History of California Boxing in Photos

[gregbeyer]

Hap, I remember the inflate condom, the lady's underwear, and the rolls of toilet paper flying around in the Olympic's balcony back in the early '50's.

let it not be said we are not a classy lot.

hap,

there are folks here that help keep the boxrec ledger. right now who it is escapes my suddenly addled mind. i hope they read these posts of ours and check in.

my hat goes off to the boxrec people. seems such an insurmountable task. you for one know how many fights there have been. to catalogue them is a lot of work.

you know i think i will start a thread on that and see what turns up.

greg

[dongee]

You are right Frank, I had forgotten about the toilet paper but I do not thinkk I ever saw the lady's panties floating around the balcony. People were actually bored for a few minutes and that is why all of that got started.

The worst nights at the old Olympic were when the management issued coupons that got you into the balcony for a lousy quarter service charge. I remember George Parnassus leading the campaign among the managers to do away with the lousy cut rate admission price.

The club had its reasons, of course, because the Olympic was enormous and their shows were much more expensive than ours at the Legion because of our fraternal connotation......their ushers were all union scale, ours were all Legionaires, members of the Post who worked for a nominal fee each week, as did the band members and the other attendants.

hap navarro

[gregbeyer]

o.k hap,

i cast our line in the water. "BOXREC additions" in the old timers section. hopefully some one will grab the bait and you can give bobby his just due.

in one of these threads there is a photo of rick farris in the ring with a guy that does not show up on his record. so the need is still there to get these boys the credit they deserve.

greg

[kikibalt]

14 July 1943 (Hollywood Legion Stadium, Los Angeles CA): (from left) James J. Jeffries, Ceferino Garcia,
Mushy Callahan, Jimmy McLarnin, Jack Root, Baby Arizmendi, Willie Ritchie and Johnny Indrisano. Joe Lynch
is at the microphone.

[kikibalt]

Guys, here's a little story I wrote, I'm not much of a writer, so bear with me.

"Going To The Fights....1951

By Frank Baltazar

Eddie Gomez was watching a boxing match on a nineteen inch TV when his dad, Rudy, came in the house and told Eddie.
“Eddie, look what I have here”
“Pops, did you get some tickets for the title fight?”
Eddie had been bugging his pop to take him to see the Art Argon vs Jimmy Carter lightweight title fight at the Olympic Auditorium for some time, his pop thought that Eddie; been twelve years old was to young to go to the fights.
“Yes, Eddie, I bought four tickets, your uncles, Tony and Ray, will be going with us. Now I hope your mom doesn't get mad at me, she too thinks you are to young to go to the fights”.
Eddie's mom, Lupe, was not too crazy to see Eddie going to the fights, but she did agree with Rudy; that their son would be disappointed if he was not allowed to go with his pop and uncles, so she gave her okay for Eddie to go.

Eddie couldn't wait to find his best friend, Cheno Diaz, to tell him the good news. He found Cheno tending his two cows and one goat at a nearby pasture.
“Cheno, my pops is taking me to see the Aragon and Carter title fight”,
"Gee Eddie, you are lucky, I wish I could go”.
“I'll ask my pop if he can get another ticket for you. Cheno, you think your mom and pops would let you go?”.
“I'll ask them” said Cheno.,
Eddie ask his pop if he could get a ticket for Cheno.
“Yes, I'm sure I can get one, Eddie, you tell Cheno, that if his mom and pop say its okay for him to go; we'll take him with us”.
Next day in school, Eddie told Cheno the good news.
“Cheno, my pops said that he'll get you a ticket if your mom and pop say that's its okay for you to go”.
“Eddie, mom and pop said I could go as long as your father was going, they trust your father, but not your uncle Ray, they say he is crazy, that he himself will get into a fight at the fights”.
“Yeah, uncle Ray is a bit wild, especially when he is drinking beer, but pops won't let him drink too much, he'll be okay”.

Two weeks later, they all piled into Rudy's 1946 Dodge and headed west on Washington Boulevard. Eddie and Cheno were so excited that they couldn't sit still and it was starting to bug uncle Ray.
“If you kids don't sit still, we are going to stop and drop you off here; and you are going to have to wait for us to pick you up after the fights” said uncle Ray.
“Leave them alone Ray, they are just excited to be going to the fights, after all, its their first time to see boxing live. You remember when you went for the first time and you got all crazy on us?, wanting to fight everybody there” said uncle Tony.
“Yeah, but I was drunk; and let me remind you that I was doing okay until that big guy cold-cock me and knocked me on my ass” uncle Ray laughed.

The area was so pack that they had to park 3 blocks away. Eddie and Cheno were shadow boxing as they walked up 18th Avenue.
“Hey Eddie, Cheno, you two want to become fighters, because if you do, I'll train you guys” said uncle Ray.
“Ray, what the hell do you know about training fighters? asked Rudy.
“Hey, Rudy, I have fighting experience”
“Yes, you do but, its street fighting experience, an I don't think you ever won a fight”
“At least I've never been ko, always finish on my feet” laughed Ray.

As the group approached the front entrance of the Olympic, they started seeing movie and boxing celebrities hanging around the sidewalk of Grand Avenue.
“Cheno! There's John Wayne and Pedro Armendariz” said the excitable Eddie
“And over there is Rosemary Cooney and her husband Jose Ferrer” said uncle Tony
“I see Tommy Campbell, Frankie Muche, Bob Murphy, Enrique Bolanos and Freddie Babe Herman over there talking to two men” said Cheno
“That's Cal Eaton and Babe McCoy they are talking too, they are probably talking about upcoming fights” said Rudy
Before entering the Olympic, they all bought the Knockout program from Speedy Dado. Eddie and Cheno started getting autographs on their programs to show their friends in school the next day.

They found their sits in the second to last roll in the peanut gallery. No sooner had they sat down when rolls of toilet paper started flying around, soon some ladies underwear were flying by. Eddie and Cheno started making paper plane and would fly them down to the ring.
“This is fun, Eddie, thanks for bringing me” said Cheno
“Thank my pop, Cheno, he is the one who bought your ticket”

The fighters for the first fight came in the ring. Rudy, Tony and Ray started betting on the fights, they would bet one dollar on the white or black corner, what ever fighter went to the corner they had, that was their bet.
The first fight was won by Al Galindo over Bobby Brewer, Rudy and Tony won a dollar each, Ray lost a dollar.
Second fight was between Joey Gurrola and Sammy Figueroa.
“Cheno, see that big guy in Figueroa's corner? That's big Jake Horn, he's a great trainer” said Eddie
The fight ended in a draw.
“Guess it didn't help Figueroa having Jake Horn in the corner, did it, Eddie? Said Cheno, as he threw a roll of toilet paper.
“He didn't lose did he?” said Eddie
“Well no, he didn't”
.
After a couple of more fights it was time for the main event, Art Aragon and Jimmy Carter would be coming into the ring soon.

Aragon looking weak is the first to come into the ring.
“Aragon is going to lose” said Eddie
“How do you know? Asked uncle Ray.
“Look how pale he looks, I read in the Mirror that he was having trouble making '35” said Eddie.
Carter comes into the ring looking great. After both fighters have been gloved in the ring they are introduce by Jimmy Lennon , referee Mushy Callahan calls the fighters to the center of the ring for their instructions.
The fight started fairly even for the first four rounds, from the fifth round on it was all Carter who won an easy 15 round unanimous decision.
Right after the fight ended uncle Ray wanted to leave.
'Okay guys, our guy lost; so lets get out of here”
“No! We have to stay and watch Keeny Teran fight Bobby Garza, they are fighting a six rounder” said Eddie.
“Ray, Keeny is the toast of the town, we have to stay and watch him fight” said uncle Tony
They stayed and watch Keeny win a unanimous decision.

On the way home Uncle Ray asked Eddie and Cheno if they wanted to fight.
“Guys, if you want to fight, I'll train you, after you train for a couple of months; I'll take you to the downtown CYO where Johnny Flores run the boxing program, I'm sure we can get you some sparring. Johnny is my friend and he'll help us out.
“Ray, you don't even know Johnny Flores” said Rudy
“Well maybe not, but I know where the CYO is at” laughed uncle Ray

Next day at school Eddie and Cheno were the toast of the school as they were holding court with their friends.
“You should have seen Aragon land that left hook of his” said Cheno as he threw a left hook.
“To bad he didn't landed it enough” said Eddie
“He was too weak from making weight”
“He was” agree Eddie
“But you should have seen that little Keeny Teran” Eddie and Cheno said in unity.
“Guys, Cheno and I are going to start training next week, my uncle Ray is going to train us” said Eddie

[kikibalt]

May 1949 (Los Angeles CA): From left: Gorilla Jones, Benny Whitman, Morris Rose, and Duke Holloway

[kikibalt]

Art Aragon on the right, just don't know who the opponent is....

[kikibalt]

Front row (left to right): Braven Dyer (journalist), Tom Sharkey, unknown, Tommy Ryan, Mushy Callahan, unknown, James J. Jeffries, & Sheriff Eugene Biscaluiz.

Back row (from left): Unknown, Everett L. Sanders (Commissioner), Announcer Dan Tobey, Al Santoro (journalist), & Barney Oldfield (race car driver & boxing fan).

[dongee]

Your story is a "return to fight night at the Olympic" Frank and the photos are priceless. The story has the feel of fight night, for sure.

I got a kick out of seeing my old friend JoeLynch, one of the real unsung heroes of LA's boxng past. He had more guts than any other promoter I ever knew when he took on the Olympic and Legion Stadium brass and got a license to put on some good shows outdoors in the early 1940s.

Joe first crashed the local spsorts scene with western rodeos and jitterbug contests at the Memorial Coliseum before becoming a matchmaker at the Olympic for just a few weeks. One of his programs there was featured by a title bout between Richie Lemos and Pittsbirg Jackie Wilson, and outdoors one of his biggies was Joyce and Armstrong. The last time we spoke Joe Lynch came to the Legion Stadium driving a 1932 Model A roadster in near mint condition. That was Joe Lynch.
One of your photos also shows my favorite all time athletic commissioner Everett Sanders. What a job he did during his stay on that board.

hap navarro

[kikibalt]

[BoxofDaylight]

o.k hap,

i cast our line in the water. "BOXREC additions" in the old timers section. hopefully some one will grab the bait and you can give bobby his just due.

in one of these threads there is a photo of rick farris in the ring with a guy that does not show up on his record. so the need is still there to get these boys the credit they deserve.

greg

Yes, Greg & Hap. You can either post the bouts in the BoxRec Forum , preferably in the Records Section. I'd also bet that Matt wouldn't mind helping out. He can be reached at Matt@boxrec.com

Ric (BoxRec Editor)

[gregbeyer]

Yes, Greg & Hap. You can either post the bouts in the BoxRec Forum , preferably in the Records Section. I'd also bet that Matt wouldn't mind helping out. He can be reached at Matt@boxrec.com

Ric (BoxRec Editor)

thank you very much.

greg

[kikibalt]

[kikibalt]

Johnny Smith

[kikibalt]

April 15, 1950 (Jeffries Residence, Burbank CA): Tom Sharkey, Everett L. Sanders, Jim Thorpe, and James J. Jeffries.

[kikibalt]

Jimmy McLarnin (left) & Young Corbett III (right center): June 1978 (Fresno CA)

[kikibalt]

Andy Russell & Eli Galinda: circa 1940

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OSKEDI8Q4Y

Besame Mucho

Andy Russell

[kikibalt]

Andy Russell (singer)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search

Andy Russell (September 16, 1919-April 16, 1992) was an American popular vocalist, specializing in traditional pop and Latin music.

He was born Andrés Rabago Pérez in the Boyle Heights area of East Los Angeles. He was one of ten children (eight boys, two girls) born to parents who were Mexican immigrants of Spanish descent. Already as a teenager he had begun to perform as a vocalist and drummer with a local band headed by Don Ramon Cruz. In the early forties he Anglicized his name (Andy was obvious, but "Russell" was after the singer Russ Columbo). He became vocalist and drummer with the bands of Johnny Richards, Gus Arnheim, Sonny Dunham, and Alvino Rey. By 1944, he had become well enough regarded a pop vocalist to be featured on radio, and in the next year had his Old Gold Show. He also signed on with Capitol Records.[1]

His first charted hit was "Bésame Mucho" (Capitol #149, 1944). The same year he had his biggest hit, which became his signature tune, "Amor" (Capitol #156, with the flip side "The Day After Forever") from the film "Broadway Rhythm". He had two more hits that year: "What a Difference a Day Made" (Capitol #167, paired with "Don't You Notice Anything New?") and "I Dream of You"/"Magic Is Moonlight" (Capitol #175). He had another big hit in 1946 with "I Can't Begin to Tell You" (Capitol #221) from the film "The Dolly Sisters." This became the fourth top ten seller in the country for Russell in less than two years and the big time was calling. The next big hit came later in 1946: a two-sided hit with "Laughing on the Outside" and "They Say It's Wonderful" (from the Broadway show Annie Get Your Gun) (Capitol #252). His next hit was "Pretending" (Capitol #271, backed with "Who Do You Love") was another top-ten seller. He was also invited to Hollywood and screen tested for motion pictures. In 1946 he appeared in The Stork Club and Breakfast In Hollywood. He was on the soundtrack of Walt Disney's Make Mine Music, and appeared in the picture Copacabana the next year.[2]

In 1946, the people running the pop music radio program Your Hit Parade asked him to take the place of Frank Sinatra (Sinatra returned in 1947). This led to increased popularity for the singer.

Russell appeared in the new medium, television, in the early 1950s on Your Show of Shows with Sid Caesar on NBC, but continued to record, though less frequently. By 1952, Russell's hits had stopped coming, so Capitol Records lost interest in him as a hit making pop star. Especially, as the rock 'n roll age was beginning to dawn, Capitol (like the other major labels) began to look on with negative feeling. Russell realized at this point in time that was still quite popular in Mexico, so he began to spend time there performing for his fans. He occasionally recorded for RCA Victor Records in the mid-1950s.

In the late-1950s Russell moved to Mexico City, and later to Argentina. In the latter country, he had a successful television variety show that ran for seven years. El Show de IKA was sponsored by the nation's largest automaker, Industrias Kaiser Argentina (IKA).[3] A Jeep was driven on the stage during every performance with dancers as well as a 50-piece orchestra and choir accompaning Russell.[3] It was the most expensive TV show produced in that country and the first to use cameras mounted high above the stage.[3]

In the mid-1960s, he moved back to the United States for a time and went back to Capitol, making a few LP albums. He also made some LPs for the Argentine market that were well received. Though he continued to appear and perform, by the mid-eighties he was generally forgotten. Exceptions to this rule were his 1967 Capitol singles "It's Such a Pretty World Today" and "I'm Still Not Through Missing You", which achieved top ten status on Billboard's Easy Listening chart.

He died in Sun City, Arizona. He was buried in the Loma Vista Memorial Park in Fullerton, California.[4]

[kikibalt]

Left to right: Auto racer Barney Oldfield, Speedy Dado & James J. Jeffries

[kikibalt]

The Chavez Boys



Carlos & Alfredo

Both boys went on to be top ten fighters in the late '40's-early '50's.

[gregbeyer]

hap,

please go to the thread i started in the old timers section "BOXREC additions" and check the post by surf bat. he says if you send the main newspaper source he can get the bouts on boxrec.

greg

[kikibalt]

A young Jackie McCoy

[dongee]

The Chavez Boys



Carlos & Alfredo

Both boys went on to be top ten fighters in the late '40's-early '50's.

This was in the 1930s when Johnny Forbes toured the stte putting on exhibitions with his two Chavez boys billing them as Little Dempsey and Little Tunney

hap navarro

[dongee]

hap,

please go to the thread i started in the old timers section "BOXREC additions" and check the post by surf bat. he says if you send the main newspaper source he can get the bouts on boxrec.

greg

I already did , Greg, and thanks.Will follow through soon.

hap

[dongee]

A young Jackie McCoy

I never had two better friends than my boxing buddies Jackie MccCoy and sports writer John Hall. I really missed them when I left the game. They both had class and savvy to spare.

hap navarro

[kikibalt]

Lou Bernal was one of the ex-fighters that would referee our Jr.GG tournaments in the '50's-'60's.

[kikibalt]

Art Aragon in court with attorney Paul Caruso...1956

[Wing master]

What is the purpose of the tape?

[kikibalt]

What is the purpose of the tape?

He was in court and he wasn't squawking, he wasn't going to rat anybody out...just saying tongue in cheek...LOL!!. But he was in court!!

[kikibalt]

Phil Kim