Abraham Jacob Hollandersky

Abe Hollandersky

Before Norfolk fight, 1914
Statistics
Real name Abraham Jacob Hollandersky
Nickname(s) Abe the Newsboy
Rated at Welterweight
Height 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)
Nationality Jewish American United States
Born December 3, 1887
Berznick, Suwalk, Russia
Died November 1, 1966 (aged 78)
San Diego, California
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights 94
Wins 25
Wins by KO 7
Losses 41
Draws 25
No contests 3

Abe "The Newsboy" Hollandersky (December 3, 1887 – November 1, 1966) was the first American boxer to win the Panamanian Heavyweight Title by defeating Jack Ortega in nine rounds in Panama City on May 30, 1913 as the result of a foul. American Congressmen, Naval personnel, and canal workers were among the crowd of nearly two thousand who watched Hollandersky gain victory over an opponent who outweighed him by as much as thirty pounds.[1][2] He successfully defended the title only once, in an 18 of 45 round rematch on August 11, 1913 in Panama City, which also ended when Ortega was disqualified.[3] Several sources also credit him with taking the Welterweight Wrestling Championship of the World in December 1907 from Young Rober in four hours and eighteen minutes, in New York.[4][5]

Hollandersky is reputed to have fought an unprecedented 1,039 boxing matches between 1905–18, as well as 387 wrestling matches.[6][7] The record of 1039 bouts from Hollandersky's autobiography, often stated by other sources as 1309, was featured in the Guinness Book of World Records, Ripley's Believe it or Not, and a variety of newspaper articles.[8][9]

Early life

Hollandersky was born on December 3, 1887, to Charles and Celia Hollandersky, in the small town of Berznick, Poland, then in the province of Suwalk, Russia. The frequent moralizing in his autobiography may have been a result of his mother Celia's influence as she was raised by a religious leader. According to tombstones in New London and official Polish records, Celia's father was Mowza (Moses) Finkielsztejn, a Podskolnik, in which capacity he could fill in as a Rabbi or teach Hebrew.[10] Pogroms, famine, the inability to own or purchase property, and highly limited access to public secondary education caused by Tsar Alexander III’s May Laws of 1882, encouraged the family to leave Russia.

Departing Russia as a young child, Hollandersky headed to Berlin, Germany and than Manchester, England with his mother Celia and older brother Sol. Four siblings, two boys and two girls died of starvation prior to his departure.[11] Hollandersky’s father Charles had preceded him to America possibly as early as 1886. Charles, a former tailor, left Russia to find work, at some point plying his trade with his brother Falk Hollandersky. According to genealogist Marlene Silverman, Falk Hollandersky, Abe's Uncle, emigrated to America around 1885, first living in New York, and then arriving in New London by 1891 accompanied by his wife Sarah, whom he had previously married in Berznick in 1862. By studying family tombstones, and marriage records, Silverman also concluded that Sarah and Celia were likely sisters, daughters of Mowza (Moses) Finkielsztejn. The two sisters in turn married the Hollandersky brothers Falk and Charles.[12]

Abe, Celia, and brother Sol arrived in America in 1899 according to a ship's manifest of the same year. The last three chapters of Hollandersky's autobiography indicated his entry into America may have been as early as 1895, but this is very likely in error.[13] An 1899 date of entry is also referenced in a letter by James Forrestal, Secretary of the Navy, dated November 15, 1946 and in an article in the Navy Times.[14][15]

Encounter with Theodore Roosevelt

USS Mayflower (PY-1), Presidential Yacht

After he tried to sell a newspaper to Teddy Roosevelt aboard the presidential yacht USS Mayflower (PY-1) in September 1906, Roosevelt had Admiral Robley D. Evans create the official unpaid title "Newsboy of the Navy," giving Hollandersky the right to sell papers to any Navy ship and travel to any destination on U. S. Naval vessels.[16] This incident occurred during Roosevelt's Presidential review in Oyster Bay, off Long Island, New York. Signed letters from both Theodore Roosevelt and his wife Edith authenticate a relationship between President Roosevelt, his wife Edith, and Hollandersky. Hollandersky also claimed to have sold papers to Roosevelt and Robley Evans again around 1908 aboard the USS Connecticut (BB-18). [17]

Boxing Career and Work with US Navy

During his early work with the Navy, Abe sold papers to ships off the New London harbor, occasionally to U. S. Naval Academy midshipman on their summer cruise. While serving Midshipmen during July and August in Gardiner Bay, he met many future Admirals, and very likely first met the exceptional seaman George Fried as a young man serving aboard the USS Hartford (1858).[18]

Todo Moran

On December 8, 1908, Hollandersky lost a close six round match to Maurice Lemoine at the Grand Opera House in New Haven, Connecticut. This fight was a preliminary to the World Welterweight Title fight between Harry Lewis and Willie Lewis and received considerable local publicity.[19] Much of his early boxing experience took place as a club fighter in Manhattan where his family maintained a residence until at least 1910. As a young New York club fighter Abe fought the better known boxers "Buffalo" Eddie Kelly, Todo Moran, Jack Dorman, and Harry Greenhouse.

Hollandersky's best known opponents in New England included Austin Rice, Dave Palitz, Al Rogers, Italian Joe Gans, and Tommy Teague. He fought fellow New Londoners Austin Rice and Dave Palitz on numerous occasions. Mosey King, an early New England Lightweight Champion and Yale boxing coach, is included in Hollandersky's list of fights in the back of his autobiography as a "Win". According to at least one source, they may have shared Jimmy Nelson as an early coach and sparring partner as youths in New London.[20]

Kid Norfolk

Hollandersky lost his Panamanian heavyweight title decisively in 25 rounds to 2007 International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee William Ward, known as Kid Norfolk in Colon, Panama on January 18, 1914.[21]

Panama Joe Gans

The better known opponents Hollandersky fought in Panama after his loss of the title included 1923 World Colored Middleweight Champion Panama Joe Gans, Jerry Cole, Bill Scott,and Eddie Ryan. In his last fight in Panama in June 1917, Hollandersky lost to Pat Kiley in 15 rounds in an unsuccessful attempt at the Panamanian Welterweight Title. The 5' 4" Welterweight Hollandersky lost to heavier Panamanian Champion Gans, and the nearly six foot tall Scott, but gave a close fight to Ryan.

Early in his career, he boxed a kangaroo in Australia probably during a Naval cruise, and a huge muzzled bear in New York at Huber's Museum in Manhattan. These incidents were described in his book as well as much later being the subject of Harold Rosenthal's 1978 article on Abe in Sports Illustrated.[22] They added a certain color to the story of his life which newspapers that covered him found attractive.

Nat Fleischer's Ring Record Book for 1944 listed around 450 of Hollandersky's bouts, but these are drawn from records listed in the back of Hollandersky's autobiography and are unverified. They appear to contain errors in the years the bouts took place and the number of rounds when compared with his BoxRec record.[23][24]

Hollandersky used his naval privileges in combination with commercial vessels between 1912 and 1917 to sail south from his hometown of New London, selling newspapers to the fleet while stopping to fight boxing matches in Cuba, Jamaica, Panama, and Chile. His long career with the navy included work as an independent supply boat operator or bum boater from which he sold magazines and newspapers, a boxing instructor for sailors at the pier in New London near the end of WWI, and a recruiter of 1,700 naval personnel in WWII for which he received a citation in 1943. He also raised War Bonds in WWII, occasionally capitalizing on his contacts with former boxers, as well as those he had acted with. Hollandersky took two long cruises to Australia on Naval vessels prior to his marriage.[25]

The majority of his fights were likely exhibitions staged for entertainment and training on Navy ships. Dispute will probably continue as to the exact number of boxing matches Hollandersky fought, as his BoxRec record lists only around 100. However, these by definition exclude all his Naval and land based exhibitions, as well as sparring and training matches which he included in his personal tally.

Benefits and Exhibitions

Several of the more widely publicized benefits in which he boxed a few rounds include:

Autobiography in 1930

In March 24, 1930, shortly before the publication of his book, noted sportswriter Damon Runyan interviewed Hollandersky for his column "Between You and Me." [31] He discussed Abe's book, financed independently by Abe, and noted Abe's desire to soon marry. Despite limited literacy, Hollandersky completed his autobiography, first published in 1930, by dictating to a stenographer. According to Abraham Hoffman, up to 20,000 copies of his autobiography may have been printed. These included nearly annual new editions which continued until the late 1950s. Most editions subsequent to 1930 included only new photographs, largely of Navy ships and Naval acquaintances. The second edition in 1936 added the last three chapters of the book, the only notable changes to the original text of the 1930 edition.[32] Hollandersky often took orders for his autobiography before new editions, particularly the first two, often from Navy personnel in harbor. He continued to personally sell his book directly to the public for most of his retirement.

Marriage in 1931

Hollandersky married Freda Weinberg in June 1931 in Los Angeles, where he had moved around 1926 from New London. A number of high ranking naval officers attended his wedding reception at the Jewish Sheltering Home, most notably Admiral Wat Tyler Cluverius, Jr., base commander of the Pacific Fleet, and Rear Admiral Jehu V. Chase. Pictures of both men at Hollandersky's wedding reception are featured in the 1936 edition of Hollandersky's autobiography as well as most subsequent editions.

Work in Los Angeles and Uncredited Movie Career

Hollandersky worked as an uncredited movie extra after his move to Los Angeles. He was often cast as a gangster or boxer. During this period he continued to sell newspapers to the fleet in Long Beach, San Pedro, and on occasion San Diego. He operated a small shop in Long Beach on West Seaside Boulevard near the San Pedro Navy pier, where he sold newspapers and items of interest to Navy men including photographs of ships. Movies in which he briefly appeared include Warner Brother's lost silent film set during the Spanish-American War, Across the Pacific (1926 film) which featured Monte Blue and Myrna Loy. After his move to L.A., Hollandersky appeared in Fox Film's, 1928, Dressed to Kill with Edumund Lowe and Mary Astor, Paramount's 1930 Roadhouse Nights, 20th Century Picture's 1933 The Bowery, and MGM's 1938 The Crowd Roars, among others.

Hollandersky, third from left, and boss actor Fred Kohler, seated on right, tallies the take from his seedy subordinates in "Roadhouse Nights"

In 1930 Hollandersky onscreen in the gangster melodrama about a bootleg operation, Roadhouse Nights with Fred Kohler. Actress Helen Morgan starred and Jimmy Durante made his musical debut in the scarcely remembered film. Hollandersky's right cauliflower ear is almost visible when the photo is enlarged.

On the set of "The Bowery," from left, boxers Al McCoy, "Fireman" Jim Flynn, Frank Moran, actor Wallace Beery, Phil Bloom, Joe Glick, Abe Hollandersky (bottom)

In The Bowery, Hollandersky acted with ex-Middleweight Champion Al McCoy (boxer) and boxers "Fireman" Jim Flynn, heavyweight Frank Moran, Phil Bloom (Boxer), and Joe Glick. Jack A. Herrick, another ex-boxer that appeared in the film, had fought in Panama City during the same period as Abe, and had faced two of the same opponents while there, the great Kid Norfolk, and Bill Scott. [33][34]

In 1935, Hollandersky was likely cast as an extra in another movie that included gangsters, Universal Picture's She Gets her Man. The film also cast boxers Jack Perry, Phil Bloom, and Sailor Billy Vincent in uncredited roles. The lead actress Zasu Pitts, played Esmerelda, a cook in a diner who foils the plans of gangsters planning a bank robbery. Hollandersky claimed to have appeared in a movie with Zasu Pitts and had previously acted with Bloom.[35]

In The Crowd Roars, Hollandersky was given a brief close up after appearing in a background gymnasium scene with boxers Larry Williams, Maxie Rosenbloom, Phil Bloom and Joe Glick, as well as Jimmy McLarnin, Jack Roper, and Tommy Herman.[36] Hollandersky also claimed to have acted with boxers Jack Dempsey and Max Baer.[37]

Retirement After WWII

After WWII, Hollandersky retired to San Diego, where he made appearances and gave occasional boxing exhibitions at the Naval Training Center and worked with Captains Ralph C. Lynch Jr., and H. C. Gearing. Hollandersky received a reference from Gearing when he was selling newspapers to the fleet in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in 1925, but first met him much earlier.[38]

He died in San Diego in 1966, and was buried in Greenwood Cemetery. He left no children. His tombstone is headed with his ring name, Abe the Newsboy, which was used almost exclusively by the newspapers that covered his boxing career, particularly prior to 1918.

References

  1. ↑ "Abe the Newsboy a Champion", New York Times, pg. 8, New York, 31 May 1913.
  2. ↑ "Abe the Newsboy Wins Panamanian Title", Washington Herald, pg. 5, Washington, D.C., 1 June 1913.
  3. ↑ "Boxer Abe the Newsboy here", New York Times, pg. 10, New York, New York., 3 September 1913.
  4. ↑ Washington Herald, Washington DC, 13 March 1912.
  5. ↑ Ft. Worth Star-Telegram, pg. 10, Fort Worth, Texas, March 23, 1915.
  6. ↑ Hollandersky, Abe (1958). The Life Story of Abe the Newsboy, Hero of a Thousand Fights, Published by Abraham Hollandersky, Los Angeles, p. 449.
  7. ↑ Linthicum, Jesse, A., "Sunlight on Sports", Baltimore Sun, 13 January 1956.
  8. ↑ "The greatest number of fights in a career is 1309 by Abraham Hollandersky, alias Abe the Newsboy, in the fourteen years from 1905 to 1918. He filled in the time with 387 Wrestling bouts (1905-16)." McWhirter, Norris and Ross (1968). Guinness Book of World Records, Sterling Publishing Company, New York, New York, p. 372.
  9. ↑ Ripley gave 1043 as the total number of career boxing matches in his cartoon shown in Abe's autobiography, Hollandersky, Abe (1937). The Life Story of Abe the Newsboy, Hero of a Thousand Fights, Published by Abraham Hollandersky, Los Angeles, p 439.
  10. ↑ Silverman, Marlene Phd. (June 2014). Hollanderskis in the Chesterfield, Ct. Farming Community, Chapter 7. Volume 23, Numbers 3-4, pg.3, Published by Suwalk-Lomza Interest Group. 3701 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC.
  11. ↑ Hollandersky, Abe (1958). The Life Story of Abe the Newsboy, Hero of a Thousand Fights, pg. 126. Published by Abraham Hollandersky, Los Angeles.
  12. ↑ Silverman, Marlene Phd. (June 2014). Hollanderskis in the Chesterfield, Ct. Farming Community, Volume 23, Numbers 3-4, pps.1-11, Published by Suwalk-Lomza Interest Group. 3701 Connecticut Ave. NW,Washington, DC.
  13. ↑ Silverman, Marlene Phd. (June 2014). Hollanderskis in the Chesterfield, Ct. Farming Community, Volume 23, Numbers 3-4, pg.5, Published by Suwalk-Lomza Interest Group. 3701 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC.
  14. ↑ Hollandersky, Abe (1958). The Life Story of Abe the Newsboy, Hero of a Thousand Fights, Published by Abraham Hollandersky, Los Angeles, pg. 472.
  15. ↑ "Navy Sponsors Testimonial Dinner", Navy Times, pg. 82, 27 October 1956.
  16. ↑ Hoffman, Abe (Fall, 2007). Going a Few Rounds with Abe the Newsboy, Western States Jewish History, Volume 36, pgs 3-33.
  17. ↑ Hollandersky, Abe (1937). The Life Story of Abe the Newsboy, Hero of a Thousand Fights, Published by Abraham Hollandersky, Los Angeles, Chapter 1, pg. 13-14, pg. 147.
  18. ↑ Hollandersky, Abe (1958). The Life Story of Abe the Newsboy, Hero of a Thousand Fights, Published by Abraham Hollandersky, Los Angeles, Preface, pg. 1.
  19. ↑ "Newsboy Abe in Bout in New Haven Tonight", The Day, pg. 11, New London, CT., 14 December 1908.
  20. ↑ Donahue, Thomas E., "Ins and Outs of Sport's World", The Day, pg. 23, New London, CT., 17 September 1935.
  21. ↑ "Abe the Newsboy loses Fight", Norwich Bulletin, pg. 3, Norwich, CT., 2 February 1914.
  22. ↑ Rosenthal, Harold, "Fighter-Writer Abe the Newsboy Beat a Bear But Lost to a Kangaroo", Sports Illustrated, 11 December 1978, Volume 49, issue 24, p.112.
  23. ↑ "Abraham Jacob Hollandersky". BoxRec. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  24. ↑ Fleischer, Nat and Andre, Sam (1944). Nat Fleischer's All Time Ring Record Book, pgs. 484-5. O'Brien Suburban Press, New York.
  25. ↑ Hollandersky, Abe (1958). The Life Story of Abe the Newsboy, Hero of a Thousand Fights, Published by Abraham Hollandersky, Los Angeles, Chapter 22, pg. 407.
  26. ↑ Joe Gans gave a short speech, "Dixon Memorial Fund", New York Times, pg. 8, New York, NY, 23 January 1908.
  27. ↑ "K. O. Palitz meets Abe the Newsboy", The Day, New London, CT., 20 December 1917.
  28. ↑ "Fast Bouts Staged at New London", Norwich Bulletin, pg. 3, Norwich, CT, 18 November 1918.
  29. ↑ "Navy Ring King Volunteers for Flood Relief Show", Los Angeles Times, pg. A-12, Los Angeles, CA, 3 February 1937.
  30. ↑ Boxers included Henry Armstrong, Mushy Callahan, Jimmy McLarnin, Jack Silver, Jackie Fields, Fidel La Barba, Al McCoy, Maxie Rosenbloom, Jim Jeffries and others, "Wadham's Benefit Tonight", Los Angeles Times, pg. A-10, Los Angeles, 9 October 1937.
  31. ↑ Runyan, Damon., "Abe the Newsboy Author Wants to Get Married", New York American Sports, pg. 1, New York, 24 March 1930.
  32. ↑ Hoffman, Abe (Fall, 2007). Going a Few Rounds with Abe the Newsboy, Western States Jewish History, Volume 36, pgs. 3-33.
  33. ↑ "The Bowery (film)". Wikipedia. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  34. ↑ "IMDB Cast of The Bowery". IMDb. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  35. ↑ "TCM Full Cast of She Gets Her Man". IMDb. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  36. ↑ "Pretty Boy to HeMan", Dallas Morning News, pg. 12, Dallas, TX., 9 August 1938.
  37. ↑ Hollandersky, Abe (1958). The Life Story of Abe the Newsboy, Hero of a Thousand Fights, Published by Abraham Hollandersky, Los Angeles, pgs. 327, 411.
  38. ↑ Hollandersky, Abe (1958). The Life Story of Abe the Newsboy, Hero of a Thousand Fights, Published by Abraham Hollandersky, Los Angeles, pg. 453.

Further reading

External links