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1-13 of 13
- Considered the originator of modern boxing, Corbett became world heavyweight champ in one of the biggest upsets ever when he embarrassed the 30 pound heavier legend John L. Sullivan (1892). The handsome San Francisco bank clerk immediately had a play written for him ("Gentleman Jack"), and crossed the U.S. performing it. "Gentleman Jim" was also outstanding at baseball, playing exhibitions as he toured, and he attempted to join the 1894 Baltimore Orioles, partly to supply a season-ending attendance boost. Corbett's brother Joe pitched for the Orioles. The attempt was blocked by other teams, including the New York Giants, who beat the Orioles in the 1894 version of the World Series. His long-time pal John Montgomery Ward, was then Giants manager/player. Ward (Baseball's Radical for All Seasons), a lawyer, was a pioneer of scientific baseball, and was the other preeminent gentleman athlete of the 19th CEntury.
Ward and Corbett both dated the gorgeous actress Maxine Elliott. Corbett dumped Elliott to a marry his long-time wife, while Ward's controversial relationship with Elliott broke up his (and her first) marriage.
Gentleman Jim was the only top white heavyweight of the era to fight a top Black fighter, when he dueled another scientific boxer, the great Australian, Peter "The Black Prince" Jackson to a 61 round draw in 1891. Corbett lost the heavyweight championship in 1897 to Bob Fitzsimmons. Though devastated by the 1898 murder/suicide of his parents, Corbett continued his successful acting career on Broadway, and in early movies. Like Ward, he was a union organizer, active in the White Rats, the first successful U.S. actors' union.
His colorful biography The Roar of the Crowd, was the basis for the fine Corbett biopic "Gentleman Jim," with Errol Flynn starring. - Actor
- Director
Max Figman, a veteran actor, whose last important Broadway role was that of Louis XV in "The Dubarry" on stage in 1932. Starting his career under Augustin Daly, and later under the management of Charles Frohman was a member of the old Madison Square Garden Stock Company. For seven years he was leading man and stage director with Mrs.Fiske, appearing in "Becky Sharp" "The Unwelcome Mrs. Hatch, and her entir Ibsen repertoire. It was during this time that he met Theodore Wharton who later featured him in the silent film serial The New Adventures of J. Rufus Wallingford with Burr McIntosh he played Blackie Daw and his wife Lolita Robertson also appeared in the serial. He has one son Max Jr. and his wife survive him. He was 85 years old when he died in the Edgewater Rest nursing home.- Charles Withers was born on 23 October 1888 in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. He was an actor, known for Hideaway (1937), Aladdin from Manhattan (1936) and The Oily Bird (1936). He was married to May Withers. He died on 10 July 1947 in Bayside, New York, USA.
- Writer
- Soundtrack
Edgar Smith was born on 9 December 1857 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. He was a writer, known for Old Dutch (1915), Sweet Rosie O'Grady (1943) and Song of the Roses (1929). He was married to Nanette B. Nixon, Estelle Bensel and Marietta Lydia Oliver. He died on 8 March 1938 in Bayside, New York, USA.- Producer
- Additional Crew
- Writer
Founder of the Stage Door Canteen and the Stage Relief Fund, songwriter ("Poor Butterfly"), composer, author, stage actor and producer, educated at New York University. He was an ASCAP charter member and director (1914-1915) and its first treasurer. He worked as a reporter before becoming a playwright, and produced the Broadway plays "Susan and God", "Turn to the Right", "Three Wise Fools", "Lightnin'", "The First Year", "Seventh Heaven", "Counselor-at-Law", "When Ladies Meet", "As Husbands Go", "Let Us Be Gay", "Claudia" and "Skylark", and he composed the Broadway stage scores for "The Candy Shop", "Over the River", "Hip, Hip, Hooray!", "The Big Show", "Cheer Up", and "Everything". His chief musical collaborator was Raymond Hubbell, and his other popular-song compositions include "Goodbye Girls, I'm Through", "Willie Off the Yacht", "I'm Growing Fond of You", "Your Heart Looked Into Mine", "I Can Dance With Everybody but My Wife", and "You Can't Play Every Instrument in the Band".- Art Department
Brian Pearson is known for The Nanny Diaries (2007), Lola Versus (2012) and Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000). Brian was married to Christine. Brian died on 26 December 2021 in Bayside, Queens, New York City, New York, USA.- Charles Wells was born in 1851. He was an actor, known for The Hazards of Helen (1914), Young Romance (1915) and From Two to Six (1918). He died on 14 October 1924 in Bayside, New York, USA.
- Mable Withee was born in 1900 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. She was an actress, known for Once to Every Man (1918). She was married to Larry Puck and Herman Leon Sarshik. She died on 3 November 1952 in Bayside, New York, USA.
- Elaine Grollman was born on 22 October 1928 in The Bronx, New York, USA. She was an actress, known for The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), In America (2002) and Untitled: A Love Story (2002). She died on 17 November 2005 in Bayside, New York, USA.
- Anthony Ancona was a producer, known for I'll Bury You Tomorrow (2002). He died on 22 January 2006 in Bayside, New York, USA.
- Vera Michelena was born on 16 June 1884 in New York City, New York, USA. She was an actress, known for Driftwood (1916) and The Devil's Playground (1918). She was married to Harry Spingler, Paul Schindler and Fred Hillebrand. She died on 26 August 1961 in Bayside, New York, USA.
- Camera and Electrical Department
Howard Fortune (aka Bud or Buddy) was born in Astoria, New York. After serving his country in the Army in World War II, he became a Motion Picture Studio Mechanic in Local 52 I.A.T.S.E. He married Margaret "Peggy" Fortune, and they bought a home and moved to Bayside, New York. They has three children, son Raymond "Ray", daughter Carol, and son James "Jay". Ray and Jay followed in their father's footsteps also doing electrician and gaffer work in Local 52. After retiring, Buddy took pride in spending time with his five grandchildren, Kelly, Kathy, Brian, Kerri, and Meghan.- Gertrude Coghlan was born on 1 February 1876 in Hertfordshire, England, UK. She was an actress, known for The Royal Box (1914), Her Ladyship (1914) and The Countess and the Burglar (1914). She was married to Augustus Pitou (theatrical producer). She died on 11 September 1952 in Bayside, New York, USA.