Boxing’s Golden Age
Boxing’s Golden Age
A photo exhibit illustrating the essence of sports during the first third
of the American century — featuring forty photos from the Harry E. Winkler
Photographic Collection.
Lou Nova
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About the Collection
The Harry E. Winkler Photographic Collection includes more than 7,500 different boxing related images in various formats. Winkler was a longtime Los Angeles area fight figure and California correspondent for Ring magazine from 1939 to 1953. He is best remembered, however, for his extensive collection of boxing photographs, many of which were acquired by the University Libraries of Notre Dame in 1977.
Highlights of the collection include close to 4,000 4 x 5 inch glass negatives, mostly taken in California in the 1920′s and 30′s. These are typically posed portraits, of individuals or groups — virtually no fight scenes are included. Among the boxers represented in the collection are Sgt. Sammy Baker, Newsboy Brown, Tony Canzoneri, Bert Colima, Jack Dempsey, Joe Dundee, Tommy O’Brien, Baby Sal Sorio, and Mickey Walker.
The Winkler Collection also includes close to 1,000 4 x 5 inch and 8 x 10 inch film base portrait negatives. Most of these date from the 1940′s and 50′s, while some are second-generation negatives of late nineteenth and early twentieth century prints.
For the most part, the portraits in the Winkler Collection are of boxers who fought professionally in the United States c. 1920-1960, with a very decided emphasis on fighters with a California connection. Also in the collection are over 1,000 4 x 5 inch film base negatives (with contact prints) showing fight action — most of the bouts involved were held in the San Francisco Bay area in the late 1940′s. #
A database to Winkler Collection portraits is currently in preparation. For more information, visit the collection at the University Libraries of Notre Dame.
Many thanks to the University Libraries of Notre Dame for their cooperation
in the publication of this exhibit.
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Photograph captions include fighters name (and nickname), his hometown, the division
he fought in, his career span, and his record. No photo
credits are available.
Boxer statistics and biographies provided by BoxRec.com
“[Native Son author] Richard Wright paid tribute to his hero, Joe Louis, with the lyrics of a blues song, ‘King Joe.’ Count Basie wrote the music, and Paul Robeson, for the first time in his life, sang the blues. Wright was proud of their collaboration. Recorded by John Hammond on the Okeh label, ‘King Joe’ was for sale in mid-November (1941), released on two sides of a ten-inch 78 RPM record. The New York Times critic thought it ‘mighty good’ jazz. The New Masses declared it ‘swell to dance to.’ By mid-January, forty thousand records had been sold.” - Hazel Rowley, from Richard Wright, The Life and Times.
Listen to Count Basie’s orchestra play King Joe, with vocalist Paul Robeson
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“Do you recognize me?” the old opponent asked. Willie looked hard and
considered before finally replying “Lie down so I can recognize you.”
- Willie Pep, talking to an old opponent years after each retired
Pedro Amador (left) and Santiago Zorilla
Pedro Amador Colon, Panama _____ Lightweight, 1926 – 1929 Won 21 (4 ko’s) – Lost 14 – 6 draws
*
Santiago Zorilla Culver City, California _____ Featherweight, 1925 – 1933 Won 45 (6 ko’s) – Lost 32 – 8 draws |
Lou Ambers Herkimer, NY * “Herkimer Hurricane” _____ Lightweight, 1932 – 1941 Won 94 (31 ko’s) – Lost 8 – 7 draws |
Henry Armstrong Columbus, Mississippi * “Homicide Hank” _____ Welterweight, 1931 – 1945 Won 151 (100 ko’s) – Lost 21 – 10 draws |
Max Baer Livermore, California * “Livermore Larupper” _____ Heavyweight, 1921 – 1941 Won 71 (53 ko’s) – Lost 13 |
Billy Barnes Salt Lake City, Utah _____ Welterweight, 1935 -1938 Won 9 (4 ko’s) – Lost 7 – 2 draws |
Hank Bath Fort Morgan, Colorado _____ Heavyweight, 1935 – 1941 Won 6 (5 ko’s) – Lost 6
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Panama Al Brown * “The Elongated Panamanian” _____ 1922 – 1942 Won139 (66 ko’s) – Lost 19 – 16 draws |
Tony Canzoneri New York, New York _____ Featherweight, lightweight, 1925 – 1939 Won 137 (44 ko’s) – Lost 24 – 10 draws |
Primo Carnera Sequals, Italy * “The Ambling Alp” _____ Heavyweight, 1928 – 1961 Won 87 (69 ko’s) – Lost 14 – 1 no decision |
Jack Dempsey Manassa, Colorado _____ Heavyweight, 1914 – 1928 Won 64 (53 ko’s) – Lost 6 – 9 draws, 5 no decisions |
A photo exhibit illustrating the essence of sports during the first third of the American century — featuring forty photos from the Harry E. Winkler Photographic Collection.
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“I ain’t never heard of him. I suppose he’s one of them foreign heavyweights. They’re all lousy. Sure as hell I’ll moider de bum.”
- Boxer Tony Galento, when asked about Shakespeare
Johnny Farr Cleveland, Ohio _____ Featherweight, 1922 – 1934 Won 42 (3 ko’s) – Lost 51 – 11 draws |
Baby Joe Gans Edmonton, Alberta _____ Welterweight, 1922 – 1939 Won 108 (43 ko’s) – Lost 27 – 10 draws |
Rocky Graziano New York, New York _____ Middleweight, 1942 – 1952 Won 67 (52 ko’s) – Lost 10 – 6 draws |
Jack Holtz |
Johnny Lamar San Francisco, California _____ Lightweight, 1922 – 1938 Won 90 (12 ko’s) – Lost 34 – 24 draws |
Gus Lesnevich Cliffside Park, New Jersey _____ Light Heavyweight, 1934 – 1949 Won 60 (23 ko’s) – Lost 14 – 5 draws |
Joe Louis Detroit, Michigan _____ Heavyweight, 1934 – 1951 Won 69 (55 ko’s) – Lost 3 |
Archie Moore (with announcer Speed Reilly) Benoit, Mississippi * “Old Mongoose” _____ Light Heavyweight, 1935 – 1963 Won 185 (131 ko’s) – Lost 24 -11 draws |
Moon Mullins (with Whitey Eckvert) Chicago, Illinois _____ Featherweight, 1933 – 1938 Won 18 (2 ko’s) – Lost 9 – 4 draws |
Lou Nova Oakland, California _____ Heavyweight, 1936 – 1945 Won 50 (30 ko’s) – Lost 9 – 4 draws |
