Classic American West Coast Boxing

[kikibalt]

The Simons company town reminds me of the clusters of company housing on large citrus ranches (which would be called farms in other parts of the U.S. outside of California) in the vicinity of Santa Paula and Ventura, which are located in Ventura County, California. The ranches included Limoneira and Rancho Sespe. Limoneira, which has been known for growing lemons, is going great guns to this day.

By today's standards, most of the houses were small wooden structures which were rather primative. As I recall, they started tearing them down in large numbers during the 1960s and 1970s.

But there were people from a variety of ethnic groups who were living in such housing, notably during the 1930s and 1940s when many people from the Midwest, including Oklahoma, moved to Ventura County. West of Santa Paula, Lemoneira had a large presence. In that area, there were two elementary schools, Olivelands and Briggs. For awhile, the kids of Mexican descent went to Olivelands while the white kids went to Briggs.

My mother, a middle class girl, attended Briggs about 1940. She told me about seeing a poor kid from Oklahoma wearing dirty underwear at school.

- Chuck Johnston

http://simonsbrickyard.blogspot.com/
Chuck, my blog on the Simons Brickyard...with photos.

[CNorkusJr]

The Simons company town reminds me of the clusters of company housing on large citrus ranches (which would be called farms in other parts of the U.S. outside of California) in the vicinity of Santa Paula and Ventura, which are located in Ventura County, California. The ranches included Limoneira and Rancho Sespe. Limoneira, which has been known for growing lemons, is going great guns to this day.

By today's standards, most of the houses were small wooden structures which were rather primative. As I recall, they started tearing them down in large numbers during the 1960s and 1970s.

But there were people from a variety of ethnic groups who were living in such housing, notably during the 1930s and 1940s when many people from the Midwest, including Oklahoma, moved to Ventura County. West of Santa Paula, Lemoneira had a large presence. In that area, there were two elementary schools, Olivelands and Briggs. For awhile, the kids of Mexican descent went to Olivelands while the white kids went to Briggs.

My mother, a middle class girl, attended Briggs about 1940. She told me about seeing a poor kid from Oklahoma wearing dirty underwear at school.

- Chuck Johnston

http://simonsbrickyard.blogspot.com/
Chuck, my blog on the Simons Brickyard...with photos.

Great Blog Frank

[coach greg v]

Here is a photo you might like to see. 1958 a few days before Moore vs Norkus in SF.

My father (left) with his then mgr. Marty Sampson who took over the reins in 1956.
Marty Sampson was a pretty formidable middlewt back in his day too.

I think they call it "The Beaux Arts Pavilion" ?

>San Francisco Fine Arts Pavilion...great articles chuck

[kikibalt]

The Simons company town reminds me of the clusters of company housing on large citrus ranches (which would be called farms in other parts of the U.S. outside of California) in the vicinity of Santa Paula and Ventura, which are located in Ventura County, California. The ranches included Limoneira and Rancho Sespe. Limoneira, which has been known for growing lemons, is going great guns to this day.

By today's standards, most of the houses were small wooden structures which were rather primative. As I recall, they started tearing them down in large numbers during the 1960s and 1970s.

But there were people from a variety of ethnic groups who were living in such housing, notably during the 1930s and 1940s when many people from the Midwest, including Oklahoma, moved to Ventura County. West of Santa Paula, Lemoneira had a large presence. In that area, there were two elementary schools, Olivelands and Briggs. For awhile, the kids of Mexican descent went to Olivelands while the white kids went to Briggs.

My mother, a middle class girl, attended Briggs about 1940. She told me about seeing a poor kid from Oklahoma wearing dirty underwear at school.

- Chuck Johnston

http://simonsbrickyard.blogspot.com/
Chuck, my blog on the Simons Brickyard...with photos.

Great Blog Frank

Thanks Charlie....

[kikibalt]

In Los Angeles, there was a Chinese massacre which took place during 1871, not during the early Twentieth Century.

Frank- Hope the interview goes well.

- Chuck Johnston

The interview went great Chuck. It was long, about 3 hours. We had a lots of memories to talk about and I don't think we cover more then 30% of them, might have to do it again.

[kikibalt]

Here is a photo you might like to see. 1958 a few days before Moore vs Norkus in SF.

My father (left) with his then mgr. Marty Sampson who took over the reins in 1956.
Marty Sampson was a pretty formidable middlewt back in his day too.

I think they call it "The Beaux Arts Pavilion" ?

That's a great photo, Charlie....

[CNorkusJr]

Here is a photo you might like to see. 1958 a few days before Moore vs Norkus in SF.

My father (left) with his then mgr. Marty Sampson who took over the reins in 1956.
Marty Sampson was a pretty formidable middlewt back in his day too.

I think they call it "The Beaux Arts Pavilion" ?

>San Francisco Fine Arts Pavilion...great articles chuck

Thanks for the correction Coach - SF Fine Arts Pavilion.
My father always carried a camera with him on his boxing excursions-unfortunately we dont have any color slides of him in action. Hoping one day that I'll open up a draw somewhere and find a couple-like I found this one last year.

[kikibalt]

Olympic Auditorium
Dec.7, 1978



Franco Thomas, Jimmy Lennon Sr. & Frankie Baltazar

[raylawpc]

Hey Frank, maybe we're related! A young friend asked me if I knew any Swedish names for boys, and so I looked on the internet. What did I find? BALTASAR! It means "protected by God." (The "s" probably got changed to a "z" at Ellis Island! )

[kikibalt]

Hey Frank, maybe we're related! A young friend asked me if I knew any Swedish names for boys, and so I looked on the internet. What did I find? BALTASAR! It means "protected by God." (The "s" probably got changed to a "z" at Ellis Island! )

Hi cuz!!...

[kikibalt]

Greatest sports figures in L.A. history, No. 16: Jerry Buss

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_ ... -buss.html

[Randyman]

This photo is from the Daily News, dated July 22, 1988. The caption says my son is 6 but he was actually 5 when the photo was taken. We didn't have a garage or a big enough tree when we lived in this house. nowhere to hang a bag. My son would just lean it on a chair or whatever else was available and just bang away. He had a lot of fun with it. It helped get him ready for a few years later when I started taking him to the Brooklyn Street Gym in Boyle Heights in 1993. That gym no longer exists.

[Randyman]

A few pics from the pro debut of both, "Too tall" Jones and my cousin Rocky Burke, at the Pan American center, Las Cruces, New Mexico, November 3, 1979. Also a photo of their father Coach Sammy Burke, with Rocky and Louie and the team.

[kikibalt]

This photo is from the Daily News, dated July 22, 1988. The caption says my son is 6 but he was actually 5 when the photo was taken. We didn't have a garage or a big enough tree when we lived in this house. nowhere to hang a bag. My son would just lean it on a chair or whatever else was available and just bang away. He had a lot of fun with it. It helped get him ready for a few years later when I started taking him to the Brooklyn Street Gym in Boyle Heights in 1993. That gym no longer exists.

Great clip, randy. Sure you have it fame and hanging....

[kikibalt]

A few pics from the pro debut of both, "Too tall" Jones and my cousin Rocky Burke, at the Pan American center, Las Cruces, New Mexico, November 3, 1979. Also a photo of their father Coach Sammy Burke, with Rocky and Louie and the team.

[raylawpc]

Rocky was undefeated when he stopped boxing. Why did he retire, Randy?

[Bobbin & Weavin]

I'll post the fight stories later when I have more time

If you wish to view the fight highlites

http://sosoboxing.com/boxing-video-watc ... -powell-i/

Thanks for posting, I just called my dad to see if he went to the fight since we are San Franciscan's and said no he was away on his own stint with the Marines but believes he saw it on TV. Do you know anything as to where your dad trained or stayed while he was in San Francisco for the fight? The Civic was/is a pretty good place to see a fight.
Bruce

Hi Bruce, My father and cornermen were guests of the St Francis Hotel in San Francisco. A most memorable place my father told me, and wonderfully situated in downtown. Part of the fight agreement was a week stay in San Fran-prior and after the Powell I fight in 54, and the Moore fight in 58. Several news conferences and radio interviews were held throughout spots in San Fran that week leading up to the fight. At ODouls place around the corner, in The St Francis itself and my father did train in Newmans Gym. What roadwork he did do in San Fran was all uphill he said LOL. He loved San Fran. A mag did a picture spread on him here turning the cablecars around, At DiMaggio's on the wharf.etc etc. (My father was good friends with Joe DiMaggio here in NY, Joe was a huge known boxing fan,and attended many NY fights including Yankee Stad cards. He enjoyed my fathers fights even in Miami during spring training. My father has a picture of himself with a huge chef's hat on in the kitchen of DiMaggios,where he was treated like a king.)Your dad might have heard of Art Norkus-the famed bandleader in san Fran. No relations here,but my dad gave him a nice plug in town.

On my fathers strict advice I went to San Fran in 1988 with my first wife, where we visited the old Civic Center,where on the 2nd floor they had a small CA boxing museum. We did mostly the tourist thing-but I certainly agreed with him that it is one of the MOST Beautiful
cities that one can go to.!!


Bruce, Can you tell me if Newman's Gym is still there. I didnt get a chance to look it up in '88, but would love to try and get there someday. Maybe under a different name and I'm sure a new look, but would be interested to know if it is still there ? Thanks.
A few years back I went to the old Miami Bch Aud. which is still there,but now called The Fillmore at Jackie Gleason Theatre,and is now a renovated concert hall in the interior. Just like the SF Aud. which is now The Bill Graham Theatre I heard last,doing the concert thing too. By the way, the old Garden and Stillman's gym in NY are long gone into the history books.

Hi Charlie,
Your father did it up right while he was in S.F., the St. Francis is still a premier hotel known for its superior service. That little boxing museum at the old civic is now gone and I have been trying to find out where all or the exhibits went. I donated a couple old boxing posters that I had collected and wouldn't mind getting them back if they're just sitting in a basement someplace. My father who was head of the S.F. building trades union council at the time called in some favors to get material and labor donated to help put the little museum together. I was fortunate enough to box at the civic six times including the Golden Gloves and as an amateur on several pro cards and at 16 I thought I was pretty cool stuff!
Sadly Newman's gym is long gone...the old sign from the gym hangs in a little gym on the peninsula and I have meant to go down and get a picture of it and post it.
I must agree that S.F. is one of the most beautiful places, I feel fortunate to work there supervising construction in some of it's great buildings, old and new, I never take it for granted.
Both Eddie Muller and Jack Fisk wrote well into the 70s and Muller's son has done some writing as well. My father befriended the two of them separately (they are rumored to not like each other) and at times would drive them home from Northern California Veteran Boxer's luncheons and says he doesn't think either of them ever drove.
I very much enjoy learning about your father's career.
Bruce

[CNorkusJr]

Randy-You sure are posting some really nice stuff on your family and The Burke Family.
Thank You. Gotta be proud dad of that heavy swinger back when he was younger !

[CNorkusJr]

Bruce, Thank You for taking an interest in my father's career. I,in turn,appreciate what your telling me about San Francisco. I loved the place, like my father did, when I got there.
Very historical. That had to be a great time experiencing the Ring inside the old Aud,Bruce. Those old arenas were classic in their day. We had the Sunnyside Gardens here in Queens,NY (amongst a few others) where I saw my father ref. It was a great thing to experience.

I remember that little museum as well. I would say half of the museum was built on Art Aragon things. I dont remember if anything was credited with a "provided courtesy of sush & such" donors. I wouldn't be surprised if any of the nice things were courtesy of the Aragon family themselves. Maybe Art's family or son might have the things or know where they might be. The amount of stuff they had might fill 3 boxes.But definetly a treasure trove. Very little on Charlie Powell-caught me by surprise.

Fiske & Mueller didn't get along ? or Mueller & his son didnt get along ?
I know there are competitive writers out there in newspapers- I see Jack Hirsch monthly here in NY,Pres of Boxing Writers Assn. Competative writers usually brings out the best in writers anyhow but with so little newspaper men in the business nowadays, you must go on-line to see the featured boxing stories now. A far cry when the sport was in its hey day.
NY had many that lasted into the early 80's-now its barebones.

For instance, here in NY we have a local paper called Newsday. Newsday been carrying MMA articles once a week by some guy. Boxing gets a story once every 2 weeks if we are lucky by a writer Greg Logan. Greg been around for awhile now and knows the scene well. The day after this Hopkins-Dawson farce of a fight, he does a piece on the guy who did 25 yrs in prison and now starting his career up at 51 yrs old. Nothing on the LA card,which had a few East Coast guys on it. No pre-fight stuff-nothing. Pisses me off to say the least. I blame the sports editors.

[coach greg v]

Thanks for posting, I just called my dad to see if he went to the fight since we are San Franciscan's and said no he was away on his own stint with the Marines but believes he saw it on TV. Do you know anything as to where your dad trained or stayed while he was in San Francisco for the fight? The Civic was/is a pretty good place to see a fight.
Bruce

Hi Bruce, My father and cornermen were guests of the St Francis Hotel in San Francisco. A most memorable place my father told me, and wonderfully situated in downtown. Part of the fight agreement was a week stay in San Fran-prior and after the Powell I fight in 54, and the Moore fight in 58. Several news conferences and radio interviews were held throughout spots in San Fran that week leading up to the fight. At ODouls place around the corner, in The St Francis itself and my father did train in Newmans Gym. What roadwork he did do in San Fran was all uphill he said LOL. He loved San Fran. A mag did a picture spread on him here turning the cablecars around, At DiMaggio's on the wharf.etc etc. (My father was good friends with Joe DiMaggio here in NY, Joe was a huge known boxing fan,and attended many NY fights including Yankee Stad cards. He enjoyed my fathers fights even in Miami during spring training. My father has a picture of himself with a huge chef's hat on in the kitchen of DiMaggios,where he was treated like a king.)Your dad might have heard of Art Norkus-the famed bandleader in san Fran. No relations here,but my dad gave him a nice plug in town.

On my fathers strict advice I went to San Fran in 1988 with my first wife, where we visited the old Civic Center,where on the 2nd floor they had a small CA boxing museum. We did mostly the tourist thing-but I certainly agreed with him that it is one of the MOST Beautiful
cities that one can go to.!!


Bruce, Can you tell me if Newman's Gym is still there. I didnt get a chance to look it up in '88, but would love to try and get there someday. Maybe under a different name and I'm sure a new look, but would be interested to know if it is still there ? Thanks.
A few years back I went to the old Miami Bch Aud. which is still there,but now called The Fillmore at Jackie Gleason Theatre,and is now a renovated concert hall in the interior. Just like the SF Aud. which is now The Bill Graham Theatre I heard last,doing the concert thing too. By the way, the old Garden and Stillman's gym in NY are long gone into the history books.

Hi Charlie,
Your father did it up right while he was in S.F., the St. Francis is still a premier hotel known for its superior service. That little boxing museum at the old civic is now gone and I have been trying to find out where all or the exhibits went. I donated a couple old boxing posters that I had collected and wouldn't mind getting them back if they're just sitting in a basement someplace. My father who was head of the S.F. building trades union council at the time called in some favors to get material and labor donated to help put the little museum together. I was fortunate enough to box at the civic six times including the Golden Gloves and as an amateur on several pro cards and at 16 I thought I was pretty cool stuff!
Sadly Newman's gym is long gone...the old sign from the gym hangs in a little gym on the peninsula and I have meant to go down and get a picture of it and post it.
I must agree that S.F. is one of the most beautiful places, I feel fortunate to work there supervising construction in some of it's great buildings, old and new, I never take it for granted.
Both Eddie Muller and Jack Fisk wrote well into the 70s and Muller's son has done some writing as well. My father befriended the two of them separately (they are rumored to not like each other) and at times would drive them home from Northern California Veteran Boxer's luncheons and says he doesn't think either of them ever drove.
I very much enjoy learning about your father's career.
Bruce

> Bruce do you remember the bucket of blood arena and winterland??

[CNorkusJr]

In the last article seen just above, a few fighters are mentioned that Al Weill was proposing to fight Rocky Marciano either before or during he was the Champion.
Hal Boylston, Ray Wilding, Danny Nardico, and Charlie Powell to name a few,

Though nothing on paper will confirm it (because it would have been against IBC rules)-my fathers mgr/trainer Dom "Ghee" Laico was abridged with Weill.
Weill sent my father in to fight Rocky prospects before Rocky did.
You had to get by my father to get to Marciano.
LaStarza was going to fight my father in Providence,but since he was cut up in his previous fight, LaSatarza pulled out and my father fought Tommy Harrison (Rocky sparmate ) that night. LaStarza eluded my father then fought Rocky and almost won,many said. My father would eventually hook up with LaStarza in Cleveland and beat him.
My father loved that role because it drew him more TV bouts and bigger paydays.
Eventually-my father had to get by Ezz Charles to fight Rocky for title-but went the distance in lopsided loss.

Another cornerman in my father's corner was Angelo Curley-noted Don Fullmer trainer. He later on would be my Godfather at my Christening.

[raylawpc]

Regarding the story of Powell rushing through his work out to see a football game: It's sad when I realize that I'm old enough to remember when we thought a 21" TV screen was a "big screen" TV.

[Chuck1052]

Charlie, I found your dad in the 1930 U.S. Census. At the time, Charley, less than two years old, was living with his father, a taxi cab driver; mother and three sisters in Queens. The family owned their home, which was valued at $6,500. His father worked eleven out of the previous twelve months.

- Chuck Johnston

[CNorkusJr]

Charlie, I found your dad in the 1930 U.S. Census. At the time, Charley, less than two years old, was living with his father, a taxi cab driver; mother and three sisters in Queens. The family owned their home, which was valued at $6,500. His father worked eleven out of the previous twelve months.

- Chuck Johnston

Thats correct Chuck. Unfortunately in 1931, my father's father, Charles Norkus, died from Rheumatic fever (bad heart valve). It was my grandmother's second marriage and her last at a young age. My father and two blood sisters and one step sister grew up on tough times and all made a good showing for themselves. My father did his sports life all on his own and a determined individual to better himself and his family. The Marines and his work ethics in the Gym proved successful, and he carried it on through life.

[CNorkusJr]