I'm don't know much about boxing, but boxing champ Carmen Basilio lives in
Rochester (actually, I think it's Irondequoit). I'm not sure how old he is,
but he's up there and may have some recollections of Schmeling. Basilio is
from Canastota, home of the Boxing Hall of Fame, so if you can't find him
listed in the phone book, the Hall of Fame can probably help track him down.
He might at least be able to refer you to someone else.
Christine L. Ridarsky
Regional Archivist
Documentary Heritage Program
Rochester Regional Library Council
(585) 223-7570
----- Original Message -----
From: "Edward Knoblauch" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2003 10:35 AM
Subject: Max Schmeling documentary
> Dear NYHIST-L members,
>
> I received the query found below and other than referring him to the
Boxing
> Hall of Fame I'm at a loss. Can anyone else help him find people to
> interview?
>
> The documentary film-maker did a quite good short film on Grand Central
> Terminal a couple of years ago ( _Endstation Manhattan_ was the German
title
> of that film).
>
> Edward Knoblauch, Webmaster
> New York History Net
> http://www.nyhistory.com
>
>
> "Iīm a German documentary-filmmaker, currently doing research on a film
> about a boxer, the former German World-Heavyweight-Champion Max
> Schmeling, who fought most of his important fights (Joe Louis, Jack
> Sharkey) in the New York in the old Madison Square Garden. The film will
> be 45 minutes long and broadcasted by public television late this year.
>
> Mr. Schmeling is now close to 98 years old but still in quite good
> health. As his international career took place in the 1930s, it is
> very hard to find any "first-hand witness" to the events that marked his
> life, persons who could be interviewed. The stories around Scheming's
> most important bouts, among them the two fights against the "brown
> bomber" Joe Louis, were not merely sports-stories but such of high
> political importance. As the US-public perceived Schmeling (who
> definitely was not a Nazi and helped many people get out of the country
> in time) as the fighter who as "Hitlerīs darling" was meant to
> demonstrate "white supremacy", there was tremendous tension in the city
> when he came to New York for his second fight in 1938, demonstrations
> etc.. The first fight in 1936, in which Schmeling won by a surprise
> knock-out decision, had already caused violence in the streets of Harlem
> and the ghettos of other cities. There was - especially in the black
> community - a lot of emotion involved and when Louis won the second
> fight, people danced in the streets. My problem is, like I said, to find
> somebody, who actually was touched by these events, who could tell them
> first-hand.
>
> My question is: Would you know of any "old to very old" (85 and up)
> boxing-expert or just plain boxing-lover or just a normal New York or
> Harlem citizen, somebody old enough to remember the (socio-political)
> stories, the hype around the Louis-fights (or the Jack Sharkey-fights or
> other Schmeling-fights in the NYC)? Or would you have a good hint who or
> what organization I should turn to?
>
> I will go on a extensive US-trip (Chicago, San Francisco, Miami, New
> York) somewhere around end of April, beginning of May and it would be
> great if I would find 1 or 2 persons to interview in front of the
> camera.
>
> Please let me know if you can help. Thank you very much in advance."
>
> Michael Wulfes <[log in to unmask]>
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