Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1915-05-11
Willard TO JOIN
Wild west SHOW
less is Tired of Parading on
Stage as Heavyweight
Champion
TOUR PROVES A
FINANCIAL FAILURE


ring from the dramatic profession
and to insist that pugilists fight for
applause. and dollars in the future
and let the actors do the holding OF
the mirror up to nature. This IS
made evident by the fearful announce
ment from Minneapolis that Jess VIII
lard. the heavyweight champion OF
the universe had decided to quit the
footlights and devote his talents to
something more robust. Here Is the
brief but significant announcement
from the chilly West:
Jess Willard said that he had aban-
doned his tour as heavyweight cham
pion and that he would join Wild
West show making his first appear
ance in Chicago, on May %. Willard
said that thus far his tour had been
a financial failure"
Here Is a man who won the heavy
weight title in one Of the most sem
sational battles on record and who is
a fine specimen of physical develop
mcnt and withal not at all deficient
mentally. In addition Willard is a
reputable. well behaved citizen and a
model family man.
Yet the great American public looks
upon him with listless eye and re-
fuses to make a mad rush to the box
Office. purchase tickets and gaze in
awe-struck wonder at his dramatic
portrayals.
In desperation the champion has
made up his mind to join a Wild
West show and rescue the Deadwood
stage from the red varmints. Il cam
not be denied that this is the most
humiliating experience that a heavy
weight champion has ever been sub
5ected to and Willard is justified In
feeling peeved.
Different With Sullivan.
The attitude of the public toward
Willard is in sharp contrast to the
manner in which his predecessors
were treated. From the champion
ship TO dramatic glory and homage
pass the natural transition of a win
ner of the title, and the public really
seemed to prefer TO see the champion
on the stage than inside the roped
square. Take the case of John Law
renee Sullivan. the famous Thespian
who won the heavyweight title from a
thrd-rator named Paddy Ryan.
The loser never even carried a
spear in a burlesque show. AS soon as
lawn had put over the sleep wallop
on Ryan. the Boston strong boy took
E-n the footlights like duck TO water,
,.5nd never has deserted them for any
length of time since. He is still de-
. tighting large audiences with his his
4 trionic ability.
Whenever John L. was asked 10 mix
il with rough persons OF uncouth
manners. he always sprung the alihi
of important theatrical engagements.
1t is questionable II Sullivan ever
would have met Corbett in the ring
fhad not the Bostonian been a bit jeal-
s, Gus Of Corbett's growing popularity
z as an actor.
After Corbett had proved 20 Sulli-
van that the latter as a fighter was
a good actor. the new champion pro-
cecded to devote all his time and tall
ents to elevating the stage. and the
people followed him about with idol
atrous persistency.
II appears that there we're consid-
cradle basis for the comment of the
late Edwin Booth when he heard that
Corbett had beaten Sullivan:
THANK heavens, the championship
remains in the profession"
However that may be. Corbett Ger.
tainly remained in the profession and
is there today.
Fiiz Treads the Boards.
Next came a red-thatched, freckle
faced Cornishman. who with a bruta
swipe in Corbett's mince-pie depart
ment took his puglistic honors away
from him. At once entered Fitz OF
glorious stage career. with the
"Honest Blacksmith" as the vehicle.
Corbett's conqueror still graces thu
49,
\ Jeffries. Burns and Johnson, the sue
cessors to the title. poor actors all
have passed into theatrical Oblivion
At that Johnson was an object o
interest to the public from the show
mans point of view and coined money
But Willard. the man who brough
back the title to the white race. whit
Is a fairly good actor judged by hi
screen work. and who is a desirabl
citizen. is checked by a wet blanke
of public GOODNESS right at the out
set OF a stage careeri
This remarkable state of affairs cal
only be explained by the fact OF
change in public view as TO the boXe
on the stage.
Under the circumstances there
but one thing for the champion {
do. and that is to get off the stag
and get into the ring. He can max
more money by boxing and he will b
more popular with the public. Il
beneath a heavyweight champion
train with a Wild West show an
Jess should ride away.
Jess cannot hope TO have his nam
linked with those of Booth. McCu
ioug,. Salvini. Sullivan. Corbett an
Fifz in the annals of stagedom an
Be may as well gracefully withdra
- from the unpleasant glare of the foo
lights.
Coffey's Prospects.
Jim Coffey is rapidly reaching q
point where he may be called on
face Jess Willard in the ring and S,
whether he can bring. the title bas
10 Ireland. There has not been :
Irish champion OF America sim
Corbett's time. Fitz being a Wells
man, Burns a French Canadian, job
son Afro-American and Willard n
tive American by descent for son
generations.
Coffey al present would have h
troubles in bout with Willar
though the Roscommon man mig
win on points in a ten or TWEEN
IrfI1 In.