Classic American West Coast Boxing

[Randyman]

I was watching a movie this morning, "Kiss Me Deadly" a 1955 Mike hammer movie, with Ralph Meeker. I just happened to catch it while I was changing the channel. There is a short scene at the Main Street Gym, it looked slightly different and even without the signature cardboard figures of the heavyweight champs it was still easily recognizable.



Randy

[kikibalt]

I was watching a movie this morning, "Kiss me Deadly" a 1955 Mike hammer movie, with Ralph Meeker. I just happened to catch it while I was changing the channel. There short a scene at the Main Street Gym, it looked slightly different and even without the signature cardboard figures of the heavyweight champs it was still easily recognizable.



Randy

[Randyman]

Also from the same movie was a scene from 3rd and Hill streets of 'Angel's Flight".

Randy

[Rick Farris]

Rick I read a piece in one of the boxing magazines back in the 1980s and it was Gil Clancy talking about Jerry Quarry's punching power and George Foreman's power he said something to this effect Quarry had perfect technique when he threw a punch,he also said he worked with Foreman before his fight with Jimmy young and that Foreman had bad technique but that he was just so big and strong but pound for pound he thought that Quarry hit harder of course Foreman outweighed him by 30 pounds which was enough to sway in Georges favor
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Explosive . . .

Paul . . . Jerry was clearly an "explosive" puncher. When he was in proper physical and mental condition, his speed and timing were impressive.
He came up in an era of Ali, Frazier, Foreman and some great contenders. I believe this was one of the toughest eras in heavyweight boxing.
Although out gunned by Ali and Frazier, Quarry showed his power and skills to unbeaten Earnie Shavers, Mac Foster and Ron Lyle.
Jerry ended their unbeaten streaks, and he schooled them in the process. It was a past prime Jerry that flattened Shavers in one round.

Early in his career, Quarry unleashed a two punch combo (left hook-right cross) to the iron chin of Scrap Iron Johnson.
The power sent Scrap Iron reeling in circles across the ring until he crashed to the canvas, counted out cold! Nobody did that to Scrap, not even Liston.
Jerry Quarry certainly defined the term, "heavy handed".

Jerry's gym workouts were fun to watch, because it wasn't unusual to see somebody hit the deck, including Jerry on one occasion.
They could have counted Ken Norton out when he was dropped by Quarry in a sparring session at the Main St. Gym, in summer 1970.
Trainer Bill Slayton quickly attended his fighter as Jerry stepped to the side of the ring.
Johnny Flores pulled off Jerry's head guard and poured water in his mouth. Quarry stepped out of the ring.

I always believed that this contributed to Norton's KO loss to a small heavy from Venezuela, Jose Luis Garcia, just a couple weeks later.
Jerry often set up his head shots with a brutal left hook to the liver. He hit equally hard with both hands.
He was known for his great jab, devistating hooks high & low, but I loved his short, chopping right to the chin.
He was able to throw it with such a quick, unexpected release.
I thought Jerry was a bit jaded when he faced Shavers, but he was a relaxed underdog. Shavers caught Jerry on the wrong night.
When Shavers felt the power, he got the message.

Jerry Quarry vs. Earnie Shavers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEpVPBH12Ik


-Rick Farris

Rick my dad loved Jerry but he always said vs Jimmy Ellis instead of trying to box he should have tried outslugging him and vs Frazier he should have boxed more in some fights he just fought the wrong kind of fight

Paul . . . Your dad was right. Jerry would defy common sense with his fight plans. He could have whipped Ellis had he gone out and fought him, instead of trying to outbox a better boxer. I don't believe that Jerry was going to beat Frazier regardless of his fight plan, however, going toe-to-toe with a guy like Smokin Joe was a major mistake. The Chuvalo loss was another unneccessary embarrassment. More than once I'd see a frustrated Johnny Flores shaking his head after one of Jerry's fights. I guess this is what seperates a champion from a contender.

[Rick Farris]

I have no doubt that Jerry would be champ if he was fighting today.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Randy . . . I think Scrap Iron Johnson would be a champ if fighting today.

[THEHAMMER321]

I have no doubt that Jerry would be champ if he was fighting today.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Randy . . . I think Scrap Iron Johnson would be a champ if fighting today.

Rick theres another guy my dad used to talk about when talking about guys who could take a beating ''scrap iron'' Johnson was one of the toughest son of a b-tches you ever wanna see'' he saw him fight Liston live here at the Las Vegas convention center in the 1960s also saw him fight when he was older in the 1970s in Vegas

[THEHAMMER321]

Rick I read a piece in one of the boxing magazines back in the 1980s and it was Gil Clancy talking about Jerry Quarry's punching power and George Foreman's power he said something to this effect Quarry had perfect technique when he threw a punch,he also said he worked with Foreman before his fight with Jimmy young and that Foreman had bad technique but that he was just so big and strong but pound for pound he thought that Quarry hit harder of course Foreman outweighed him by 30 pounds which was enough to sway in Georges favor
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Explosive . . .

Paul . . . Jerry was clearly an "explosive" puncher. When he was in proper physical and mental condition, his speed and timing were impressive.
He came up in an era of Ali, Frazier, Foreman and some great contenders. I believe this was one of the toughest eras in heavyweight boxing.
Although out gunned by Ali and Frazier, Quarry showed his power and skills to unbeaten Earnie Shavers, Mac Foster and Ron Lyle.
Jerry ended their unbeaten streaks, and he schooled them in the process. It was a past prime Jerry that flattened Shavers in one round.

Early in his career, Quarry unleashed a two punch combo (left hook-right cross) to the iron chin of Scrap Iron Johnson.
The power sent Scrap Iron reeling in circles across the ring until he crashed to the canvas, counted out cold! Nobody did that to Scrap, not even Liston.
Jerry Quarry certainly defined the term, "heavy handed".

Jerry's gym workouts were fun to watch, because it wasn't unusual to see somebody hit the deck, including Jerry on one occasion.
They could have counted Ken Norton out when he was dropped by Quarry in a sparring session at the Main St. Gym, in summer 1970.
Trainer Bill Slayton quickly attended his fighter as Jerry stepped to the side of the ring.
Johnny Flores pulled off Jerry's head guard and poured water in his mouth. Quarry stepped out of the ring.

I always believed that this contributed to Norton's KO loss to a small heavy from Venezuela, Jose Luis Garcia, just a couple weeks later.
Jerry often set up his head shots with a brutal left hook to the liver. He hit equally hard with both hands.
He was known for his great jab, devistating hooks high & low, but I loved his short, chopping right to the chin.
He was able to throw it with such a quick, unexpected release.
I thought Jerry was a bit jaded when he faced Shavers, but he was a relaxed underdog. Shavers caught Jerry on the wrong night.
When Shavers felt the power, he got the message.

Jerry Quarry vs. Earnie Shavers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEpVPBH12Ik


-Rick Farris

Rick, I know what you mean about Jerry's short counter-right. In his fight with Thad Spencer, Thad threw a left, Jerry ducked and the momentum of the miss carried Thad to the ropes where Jerry countered with his thing of beauty. He also nailed Jack Bodell with that same counter-right and it was "good night sweet prince".

Scartissue

hey scar I remember Sal Marchiano used to use that expression back in the early 1980s when he was on ESPN when a fighter would get koed ''good night sweet prince''

[THEHAMMER321]

Frank any word from Roger,hope everything is ok with him

[Rick Farris]

Rick, I know what you mean about Jerry's short counter-right. In his fight with Thad Spencer, Thad threw a left, Jerry ducked and the momentum of the miss carried Thad to the ropes where Jerry countered with his thing of beauty. He also nailed Jack Bodell with that same counter-right and it was "good night sweet prince".

Scartissue
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dan . . . As you know, Thad Spencer was favored to win the eight man elimination tourney to determine a WBA Heavyweight Champ after Ali had been stripped of the title.
Jerry whipped Floyd Patterson in the opening round. Next he faced Spencer, and Jerry really showed his talent and power by stopping Thad. Next up was Ellis for the title, and what a disappointment.

Yes, Jerry's right hand served him well during his career, I wish his state-of-mind had been as reliable.


-Rick Farris

[kikibalt]

Frank any word from Roger,hope everything is ok with him

None....

[Rick Farris]

Jerry Quarry Chronicles - Part I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=703SI9Fd ... re=related

Worth watching!

[scartissue]

Rick I read a piece in one of the boxing magazines back in the 1980s and it was Gil Clancy talking about Jerry Quarry's punching power and George Foreman's power he said something to this effect Quarry had perfect technique when he threw a punch,he also said he worked with Foreman before his fight with Jimmy young and that Foreman had bad technique but that he was just so big and strong but pound for pound he thought that Quarry hit harder of course Foreman outweighed him by 30 pounds which was enough to sway in Georges favor
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Explosive . . .

Paul . . . Jerry was clearly an "explosive" puncher. When he was in proper physical and mental condition, his speed and timing were impressive.
He came up in an era of Ali, Frazier, Foreman and some great contenders. I believe this was one of the toughest eras in heavyweight boxing.
Although out gunned by Ali and Frazier, Quarry showed his power and skills to unbeaten Earnie Shavers, Mac Foster and Ron Lyle.
Jerry ended their unbeaten streaks, and he schooled them in the process. It was a past prime Jerry that flattened Shavers in one round.

Early in his career, Quarry unleashed a two punch combo (left hook-right cross) to the iron chin of Scrap Iron Johnson.
The power sent Scrap Iron reeling in circles across the ring until he crashed to the canvas, counted out cold! Nobody did that to Scrap, not even Liston.
Jerry Quarry certainly defined the term, "heavy handed".

Jerry's gym workouts were fun to watch, because it wasn't unusual to see somebody hit the deck, including Jerry on one occasion.
They could have counted Ken Norton out when he was dropped by Quarry in a sparring session at the Main St. Gym, in summer 1970.
Trainer Bill Slayton quickly attended his fighter as Jerry stepped to the side of the ring.
Johnny Flores pulled off Jerry's head guard and poured water in his mouth. Quarry stepped out of the ring.

I always believed that this contributed to Norton's KO loss to a small heavy from Venezuela, Jose Luis Garcia, just a couple weeks later.
Jerry often set up his head shots with a brutal left hook to the liver. He hit equally hard with both hands.
He was known for his great jab, devistating hooks high & low, but I loved his short, chopping right to the chin.
He was able to throw it with such a quick, unexpected release.
I thought Jerry was a bit jaded when he faced Shavers, but he was a relaxed underdog. Shavers caught Jerry on the wrong night.
When Shavers felt the power, he got the message.

Jerry Quarry vs. Earnie Shavers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEpVPBH12Ik


-Rick Farris

Rick, I know what you mean about Jerry's short counter-right. In his fight with Thad Spencer, Thad threw a left, Jerry ducked and the momentum of the miss carried Thad to the ropes where Jerry countered with his thing of beauty. He also nailed Jack Bodell with that same counter-right and it was "good night sweet prince".

Scartissue

hey scar I remember Sal Marchiano used to use that expression back in the early 1980s when he was on ESPN when a fighter would get koed ''good night sweet prince''

Hammer, I knew it was an announcer in the early days of ESPN but I couldn't remember his name. Thanks for that, dude. Was Marchiano also the guy that got in a bit of trouble for saying on the air (after a supposed miserable time broadcasting from Bristol, Tenn. I think) "Happiness is seeing Bristol in the rear-view mirror!"? Tooooooo funny!

Scartissue

[Rick Farris]

The Jerry Quarry Chronicles - Pt. 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsXk1d09 ... re=related

The best documentary on Jerry I've seen, both parts.

[kikibalt]

Being busy working on my patio, getting it ready for spring and summer....

[THEHAMMER321]

Being busy working on my patio, getting it ready for spring and summer....

I love that time of year for barbeque being with family and friends sharing memories of old times

[kikibalt]

Being busy working on my patio, getting it ready for spring and summer....

I love that time of year for barbeque being with family and friends sharing memories of old times

[Expug]

You guys are right.
Where is Roger?
Hope everythings ok.

[THEHAMMER321]

The Jerry Quarry Chronicles - Pt. 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsXk1d09 ... re=related

The best documentary on Jerry I've seen, both parts.

Rick just got through watching both part 1 and 2 I enjoyed it very much it seems these days there is no excitement in the heavyweight division but in the 1970s the division was packed with talent

[kikibalt]

L.A. THEN AND NOW

The city that loves the car was slow to pay for parking
Meters gobbling a nickel an hour made their first appearance in 1949.



METER'S RUNNING: The Times ran this photo on June 10, 1949, with this caption: "Mrs. Barbara Steele and daughter get a warning tag from Officer Harvey Bauler for overtime parking in a newly established parking meter area on Lankershim Boulevard in North Hollywood. Beginning Monday, citations will be given." (Los Angeles Times)


By Steve Harvey

March 21, 2010

Los Angeles lays claim to being the birthplace of such phenomena as drive-in church services (Emmanuel Lutheran, North Hollywood, 1949), hang-gliding (Dockweiler State Beach, about 1960) and the Cobb salad (the Brown Derby, 1937).

But the city was no pacesetter in the category of parking meters. Oklahoma City was the first to install the coin confiscators in 1935, and more than 60 other municipalities followed before Los Angeles joined the crowd in 1949. Even Fairbanks, Alaska, beat L.A.

Three times -- in 1940, 1942 and 1946 -- the City Council rejected the notion, much to the delight of The Times, which scoffed that it would be "just as fair to install turnstiles for sidewalk pedestrians."

When a nickel-an-hour rate was first talked about in 1936, The Times warned ominously that "the autoist using the space for only a few minutes would have to pay as much as he who uses it for the full period."

The newspaper also asserted that the number of parking spaces would be reduced because they "must all be long enough for cars with the largest wheelbase."

And what of the technological challenge facing autoists?

"Can a stranger, or even a forgetful homebody, be mulcted for a fine if he doesn't know how to work the contraption?" asked Times columnist Chapin Hall in 1940. "Even the mechanics of dropping a nickel in a slot is a major problem for some."

But others pushed for the gadgets, including council members searching for new sources of revenue, lobbyists for the meter manufacturers and merchants who wanted to eliminate that early 20th century villain known as the "parking hog."

Finally, in 1949, the City Council gave in and installed 400 of the 5-cents-an-hour devices on an experimental basis on Lankershim Boulevard near the present site of the Metro Red Line station in North Hollywood.

"Meters Ready for Fine Nickel Nursing Trade," a Times headline said.

Six months later, a survey showed that the meters were generating "considerable profit" and "little complaint."

Although meters reduced the number of parking hogs, they gave rise to another pest: the parking tamperer.

In late 1949, The Times reported that a Sherman Oaks man pleaded guilty to "slapping a parking meter vigorously in a successful effort to show a woman how to get the meter to register without inserting a coin."

The defendant saved the woman 5 cents, The Times observed, "but it cost him $50." She was not implicated in the scheme.

Another offbeat case involved two young drivers of midget automobiles who received citations in 1950 for parking two cars in one space and refusing to insert more than one nickel in the meter.

"Why did the cop cite both drivers?" The Times editorialized. "The nickel obviously cleared one of the cars, at least. Which one? . . . While the judge is about it, he might also rule on why a bald man must pay as much for a haircut as Nature Boy. Seems a similar principle is involved."

Alas, The Times never revealed how the midget-auto case was resolved. Then again, perhaps it's still in court.

The nickel-an-hour rate has, of course, gone the way of the nickel cigar.

On Lankershim Boulevard, home of the first meters, the charge is now $1 an hour, which is cheap compared with the $4 an hour assessed on Figueroa Street.

In retrospect, The Times columnist who warned in 1940 that Angelenos might have trouble using the devices had a point.

A survey of a five-block stretch of Lankershim last week found that 12 machines were out of order, including five that were covered with official red Department of Transportation bonnets, one with a trash bag and one with a note that said "Not working."

Two rusted meters that looked as though they had been there since 1949 were working, though.

Earlier this month, the city revealed that 10% to 12% of the city's 40,000 devices were malfunctioning. And several autoists, including a field deputy of Councilman Tom LaBonge, complained that they had been ticketed at failed meters.

The city claims it doesn't cite drivers at discombobulated meters.

But one Transportation Department official explained that broken machines sometimes snap back into operation, which could be why some Angelenos have been ticketed.

It sounds as though the city has found an ironclad alibi.

Perhaps a little vigorous slapping of the meters should be permitted, if only for motorists to vent their frustrations.

[kikibalt]

The car in the above photo is a 1946 Chevy, circa-1953 I bought a car just like that one, it was light (Baby) blue, had it painted black, lower, twin pipes, ah! memories!

[THEHAMMER321]

L.A. THEN AND NOW

The city that loves the car was slow to pay for parking
Meters gobbling a nickel an hour made their first appearance in 1949.



METER'S RUNNING: The Times ran this photo on June 10, 1949, with this caption: "Mrs. Barbara Steele and daughter get a warning tag from Officer Harvey Bauler for overtime parking in a newly established parking meter area on Lankershim Boulevard in North Hollywood. Beginning Monday, citations will be given." (Los Angeles Times)


By Steve Harvey

March 21, 2010

Los Angeles lays claim to being the birthplace of such phenomena as drive-in church services (Emmanuel Lutheran, North Hollywood, 1949), hang-gliding (Dockweiler State Beach, about 1960) and the Cobb salad (the Brown Derby, 1937).

But the city was no pacesetter in the category of parking meters. Oklahoma City was the first to install the coin confiscators in 1935, and more than 60 other municipalities followed before Los Angeles joined the crowd in 1949. Even Fairbanks, Alaska, beat L.A.

Three times -- in 1940, 1942 and 1946 -- the City Council rejected the notion, much to the delight of The Times, which scoffed that it would be "just as fair to install turnstiles for sidewalk pedestrians."

When a nickel-an-hour rate was first talked about in 1936, The Times warned ominously that "the autoist using the space for only a few minutes would have to pay as much as he who uses it for the full period."

The newspaper also asserted that the number of parking spaces would be reduced because they "must all be long enough for cars with the largest wheelbase."

And what of the technological challenge facing autoists?

"Can a stranger, or even a forgetful homebody, be mulcted for a fine if he doesn't know how to work the contraption?" asked Times columnist Chapin Hall in 1940. "Even the mechanics of dropping a nickel in a slot is a major problem for some."

But others pushed for the gadgets, including council members searching for new sources of revenue, lobbyists for the meter manufacturers and merchants who wanted to eliminate that early 20th century villain known as the "parking hog."

Finally, in 1949, the City Council gave in and installed 400 of the 5-cents-an-hour devices on an experimental basis on Lankershim Boulevard near the present site of the Metro Red Line station in North Hollywood.

"Meters Ready for Fine Nickel Nursing Trade," a Times headline said.

Six months later, a survey showed that the meters were generating "considerable profit" and "little complaint."

Although meters reduced the number of parking hogs, they gave rise to another pest: the parking tamperer.

In late 1949, The Times reported that a Sherman Oaks man pleaded guilty to "slapping a parking meter vigorously in a successful effort to show a woman how to get the meter to register without inserting a coin."

The defendant saved the woman 5 cents, The Times observed, "but it cost him $50." She was not implicated in the scheme.

Another offbeat case involved two young drivers of midget automobiles who received citations in 1950 for parking two cars in one space and refusing to insert more than one nickel in the meter.

"Why did the cop cite both drivers?" The Times editorialized. "The nickel obviously cleared one of the cars, at least. Which one? . . . While the judge is about it, he might also rule on why a bald man must pay as much for a haircut as Nature Boy. Seems a similar principle is involved."

Alas, The Times never revealed how the midget-auto case was resolved. Then again, perhaps it's still in court.

The nickel-an-hour rate has, of course, gone the way of the nickel cigar.

On Lankershim Boulevard, home of the first meters, the charge is now $1 an hour, which is cheap compared with the $4 an hour assessed on Figueroa Street.

In retrospect, The Times columnist who warned in 1940 that Angelenos might have trouble using the devices had a point.

A survey of a five-block stretch of Lankershim last week found that 12 machines were out of order, including five that were covered with official red Department of Transportation bonnets, one with a trash bag and one with a note that said "Not working."

Two rusted meters that looked as though they had been there since 1949 were working, though.

Earlier this month, the city revealed that 10% to 12% of the city's 40,000 devices were malfunctioning. And several autoists, including a field deputy of Councilman Tom LaBonge, complained that they had been ticketed at failed meters.

The city claims it doesn't cite drivers at discombobulated meters.

But one Transportation Department official explained that broken machines sometimes snap back into operation, which could be why some Angelenos have been ticketed.

It sounds as though the city has found an ironclad alibi.

Perhaps a little vigorous slapping of the meters should be permitted, if only for motorists to vent their frustrations.

Here in Las vegas now they got those meters that accept paper dollars do they have those in California also speaking of parking every year we go to Disneyland the parking price is a dollar higher this year I looked online its up to 14 dollars for parking

[kikibalt]

Paulino...I haven't use a parking meter in years, I don't go downtown often and here where I live we don't have'em, street parking is free, one good thing about living in the barrio...LOL!

[Rick Farris]

The car in the above photo is a 1946 Chevy, circa-1953 I bought a car just like that one, it was light (Baby) blue, had it painted black, lower, twin pipes, ah! memories!

Frank . . . I'd like to have seen some of your cars from the past. I know that you are skilled at reconditioning cars.
My cousin Bill is in his mid 60's. When he was 14 he bought his first car, a 49 Mercury. My uncle was a skilled mechanic and built hot rods for a hobby, and he helped his son build this one slowly over the years. When Bill was in the Marine Corp. and serving in Viet Nam, he'd send home his money to his mother who would save it for him. When he was discharged, he put the money into the Merc. To this day, he still has that car. Bill lives in Arizona today, and a few years ago when I was living in Az. I visited Bill and saw the car for the first time in decades. Man, it's beautiful. I think you'd like it.

-Rick

[kikibalt]

The car in the above photo is a 1946 Chevy, circa-1953 I bought a car just like that one, it was light (Baby) blue, had it painted black, lower, twin pipes, ah! memories!

Frank . . . I'd like to have seen some of your cars from the past. I know that you are skilled at reconditioning cars.
My cousin Bill is in his mid 60's. When he was 14 he bought his first car, a 49 Mercury. My uncle was a skilled mechanic and built hot rods for a hobby, and he helped his son build this one slowly over the years. When Bill was in the Marine Corp. and serving in Viet Nam, he'd send home his money to his mother who would save it for him. When he was discharged, he put the money into the Merc. To this day, he still has that car. Bill lives in Arizona today, and a few years ago when I was living in Az. I visited Bill and saw the car for the first time in decades. Man, it's beautiful. I think you'd like it.

-Rick

Rick...I didn't "recondition" my car per se, I would buy old cars because that all I could afford at the time, I would just lower, paint and put chrome wheel covers on those old cars,we used to buy those cars for $50-150 each back in the early '50's, I sure as hell wish I had'em now. My favorite was my first car, a '38 4 door Chevy that I bought with my dad's help when I had just turn 15, spent a good year working on it, when I was able to drive it at age 16 just about everything on it was new, I was a big guy with the girls in high school, well not me but my car.....LOL!!

[Rick Farris]

The car in the above photo is a 1946 Chevy, circa-1953 I bought a car just like that one, it was light (Baby) blue, had it painted black, lower, twin pipes, ah! memories!

Frank . . . I'd like to have seen some of your cars from the past. I know that you are skilled at reconditioning cars.
My cousin Bill is in his mid 60's. When he was 14 he bought his first car, a 49 Mercury. My uncle was a skilled mechanic and built hot rods for a hobby, and he helped his son build this one slowly over the years. When Bill was in the Marine Corp. and serving in Viet Nam, he'd send home his money to his mother who would save it for him. When he was discharged, he put the money into the Merc. To this day, he still has that car. Bill lives in Arizona today, and a few years ago when I was living in Az. I visited Bill and saw the car for the first time in decades. Man, it's beautiful. I think you'd like it.

-Rick

Rick...I didn't "recondition" my car per se, I would buy old cars because that all I could afford at the time, I would just lower, paint and put chrome wheel covers on those old cars,we used to buy those cars for $50-150 each back in the early '50's, I sure as hell wish I had'em now. My favorite was my first car, a '38 4 door Chevy that I bought with my dad's help when I had just turn 15, spent a good year working on it, when I was able to drive it at age 16 just about everything on it was new, I was a big guy with the girls in high school, well not me but my car.....LOL!!

Frank, you were da man.