Imperial Valley press., 1937-08-19
SPO RTS
PARADE

you mlgnC almost say the one
time heavyweight champion is go
ing from soup to nuts, because it is
the business of running a restaur-
ant-Jack Dempsey's, where 5Oth
crosses Eighth avenue-that has
him bob-bob- -bobbing on his heels
Deep in corner of his tavern
where the shadows made him indis-
to autograph seekers
Jack told me of the miseries that
have beset him since he became
the towns best known host two
years ago.
He's going crazy from shaking
hands, smiling, shaking hands, smil-
ing, and shaking hands some more
He's going crazy from writing
over and over again:
Good luck, Jack Dempsey"
ITO my old pal Joe Glutz, Jacl
Dempsey"
BEST wishes, Jack Dempsey"
He's going crazy from dOdg-
ing women who want to kiss him,
guys whn want to put the bite
on his bank-roll, and 14-carat
rus who want to sell him every
thing from oil wells to reversible
bow ties.
And-wOrst of all-he's going
crazy from gents who, inspired
by drink or two at the bar
walk up t. him and start throw
ing punches.
They're the worst-thoSe alcoho-
lie champions. Jack sighed. "Not
a day passes but one of them. us
ually to show off, grabs me by the
arm and, with so you think you're
tough, eh?' Punches me with right
or a left. I've never hit ont of 'em
yet, but I'm telling you never
wanted to hit that Willard at Tol-
edo as much as have wanted to lei
a few babies have a left hook on the
kisser. They yank me aroond, punch
me around, and then, when l don't
do anything, say:
I knew you never could fight
you big bum!'
'If I hit EN- I might kill 'em. II
1 don't they go away thinking they
re world champions.
Only a few days ago, Jack told
me, he was standing across the
street in front of Madison Square
Garden when bag fellow with a
beautiful Glove breath walked up
and punched his in the nose.
81 showed him off and started
across the street toward
the restaurant, because | didn't
want to hit him. He came right be-
hind me, straight on into the kit
chen. We played tag in there for
and pans and everything else. Fin
a few minutes, knocking over pots
ally I managed to get into my Of
flee and lock the door. When the
cops got there he was just pulling
out gun yard long and threat
ening to shoot the door down. Crazy
as loon. Told the cops he had
wanted to kill me ever since I cost
him dough by losing to Tunney.'
Jack shakes hands from noon
until midnight. His food is as good
as you'll find in New York, but
there's no denying that the thou
sands who patronize his place each
day are drawn by the lure of his
name.
II shake so many hands, and
smile SO much,' Jack said, chat
when finally get home a.. night
1 can't quit. I shake hands with
Hannah when she opens the. door,
and when she takes me i'm to
see the babies 1 nearly always
forget and reach over and shake
their hands. Hannah says 1 just
got to quit that becauGe their
hands are so little 1 bruise 'em
with my big hams. But / gsgl so i'm
such a habit of shaking hands
that shake everybodys-taxi
drivers, dOormens, walters. I'll be
shaking my own next thing 1
know"
Not day passes but some woman
,rieS to kiss Jack.
Il don't know what they'd want
% kiss my homely mug for" he
aid, but they do. Old women,
'oung women, fat women, skinny
sorts of women. And
iamn if they don't always pick out
| time when Hannah is around. She
gets pretty sore at them. They US
tally say they have made bet that
hey can kiss me, and when I re-
use they get mad and say I am
costing them money What the hells
fellow gonna doP"
l said l diunt know, but that if
he would shake my hand and give
ne an autograph I'd try to think up
| solution.
What! No kissP' Jack asked,
hn L..