The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-08
DEMPSEY LURED
BY STAGE OFFER
Kearns Experienced a Quick
Change Of Mind on SUBJ
ject Of the Drama.
BY CHARLES r. MATHIsoN.


One Of the amusing sidelights OF the
recent dispute at Toledo was the sudden
change of front of Jack Dempsey and
Jack Kearns OH the always interesting
subject OF elevating the drama. On the
day following tho battle of Maumee BAY
kearns held forth in a hotel lobby to Il
large crowd as follows:
well, let the next man who wants
some of Dempsey's game step forward.
They cannot come too fast for the cham J
pion and they can't como too big. Demp-
s.ey is in fighting mood now. and he will
take them on AZ fast as they come for
ward or as quickly as promoter will
offer purse Moran. Carpenter. Beck
cit or any Of these soldier heavyweights
will suit Dempsey and believe me, he
will make short work OF them.
II think Dempsey will make more
money fighting in the ring than in exhi-
bitiOn work. and / want him to conunn~
to fight and keep in condition. Jack
doesn't aspire to be an actor or a oirous
man, and now that he has the title he
will see to il that there is some action IN
the heavyweight dvision. II was shame
full the way sullivan. Corbett. Fitz and !
Willard deserted the ring for the stage.
and Dempsey intends TO set n different
example for future champions. We
SHALL
"Mistah Kunns." droned q hotel page. !,
and telegram was placed in KearnTs
hands.
A Change OF Front.
Az the manager OF the new champion
read tho message soft smile broke
over his face, and he said alphabetically: /,
well. what do YOU think OF this7 ,
Sock & Buskin, the noted theatrical man.
ayers, offor Dempsey $4,000 a week to
appear in n sketch entitled, Tho Broken
Phlz; or, Back to Kansas"
'Will YOU accept III" was the excited
query Of his auditors.
You heard what I said about the
stage. didn't you?" asked Kearns with an
injured look as he hurriedly started FOR
the telegraph Office.
And the next morning came the news
that Kearns had signed with Sock 4
Buskin and that Dempsey would attempt
to restore the drama to the proud posi-
ton IL occupied in the days of Booth.
Barrett, Salvini and others of equal note,
In view Of the fact that willard's
promising career as n movie actor was
cut so short through the efforts Of Demp-t
sey. it Is held by friends of the new
champion that ne should make amends
by attempting 20 fill the gap created by:
the exit OF the kansan.
1t is limited that play is being writ
ten in which Dempsey IL to take the
leading role. The title will be Hiding
on the Rods; or, Queensberry Noble
man." !
Ii will be interesting to study the his
trionic efforts OF the new champion. He
lacks the deep bass voice OF John L. Sui
Ivan, which thrilled those who raw the
former champion in Honest Hearts and
willing Hands," and Il IL doubtful if no.
can sing tenor solo with the emotional
emphasis that marked the work OF Fitz
in THE Honest Blacksmith" =
1t is questionable II Jack could por- ,
tray Tom In Uncle Toms Cabin" with
| the forceful work shown by Peter jack
! son. and the new title holder Is OUT
clarsed by Jim Corbctt in society drama ,
Dempsey may possess latent dramatic
talent. however and may create furore
on the stage.
About Those Five Knockdowns. Z
The assertion has been made that the
camera which was trained on the first
! round of tho Willard-Dempsey encounter
counted but five knockdowns. This I'm
pels the writer to the opinion that the
camera was mathematically defective =
When Dempsey first toppled the big
kahsan TO the canvas the writer set a
figure down on his writing pad. After
each succeeding knockdown the number
| and the count were Jotted down and the
total OF the tumbles Of big Jess wa =
seven. The camera must have turned
/ its head during two OF the knookdownA
The good big man will always beat a
good little man" twaddle died a slow but
painless death at Toledo. Nearly all the
enthusiasts who echoed that fallacious
! phrase held that Willard was a good
| big man." but they were uncertain az TO
how good a little man Dempsey was
The deadly rabbit killer punch that
II was feared Willard might use on
Dempsey with fatal effect never was OK
hibited once during the three rounds In
fact Dempsey. who was supposed to BE-
a Qusensberry goat. In that he was OK
pected to rush into Wilard's punches
with furious disregard of consequences.
never put his neck in position for the
l,illoY