Los Angeles herald., 1908-07-27
ATHLETIC CLUB
BRANCH OPENED
LARGE CROWD OF MEMBERS IN
ATTENDANCE
VENICE ANNEX OF /. A. A. c. is
IN OPERATION
Elaborate Program, Of Boxing, Wres-
Ting, Fencing and Vaudeville Rem
dered for Entertainment Of
the Visitors


Everybody had a good time at the
opening of the annex of the Los An
geles tAhletic club at Venice Satur-
day night because of the generosity of
the actors of the evening, who gave
their time, enthusiasm and a sample
of their "best" toward the successful
entertainment. Special mention in this
regard must be made of Assistant Sec
rotary Billy Henderson, Physical In
struetor AL Treloar. Boxing Instructor
Dewitt C. Van Court and Professor
Uyttenhove, all of whom worked like
Trojans in preparing for the opening.
Many of the members Went to Venice
early in the afternoon, and after in
specting the new quarters sampled the
temperature of the water and pro-
nounced it good. The majority of the
boys, however, did not arrive at the
annex until o'clock. When Lou Guern-
sey stepped into the ring and called the
assembly to order every square inch
OF floor space in the gymnasium was
covered with feet encased in shoes,
ranging from the dainty size of SO,
worn by George Adair TO the mon
strous foot of Graham, size 101s.
Lou was scheduled to make the OPEN
ing speech and his heart beat to rag
time and ran race with his twitching
fingers which he was trying to hide
behind his back as he faced that rep
resentative audience, the pick of
everything worth while" in South
ern California amateur sports and ath-
letics. Lou afterward confided to a
friend that he had rehearsed his speech
before a mirror in his room for many
days. but he suddenly forgot every
thing he wa sabout to say. He started
off with the following apology:
Gentlemen, stood before a looking
glass in my room last night and re-
peated the speech that I had intended
to make to you tonight. thought at
the time that nobody knew it but God
and myself. But what that speech was
God alone knows. because l have for
gotten"
Boy Orator Pauses
The boy orator paused at this stage,
evidently expecting great ovation for
his wit. But not one of that intelligent
audience laughed, not one smiled, not
one applauded. They sat like ghosts at
funeral-martyrs all, with set feat
ures, bound to endure. This unexpected
situation nettied Lou. He mopped his
fevered brow and then plunged head
on into one of his famous political
speeches, but was forced to stop by
the howl which greeted his first sem
tence. Lou looked appealingly to Billy
Henderson, but Billy made no sign.
Lou thought 1t about time for him to
vamoose, so he cut the thing short
by thanking Abbot Kinney for the
assistance he had rendered the club Of
ficials in establishing the annex. He
thanked the members of the commit
tee, whoever they were, and then he
ended by expressing the sentiments of
the audience by thanking himself that
he was through. AS he stepped from
the ring the same stoical silence pre-
vailed in the audience and hardly a
glance was given Lou. Everything he
said might have been said at a prayer
meeting, and Lou believes that he was
made the victim of a trick too subtle
for sense, too deep for words.
After much persuasion Lou consented
to do the Announcing of events of the
evening, and sullenly announced a
wrestling bout of five minutes duration
between Clymer and Pensa. The bout
was interesting and neither boy got a
throw in the round Clymer holds the
Southern California wrestling cham
pionship in the ELECTROMAGNETIC
class. The next wrestling bout was be-
tween George Retzer, champion of
Southern California in the lightweight
class, and Woodruff There were no
downs in this bout, either. A. J. Far
rell, former light heavyweight cham
pfon wrestler of the Chicago Athletic
club and at present a member of the
Los Angeles Athletic club, wrestled
with Clemente. The bout was fast, but
neither boys scored a fall.
Prof. Uyttenhove gave foiling ex-
hibition, assisted by Al Beaudrey. Fol-
lowing this there was broadsword ex-
hibition between Dietrich and Levy.
Dietrich was given the decision after a
fast three minute bout.
Leo Carrie of the Orpheum circuit
entertained the audience with a five
minute monologue. followed by a Sc
lection by the Kendall male quartet,
which was applauded to the echo by
the big crowd. Phil Stebbins then en-
tertained the boys with clever Mono
logue.
Van Court Dons Mltts
Boxing Instructor Van Court boxed
three fast rounds with Sam Coulter.
He had Sam going fast and would have
had Sans seconds throwing in the
sponge had il not been for George
Adair, who was timekeeper of the even
ing and who called time just as Van
was aDOut 10 place a neat uppercut.
Van landed the uppercut, however, on
the point Of Georges aristocratic
chin. The bout was one of the best of
the evening and was fully appreciated
by the boys.
Louis Pulaski and Clymer then boxed
three two-minute rounds, after which
Phil Stebbins put the audience in an
uproar with an original piano sketch
entitled vans Trip to New York.
A real live boxing bout followed be-
tween John Hugo, the amateur 1876
pound champion of Southern Califor
mia, and Garlic Boscha. The bout TASTED
four rounds and the decision was
awarded Boscha, mainly upon points.
The boys fought at catchweights and
Hugo allowed his opponent several
mounds advantage. Jim Morley and
Dick Dunnigan were the judges and
George Adair was timekeeper.
The most laughable AFFAIR of the
evening was the stunt of Ben Bogner
who entered the lifting contest against
All Treloar The last time the boys saw
Ben on the gym floor Of the club he
was as skinny as could be. But when
he appeared last night his legs, back
and armbs showed the most wonderful
deveIopment that man ever had ex-
nerfenced. Ben's muscles were Won
derfully developed. and II he was re-
o11ired to do a stunt which required
the use of muscles In the front OF the
leg Ben obiigingly would move the big
muscles of the calf of the leg to the
front. The muscles Of his arms and