The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-11-29
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Much has been written about Will
lam A. Brady as manager Of pugi-
lists. but little attention has been paid
to his ability as theatrical manager.
says the Washington Post. AS
manager of Champion Jim Jeftries
and other big fighters Of note his
name has found It's way into print
more times than those of many great
statesmen. Strange as it may seem,
Brady was roasted on one hand and
praised for his sagacity ON the other,
like the humorist who wishes to be
taken seriously. like the poet who
longs to become writer of prose.
now hopes to be known as q great
theatrical manager. and not as pro-
moter Of pugilism and discoverer OF
championship material.
Brady got his start in life as call
boy in San Francisco theater. Since
that time he has passed through the
stages Of actor. manager, promoter
and owner from poor lad to man
of wealth, showed the ability and en-
ergy which have forced him, not only
to the front in things pugilistic. but
also theatrical. Fame came to this
man. not as he would have it come.
It came through the clever handling
Of James ]. Corbett. and later through
his bringing to the fore big Jim JEFF
fries, who thus far has lowered the
hopes and ambitions Of Corbett, Fitz-
simmons and many other bruisers.
Wien Brady first plunged into the
fighting game John L. Sullivan was,
though on the wane, the only star in
the heavyweight division. Brady
was an actor in after Dark" He
liked the fighting game. but stage
business kept him from ever seeing
a battle. He engaged Corbett In his
company. and the first fight he ever
witnessed was as a second behind
Corbett the day the Pompadour beat
the man from Boston. Brady was
then struggling to reach the top
round In the ladder of theatrical man
agement. When the shocking news
was flashed over the country that the
mighty and supposedly unconquerable
Sullivan had been chopped to stand
still BY an ashen-hued bank clerk,
from California. Brady's name In pu-
gilism became one to conjurs with.
People who had never seen the young
ster, for even today he is only SO
years Of age. pictured him as man
with villainous face. pug-nosed and
low-browed. He is none Of these. On
the contrary. he is a mass of endless
human energy. whirlwind OF RAPID
motions-every ono counting-a man
who is master Of every detail, large or
small. of everything he undertakes.
It was Brady who. seeing that his
big fighting machine had Fitz whipped
in the sixth round. held him of until
the eleventh canto, then dropping his
thumbs down, sent the big boilermak-
er after Ruby Robert-and the refer
ee's counting began. The manage
ment Of Jeffries was the second entry
into the lighting game that Brady had
made. When he broke with Corbett
Y was because he had intentions Of
4dittlng the fghting business At that
time, even though he had cleared over
$4,000 as Corbett's manager, his
wagon was still hitched to the star
Of theatrical management, and he
knew so long as he had to do with
fighters the public would know him
as handler of bruisers, and not as
theatrical manager. He tried to get
Corbett to do his own boosting, and
when the ex-champion refused to do
SO, the break came. This, however,
did not wipe out his reputation as
manager Of successful prize fighters.
Another year and half will see
Brady out of the fighting business for
good. He gave the writer his word
for this. One more big battle-and
after that-well, Jim Jeffries Will
have to look for another manager If
he wishes to stay in the slat-break-
ing game. Brady is tired. His heart
and soul are wrapped up on the stage.
He wants his youthful dream of some
day and at some place being heralded
as one Of Americas leading theatrical
managers.
A NEWSPAPER GOLF TROPHY.
1vH A.