Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-10-04

DEATH KNELL OF OLD BROADWAY
TO SOUND TONIGHT WITH FINISH
OF Observation-Disclosures CONTEST
Famous South Philadelphia Arena Will Give Way
to Construction of Government Building
After Muggs Taylors Final Show
BY LOUIS H. JAFFE

vITHEN the gong clangs ending the bout
w between Jack Blackburn and Hen Hau-
her at the Broadway Club tonight It will
,ound the death knell Of the historic arena
,t Fifteenth street and Washington avenue,
one Of the oldest boxing clubs in America.
For twenty-one years the Broadway has
heen famous for its real, honest to goodness
on-the-level fights never was there howl
raised about a frame-up or fake. And,
whiio a majority of the bouts were between
beginners. they we're of the red-hot, give
and-take variety.
II grieves herman ("NIuggsy') Taylor
owner. promoter, treasurer. secretary and
matchmaker, TO separate himself from the
old place Yet he Is consolng himself with
the fact that the club is being taken over
nv the Government ito be used for pur-
nose much better than for mere pleasure"
using the young promoters own words. The
United states will tear down the dilapl-
dated structure preparatory to building a
garage.
IT'S a pity that l had to quit the old
nal" said Muggs today, "and l know that
a lot OF the fans feel the same way l know
at least 100 persons who have attended the
shows at the Broadway for years and
haven't been anywhere near another club.
They were educated to the Broadway bouts
and couldn't be coaxed to go to another
club"
Real Bouts Put On
The ancient arena has been famous for
its real" fights None of the worlds cham
mons appeared in combat there, although
Jack Johnson. when heavyweight cham.
pion, and Benny Leonard appeared in the
roles of referees. A majority of the. con-
testants were beginners, and they usually
came through with the stuff that curdled the
blood Of every enc present
1t was the elementary school of lot of
boxers that later developed into head-liners.
Jack johnson, several years before he cata-
pulled Tommy Burns into the rosin at Aus
tralia, thereby annexing the heavyweight
title, was overjoyed to box for the price of
coffee and -. Fred Welsh recently de-
throned lightweight champion, received his
first lessons OF fsticuffs in the well-known
Broadwsr ring.
O'Brien Boxed There
Scores of other boxers now retired and
some still in the limelight, either began
their careers at the Broadway or took part
In their early bouts there. Philadelphia
Jack OBrien, even after he had returned
from a successful European tour, donned
the gloves at the old club. Mickey Cannon.
at one time the king knocSerout lightweight
came to Philadelphia on freight and
fought his first ring battle before Broad
way audience.
Bob Fitzsimmons showed his wares there
as did Young Erne, INK Russell, Sailor
Burke, Frank Klaus, the original Sammy
Smith and the two negro stars, Joe Jean.
ette and Joe walcott. And there were many
other boxers who became top notchers
thanks to previous experience in the ring al
the club that is forced into the discard to.
night.
Opened in 1896
Way back in 1895 Lewis D. Bailey
known in sporting circles as Diamond
Lew" form lilly organized the Broadway
Until tonight. after Bailey had turned over
the arena In Taylors favor. the club staged
regular bouts. In the meantime other clubs
sprouted, fiicllered for a while and then
went out. At the same time the Broadway
went along smoothly, playing before