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OK, this is a history thread so I'll post this memory here.
It was my 12th birthday..I was a boxing fan my entire life..from 6 or 7 years old. Went to Manhattan with my friend to buy a boxing book for my birthday on 42nd street and 8th or thereabouts. We headed up Broadway to stare at Jack Dempsey's place; because we were told he had a restaurant in the City.
Just too see that name over the sidewalk was enough for us.
Well, we get there, and sitting in the corner booth, front window...is..the Champ, Jack Dempsey himself. We were only twelve and couldn't believe our eyes.
We're on the sidewalk gawking, getting get up all our nerve, to go in and try to see if we can get an autograph. The maitre d' stops us at the door. We ask if we can "please" possibly get an autograph from
Mr. Dempsey. The maitre d' smiled, and give us each a printed postcard, signed well in advance for just these occasions. We are just thrilled with that signed card and the glimpse of the Champ and went to leave when we heard a deep voice behind us " Send those two kids over here.." The maitre d' gave us a big wink and brought us over to Jack Dempsey's window table!
I think all the air went out of us as we walked over to sit down with Jack Dempsey.
He asked me about the boxing book I had, "History of Boxing..something like that. He opened it to the chapter on himself and signed every single picture of him for me. He talked with us for quite some time. We knew his entire career by heart and he told us about this fight and that fight, etc.
He asked us if we wanted some ice cream, and had two huge Sunday's brought over to the table.
Finally, he had some people coming over to meet with him and we said goodbye thanked him and left.
I think we must have spent at least a half hour with Jack Dempsey.
I recall shaking his hand and thinking it was about as large as my head; the knuckles looking like the knots on a tree trunk.
It's been almost 50 years since that day and clearly, I still remember it as if it was yesterday.
Royce
It was my 12th birthday..I was a boxing fan my entire life..from 6 or 7 years old. Went to Manhattan with my friend to buy a boxing book for my birthday on 42nd street and 8th or thereabouts. We headed up Broadway to stare at Jack Dempsey's place; because we were told he had a restaurant in the City.
Just too see that name over the sidewalk was enough for us.
Well, we get there, and sitting in the corner booth, front window...is..the Champ, Jack Dempsey himself. We were only twelve and couldn't believe our eyes.
We're on the sidewalk gawking, getting get up all our nerve, to go in and try to see if we can get an autograph. The maitre d' stops us at the door. We ask if we can "please" possibly get an autograph from
Mr. Dempsey. The maitre d' smiled, and give us each a printed postcard, signed well in advance for just these occasions. We are just thrilled with that signed card and the glimpse of the Champ and went to leave when we heard a deep voice behind us " Send those two kids over here.." The maitre d' gave us a big wink and brought us over to Jack Dempsey's window table!
I think all the air went out of us as we walked over to sit down with Jack Dempsey.
He asked me about the boxing book I had, "History of Boxing..something like that. He opened it to the chapter on himself and signed every single picture of him for me. He talked with us for quite some time. We knew his entire career by heart and he told us about this fight and that fight, etc.
He asked us if we wanted some ice cream, and had two huge Sunday's brought over to the table.
Finally, he had some people coming over to meet with him and we said goodbye thanked him and left.
I think we must have spent at least a half hour with Jack Dempsey.
I recall shaking his hand and thinking it was about as large as my head; the knuckles looking like the knots on a tree trunk.
It's been almost 50 years since that day and clearly, I still remember it as if it was yesterday.
Royce
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