When was the last Battle Royale?

From "Athletic, Dance Program at Camp Thursday Night," Alexandria Daily Town Talk, July 25, 1934:

"There will be a 'Battle Royale' in which five negroes will be placed in the ring, one in each corner and one in the center.There will be tin cans with gravel in them so that they will make noise, placed on each negro's head and for six minutes they will fight blindfolded finding each other by means of the sound. After this, the blindfolds will be removed and they will fight it out."

 

From "Cheer Funds Bouts Stars Free for All," The (Muncie, IN) Times, December 1, 1946:

"...also will include a 'battle royale' between seven colored novices, it was announced yesterday.

The seven will enter the ring at the same time and will commence slugging it out until only one is left. Elimination from the even comes when a battler is knocked down or calls it 'quits.'

The 'battle royale' and the 12 bouts are being sponsored for the Christmas Cheer Fund and adult tickets may be purchased at Jack Fox & Sons, Millikan's, and Armstrong's Jewelry Store. Student tickets are on sale at schools throughout Hammond."

 

Another 1937 article from Akron, Ohio mentions a program in which "eight Negro boys, all blindfolded and wearing boxing gloves, staged a grand royale"

 

1946!

I thought this practise died in the 1910s!

 

Holy ****...

 

I found an advert for one in 1959, but it appears to be wrestling, and not really the same thing.
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...oyal&y=4&x=23&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1

 

Is Florida rather "backward ," then? I ask because Mendoza lives there.lol

 

The late John Garfield ( former poster and boxing writer ) said he participated in one at a church, and he was white. That had to be post-1950.

 

Wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if some of the racist upper-class white southerners were still holding private, underground battle royales into the 1960s...

 

Florida is such a great place, its a top destination for much of Europe and South America. A bit of a contrast to the cold and rainy weather of the UK with its dirty rivers and rip off prices. And racists futbol games.

In actuality, Florida is a melting pot in the southern area of the state, meaning you get the best of everything. It's not exactly New York City, but South Beach and the weather make up for what the state is missing. No state income tax here, the tourism pays for that.

Florida might have had a few battle royalists given the early UK settlers. Elmer Ray participated in some of these contests, so I read. Not all of them had blindfolds either.

 

We regularly get summers into the high 90's where I live.Florida is popular because of its climate and DisneyLand lol.
Dirty rivers? We have had salmon swimming in my local river for the last 5 years. Still cant spell racist ? It's singular not plural.lol

 

Space for +1?