A rush of nostalgia just came over me.I stumbled on a brief clip of the FABLED mecca of the golden age. Stillman's gym. It shows the only clip of where I and other lucky boxing souls saw the greatest fighters in the world for 50 cents. I spent most of my youth there. Check it out = Google/ Roland LaStarza Prize Fighter-than click.
I'm glad I'm not for he is dead ! As a youngster S, I used to listen to Sam Taub every Sunday afternoon interviewing famous boxers of the time on our primitive radio...
Im picking some grey hairs too Burt for when i first subscribed to Ring Mag Sam had his column in every issue.
S,as a kid I used to listen to Sam Taub on the Sunday radio program. I recall his interviews with Maxie Rosenbloom and Mickey Walker, both retired greats. What left a great impression on my mind when Taub during the finish of his interviews would ask his guests "who was the best fighter you ever fought". Their answer, "Harry Greb". My dad who saw Greb kick the tar out of Tunney in their first fight always said the same word Harry Greb. Then I started to read every article I could from the Ring Magazine and other sources. I became "hooked" on Harry Greb especially because my dad also lost an eye in an accident,as Harry Greb did too. Cheers...
S,I saw that picture several times, but I now cannot recall any Stillman gym scenes. But I will try to see it again. What brought a lump in my throat today when I happened to come across this SHORT clip,was it was not theatrical and not staged,and I might be one of the audience looking at the two rings. The camera was in the upper balcony in the back where they had the heavy bags,and did shadowboxing. Oh Stoney how I loved those wonderful afternoons I spent there...So many wonderful moments I can conjure up...
Have you read Graziano's take on Stillman's? It's pretty good. I still laugh about our own John Garfield's first time at Stillman's when he was hooking school. Who does he see on the speed bag but Graziano -with a cigarette on his lip. He stands there watching the fighter and suddenly Graziano looks down at him and says "Kid, why ain't you in school?" Garfield snaps back "WHY AIN'T YOU?!"
Yes,I had read what Garfield wrote about that incident. Great stuff. I have posted before, the FIRST time I saw Rocky Graziano at Stillman's gym ,whilst he was AWOL from the Army. I can never forget that afternoon so long ago...
