Classic American West Coast Boxing

[Rick Farris]

Its 4:52 AM and coffee is ready, going to have my first cup, I'm late this morning....

It's 4:57 AM and I just finished coffee and heading to work.
I wanna go back to bed.

[kikibalt]

Its 4:52 AM and coffee is ready, going to have my first cup, I'm late this morning....

It's 4:57 AM and I just finished coffee and heading to work.
I wanna go back to bed.

Take the day off Rick, call in sick and go back to bed..... ....I call in sick everyday.....

[CNorkusJr]

Charlie . . . I hope the Jets end the Colts season next week. It's great to read of your experiences with FDNY.
Yesterday I was talking with Bill Dempsey Young. Bill is the V.P. of the Golden State Boxer's Assoc, and the son of Hall of Fame ref, the late Dick Young.
Dick Young was one of my favorite referees, and an L.A. County fire fighter. As I spoke with Bill about his father, I asked if he remembered Charlie Norkus.
Of course, Bill knew of your dad, and I told him about you and your history (what I know) with FDNY, and your current boxing involvment.

Rick, Thank You very much for mentioning my dad's name to Bill Dempsey Young. Dick Young was one of the great referees of our time. Of notoriety, he and Arthur Mercante Sr. were two of the biggest names in the sport. I have a tape of the Norton-Ali fight from CA and Dick Young was the ref. A close one which was called a split decision-but Dick scored it dead on I thought in favor of Ali. I did not know he was a LA Firefighter. It certainly must have been a treat to have him in the firehouse watching other fights with on TV. with the guys when he wasnt refereeing (which I dont think he missed a card in CA in all that time).LOL
I am sure Bill can relate some great experiences as his son during those years. He would be a great person to sit down to talk to about his dad. Very proud I'm sure.
I dont remember ever meeting Mr Dick Young here in New York. I am sure my dad would have known him as well as he referreed at the same time (1970-80's) here in NY.Mr Young's legacy and fame precedes him.

[kikibalt]

'True Grit' memories from Kim Darby and Glen Campbell



The actors recall working on the original film with John Wayne.

By Susan King, Los Angeles Times

January 4, 2011

Most remakes of classic films are shadows of the originals. But Joel and Ethan Coen's version of the western "True Grit" — with Jeff Bridges as Rooster Cogburn, newcomer Hailee Steinfeld as the plucky Mattie Ross and Matt Damon as Texas Ranger LaBoeuf — has won over critics, audiences and even Kim Darby, who played the resolute Mattie in the 1969 original for which John Wayne won his only Oscar as the irascible Cogburn.

"It's a wonderful movie," said Darby, now 63. "It's top drawer.'" And so, she said, is Steinfeld.

"She's just extraordinary in the film," Darby said. "I said to her agent, 'Be sure you're careful what she does next. The next thing is what is so important.'" (Darby's post "Grit" movies — including 1969's "Generation" and 1970's "Norwood" — didn't exactly set the box office on fire.)

Darby was especially impressed with Steinfeld's skills on horseback, including riding her black pony across a river. "God bless her that she did the whole thing," said Darby, who admitted she probably was on a horse for only five minutes in the original.

"I am really afraid of horses," she said. "I had a stunt double. She was about 65. They made a mask of my face out of clay and she would wear that and it would match my profile."

Most of the major players from the original — including Wayne, Dennis Hopper, Jeff Corey and director Henry Hathaway — have died. But a few in addition to Darby are still around, including Robert Duvall (who played the outlaw gang leader "Lucky" Ned Pepper) and singing star Glen Campbell (who made his film debut as LaBoeuf).

For the 1969 "True Grit," which like the 2010 film was adapted from Charles Portis' novel, producer Hal Wallis originally wanted Mia Farrow to play Mattie. But she supposedly turned it down because her "Secret Ceremony" costar Robert Mitchum warned her that Hathaway was a difficult director to work with.

Wallis then saw Darby on an episode of the TV drama "Run for Your Life" in which she played an unwed mother and thought she had the pluck and vulnerability for the Mattie character.

Though Steinfeld was just 13 when she played the role of 14-year-old Mattie in the new version, Darby was 21 and the mother of a newborn daughter, Heather, with her first husband, actor James Stacy. During the filming of the movie, she began divorce proceedings against Stacy.

"The first 10 days of the movie I would love to do over again," said Darby, who lives in Studio City and has had some minor roles in recent years but has primarily focused on teaching acting over the last two decades. "I think I was more concentrated on my child because she was such an infant."

She fondly recalls working with Wayne. "He was there on the set before anyone else and knew every line perfectly," Darby said.

After the production finished filming, Darby remembered, there was a photo shoot at Paramount Pictures with the stars who were working at the studio at the time, "which were John Wayne, Barbra Streisand, Clint Eastwood, Goldie Hawn.… Robert Evans was in the middle. I was sitting on the curb a ways away watching. The Duke stepped out of the picture and he said, 'Hey, kid.' He put out his arms and lifted me up and brought me over and put me in the center of the picture. How wonderful is that?"

She did, though, have a bit of a problem with Hathaway, who was 71 when he directed the film.

"He was an old prop man and he usually focused on the prop man and he would just yell at him no matter what he did," Darby said. Although they had gotten along well when she first met him at the studio, Hathaway yelled at her on the first day of shooting. "It got me so off guard," she said. "I just got up and went back to my dressing room."

Eventually, the two had a heart-to-heart talk in the dressing room. "I said, 'Henry, I'll do anything you want, just don't yell at me again.' After that day, we went along swimmingly."

Campbell, now 74 and living in Malibu, said he also ran into problems with Hathaway. After being yelled at one day, Campbell recalled that he told the director, "You know, I can get on a horse and get out of here and get in my car and go back to L.A.' He kind of looked at me and said, 'Well, I have been tough on you.' That was Henry Hathaway."

By the late 1960s, Campbell was a popular recording artist with his hits like "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" and was the star of his own CBS variety show, "The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour." But he had never acted before "True Grit."

"I never thought about being an actor because I am a singer and a guitar player," said Campbell, who has yet to see the new version.

But he was thrilled working with the Duke, he said, because he had been a fan of the actor since he was a kid growing up in Delight, Ark. "It was just amazing," Campbell recalled. "He was so much like my dad. He was a very nice guy."

Campbell, who still performs, made only one other feature, 1970's disastrous "Norwood" with Darby. "I enjoyed doing movies; I just wasn't an actor, so to speak," he said. But he joked that he nonetheless did a "good deed" in "True Grit."

"I made John Wayne look so good in a movie," Campbell said, "that he won his only Oscar."

[email protected]

[THEHAMMER321]

Its 4:52 AM and coffee is ready, going to have my first cup, I'm late this morning....

It's 4:57 AM and I just finished coffee and heading to work.
I wanna go back to bed.

Well I guess I overslept again, its 10:47 and I just put the coffee on.

[Panzerfaust]

http://vimeo.com/14462246 check this out. I thought it to be a very good and very short film , I was surprised at the end when i found out thats its a promo

[kikibalt]

http://vimeo.com/14462246 check this out. I thought it to be a very good and very short film , I was surprised at the end when i found out thats its a promo

Thanks for posting Ram....

[kikibalt]

Boxing commis, Clayton Frye, Al Silvani, Nat Fleischer, Pone Kingpetch and Pascuel Perez.
In back wearing glasses is George Parnassus.

Los Angeles, Ca....1960

[Expug]

Just got back from L.A. Man,that weather was a little uncooperative. Got some rain and chilliness didnt we?
We ate at a restaurant called Mastros. I believe it was in Beverly Hills. Best steak Ive ever had in my life. The place is tremendous. Two games, Lost to the Ducks. Beat The Kings. Chicagos freezing as usual. Didnt warm up at all while I was gone.

[Rick Farris]

'True Grit' memories from Kim Darby and Glen Campbell



The actors recall working on the original film with John Wayne.

By Susan King, Los Angeles Times

January 4, 2011

Most remakes of classic films are shadows of the originals. But Joel and Ethan Coen's version of the western "True Grit" — with Jeff Bridges as Rooster Cogburn, newcomer Hailee Steinfeld as the plucky Mattie Ross and Matt Damon as Texas Ranger LaBoeuf — has won over critics, audiences and even Kim Darby, who played the resolute Mattie in the 1969 original for which John Wayne won his only Oscar as the irascible Cogburn.

"It's a wonderful movie," said Darby, now 63. "It's top drawer.'" And so, she said, is Steinfeld.

"She's just extraordinary in the film," Darby said. "I said to her agent, 'Be sure you're careful what she does next. The next thing is what is so important.'" (Darby's post "Grit" movies — including 1969's "Generation" and 1970's "Norwood" — didn't exactly set the box office on fire.)

Darby was especially impressed with Steinfeld's skills on horseback, including riding her black pony across a river. "God bless her that she did the whole thing," said Darby, who admitted she probably was on a horse for only five minutes in the original.

"I am really afraid of horses," she said. "I had a stunt double. She was about 65. They made a mask of my face out of clay and she would wear that and it would match my profile."

Most of the major players from the original — including Wayne, Dennis Hopper, Jeff Corey and director Henry Hathaway — have died. But a few in addition to Darby are still around, including Robert Duvall (who played the outlaw gang leader "Lucky" Ned Pepper) and singing star Glen Campbell (who made his film debut as LaBoeuf).

For the 1969 "True Grit," which like the 2010 film was adapted from Charles Portis' novel, producer Hal Wallis originally wanted Mia Farrow to play Mattie. But she supposedly turned it down because her "Secret Ceremony" costar Robert Mitchum warned her that Hathaway was a difficult director to work with.

Wallis then saw Darby on an episode of the TV drama "Run for Your Life" in which she played an unwed mother and thought she had the pluck and vulnerability for the Mattie character.

Though Steinfeld was just 13 when she played the role of 14-year-old Mattie in the new version, Darby was 21 and the mother of a newborn daughter, Heather, with her first husband, actor James Stacy. During the filming of the movie, she began divorce proceedings against Stacy.

"The first 10 days of the movie I would love to do over again," said Darby, who lives in Studio City and has had some minor roles in recent years but has primarily focused on teaching acting over the last two decades. "I think I was more concentrated on my child because she was such an infant."

She fondly recalls working with Wayne. "He was there on the set before anyone else and knew every line perfectly," Darby said.

After the production finished filming, Darby remembered, there was a photo shoot at Paramount Pictures with the stars who were working at the studio at the time, "which were John Wayne, Barbra Streisand, Clint Eastwood, Goldie Hawn.… Robert Evans was in the middle. I was sitting on the curb a ways away watching. The Duke stepped out of the picture and he said, 'Hey, kid.' He put out his arms and lifted me up and brought me over and put me in the center of the picture. How wonderful is that?"

She did, though, have a bit of a problem with Hathaway, who was 71 when he directed the film.

"He was an old prop man and he usually focused on the prop man and he would just yell at him no matter what he did," Darby said. Although they had gotten along well when she first met him at the studio, Hathaway yelled at her on the first day of shooting. "It got me so off guard," she said. "I just got up and went back to my dressing room."

Eventually, the two had a heart-to-heart talk in the dressing room. "I said, 'Henry, I'll do anything you want, just don't yell at me again.' After that day, we went along swimmingly."

Campbell, now 74 and living in Malibu, said he also ran into problems with Hathaway. After being yelled at one day, Campbell recalled that he told the director, "You know, I can get on a horse and get out of here and get in my car and go back to L.A.' He kind of looked at me and said, 'Well, I have been tough on you.' That was Henry Hathaway."

By the late 1960s, Campbell was a popular recording artist with his hits like "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" and was the star of his own CBS variety show, "The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour." But he had never acted before "True Grit."

"I never thought about being an actor because I am a singer and a guitar player," said Campbell, who has yet to see the new version.

But he was thrilled working with the Duke, he said, because he had been a fan of the actor since he was a kid growing up in Delight, Ark. "It was just amazing," Campbell recalled. "He was so much like my dad. He was a very nice guy."

Campbell, who still performs, made only one other feature, 1970's disastrous "Norwood" with Darby. "I enjoyed doing movies; I just wasn't an actor, so to speak," he said. But he joked that he nonetheless did a "good deed" in "True Grit."

"I made John Wayne look so good in a movie," Campbell said, "that he won his only Oscar."

[email protected]

The late director, Henry Hathaway, lived in a small mansion on Fremont Place in the Hancock Park Area of Los Angeles.
On several occasions in the 80's (years after Hathaway's death), I worked in the house when it was used as a movie set.
At the time, directly across the street lived Muhammad Ali.
One day, as the crew broke for lunch, a white Rolls-Royce pulled into Ali's driveway, and out stepped the champ.
Ali waved to everybody, signed a few autographs and invited a few into his home. I saw him from across the street, but I was hungry and went directly to the caterer. After lunch, our cameraman told me that Ali performed magic tricks for his guests.

I was in high school when True Grit was filmed. My uncle was the lighting gaffer on True Grit,, as well as the sequel, Rooster Cogburn. My cousin (who today is also in the business) was just a kid and remembered traveling with his parents while they were on location for the both films.

[Rick Farris]

Boxing commis, Clayton Frye, Al Silvani, Nat Fleischer, Pone Kingpetch and Pascuel Perez.
In back wearing glasses is George Parnassus.

Los Angeles, Ca....1960

Great picture, Frank.

[Rick Farris]

Just got back from L.A. Man,that weather was a little uncooperative. Got some rain and chilliness didnt we?
We ate at a restaurant called Mastros. I believe it was in Beverly Hills. Best steak Ive ever had in my life. The place is tremendous. Two games, Lost to the Ducks. Beat The Kings. Chicagos freezing as usual. Didnt warm up at all while I was gone.

Brian, I'm glad you had a good steak.
Ironically, the best steak I ever had was in Chicago, about 30 years ago when we were filming "Ordinary People" in Lake Forest.
Yeah, the weather was bad this past weekend. We are getting snow in places that never get snow. Very strange.

[Rick Farris]

http://vimeo.com/14462246 check this out. I thought it to be a very good and very short film , I was surprised at the end when i found out thats its a promo

Remy . . . Thanks for posting. It looks like it might be good.

[Rick Farris]

Its 4:52 AM and coffee is ready, going to have my first cup, I'm late this morning....

It's 4:57 AM and I just finished coffee and heading to work.
I wanna go back to bed.

Well I guess I overslept again, its 10:47 and I just put the coffee on.

Well Paul, tomorrow I'll be up at 4am again.
I expect to read a post from Bennie, and will wish Frank a good morning.
I just found out I didn't win the Mega Lotto this evening, or tomorrow I'd be waking about the same time you did this morning.

[bennie]

Bolton star Amir Khan defends his WBA light-welterweight title against decent American Lamont Peterson in this country on April 16.
Khan appears here for the first time since December 2009 when he blasted Dmitriy Salita in 76 seconds in Newcastle, dropping Salita three times, after which he proved his chin and his mettle with a bruising victory over Argentine puncher and mandatory challenger Marcos Maidana in the States. Trained by Freddie Roach out of Los Angeles, Khan finally silenced the doubters as he stood up to Maidana's bombs for 12 rounds on the way to a unanimous decision in Las Vegas. It ranks as one of the greatest displays ever given by a British fighter abroad. It was the third defence of the title Khan won with a unanimous decision over Ukraine's Andreas Kotelnik in Manchester in the summer of 2009.
Peterson, 26, is the older brother of lightweight Anthony and holds a fine win over former world amateur champion Willy Blain, a previously unbeaten Frenchman whom he stopped in seven rounds in Puerto Rico in April 2009; otherwise, you look at Peterson's wins and nobody shouts out. Don't get me wrong, Peterson has lost only to Tim Bradley in 30 fights and is certainly no Salita, the hapless New Yorker who was down within 10 seconds of the opening bell against Khan.
Peterson, a big, willing man from Memphis, goes forward and works hard, particularly to the body, but he is not a massive puncher and (ironically) he looks a bit chinny. He was down twice against Victor Ortiz (Khan's stablemate) on the Khan-Maidana bill last time out, battling back to salvage a 10-round draw, and was also down against Bradley in a crack at Bradley's WBO light-welterweight title in California in December 2009 which he lost widely on the cards. Bradley seemd to jar him ever time he landed cleanly.
Nevertheless, Peterson has never been stopped at 28-1-1 (14) and looks the perfect challenger for Khan's homecoming Khan - good enough and brave enough to give Khan a fight but not good enough to beat him. Moreover, if Khan were to force a stoppage, it would make him look very good alongside rival champ Bradley.

[kikibalt]

Its 4:15 AM and coffee is perking, will have my first cup soon...

[Rick Farris]

Its 4:15 AM and coffee is perking, will have my first cup soon...

It's 4:55 AM, having my first cup now. Have a great day, Frank. Got to go . . . .

[Rick Farris]

Bolton star Amir Khan defends his WBA light-welterweight title against decent American Lamont Peterson in this country on April 16.
Khan appears here for the first time since December 2009 when he blasted Dmitriy Salita in 76 seconds in Newcastle, dropping Salita three times, after which he proved his chin and his mettle with a bruising victory over Argentine puncher and mandatory challenger Marcos Maidana in the States. Trained by Freddie Roach out of Los Angeles, Khan finally silenced the doubters as he stood up to Maidana's bombs for 12 rounds on the way to a unanimous decision in Las Vegas. It ranks as one of the greatest displays ever given by a British fighter abroad. It was the third defence of the title Khan won with a unanimous decision over Ukraine's Andreas Kotelnik in Manchester in the summer of 2009.
Peterson, 26, is the older brother of lightweight Anthony and holds a fine win over former world amateur champion Willy Blain, a previously unbeaten Frenchman whom he stopped in seven rounds in Puerto Rico in April 2009; otherwise, you look at Peterson's wins and nobody shouts out. Don't get me wrong, Peterson has lost only to Tim Bradley in 30 fights and is certainly no Salita, the hapless New Yorker who was down within 10 seconds of the opening bell against Khan.
Peterson, a big, willing man from Memphis, goes forward and works hard, particularly to the body, but he is not a massive puncher and (ironically) he looks a bit chinny. He was down twice against Victor Ortiz (Khan's stablemate) on the Khan-Maidana bill last time out, battling back to salvage a 10-round draw, and was also down against Bradley in a crack at Bradley's WBO light-welterweight title in California in December 2009 which he lost widely on the cards. Bradley seemd to jar him ever time he landed cleanly.
Nevertheless, Peterson has never been stopped at 28-1-1 (14) and looks the perfect challenger for Khan's homecoming Khan - good enough and brave enough to give Khan a fight but not good enough to beat him. Moreover, if Khan were to force a stoppage, it would make him look very good alongside rival champ Bradley.

Peterson is a good fight for Khan. Khan showed a lot in his last fight. I like what I saw.

[kikibalt]

Its 4:15 AM and coffee is perking, will have my first cup soon...

It's 4:55 AM, having my first cup now. Have a great day, Frank. Got to go . . . .

Don't know about this hours you're keeping Rick, getting up so early and going to work is not healthy for you.....

[Randyman]

Its 4:15 AM and coffee is perking, will have my first cup soon...

It's 4:55 AM, having my first cup now. Have a great day, Frank. Got to go . . . .

Don't know about this hours you're keeping Rick, getting up so early and going to work is not healthy for you.....

I had my first cup of coffee and breakfast this morning and left the house about 5:00. I've had 2 cups here at work. It's what gets me through the day. I long for the day when I become a kept man. D

[Randyman]

Bolton star Amir Khan defends his WBA light-welterweight title against decent American Lamont Peterson in this country on April 16.
Khan appears here for the first time since December 2009 when he blasted Dmitriy Salita in 76 seconds in Newcastle, dropping Salita three times, after which he proved his chin and his mettle with a bruising victory over Argentine puncher and mandatory challenger Marcos Maidana in the States. Trained by Freddie Roach out of Los Angeles, Khan finally silenced the doubters as he stood up to Maidana's bombs for 12 rounds on the way to a unanimous decision in Las Vegas. It ranks as one of the greatest displays ever given by a British fighter abroad. It was the third defence of the title Khan won with a unanimous decision over Ukraine's Andreas Kotelnik in Manchester in the summer of 2009.
Peterson, 26, is the older brother of lightweight Anthony and holds a fine win over former world amateur champion Willy Blain, a previously unbeaten Frenchman whom he stopped in seven rounds in Puerto Rico in April 2009; otherwise, you look at Peterson's wins and nobody shouts out. Don't get me wrong, Peterson has lost only to Tim Bradley in 30 fights and is certainly no Salita, the hapless New Yorker who was down within 10 seconds of the opening bell against Khan.
Peterson, a big, willing man from Memphis, goes forward and works hard, particularly to the body, but he is not a massive puncher and (ironically) he looks a bit chinny. He was down twice against Victor Ortiz (Khan's stablemate) on the Khan-Maidana bill last time out, battling back to salvage a 10-round draw, and was also down against Bradley in a crack at Bradley's WBO light-welterweight title in California in December 2009 which he lost widely on the cards. Bradley seemd to jar him ever time he landed cleanly.
Nevertheless, Peterson has never been stopped at 28-1-1 (14) and looks the perfect challenger for Khan's homecoming Khan - good enough and brave enough to give Khan a fight but not good enough to beat him. Moreover, if Khan were to force a stoppage, it would make him look very good alongside rival champ Bradley.

Great assessment Bennie. I agree with you. Kahn has the momentum right now plus his confidence has to be at an all time high. I think Kahn wants to win by knockout. As long as he doesn't get over confident and over excited he should be okay.

[Randyman]

http://vimeo.com/14462246 check this out. I thought it to be a very good and very short film , I was surprised at the end when i found out thats its a promo

That was nice, thanks for posting it Remy.

[kikibalt]

It's 4:55 AM, having my first cup now. Have a great day, Frank. Got to go . . . .

Don't know about this hours you're keeping Rick, getting up so early and going to work is not healthy for you.....

I had my first cup of coffee and breakfast this morning and left the house about 5:00. I've had 2 cups here at work. It's what gets me through the day. I long for the day when I become a kept man. D

Have a great day Randy. Some day you and Rick shall achieve the status of a kept man, then we can get together at the the park and feed the pigeons....

[bennie]

Boxing commis, Clayton Frye, Al Silvani, Nat Fleischer, Pone Kingpetch and Pascuel Perez.
In back wearing glasses is George Parnassus.

Los Angeles, Ca....1960

Great picture, Frank.

Al Silvani appeared in a few films, I believe, as an extra. He had one of those rugged, lived-in faces. I seem to remember him in Stir Crazy.

[kikibalt]

Boxing commis, Clayton Frye, Al Silvani, Nat Fleischer, Pone Kingpetch and Pascuel Perez.
In back wearing glasses is George Parnassus.

Los Angeles, Ca....1960

Great picture, Frank.

Al Silvani appeared in a few films, I believe, as an extra. He had one of those rugged, lived-in faces. I seem to remember him in Stir Crazy.

Yeah, Bennie, I was watching Stir Crazy couple of days ago and I noticed him in the movie. Don Fraser told me about a week ago that his widow, Norma, still receives a check now and then for his movie work.