Rocky Marciano With Jackie Gleason (THE MAIN EVENT)

Rocky was a great TV personality, in a knowingly silly way. I suspect his show was considered corny even back in the day, but it's still a piece of TV gold.

 

God Bless those times...the 50's...that's my favorite era..I don't care if it seems kinda corny today.I'd take the 50's and it's relatively simpler ways and values over this day and age anytime. This show was great..when I had cable, I'd watch these reruns every time they were on. Just a different time..with different values..better values.

 

Thank you for that. That is beautiful. Jackie Gleason is among the greatest comedians who ever lived. And he was the coolest fat man on the planet. He proved it as Minnesota Fats in The Hustler.

Great story, great stuff.

 

AMEN! rc

 

John, I know it's off topic a little, but take Jackie Gleason...he's one of the greatest all-around entertainers (almost a bad word) I should say TALENTS (!) that ever was...and he probably wouldn't "cut it" today...he was fat, therefore not "telegenic" enough, not ethnic enough (really now..an "Irish-American, lol) and yet "p4p" he dwarfs the bums of today, both literally and figuratively..and as for the fifties, the black and white tv shows and especially the "B" movies of the times and the celebrities...they're my favorites and the ones I still retate to.

 

Gleason was a FUNNY FUNNY man, rc. No matter what he said, like Buddy Hackett, he made ya laugh.

I played in the Broadway Show Softball League in the '60s. Some damn good athletes, like Tony LoBianco 'n William Devane, 'n they took it very seriously. We had a pick-up team scheduled to play Gleason's TAKE ME ALONG squad.

It was a musical so all the players were chorus boys. Because Gleason was a big star, the press showed up to interview him before the game. When he was asked how good his team was, he said, "They may not be good hitters, but you should see 'em suck those bats."

 

..Loved Gleason!! It was a ritual in the 60's..my whole family would gather around the old Magnavox and watch the Jackie Gleason Show...it alternated every other week...his variety format...with Reginald Van Gleason, etc., and the next wek the Honeymooners...he was the heavyweight champ of entertainers, and he was of course a well known knowledgeable boxing fan.
John, I envy you and your life experiences back then...you had the best era to live in..I'm glad you share them with us.

 

Yes, they were classics, I have all the Main Event Shows that Rocky hosted.

 

Rocky was a great host..maybe a bit awkward and earnest, but he was always sincere and respectful..especially to his old foes like Walcott.

 

This show was shown on Classic Sports a few years ago....I THINK the show was aired in 1961...

 

Another amen! It was the greatest decade I can remember...that's for sure!

 

Gleason was a serious drinker, one day in Toots Shors he was busting Rocky Graziano's balls, calling him, punch drunk and a" guinea", both were feeling no pain. Rocky let him have it, knocked him out, right in the restaurant.

 

It's Minnesota Fats!

 

great stuff, great people and a great era