Why is there no film on Harry Greb?

Some things aren't for mortal men to see.

 

Im more surprised that theres no footage of Bob Montgomery than Harry Greb.

 

We should applaud that!

 

There are silent movie films that are considered lost. This is despite the fact that many of those films had a wide distribution, which usually resulted in having a number of copies made. As a result, it is little wonder that fight films, which generally didn't have that type of distribution, are often lost.

The market for fight films was hurt by the fact that there were U.S. laws prohibited the interstate transportation of them for several decades. This law probably resulted in many fights not being filmed.

- Chuck Johnston

 

In infernal R'yleh, Greb's film slumbers, awaiting the day of its return.

 

Thanks Chuck.

I thought of the interstate prohibition also but the OP states that Greb was filmed a confirmed 6 times. Obviously a popular fighter who pulled a good gate. Of course the logic re lost silent films and the relative smaller distribution of fight films still holds.

Dempsey was obviously the more celebrated and in demand fighter, first million dollar gate of course but ultimately we still have I think 8 different fight films for Jack spanning 1919 to 1927 preserved for viewing today.. I think the only title defence missing is Misle.

I don’t know if it’s correct or not but I read on another forum that the very clear 1925 training and sparring footage with Phila Jack O’Brien was apparently tracked down in the early 1990s.

The lead to same was the fact that the footage was actually catalogued and archived somewhere with Greb’s name as an attached referenced. I think it was deemed news reel footage under the broader category.

Otherwise, the only other footage I’ve seen is of Greb and Walker signing for their fight.

I actually believe there is still a chance of something turning up. If there is something out there, the chance of locating same gets better with the ever moving digital age, more online data collation and archiving etc. and increasing connectedness overall.

 

Which why I see Harry, all the time. Among my other tormented dreams.

 

Hey, those were the golden days of the street!
So me mother said!

 

To be fair, it was social history.