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Remembering the Smokers
Larry Bernet ('63) - I was a student in St.Pascal grammar school and graduated in 1963. I made some great friends there and will never ever forget my growing years.
One night a year that St.Pascal's would have "A Smoker" in the grammar school auditorium. They used to invite the New York Yankees and other celebrities to come for this fabulous night. I remember, I think it was 58 or 59, that I was standing there in the isle trying to get autographs. Mel Allen was the the "MC". He spotted me wearing tan shoes and pink shoe laces. He invited me up to the stage and pulled me up (I was about 8 then) off the lower floor and had me meet the entire Yankee
team. On that day I met Ralph Houke, Johnny Blanchard, Bobby Richardson, Tony Kubeck, Moose Skowran...... I can't remember what other Yankees,........ But I also met The Champ - Floyd Paterson. What a thrill!!
Those were the days!
Paul Janicke (1/54) - My recollection is that the Smoker was part of a larger event called the bazaar. The bazaar involved spinning wheels to win prizes, etc., and the nuns took us to it in the afternoons in order to relieve our families of some cash. We saw the boxing ring, but we weren't allowed to go to the evening bazaar or Smoker sessions until after graduation. I remember going within the first or second year out.
The ushers' society seems to have had a large share of the responsibility for organizing the bazaar. This led to serious envy problems because Ed Fletcher's dad was a biggie in the ushers' society, and he was host for Peewee Reese and Jackie Robinson. As host he had to go and collect the ball players in his car, and Ed went with him. He actually was said to have sat in the back seat between Reese and Robinson. George Kromer and I debated the likely truthfulness of this report for many days. Initially we were sure it was a false rumor, because nothing that wonderful had ever happened to anyone we knew. But our parents were all of the view that the story could possibly be true. We were confounded! (Our fathers were both protestant and hence not likely to become biggies in the ushers' society.)
Charlie Thomas (1/54) - The St. Pascal "Smoker" was a big event. Mel Allen (voice of the Yankees), ballplayers, boxers came to shake hands. There were boxing matches - and lots of smoke. I thought the best deal was getting out of the smoke to the street where the Bungalow Bar and Good Humor trucks were parked. I wish I had some vivid memories, but a toasted almond Good Humor bar is as good as it gets.
Robert Obach (1/54) - I must have been in the first grade (1946) when I first saw the boxing ring set up in the cafeteria. We were not to touch the ring. It was so huge, and the canvas floor was up above my eye level. The boxing ring made its appearance every spring. When I was older I wanted to go to the "Smoker." My parents told me that it was not for kids,
"only adults." I longed to attend, but each year the answer was the
same - "Robert, smokers are for adults. I received reports from some school mates that did get to go. It sounded quite exciting because there was "real boxing." Back then I used to build model airplanes while listening to the fights on the Gillette blue blade cavalcade of sports on Friday nights. Boxing seemed to be a lot more respectable in the early 50s. Lawrence Riley, a neighborhood friend living near the intersection of Brinkerhoff Ave. and Fonda Avenue, followed the championship boxing matches and got me excited about them. His favorite was always going to smash who ever was opposing him. Jersey Joe Walcott was one of the guys going to get smashed, but I forget by whom. Maybe Rocky Marciano. That's all I can say about Smokers --not bad for someone who never attended one. Frank
Fitzgerald (1/54) - I remember going at night... perhaps it was after I
graduated, but it could have been while I was still in grade school. Very
(very) noisy and smoky. The boxing ring was a marvel to be near - and
strange to see plunked down in the cafeteria. Catholicism and pugilism =
weird. Some old guy ("Soldier" something or other) boxed three
"exhibition" rounds each year. I am sure prayers were said so he
didn't get hurt. I remember seeing Floyd Patterson in the ring, but doubt
he boxed. The bazaar portion of the event was situated under the
auditorium. Always a "basket of cheer" being raffled off... and
a "grab bag" for those of us who only had pennies. |
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