Friday Night Fighter relives a lost moment in American postwar
history, when boxing ruled as one of the nation's most widely
televised sports. During the 1950s and 1960s, viewers tuned in
weekly, sometimes even daily, to watch widely-recognized fighters
engage in primordial battle, with the Gillette Cavalcade of Sports
Friday Night Fights being the most popular fight show. Troy
Rondinone follows the dual narratives of the Friday Night Fights
show and the individual story of Gaspar "Indio" Ortega, a boxer who
appeared on primetime network television more than almost any other
boxer in history. From humble beginnings growing up poor in
Tijuana, Mexico, Ortega personified the phenomenon of postwar
boxing at its greatest, appearing before audiences of millions to
battle the biggest names of the time, such as Carmen Basilio, Tony
DeMarco, Chico Vejar, Benny "Kid" Paret, Emile Griffith, Kid
Gavilan, Florentino Fernandez, and Luis Manuel Rodriguez. Rondinone
explores the factors contributing to the success of televised
boxing, including the rise of television entertainment, the role of
a "reality" blood sport, Cold War masculinity, changing attitudes
toward race in America, and the influence of organized crime. At
times evoking the drama and spectacle of the Friday Night Fights
themselves, this volume is a lively examination of a time in
history when Americans crowded around their sets to watch the main
event.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
