BoxRec

Expug wrote:

kikibalt wrote:JOHNNY LIRA
By Jim Amato


The city of Chicago has produced its share of outstanding professional fighters. One of them was a tough as nails lightweight who campaigned in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. His name was Johnny Lira and he fought his way into the top echelon of the lightweight rankings.

Lira turned pro in 1976 and quickly gained notice by winning his first twelve fights. In 1977 he drew with Manuel Lopez but defeated Lopez in a return bout. Johnny hit the big time in 1978 when he received a shot at the United States Boxing Association lightweight title. His opponent was the highly ranked southpaw bomber Andy Ganigan. Johnny was a decided underdog going in but he shocked the boxing establishment by stopping Ganigan in round six. Lira then went to New York’s Madison Square Garden to outscore the talented Larry Stanton. Lira was now high in the ratings and in 1979 he received a shot at the World Boxing Association’s version of the lightweight title. Their champion was a hard-hitting bomber from Venezuela named Ernesto Espana. It was a gruelling fight but Espana emerged victorious stopping Johnny in nine rounds. Lira would suffer a broken jaw for his gallant effort.

In 1980 Johnny traveled to Spain and dropped an eight round decision to Andoni Amana. He would later lose a ten round duke to the flashy Howard Davis Jr. In 1981 Lira would post a ten round win over Ohio’s rugged Bobby Plegge. Johnny was then outdueled over ten rounds by Nicky Furlano and the was stopped in nine rounds by Willie Rodriguez for the USBA super lightweight title.Lira regrouped in 1982 scoring a points verdict over Canadian Al Ford. Johnny then lost a tough call to former world champion Alfredo Escalera. Lira would come back to win four fights but in 1984 he lost a ten rounder to Russell Mitchell. That was his last fight.

Lira hung them up with a fine record of 29-7-1. He scored fifteen knockouts. Johnny himself was stopped on two occasions.

hi guys, im on vacation in Colorado at the moment.
Great stuff on here as usual.
Randy, that post you made about daughters is wonderful my friend.
Johnny Lira , as I mentioned before, is a guy I know pretty well and trained with in Chicago.
I will always remember after he kod Gannigan, he came strutting into the gym and said, "as soon as Andy turned it into a streetfight, I knew I was gonna knock him out".
Lira is a tough guy and loves to mix it up.
One day he was sparring with Louie Mateo in the gym and for some reason, threw a knee into Louies groin touching off a near Melee.
There are all kinds of Lira stories out there.
Lately he has been ill with a liver disease, but I heard he is doing better.
I will be back in a few days gents.

Rick Farris wrote:

dagosd2000 wrote:Hey Guys
I'm sitting here watching West Side Story on TV. Talk about a movie that's outdated. Two gangs in New York City,The Sharks and The Jets,leaping and spinning along the streets. Pirohuetting through the alleys and playgrounds. Snapping their fingers and singing songs like "When You're A Jet" and "Officer Krupke".
Hilarious. I think this movie won 10 Oscars in 1960. Best Film. I know it's a musical,but it should go under comedy also.

Think if they tried this today. A musical about Crips and Bloods. Or how about one on the Mexican Mafia? There's always the Aryan Brotherhood.
I'm thinking of writing a musical about the Hell's Angels. Chorus lines of Hell's Angels dancing in tight greasy Levi's. Singing songs like Kill The Mongols.
How about Cocaine Lullaby? F---- My Bitch. Or, Contract on A Federal Judge.

West Side Story. Yes sir. That was a day when gangs weren't so bad. I wish gangs today would take up more dancing.

Roger . . . In 1979, I met Rita Moreno. She was guest starring on an episode of the "Rockford Files", a show I worked on back then. Next time we get together, I'll share the story with you. Nothing to tell here except that I happened to ask her about her role in "The Ring", which was made the year I was born, 1952. She laughed when I mentioned the film and was fascinated that I knew it so well. Very, very interesting lady! The only actor in history to win an Oscar, an Emmy, a Tony, a Grammy and a Cleo (For a commercial). A couple years later, I'd work with her again on a movie called, "The Four Seasons", with Alan Alda and Carol Burnett. We were in the Carribean for that one. Rita Moreno?

By the way, I like your idea about the contemporary "gang movie". A musical about the Crips and Bloods. A chorus line of HA boys. Why not?

-Rick

kikibalt wrote:

dagosd2000 wrote:Frank
Can you play"Make It Easy On Youself" by Jerry Butler? The one on the top with the record cover. Thanks

Might not be the one you want, but....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLlBzu2LRPA

Yep,that's the one. That guy had a great set of pipes and sang some very pretty songs. Thanks

Brian
When you get back, post some pics of you flying a hundred miles an hour into a pile of tourists knocking them over like bowling pins.

Expug wrote:

kikibalt wrote:JOHNNY LIRA
By Jim Amato


The city of Chicago has produced its share of outstanding professional fighters. One of them was a tough as nails lightweight who campaigned in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. His name was Johnny Lira and he fought his way into the top echelon of the lightweight rankings.

Lira turned pro in 1976 and quickly gained notice by winning his first twelve fights. In 1977 he drew with Manuel Lopez but defeated Lopez in a return bout. Johnny hit the big time in 1978 when he received a shot at the United States Boxing Association lightweight title. His opponent was the highly ranked southpaw bomber Andy Ganigan. Johnny was a decided underdog going in but he shocked the boxing establishment by stopping Ganigan in round six. Lira then went to New York’s Madison Square Garden to outscore the talented Larry Stanton. Lira was now high in the ratings and in 1979 he received a shot at the World Boxing Association’s version of the lightweight title. Their champion was a hard-hitting bomber from Venezuela named Ernesto Espana. It was a gruelling fight but Espana emerged victorious stopping Johnny in nine rounds. Lira would suffer a broken jaw for his gallant effort.

In 1980 Johnny traveled to Spain and dropped an eight round decision to Andoni Amana. He would later lose a ten round duke to the flashy Howard Davis Jr. In 1981 Lira would post a ten round win over Ohio’s rugged Bobby Plegge. Johnny was then outdueled over ten rounds by Nicky Furlano and the was stopped in nine rounds by Willie Rodriguez for the USBA super lightweight title.Lira regrouped in 1982 scoring a points verdict over Canadian Al Ford. Johnny then lost a tough call to former world champion Alfredo Escalera. Lira would come back to win four fights but in 1984 he lost a ten rounder to Russell Mitchell. That was his last fight.

Lira hung them up with a fine record of 29-7-1. He scored fifteen knockouts. Johnny himself was stopped on two occasions.

hi guys, im on vacation in Colorado at the moment.
Great stuff on here as usual.
Randy, that post you made about daughters is wonderful my friend.
Johnny Lira , as I mentioned before, is a guy I know pretty well and trained with in Chicago.
I will always remember after he kod Gannigan, he came strutting into the gym and said, "as soon as Andy turned it into a streetfight, I knew I was gonna knock him out".
Lira is a tough guy and loves to mix it up.
One day he was sparring with Louie Mateo in the gym and for some reason, threw a knee into Louies groin touching off a near Melee.
There are all kinds of Lira stories out there.
Lately he has been ill with a liver disease, but I heard he is doing better.
I will be back in a few days gents.

Randyman wrote:

Rick Farris wrote:

dagosd2000 wrote:Hey Guys
I'm sitting here watching West Side Story on TV. Talk about a movie that's outdated. Two gangs in New York City,The Sharks and The Jets,leaping and spinning along the streets. Pirohuetting through the alleys and playgrounds. Snapping their fingers and singing songs like "When You're A Jet" and "Officer Krupke".
Hilarious. I think this movie won 10 Oscars in 1960. Best Film. I know it's a musical,but it should go under comedy also.

Think if they tried this today. A musical about Crips and Bloods. Or how about one on the Mexican Mafia? There's always the Aryan Brotherhood.
I'm thinking of writing a musical about the Hell's Angels. Chorus lines of Hell's Angels dancing in tight greasy Levi's. Singing songs like Kill The Mongols.
How about Cocaine Lullaby? F---- My Bitch. Or, Contract on A Federal Judge.

West Side Story. Yes sir. That was a day when gangs weren't so bad. I wish gangs today would take up more dancing.

Roger . . . In 1979, I met Rita Moreno. She was guest starring on an episode of the "Rockford Files", a show I worked on back then. Next time we get together, I'll share the story with you. Nothing to tell here except that I happened to ask her about her role in "The Ring", which was made the year I was born, 1952. She laughed when I mentioned the film and was fascinated that I knew it so well. Very, very interesting lady! The only actor in history to win an Oscar, an Emmy, a Tony, a Grammy and a Cleo (For a commercial). A couple years later, I'd work with her again on a movie called, "The Four Seasons", with Alan Alda and Carol Burnett. We were in the Carribean for that one. Rita Moreno?

By the way, I like your idea about the contemporary "gang movie". A musical about the Crips and Bloods. A chorus line of HA boys. Why not?

-Rick

Rita Moreno? Que Bonita! A very special talent and a very special lady.

Randy

Rick Farris wrote:

bennie wrote:

Rick Farris wrote:
Roger . . . In 1979, I met Rita Moreno. She was guest starring on an episode of the "Rockford Files", a show I worked on back then. Next time we get together, I'll share the story with you. Nothing to tell here except that I happened to ask her about her role in "The Ring", which was made the year I was born, 1952. She laughed when I mentioned the film and was fascinated that I knew it so well. Very, very interesting lady! The only actor in history to win an Oscar, an Emmy, a Tony, a Grammy and a Cleo (For a commercial). A couple years later, I'd work with her again on a movie called, "The Four Seasons", with Alan Alda and Carol Burnett. We were in the Carribean for that one. Rita Moreno?

By the way, I like your idea about the contemporary "gang movie". A musical about the Crips and Bloods. A chorus line of HA boys. Why not?

-Rick

Hey, Rick, tell us about Jimmy Garner. Is he a good guy?

Bennie . . . James Garner is the best! During my 32 years working in the film industry I've met a few actors whom I truly like and Jim Garner is one of them. In the 50's, my grandfather was the lighting gaffer on "Maverick", a popular TV show at the time, with Garner. Years later, in the mid 70's when I started out I was at Universal and assigned to the "Rockford Files". Jim Garner remembered my grandfather and took a liking to me, eventually helping me become the shows lighting gaffer. I would eventually work on hundreds of TV & movie productions, but not until I hooked up with Michael Landon would I work for anybody as professional as Garner. Jim is "our" type of a guy. He'd fit in here. No BS with Jams Garner. I'll share a few personal James Garner stories later, they are worth remembering.

-Rick

Rick Farris wrote:Of course, he's the best. He's from Norman, Oklahoma

raylawpc wrote:

Rick Farris wrote:Of course, he's the best. He's from Norman, Oklahoma

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Very true, Tom. It's one of the reasons he and my grandfather had a connection, both Okie's. When Jim came to California, he ended up doing print work, as a male underwear model! His good looks and personality put him in films quickly. Garner, put together his own production company (Cherokee Productions) prior to the 70's hit, "Rockford Files". He paid us over union scale and hired the best he could get, lots of veteran Warner Bros. techs he'd met doing Maverick years before. I was new in the business and would be mentored by my grandad's old assistant, before taking over the series lighting responsibilities. Michael Landon, another 50's TV western star did the same thing, rounding up the best old school film vets he'd known doing Bonanza, and created, "Little House on the Praire". I had the very good luck to work for both these great men. Actors mean nothing to me, but once in awhile you come across a James Garner and Michael Landon. They really knew how to put together good TV. Of course, in addition to multiple emmy's, Mr. Garner is also an Academy Award winner.

A few years after Rockford Files, I received a call from Garner's producer/friend Lou Delgado. Lou would always check my availability when Jim would start a TV project. I spent half a season on a failed sit-com Garner had put together in 1991, "Man of the People". And later would return to light several "Rockford Files" two-hour NBC movies in the mid 90's.

Garner had a lot of physical disabilities related to his college football career and work as a stuntman. He had bad knees, a bad back, suffered from lip cancer in his ealry 50's. When we last worked together in the 90's, he was unable to walk up stairs in a scene, so all scenes would need to be blocked on flat ground. Today Jim is in his early 80's and I wish him the best. A great man, not your typical actor.

By the way, James Garner loved cars. Last time I saw him he was pulling into a parking space at Warner Bros. and was driving this new little car. Very cute. It was one of the first remakes of the old "Mini Cooper". When I saw big Jim get out of the small car I had to ask, "how the hell you fit in that thing with your bad back?" Garner just laughed and told me to sit behind the wheel, "It's big inside, comfortable for me." He was right, a little car on the outside that had lots of room inside.

Jim's make-up artist is a story all to herself, Charlene Roberson. Charlene is the daughter of one of the greatest stuntmen in history, Chuck Roberson. Roberson was John Wayne's stunt double and Charlene is the first female make-up person allowed to put make-up on an actor or actress' face. People think that Make-up artisits might be less than masculine? Not so, for many years the make-up trailer was a men's club, that is until Raquel Welch demanded that Charlene make up her face or she would not do, "Myra Breckinridge" in the late 60's. To satisfy the actress, the studio pushed the issue. From that point on, women make-up artists started doing faces. Prior to that, women were always second class citizens on a film crew, female make-up artisits could only apply body make-up to women, the faces were left to the men. Charlene was a rugged "cowgirl" type, and very beautiful. Garner likes Charlene because she's not only a great make-up artist, but outspoken and as real as a person can be. Sorry for all this useless trivia, but this has been my life. The most interesting people in Hollywood are not those in front of the camera, but those who work behind it. People refer to the wild west, but nothing is wilder in the west than the film industry.

Today, on a hillside near Griffith Park sits Forst Lawn Cemetary, right across the Los Angeles River from Warner Brothers Studios. On a hill with a clear view of Warner's back lot is my grandfather and grandmother's graves. About ten feet away is the grave of the original "Fall Guy", Chuck Roberson. Next to Chuck rests Gene Autry sidekick, Smiley Burnett. About twenty feet from there is the grave of Roy Disney, Walt's brother, and on the next row back rests Ricky Nelson. You know, I missed my calling. I should have been a tour guide. I know where all the bodies are buried, even went to some of the funerals.

-Rick Farris

Expug wrote:Hello guys, just got off the slopes.
Skiing is ok , but as Im sure all you guys know, if the sport doesnt involve fighting,its boring.
Just like all these other activities, golf, badmiton, croquet, whatever, its an hour or two and then adios.
Plus, I kept wondering the same thing while I was skiing.
What kind of chin do these fu..in snow boarders have?
My wife would be pissed if I left Vail in handcuffs though.

Expug wrote:Hello guys, just got off the slopes.
Skiing is ok , but as Im sure all you guys know, if the sport doesnt involve fighting,its boring.
Just like all these other activities, golf, badmiton, croquet, whatever, its an hour or two and then adios.
Plus, I kept wondering the same thing while I was skiing.
What kind of chin do these fu..in snow boarders have?
My wife would be pissed if I left Vail in handcuffs though.

Rick Farris wrote:

raylawpc wrote:

Rick Farris wrote:Of course, he's the best. He's from Norman, Oklahoma

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Very true, Tom. It's one of the reasons he and my grandfather had a connection, both Okie's. When Jim came to California, he ended up doing print work, as a male underwear model! His good looks and personality put him in films quickly. Garner, put together his own production company (Cherokee Productions) prior to the 70's hit, "Rockford Files". He paid us over union scale and hired the best he could get, lots of veteran Warner Bros. techs he'd met doing Maverick years before. I was new in the business and would be mentored by my grandad's old assistant, before taking over the series lighting responsibilities. Michael Landon, another 50's TV western star did the same thing, rounding up the best old school film vets he'd known doing Bonanza, and created, "Little House on the Praire". I had the very good luck to work for both these great men. Actors mean nothing to me, but once in awhile you come across a James Garner and Michael Landon. They really knew how to put together good TV. Of course, in addition to multiple emmy's, Mr. Garner is also an Academy Award winner.

A few years after Rockford Files, I received a call from Garner's producer/friend Lou Delgado. Lou would always check my availability when Jim would start a TV project. I spent half a season on a failed sit-com Garner had put together in 1991, "Man of the People". And later would return to light several "Rockford Files" two-hour NBC movies in the mid 90's.

Garner had a lot of physical disabilities related to his college football career and work as a stuntman. He had bad knees, a bad back, suffered from lip cancer in his ealry 50's. When we last worked together in the 90's, he was unable to walk up stairs in a scene, so all scenes would need to be blocked on flat ground. Today Jim is in his early 80's and I wish him the best. A great man, not your typical actor.

By the way, James Garner loved cars. Last time I saw him he was pulling into a parking space at Warner Bros. and was driving this new little car. Very cute. It was one of the first remakes of the old "Mini Cooper". When I saw big Jim get out of the small car I had to ask, "how the hell you fit in that thing with your bad back?" Garner just laughed and told me to sit behind the wheel, "It's big inside, comfortable for me." He was right, a little car on the outside that had lots of room inside.

Jim's make-up artist is a story all to herself, Charlene Roberson. Charlene is the daughter of one of the greatest stuntmen in history, Chuck Roberson. Roberson was John Wayne's stunt double and Charlene is the first female make-up person allowed to put make-up on an actor or actress' face. People think that Make-up artisits might be less than masculine? Not so, for many years the make-up trailer was a men's club, that is until Raquel Welch demanded that Charlene make up her face or she would not do, "Myra Breckinridge" in the late 60's. To satisfy the actress, the studio pushed the issue. From that point on, women make-up artists started doing faces. Prior to that, women were always second class citizens on a film crew, female make-up artisits could only apply body make-up to women, the faces were left to the men. Charlene was a rugged "cowgirl" type, and very beautiful. Garner likes Charlene because she's not only a great make-up artist, but outspoken and as real as a person can be. Sorry for all this useless trivia, but this has been my life. The most interesting people in Hollywood are not those in front of the camera, but those who work behind it. People refer to the wild west, but nothing is wilder in the west than the film industry.

Today, on a hillside near Griffith Park sits Forst Lawn Cemetary, right across the Los Angeles River from Warner Brothers Studios. On a hill with a clear view of Warner's back lot is my grandfather and grandmother's graves. About ten feet away is the grave of the original "Fall Guy", Chuck Roberson. Next to Chuck rests Gene Autry sidekick, Smiley Burnett. About twenty feet from there is the grave of Roy Disney, Walt's brother, and on the next row back rests Ricky Nelson. You know, I missed my calling. I should have been a tour guide. I know where all the bodies are buried, even went to some of the funerals.

-Rick Farris

Thanks Rick. I always enjoy your stories of Hollywood.

Trivia question: Without cheating by checking on the internet , what two former world middleweight champions are buried in the same cemetery in Southern California, and which cemetery is it?

Rick Farris wrote:Rick, you had me fooled for a minute! They should all rot in prison. Did you ever read "Helter Skelter" by prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi? A morbidly, fascinating book made all the eerier because it's true. I remember it all vividly.

Randy

Randyman wrote:

Expug wrote:Hello guys, just got off the slopes.
Skiing is ok , but as Im sure all you guys know, if the sport doesnt involve fighting,its boring.
Just like all these other activities, golf, badmiton, croquet, whatever, its an hour or two and then adios.
Plus, I kept wondering the same thing while I was skiing.
What kind of chin do these fu..in snow boarders have?
My wife would be pissed if I left Vail in handcuffs though.

Brian, I get the feeling that the snowboarders are doing their best to avoid eye contact with you!

Randy

Randyman wrote:

Rick Farris wrote:Rick, you had me fooled for a minute! They should all rot in prison. Did you ever read "Helter Skelter" by prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi? A morbidly, fascinating book made all the eerier because it's true. I remember it all vividly.

Randy

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I actually worked on a TV movie based on the book, which I also read. Bugliosi was the tech advisor on the film, which took us to the homes where the murders occured. The Spahn Movie Ranch, where the Manson family holed up, had burned down after the murders, so we used the old Corriganville movie ranch in Chatsworth, to film the ranch sequences. Steven Railsback, the actor who played Manson, really looked the part. However, the movie didn't capture the horror of Bugliosi's book. I didn't speak directly with the author, however, those who did shared some interesting stories about the case which never were released to the public.

-Rick

kikibalt wrote:

Randyman wrote:

Rick Farris wrote:Rick, you had me fooled for a minute! They should all rot in prison. Did you ever read "Helter Skelter" by prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi? A morbidly, fascinating book made all the eerier because it's true. I remember it all vividly.

Randy

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I actually worked on a TV movie based on the book, which I also read. Bugliosi was the tech advisor on the film, which took us to the homes where the murders occured. The Spahn Movie Ranch, where the Manson family holed up, had burned down after the murders, so we used the old Corriganville movie ranch in Chatsworth, to film the ranch sequences. Steven Railsback, the actor who played Manson, really looked the part. However, the movie didn't capture the horror of Bugliosi's book. I didn't speak directly with the author, however, those who did shared some interesting stories about the case which never were released to the public.

-Rick

Rick, you have one hell of an interesting job!

Randy

kikibalt wrote:

Randyman wrote:

Rick Farris wrote:Rick, you had me fooled for a minute! They should all rot in prison. Did you ever read "Helter Skelter" by prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi? A morbidly, fascinating book made all the eerier because it's true. I remember it all vividly.

Randy

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I actually worked on a TV movie based on the book, which I also read. Bugliosi was the tech advisor on the film, which took us to the homes where the murders occured. The Spahn Movie Ranch, where the Manson family holed up, had burned down after the murders, so we used the old Corriganville movie ranch in Chatsworth, to film the ranch sequences. Steven Railsback, the actor who played Manson, really looked the part. However, the movie didn't capture the horror of Bugliosi's book. I didn't speak directly with the author, however, those who did shared some interesting stories about the case which never were released to the public.

-Rick

Rick, you have one hell of an interesting job!

Randy

Expug wrote:Rick and Randy,
Do you guys remember a made for tv movie about the Manson family murders from the seventies?
I dont remember the actual name of it, but I do remember it being a chilling show.
Also did any of you guys see the old Tom Snyder interview of Charlie in the joint?
It must have been probably 1981 or so.

Expug wrote:Rick and Randy,
Do you guys remember a made for tv movie about the Manson family murders from the seventies?
I dont remember the actual name of it, but I do remember it being a chilling show.
Also did any of you guys see the old Tom Snyder interview of Charlie in the joint?
It must have been probably 1981 or so.