This photograph from the National Library of Australia really took me back. It shows Jimmy Sharman's boxing troupe at a country show in 1959.
The drum (centre) would start beating to draw the crowd. Those like my brother and I would be attracted by the noise, and come drifting across the rutted dusty ground towards the stand. There we would stand, while the spruker expounded the virtues of the fighters.
"Come on, come on, come on. Give it a go. Survive three rounds and we will give you five pounds."
Each fighter would be brought forward and introduced to the crowd. "Surely some of you blokes can beat him. Three rounds, five pounds." The locals would hold up their hands and be called into the stand to be fitted out.
Inside we got near the ring, sat and waited on the hard seats while the dust motes drifted in the sunlight streaming down onto the ring. The fighters were brought out and introduced, the troupe fighter and then the local challenger. The bell sounded, and the fight began.
In today's terms it would all seem quite brutal, although we did not see it that way. It was just sport. It was only when fights were completely unbalanced that it became cruel.
Generally the locals were outclassed and it was over quite quickly. The local retired bearing his scars to the beer tent, there to stand in glory with his friends for giving it a go. However, there was one fight I remember that did not go according to plan.
The troupe boxer was a young, good looking, blonde bloke. He ran up against a very tough local who cut him to pieces. By mid way through the second round the troupe boxer's face was bruised and cut, his lips smashed. He kept going, but the crowd started to call for an end to the fight. It was no longer sport.
I actually saw a fair bit of boxing. Yes, I am aware of the health risks, but I am glad that I did see Jimmy Sharman's touring stadium before new regulations forced an end to the shows.
28 comments:
That is a very nice word-picture to go with the picture, Jim. There is a short wikipedia article on Jimmy Sharman Sr and Jr. It has a few links but I haven't checked to see how good they are. I wonder if anyone has written a history of the Sharman boxing tent - it would be fascinating to know some of the stories - for example of the blond guy in the troupe whom you mention.
For me, old pictures is interesting because rarely. Also to your family picture which it shows the three generations of the New Zealand Belshaws.
It's a great story anon, part of Australia's history. The Sharman troupe is mentioned in all sorts of books, but I have not been able to find a single story.
From the bits I have read, I actually think that it would make a great movie.
Tikno, the older photos are so good because there are so few of them. My daughters face book pages have hundreds! How to select?
It would be interesting to see old photos of Indonesia/Dutch East Indies with comments.
One of my friends was going out with a Vietnamese girl who had saved their family album with a few shots back to Siagon of the 19th century. Fascinating stuff.
There are many in the library but I still thinking about copyright issues. I have asked to some journalist friends to request historical images from their databases, but no reply until now.
Indeed this is a good idea to post about historical moments. If possible, I will post it.
Copyright is always a worry, isn't it?I look foward to your posts, Tikno. I may be able to find some photos in Australia.
Hi am looking for photos of sharmans troup in the late 40's and early 50's as my dad fought for him he fought under the name curly ryan before sparing for dave sands until daves unfortunate death.
Hi kellso100. I did a web search to see what I could find, but found very little. I found just one reference to a fight by Curly Ryan at Newcastle in 1951 - http://boxrec.com/date_search.php?yyyy=1951&mm=06&dd=23.
I have run a request for information on three of my blogs to try to get coverage. I am not sure that we will get anything - this is very much a hit and miss affair.
Thanks Jim,
your help is greatly appreciated, to find anything out is great as I am trying to build or document his life story and this is only a chapter in a great mans life.
reguards,
Jason Kells
Hi Jason. That was a fast response. Why don't you tell us a little more about your Dad's life? I suspect that there is a real story here.
Hi Jason
In case you don't see it, pelleythepoet did a search on Dave Sands on Picture Australia and found some photos of Dave Sands sparring in Newcastle. Is this your Dad?
The link is http://www.pictureaustralia.org/apps/pictureaustralia?term1=%22Dave+Sands%22&Submit=search&action=PASearch&attribute1=any+field&mode=search
Thanks Jim,
some of the images may be him, but I can't be sure. as for his the stot of his life I will post it for you in a few week as I have just have had new baby arrive this week so I don't have alot of spare time at the second but yes there are some interesting chapters in it.
anyway thank you for your help in the search for information.
jason
Congratulations on the baby, Jason. If it's your first, life will never be the same again!
do you know if the stadium travelled to Gunnedha nsw?
My father Arthur Danes challenged and won many of these fights much to the displeasure of the sharman boxers. They would stand out the front of our house and yell at him to come out and have a rematch.
My father Arthur Danes won many a bout against the Sharman boxers and was well known at the local watering holes as well. He was a genuine true blue.
That was mostly in Longreach Qld, I forgot to mention.
Hi Sara and sorry for the very long delay in replying. I missed your comment. I would be very surprised if S. didn't visit Gunnedah,
Hi sunshine 36. I do seem to remember that the troup wasn't all that keen on losing!
How interesting about your Dad.I looked him up, so he did have some fights in Brisbane as well.
hi
just hoping if anyone has heard of a tent boxer named TOBY KING..Last known box was at Redcliffe QLD. This is my grandfather's brother and would like info and any pics that can be found for family history.
Sandy
Hi
Just hoping if anyone has heard of a tent boxer named JIM KENNA. Jim was born in Wee Waa, NSW 1910 and wound up as a camp cook at Auvergne Station in the Northern Territory, he died in katherine in1994. Does anyone have any idea when and where he joined the Troupe and how long he stayed with them?
Hello to everyone. My father was a boxer for the Jimmy Sharman troupe, I don't know anything about his boxing as he passed away when I was 12 (1965). He went under the name of Tom Perry (Tommy Folwell). If anyone has any information I would appreciate it. Also, I went to a country town of NSW and through a museum which had a section on Jimmy Sharman, model in clothes, some photos, etc.
Thankyou in advance if any info available. R.L.
Hi RL and good luck. Where exactly was the museum?
hi to all,this was the good old and happy days,my dad leslie bronco burns was apart of this as a boxer and helping with getting boxers together,for uncle jimmy and uncle roy bell, bronco had 8 children who loved being apart of the show screen.it is such amazing world what they do,but the sight of watching some-one fighting was not allowed to be watched by kids,and we as kids tried to get in under the side tent always got a good boot in the but and sent on our way.
How fascinating anon. I do like the way this comment thread continues.
In their late teens my father Jim Milson and his cousin Tom Parrott were regulars. Eventually they had a financial arrangement with Sharman to be in the audience to step forward if no locals were available. They were good and won many bouts so the Sharman fighters always hoped the locals would be forthcoming instead. I did know that Jim and Tom had success with minor title fights but I dont have records of these. Thirty years later my father travelled with regional shows selling popcorn so at 5-7 I was well known to Sharman and was allowed to sneak in to the tent even as a little girl. I knew the ropes and kept out of sight. My dad never revealed he had been a fighter and I never let on I stole into Sharman's tent at every show. It is only this week staying with my 75yo cousin (son of Tom) that I found out about the Sharman story. I knew Dad had boxed successfully but not the Sharman connection - strange! Dorothy Milson dm11@live.com.au if anyone knows more?
What a fascinating story, Dorothy. I wonder if anybody else will be able to add. These comments are actually becoming quite a resource!
i am 70 years old now and am still trying to locate my father. he was a boxer and in summer 1942 he met my mother marjie and she got pregnant with me. i only found this info after she passed - she left a note to tell me that my dad was a blackfella who was boxing at mordialloc carnival at that time - i have been searching everywhere to no avail - i believe his name was jimmy. please help me - my grandchildren need to know their heritage - regards judi godwin
Judi, I am going to do a new post bringing together all the comments that I have received on this and other posts linked in some way to the Sharmans. Maybe that will attract further information.
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