heavyweight idol. You know Charley, when I was 12, around 1964, I wrote Dempsey a letter. I told him I was one day going to be a pro fighter. I didn't know where to mail it, so my grandfather suggested I just address it- "Jack Dempsey - Heavyweight boxing champion, NYC, New York". That's what I did. About two weeks later I receive a big photo envelope in the mail. In it, an 8x10 B&W photo of the great Manassa Mauler in his boxing stance. He signed it, "To Rick . . . Lots of luck pal, Jack Dempsey". I still have that photo, and one day will post it here. Thanks again for the sharing your historic update. By the way, those tabs are cool! What a memory, and what a nice story behind how you aquired them.

-Rick Farris

[telboy66]

Thanks for the trip down memory lane Charlie,I have visited NYC a few times in the last 10 years & I'm always trying to locate the old boxing haunts but most seem to have gone now I usually find myself down in Brooklyn at the Front st gym where owner Bruce makes my wife & me very welcome.
Another must for us on our trips to our favorite city is to visit a couple of Firehouses on our last trip we walking passed the one in Hells Kitchen when one of the guys saw me paying an interest & invited us in we met the the watch & finished up buying T shirts for all my pals back home.We have great respect for you guys in the aftermath of 9/11.
Charlie if you have any information on old boxing sites still in NYC please post them up

[kikibalt]

On the set of "Desperate Housewives" today . . .



The little lady on the left (wearing red sweats and texting) is Eva Longoria Parker.
Standing in front of her, wearing blue jeans, black sweater and red hair is actress Marcia Cross.
To the right is director David Grossman and the camera crew.
All of the girls were in this shot, and today was the last day of production this season.
The series is now on "hiatus". In July we will return for a 7th season.
Desperate Housewives is the most watched TV series on the planet.
It's syndicated thruout the world in dozen's of languages.
ABC has guaranteed the series at least four more seasons.


-Rick Farris

[raylawpc]

Thanks guys for your comments. I certainly enjoyed my time in Manhattan.My firehouse that I retired from in 2005 was diagonally across the street from where the old Mad. Sq Garden stood on 50th St. I swear that on some cold quiet nites on 8th Ave. you can hear the timekeepers bell ring every so often. The site was a block long pavement parking lot in 1985 and 20 years later stands a huge highrise complex of businesses on 8th Ave and Condos on 9th Ave called the "Worldwide Plaza". The "Neutral Corner Bar" is where the writers and who's who gathered after the fights is now a Korean Fruit/Deli Bodega and Old Stillmans Gym location is torn down for a Apt complex. "Dempseys Bar and Grill" on Bdwy (seen in the "Godfather" movie) was the ground floor of the Brill Bldg. Still standing, but A Records and DVD Store is there now. A small basement fire in the bldg brought me there around 1988. In the basement, believe it or not, was a couple of boxes of Jack Dempsey's bar tabs cards. They belonged to no one so we took the cases and through the years gave them to all our friends. They were all scooped up in a year or two. They had his picture on the tabs. Very cool.

I actually got to meet Dempsey at his restaurant in 1973 with Pat O'Grady, Sean O'Grady, and a fighter named Humphrey McBride. At the end of a fight trip to Rhode Island, we changed our flight plans so that we could depart out of New York City, and spend a night and a day there to see the sights. (Only Pat had been to New York City.) We got in about 6 p.m., I guess, and had already eaten on the way down, but everybody agreed we should head over to Dempsey's, have a piece of cheesecake, and meet the great man.

When we got there, no Dempsey. I asked the waiter if Dempsey would be there that night. He told me that Jack was getting older and didn't come every night like he once did, but he might make it in. I was disappointed, but Pat suggested we go ahead and enjoy some cheesecake, and then go on with our sightseeing. After we got our order, I mentioned that it was too bad we didn't get to see Dempsey. Pat smiled and said, "You spoke too soon. Look behind you. He came in a few minutes ago." I turned around and, low and behold, there was Dempsey, his wife, and another gentleman sitting in Dempsey's regular booth by the front door. I have to admit, I was extremely excited and wanted to go over right away. "Just eat your cheesecake," Pat said. "He's not going anywhere."

After we finished eating, the four of us walked over to Dempsey's booth. He always strategically placed himself in a booth next to the front door and in front of a big picture window. That way, he could meet and greet everybody coming and going from the restaurant, and he could be seen from the street. The four of us went over to meet him. He was very cordial, and he and Pat talked for a few minutes about guys in the fight game they both knew. I remember being amazed that he knew Pat, and that he and Pat were on a first name basis. Sean, Humphrey and I just stood there and stared. Pat introduced all of us and said, pointing to me, "This is Tom Ray, he's the trainer." "You have young trainers down in Oklahoma, Pat," Dempsey said, and they both chuckled. I shook his hand. (I remember he had really big hands.) I finally worked up the courage and asked him if I could have his autograph. He kept a stack of postcards right in front of him on the table. The photo on the postcard was a print of the famous painting of him defeating Willard, a huge muriel painted onto the wall in the restaurant. He took one of those cards and signed it using a black felt-tip pen. As I recall, he inscribed it, "To Tom. Best of luck. Your Pal, Jack Dempsey." And then we left. I still have his autograph. I would't sell it for a million dollars.

In my lifetime, I've been privileged to meet governors, senators, Supreme Court justices, celebrities, and lot of top fighters like Norton, Ali, etc. But nothing before or since has given me a bigger thrill than meeting the great Jack Dempsey.

[THEHAMMER321]

1966 The Americana National AAU Senior Championships Maumee, Ohio, March 25-27 )
112 pounds .... Sam Goss, Trenton, New Jersey
119 pounds .... George Colon, New York City
125 pounds .... Lawrence Hines, Philadelphia
132 pounds .... Herb Dolloson, Washington
139 pounds .... Ray Garay, Houston
147 pounds .... Hedgemon Lewis, Detroit
156 pounds .... Conrad Williams, Homestead, Pa
165 pounds .... George Cooper, Oakland, Calif
178 pounds .... Roger Russell, Philadelphia
Heavyweight .... Boone Kirkman, Seattle

since the book is from 1966 I presume this took place 1965.

[Boxingnut]

I know what you mean, Bennie.
He has to know that he has real friends here, more like a family.
Should he decide to post here again, I for one will be happy and so will everybody else.
But I'm not going to keep wondering where he is? He's made a choice, and we must respect that.

Yes, we do need to respect his choice. But I hope he changes his mind and comes back.

We all do.

Has he made a conscious decision not to visit these boards or does he have personal stuff that is preventing him coming here?

[THEHAMMER321]

The 1974 Annual Americana National AAU Championships
( Boston, May 10-12 )
106 pounds .... Albert Sandoval, Los Angeles
112 pounds .... Richard Rozelle, Columbus, Ohio
119 pounds .... Mike Hess, Albany, Oregon
125 pounds .... Howard Davis, New York
132 pounds .... Aaron Pryor, Cincinnati
139 pounds .... Randy Shields, Hollywood, Calif
147 POUNDS .... William Tuttle, Bowie Md.
156 pounds .... Dale Grant, Tacoma, Wash.
165 pounds .... Marvin Hagler, Brockton, MASS.
178 pounds .... D.C Barker, Denver
Heavyweight .... James Chapman, Reno Nev
fighting took place 1973.

[Rick Farris]

The 1974 Annual Americana National AAU Championships
( Boston, May 10-12 )
106 pounds .... Albert Sandoval, Los Angeles
112 pounds .... Richard Rozelle, Columbus, Ohio
119 pounds .... Mike Hess, Albany, Oregon
125 pounds .... Howard Davis, New York
132 pounds .... Aaron Pryor, Cincinnati
139 pounds .... Randy Shields, Hollywood, Calif
147 POUNDS .... William Tuttle, Bowie Md.
156 pounds .... Dale Grant, Tacoma, Wash.
165 pounds .... Marvin Hagler, Brockton, MASS.
178 pounds .... D.C Barker, Denver
Heavyweight .... James Chapman, Reno Nev
fighting took place 1973.

A strong group of National Champs!

[CNorkusJr]

To Rick and RayLawPC This ones for you right out of my dads scrapbook.
I hope this tingles the memory. In case the caption its too small:
Former World Heavyweight Champion Jack Dempsey demonstrates his old "Manassa Mauler" form to Charley Norkus (right) and Tommy Jackson in front of mural depicting Dempseys July 4 1919 KO of Jesse Willard at Toledo. Seated next to Dempsey is Lou Nova,former heavyweight contender. Norkus and Jackson meet friday in the Garden. (photo Herald Tribune-UP)

Enjoy

[raylawpc]

To Rick and RayLawPC This ones for you right out of my dads scrapbook.
I hope this tingles the memory. In case the caption its too small:
Former World Heavyweight Champion Jack Dempsey demonstrates his old "Manassa Mauler" form to Charley Norkus (right) and Tommy Jackson in front of mural depicting Dempseys July 4 1919 KO of Jesse Willard at Toledo. Seated next to Dempsey is Lou Nova,former heavyweight contender. Norkus and Jackson meet friday in the Garden. (photo Herald Tribune-UP)

Enjoy

That's the mural all right! The postcard had the same picture on it. It was a beautiful painting. I've often wondered if they were somehow able to salvage it after the restaurant closed and, if so, where it ended up.

Thanks for sharing that. It brings back a lot of memories.

[CNorkusJr]

They look like school boys getting taught a big lesson, from the master.
By the way, Jackson by a TKO, my father had bad cuts over his eyes,stopped in 5th Rd.

Telboy- glad to hear about your trip to NYC. My firehouse is in Hells Kitchen along with 3 others. Most FDNY firehouses sell shirts and hats if you stop by. The money goes to kitchen fund usually (ketchup,salt,condiments,stuff like that). or If the TV goes on the fritz,its replaced or ordering PPV TV fights that costs $70 or so. Thanks. Firehouses do not do mail orders.Anybody visits NYC-stop in say hello, guys dont mind especially if you have a good looking sidekick next to you. They also know where the good restaurants are-not the tourist traps.

[CNorkusJr]

RayLaw I dont know what happened to all the stuff there. It wasnt in the basement where I got the bar tabs. I'm thinking possibly the family took it with them if it was a painting that could be removed,or if it was a wall mural it could have been torn down, or its sitting behind a false wall in the record store. Hmmm.

[Rick Farris]

To Rick and RayLawPC This ones for you right out of my dads scrapbook.
I hope this tingles the memory. In case the caption its too small:
Former World Heavyweight Champion Jack Dempsey demonstrates his old "Manassa Mauler" form to Charley Norkus (right) and Tommy Jackson in front of mural depicting Dempseys July 4 1919 KO of Jesse Willard at Toledo. Seated next to Dempsey is Lou Nova,former heavyweight contender. Norkus and Jackson meet friday in the Garden. (photo Herald Tribune-UP)

Enjoy

Charley . . . This was great to see. Thank you!
Interesting your dad fighting Hurricane Jackson.

[THEHAMMER321]

Watching on the bio channel right now a story on Joe Conforte, the brothel owner of the Mustang ranch, the place where Oscar Bonavena was murdered alleged by Conforte's orders.