Variety (Sep 1927)

W«dMida7> IvplMBbK M. 1W7 S P O R t S THAT SCRAP! By JACK PULASKI Chicago. Kever In the htotory of the ring •<> bOi^'oB * battle as that be- tween Oen* Tvnner and Jack Sampwy at «IM awauMtk SoMter n«M atadlum, Cktaaav, Thvitey aifht ;jever ilno* tl>« present day (•(Ime of IlmiUnB the number of rounds baa there been so many IbrlUs packed within 10 rounds of ItpiaSi elugKlnv and Bensatlonal iBOMenta. And while mlUtons emp- tied the theatres all over the coun- try to be thrilled by the radio ac- count of Tunney's successful defense ef the world's heavyweight cham- pionship, those out on the lakefront went through a bewildering asHort- ment of sensations. i Gene Tunnejr proved bis right to n the title, while Dempsey was craat in defeat even though he violated f the rules. He always did and prob- kbly cannot help It, being the kind I et a llon-heartcd lighting man he i I Tunney, the cleanest living Aghter «( modern times, baa no oounter- ■art la pnsiUstle annala except Seatlaman Jim Corbett. Oena Did toek ' And Tunncy proved he can take K. After the knockdown in the seventh round Oene showed ring biilns and the war >>• aocked the former champion In the laat three rounds even brought admissions from Dempsey that the better man got the decision. The battle in Chicago squared boxing before the public. The first meetlnf between the men at the Besqal grounds In Phllly last year brought all sorts of talk about It being In the bag. Those with the right slant figured Dempsey would M*« hmf Utum that UeMns U he ieald have belped n. Bag talk hung around the Chicago battlegrounds, too. An offer from London was made RIckard for a subsequent meeting between Qene and Jack, or maybe a coast fes tlval. But when the decision was made last Thursday night there wasn't a doubter among the vast erowd. And the Dempsey-Sharkey thing was forgotten, too. i^orttns and ahow pa^la in wid (Mm New Toik and Chicago, not alone the coast, favored Dempsey to win. They saw only Jack sock- ing In punches to Tunney's body. They didn't see foul Mows landed M6w the belt, but the pictures of the fight prove there was an Incon- sequential low punch or two. Never a squawk from Tunney. They didn't notice that Oene did most of the leading. Some thought that Demp- sey was ahead on points even up to the seventh round and felt he oouldn't lose after scoring that knockdown. They didn't notice Pene's constant Jabbing, but Jack knew that Tunney had the most punishing left hand of all the Aeavies. Rabbit Punches As a matter of fact Dempsey only 'famed two rounds. Including the seventh, and Impartial experts later proved that. And Dempsey came oloee to being disqualified both for hitting low and for continually ■ocklng In tlwae rabbit punches, a cruel blow to the back of the neck or head, terribly stinging. They say that a lump was raised on Gene's aeck from those supposedly pro- hibited punches. Certain it Is that Sis smiling face was unmarked when David Barry, the referee, rais- ed his hand In token of victory. On *e other hand Dempsey's map was '^t and bleeding from the contln »ou8 peppering of Gene's left jabs nd right rrosses. Tunney's Retreat 1 The sudden knockdown early In ' ^e seventh brought the people up I jn the seats. Many could see Tun ■jeys left glove gripping the middl ^ope strand, but could not tell I whether he was sitting or kneeling I »S he later did during the count, ^t even the Tunney rooters knew It was a long count without know- W why. It might be mentioned ! tpat Graham McNamee In dcscrlb- •jMT the flKht tiy radio i-ald he know •pmethlng was wrong but couldn't !dk then, promising to explain i, 'T**t iMtPPened.. He got so excited that he forgot to do so. _At ringniile It was quite clear. - Pampeey was standing In his cor- W*n Tanney. The referee stopped /onnting at four and told J;h k to 9 to a neutral curmi. narry ^'•pped ccuptliit;. while Demfisc; suited a ttm instants and Bie knock-down timekeeper did like- wise. When Jack complied with the order the count was resumed, the actual elapsed tbne Gene was off his pins belBK given out m 14 seconds. Tunney, who eould have gotten up without the extra eecondii, was looking at the referee, undermand- ing exactly what was going on. He looked, too, at his mmer, where Jimmy Bronson, his chief second, and Gibson, his manager, motlonwl to Gene to stay down until nlnp. When he arose there was a remark- able exhibltloa of defeass tactics by Tunney. He was hurt by a Dempsey sock to the chin, but hp knew what he was doing, down there on the canvas with the left Ctove gripplnv the middle rope. So when he sot op Osm started circling backwards aa the fans screamed to Sampsey t« flnlsh his man. Jack tried to gtt Tanney Into a corner, but the Shamplon was too smart. Bis fleet retreat was some- thing that will be remembered as one of the outstanding points of the battle. Satisfied that he was o. k., again toward the close of the great seventh, the champion started to mix it tying up the Manassa Mauler and clipping him with rights. One smash to Jack's eye may have been the turning point of the flarht. At l e a s t so Tunney later sMd. Dempsey rooters had gone wild during the back circling of the champion. Some called Tunney namea. They didn't care about Gene being grogged up. They wanted him to stand still and get his block knocked off. When the bell ended the round they began to realize that Gene had done, a smart thing In his backward movements. Then when Tunney opened the eighth by outslugging Jack they be- gan to realize that Gene Is a real champ. The beating he gave Demp- sey In those last three rounds was decisive. The beating that Jack took proved what a game guy he Is. One right sock from Tunney In the eighth sent Demi)sey down to one knee but he got right up again. They may say that U Dempsey had obeyed the Illinois boxing rules and gone at once to a neutral cor- ner be might be the first come- back champion on record. In the eighth round another smash to Dempsey's left eye oiiened a cut and he started bleediav badly. What be took from tten on Is a matter of record. The former heavyweight king was almost out on his feet when the final gong ranff. Darned few people la Sol- diers Held beard tho ben tor any round, much less the final. There was a continuous roar. The first two rounds were Tun- ney's on points. The third seoned to be a,shade In Jack's favor. The fourth was a tough one for Demp- sey. When It was over he stag- gered, grabbing the rope to steady himself as he walked to his cor- ner. Smelling-salts canke out of every pocket In the Dempsey men- age. When the fifth round started, Flynn literally threw Dempsey Into the middle of the ring. Gene kept piling up points until the maddenly seventh, when Jack's left and right spilled the champion for the first time In his career. Smsrt Chi Officials When fight fans reach a frenzy of excitement such as in the scvpntli round, the burden of clear direc- tion falls on the offlclal*. Those Chicago men came through. Would a New York referee had forced Dempsey to a neutral corner? They didn't force the rules in his other senaaUonal lights, particularly the three-round affair with PIrpo. Dempsey's backers claim Gone was down for a 14-count in elapsed time. But what about the time when Jack was punched through the ropes at the Polo Orounda by FIrpo? Some fans figure Dempsey out of the ring about U 8e<on<l«. and he was helped back through the lopes. Any timing by the picr tures cannot settle that point. Nor did the referee stop Dempsey from circling around FIrpo when he was down and eoeklng hlm tn the, eaiL- vas every time he started to get up. Great fighter, that Dempsey. but rules don't mean a thing to him Net a Sell-Out The crowd In SoldicrH Field was an inspiring speflnclc, but the Im mense %l>tplth,eatre yrttn not cspec- tty by many thousands. Reports Wednesday had It that there would be IS.OOt empty oeats, many of the tl tIckeU being unsold. That agreed with the government tax figures of 1«>,4S9 paid admissions as against the claim of a total ca- pacity of 1(3,000. In total gate the gross far exceeded that of last sum- mer when the men met in Phila- delphia. The gross last week could have exceeded 13.100.000. The actual takings were about $2,420,(67. The indicated profit to the Madison Square Garden Corporation, which actually arranged the fight via Tex RIckard, was oomputs* to bo about $600,000. Chicago ticket agencies were stuck plenty. They were selling $40 tickets for $20 Thursday at noon. At the Coutbosl stand lirttar Con- gress around eight o'clock and thereafter $40 tickets went to $16 a pleeo or two $20's for the same figure. At the Morrison the top price tickets were offered at $10 each but there seemed to be few takers oyoa at sut ratsa. TIcketa priced ISO wat« oSsred at tS. ^ It was not certain If the hotel stands were selling at bargain rates on allotments bought by them or from blocks sent on consignment. The latter was Indicated since the agencies had a return privilege within 24 hours of the fight. Most of the agencies were reported mak- ing 40 per cent, of their allotments, the largest single allotment having been 1,04M tickets. Returns were almost made from railroads running special trains to Chicago, also from out of town. The best seats were In the $$0 sections directly opposite the ring, saat and west These lo- cations were In the concrete stands of the stadium and the visibility was not marred by people standing up. Those sections also held plenty of empty rows. From the outside long stretches of empty $S seats could be observed and they re- mained unoccupied as shown by dark patches disclosed by looking around the arena through glasses. ChicaBoans Laid Off It Is not believed that any such major fight event will again be held in Chleaco> W B l ss s at » lowor price scale. Tbe loeals walked out on it, rejecting the high prices as they have done in the past. The gate was principally dependent on out of towaers. It was flgorad that there were lIi.tM transients In Chicago the nigl t of tile fight as against an average of 40,000 dally visitors. A considerable portion of the visitors were from surrounding towns, in to see the fight crowds. Many of them bought K tlokou to bo able to say they were in on tbe big oTent. After the fight the hotels buzzed with a holiday spirit. Lobbies and the rooms resembled New Year's eve. Tbsrs wsrs parties In every room it seemed, and they lasted throughout the night. There were more stews within the stadium than In any similar gathering remem- bered. Out of every five men, at least one was drunk. That meant the pressace of women waa diare garded and not a (aw of tbe gentler sex were cocktajisd. too. George F. OetS, Chleago coal man said to be worth $20,000,000, under- wrote the fight. He Is said to have guaranteed RIckard and the Madl son Square Garden corporation against loss, wilting to drop a half millii.n In order to get the fight staged in Chicago. Oetz didn't lose, but after a dinner to Tunney given Friday at noon bs bopped a train for New York, there to board a Iwat for Africa. He said he hoped the details for the next big fight would be arranged before he returned. Final Words Tbe policlag of the great event was good and bad. Octtlng to and entering the stadium was all right, but eomlag out, very poor. The reason was that the fans were not Instructed or allowed to exit throngh the same gate they entered. The result was that foany thousands had to Slo tluttosb narrow, erooked tanea, stretching baK the length of the arena. Some folks didn't get out of the place until midnight, or one hour and SO minutes after the WnCKED TUNNEY Bollywood, Sept tT. Holding to his unezceAed record aa a fight winner choos- er when on Variety, Jack (Con) Conway again put It over, having selected Oene Tunncy to win. Con had likewise pleked the winner of the Denipsey-.Shar- key fight, also since leaving Variety and going with Para- mount as title writer. Squelch Another Coast Try at Legal Betting San Kranclseo, Pept. i.'7. A new attempt to legalize betting on horse races In California suf- fered a setback when Superior Judge Buck, of San Mateo County, denied a wtlt of habens corpus sought by James McDonald, accused ot yj o l a tln g ttaaraeaJlKk cambling bin. Judge Buck recommended the case be carried to the apiMtate court. At a special race at Tanforan track, McDonald bought a certifi- cate that gave him ownership In the race. His certificate was on a certain -horse and promised no return If tbe horse failed to win, place or ahow. After the raos McDonald was ar- rested. Local turfmen contend the money McDonald plaesd on the rao* iras an inyeatmont, not a bet Salt Lake's 12-Day Meet Salt Lake City, Sept. 37. Permission to bold a M-day racing meet at tbe state Mr grounds, oiten- Ing yesterday (Monday) and con- tinuing for the duration of the state fair, was granted the Utah Agri- cultural and Racing Association. Action was taken following an opinion by H. H. Cluff, attorney general. In which It was heM that the fair board was obligated under Its contract, entered into with the racing association two years ago, to grant aa applioation made for a short maot The license was granted for a fee of $200 per racing day. The liacgon meet closed Saturday. big aght was ovsr. In OBS tl those long lanes was Frank Moran, fanner heavyweight boxer. He had tbe right dope by sta Ing Dempsey had won but two rounds. He s.tld that after leelng the PhBly baftle be tbooght Tunnty would hold the title for five years and It still goes. As the bout ended but two re- marks were exchanged lietween the fighters, unheard other than by themselves. Tunney said to Demp- sey: "I only wish this Oght had an- other round to go." Jack replied: ■a-m glad tt's OTsr." Following the battle Oene re- turned to the Hotel Sherman bungalow on its roof, where had assembled a party of friends. lUOo, •vsrybedy,'* saM Tunney as he entered, the calmest one In the rooms. Mingling with the com- pany and chatting, about one o'clock someone suggested to Oene he'd better retire probably aseding sleep. "Oh, no," said Tunney. "WhyT rm going to stick aroimd," and he did not go to bed until 4 a^ m., re- maining la tbe apartment Dempsey and his wife, Kstelle Taylor, were at the Kdgcwater Beach hotel, the class hostelry of Chicago. Nottber nuida a atatament for publication until U hours after the fight A close friend of Tunney's, ask- ing tho champ how he felt when toppled over for the firnt time In his ring career, as occurred In the 7th rtfund. waa informed by Oene that -I felt silly." The fight pieturs as exhibited In Chicago Is nader Film Reylews In this Variety » Kid Williams. 18 Others Grabbed in Balto Gym Baltimore, 8ept. 27. When a brace of "bulls" dropped into an East Baltimore club laat week they found John Cutenko and 18 others engr08s>-.l in a tanie of African golf. They sIko diseovered some liquid refreshment that wasnt sxaetly lemon pop. The copH suggested a little spla In a munieipal motor ani> also thought It good form for everyone to drop in on the itollce magistrata for a little chat After the magistrate had pa.ised the time of day with Oiittiiko he suggested that Gutcnko have tea with the Grand Jury and explain Ills root beer formula to the U. 8. Oiminiissioner. Cuiiiiko, who aa Kid Williams once wore the bantam heavyweight crown. Is said to have admitted that he operated the gymnasium, but de- nle.l any connection with the club, the li<iU(id or tho Indoor golf. Gutenko Is under $600 bail for grand Jury action. REFORMERS ON DOGS Expect Legislature Will Be Aekadl to Stop Hounds Racing Milwaukee, Sept. IT. The WiHconsin State Leglslaturo will be asked to halt dog racing In the state. Ministers of Waukesha csoaty, who bava raised the baa« ner of "aatl-vlos," Itave announoaA that they are "tbroogh with trying to obtain results from eounty ficlals." When a Jury aoqultted the o(« ficlals of the Mound Race Traek and gave their atamp of approval to dug racing here, tlie ministers !!et up a hue and ery and asserted that they wsM/aM tkraogh iih«> ing yet. With dog racing here having taken the countryside by storm, tbe ministers are hot and heavy after all forms of "Ambling amuse- ment." They have announced that they will not Beek to halt the dog track activities any more this sea- son, since the season will close la another week, but will go to Madi- son this winter and ask the legia- lattire to i>ass a bill prohibiting dog tracks anywhere In the state. In the meantime, slot machines have come under fire. The minis- ters, organized In a sort of vigil* ance squad, have been toariag Waukesha county and wrecking the machines. They have even come forth with charges that Mil- waukee county supervisors are ths owners of tbs oiaahtaMa aad to m> turn face another libel salt MARRIAGES Rita Stewart, flm actress, to Lea H. Welt western division managsr, Pathe-DeMUla, la Chicago, Sept S% Florence Rysraoa to CoUn Ctft* ment In los A a gs l s^ Sapt M. Batk are scenario writsra tor M>a«Kb Culver City, CaL Helen O. Taylor, atstsr of BstsDa Taylor, married Roger P. WhttSk brother of Tom Whita, pictars ft*> dueer, Sept. 20. This Is Urm^WUifB third marriage, Stella Hymson, Ban Francisco so* prano, to John A. McCandless, mlb llonalre, Sept. 20 at Anhland, Ore. Yvonne Haw ley, tap dancer. New York, and Jack Born, comedian, of St. James, Mich., were married to Dallas while playing "Rustic Rev- els" at the Palace. Esther Boyle, non-profexnional, to Gilbert DcLong, in Sioux City, la., lant week. Groom Is a member of Orpheum orchestra, Den Moines^ la. Mary .Napapa and Henry Kuna^ of the Aldrlch Imperial Hawaiian Troupe (No. 2), at Derby, Conn., Sept. IS, while at the Lyceum, New Britain. Attendants were Ghcorga Kanlho and Anna Banekay, members of ths trou|>«. INSIDE STUFF ON SPORTS *Vap Tunney" Oa board the Jim Ce^bett apeclal train to the Tunncy-Di ij.pi-i y ngbt was a Greenwich Villager who recalled Gene's boyhood da.\s in that section of the city, where the champ was bom. As a schoolboy. It Heemcd that all the kids tn his set kicked the stufllng out of Oene and he was nicknamed "Sap -rii i ii^f m is, i .s i..— fc— t.i ^ ^y t H li g could make money. Bven before he oaterod tba aMu-lae corps, whera ba taally learned how to take care of himself, his ambition was to earn |I,K9 which be aimed to Invest and so take cure of bls parents. After the war Oene quickly got that five grand, nut they magged him aM of |1,0M of it and be moved away froia the Villa