Once upon a time there was A BOXER NAMED MARCUS VASQUEZ

This is a repost from several years ago that most won't have seen. In keeping with the man with the box for Sepia Saturday I give you boxer Marcus Vasquez. All I ever found about him is below.
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You'd think that starting with "Once upon a time..." I'd have a fairytale to tell. No, just an old picture of a lightweight boxer named Marcus Vasquez wearing an apron. Seriously, I have no idea what is going on or how this photo eventually ended up in my hands.

"To a Swell Kid Marcus Vasquez.

From your manager Ben Marcus"

Marcus Vasquez appears to have fought his first professional bout on Dec. 21, 1948 against Cadilla Clemmons at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. He won the fight. From then on he fought around Southern California, up to San Jose on March 22, 1949, over to Arizona for several fights, even down to Chihuahua, Mexico on Feb. 8, 1950; he lost that fight to Al Lopez.

According to the online information I've found, Marcus had 17 wins, 19 losses, and 7 draws with a total of 197 rounds fought. The last fight listed was on July 7, 1952 to Maxie Docusen in San Antonio, Texas. Marcus lost and is listed as TKO.

So, was this the end of Marcus Vasquez as a fighter? I cannot find any other information about him.

As to the fellow on the left, his manager, Ben Marcus, I cannot find anything about him other than he worked in the Los Angeles area.

I don't know, but my mind spins when I look at this shot with the inscription and I'm sucked into the world of Raymond Chandler and this little scrap of paper is evidence in a murder. I can't say truthfully anything one way or the other. It is what it is and it will forever be a mystery unless some person with knowledge of the world of boxing in Los Angeles in the late '40s to early '50s steps forward to fill in the missing pieces to the story.

For now, I'm riding in my old Buick on a warm summer night along Sunset, hoping I can run a few red lights without getting caught as I try to make my way to a mysterious meeting in Los Feliz. It began with this photo stuffed inside my morning paper with a note that read, "9:40, Jerry's, Los Feliz. Come alone."

UPDATE: I found this image for sale online at a boxing memorabilia site. This shows that Marcus was in an undercard fight on September 9, 1949 at the Hollywood Legion Stadium.

I looked up "undercard" and found the following:

The undercard, or preliminary matches (sometimes preliminary card), consists of preliminary bouts that occur before the headline or "main event" of a particular boxing, professional wrestling, horse racing, auto racing, or other sports event. (In auto racing, however, the term "support race" occurs more commonly.) Typically, promoters intend the undercard to provide fans with an opportunity to see up-and-coming fighters or fighters not so well known and popular as their counterparts in the main event. The undercard also ensures that if the main event ends quickly fans will still feel that they received sufficient value for the price of their admission. (SOURCE: Wikipedia)

Marcus, I fear, is lost to history other than this post.

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Tattered and Lost volumes 1 to 8 available at Amazon.

TBMs Aloft

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Introducing the latest edition to the Tattered and Lost series available at Amazon.

Tattered and Lost: An American Dream (Vol. 8)

The American dream of owning a home through vintage vernacular photographs. The focus is on the people who lived within the homes as well as the varied architecture from the late 1800s to the 1960s.

Tattered and Lost volumes 1 to 8 available at Amazon.

GETTING AWAY from It All

This is actually just a portion of a photo.

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Tattered and Lost volumes 1 to 7 available at Amazon.

Driving Over DONNER SUMMIT

I can't even begin to count how many times I drove this road. It's near the summit of Donner Pass in Northern California; the old route 40 of the Sierras. Off in the distance at the far end of Donner Lake is where the Donner Party attempted to survive the winter of 1846-47. There is a state park and campground located where the families lived. And the towns of Gateway and Truckee have tourists far removed from what once happened in the area.

Click on image to see it larger.

Until you've experienced a winter in this area you simply can't imagine what the Donner Party were dealing with. My families cabin was on the western side of the summit. I can remember going in the second floor—which was really the third floor because the "basement" was above ground—more than once. The first floor and basement were completely covered in snow. And it's not a fluffy snow. It's called Sierra Cement for a reason. The summit is where the storms dump their first round of heavy water in storms and the snow depth and weight proves it. I can remember walking along the road and having to duck to get under the power lines; the snow was that deep. The upstairs beam in the cabin was actually two 15-18 inch beams stacked which ran the length of the cabin. Without such beams we would have had the problem so many other cabins had in the heavy snow…complete collapse.

Winter weather at Donner Pass can be brutal. Precipitation averages 51.6 inches (131 cm) per year, much of which falls as snow. At an average of 411.5 inches (10.45 m) per year, Donner Pass is one of the snowiest places in the United States. Four times since 1880 total snowfall at Donner Summit has exceeded 775 inches (19.7 m) and topped 800 inches (20 m) in both 1938 and 1953. To take advantage of the heavy snows, the Boreal Ski Resort was built to the north. Ski resorts in the Lake Tahoe area report an average of 300 to 500 inches (7.6 to 12.7 m) of snowfall per season. Winds in the pass can also become extreme and wind gusts in excess of 100 miles per hour (160 km/h) are common during winter storms. Winter temperatures in the area drop below zero several times each year; the all-time record low for California of −45 °F (−43 °C) was recorded at Boca (east of Truckee) in January 1937.

The winter of 1846-47 was especially severe, and this is generally cited as the single most important factor in the disaster of the Donner Party. In the winter of 2010-11, over 700 inches (1,800 cm) had fallen as of May 23, 2011. Snow depth peaked in early April 2011 with over 250 inches (21 ft) of snow on the ground. (SOURCE: Wikipedia)

To say the least, before route 80, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, was built, getting over the summit in the winter was at best a challenge if the road was open at all. It was, and still is, a two lane road. These days it's closed during the winter. But the rest of the year it's a beautiful drive. In fact it's often used in car commercials.

For decades there was a rusty old bus sitting upside down on those rocks a bit east of that tall tree on the right. I never knew the story of that bus, but we all made up some great stories. Eventually sometime in the late '90s, I think, the bus was finally removed.

I miss driving the pass on a warm summer day with the car windows open. It's a wonderful snaky road that's fun to drive. There's a lot to see along this road, so next time you think of staying on interstate 80 get off at Cisco Grove and follow the old 40 through Truckee. I can remember driving it before the freeway was in. In fact, I can remember going over and seeing dynamite blasts where the freeway was being constructed. That really dates me.
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Tattered and Lost volumes 1 to 7 available at Amazon.

It's the FRAGILE TIME OF YEAR!

Hoping all have celebrations that bring them closer to joy, peace, and love. It's not always easy to do, but maybe we'll each find it for a few moments.

CATEGORIES: Advertising

Another worthy and interesting category is to collect snapshots that include vintage advertising. In this shot you'll see Coca-Cola and Hershey's. A twofer.


Click on image to see it larger.

There is another category that could be started with this shot, but I'm not sure how successful you'd be in finding images. I'm talking about peeing on yourself. The little lad has had an unfortunate accident and will forever be rememberd for the pee on the front of his pants. Poor little fella…though I find it very funny. Don't expect a book from me anytime soon…then again, a book of unfortunate accidents could be a lot of fun!
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Tattered and Lost: The Quiet Art of Reading

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all!

SMILE for Grandma

Eventually kids figure out what they're supposed to do when a camera is pointed at them. At least the way it used to be. These days everyone is pointing cameras at each other whether or not they know the person. And then the moments of your life end up online with others ridiculing something you did only hours before. We all risk being bullied these days simply by leaving the house. A photograph is no longer just for grandma.


Click on image to see it larger.

Loving the kids sweater. So when did the whole coal miner theme stop appearing on apparel?

SIT STILL and SMILE!

Choosing to have a family photo taken with a child can lead to all sorts of interesting outcomes. Generally the child is going to be the most alive and interesting person in the photo because they still aren't sure what it's all about. These are basically "smile for grandma" shots.

The Sepia Saturday prompt this week is a family portrait of three people. So I give you three portraits, each containing three people. All of these photos were given to me by my friend Bert and one of the photos was originally posted on November 16, 2010. The first two shots are from the George Kallman estate.

I have no information on any of these people.

Click on any image to see it larger.

Once upon a time there was A BOXER NAMED MARCUS VASQUEZ

You'd think that starting with "Once upon a time..." I'd have a fairytale to tell. No, just an old picture of a lightweight boxer named Marcus Vasquez wearing an apron. Seriously, I have no idea what is going on or how this photo eventually ended up in my hands.

"To a Swell Kid Marcus Vasquez.

From your manager Ben Marcus"

Marcus Vasquez appears to have fought his first professional bout on Dec. 21, 1948 against Cadilla Clemmons at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. He won the fight. From then on he fought around Southern California, up to San Jose on March 22, 1949, over to Arizona for several fights, even down to Chihuahua, Mexico on Feb. 8, 1950; he lost that fight to Al Lopez.

According to the online information I've found, Marcus had 17 wins, 19 losses, and 7 draws with a total of 197 rounds fought. The last fight listed was on July 7, 1952 to Maxie Docusen in San Antonio, Texas. Marcus lost and is listed as TKO.

So, was this the end of Marcus Vasquez as a fighter? I cannot find any other information about him.

As to the fellow on the left, his manager, Ben Marcus, I cannot find anything about him other than he worked in the Los Angeles area.

I don't know, but my mind spins when I look at this shot with the inscription and I'm sucked into the world of Raymond Chandler and this little scrap of paper is evidence in a murder. I can't say truthfully anything one way or the other. It is what it is and it will forever be a mystery unless some person with knowledge of the world of boxing in Los Angeles in the late '40s to early '50s steps forward to fill in the missing pieces to the story.

For now, I'm riding in my old Buick on a warm summer night along Sunset, hoping I can run a few red lights without getting caught as I try to make my way to a mysterious meeting in Los Feliz. It began with this photo stuffed inside my morning paper with a note that read, "9:40, Jerry's, Los Feliz. Come alone."

The VETERANS AMONG US

These are the men we celebrate on Veterans Day. These are the men we celebrate on Memorial Day. The truth is that we have no idea how many of these young men never returned to their homes to share meals with their families, thus no idea which holiday is appropriate for each of them.


Click on image to see it larger.

I have no information about this photo, but can surmise it was taken of US troops during World War II in the Pacific theater. After having seen so many war movies it almost looks like a still from a Hollywood production. It could have been taken from the miniseries The Pacific.

Nearly hidden among all of these men, waiting for their rations, is one fellow who looks like every GI you've ever seen in a World War II movie. But these guys aren't in costume. These guys didn't have fancy trailers to go to between takes. These guys were walking in the mud, swatting the mosquitos, complaining about the food, and unsure what their futures held.

We remember this weekend, November 11th, those who have served our country in too many wars.

This is my submission for this weeks Sepia Saturday. The theme photo showed women working as telephone operators, part of a machine. I went with men working as part of a war machine.

From PRETEEN to TEEN in the 1950s

Letterman sweaters and getting pinned. You know, I'm really happy that was on the way out by the time I got to high school.

The last in the series of this girl's life. Ready to take on the world or at least the Rate the Record booth on Bandstand.

Click on image to see it larger.

And now a step back into her time with a song that's got a good beat and is easy to dance to.



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Tattered and Lost volumes 1 to 7 available at Amazon.

From PRETEEN to TEEN in the 1950s

Before there was the internet or 800 numbers there was shop through the mail. A box arrived with something you'd ordered out of a catalog. There was no overnight shipping. You waited anxiously for your order to arrive. Catalogs were wish books. And what better thing to do than go through the wish book with a friend, each pointing to things you want and will never have. Shopping and teenagers just seem to go together.

Click on image to see it larger.
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Tattered and Lost volumes 1 to 7 available at Amazon.

PRETEEN to TEEN in the 1950s

The next three days I'll be featuring vintage snapshots of a girl in possibly the late 40s to mid-50s. She's what I was convinced being a teenager would be like. Well, yes, if I'd actually been a teenager in the '50s instead of the '60s.

Alone with an egg.


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I love this kitchen. I really do love it. The stove reminds me of the one in my last apartment. And I'm guessing that fridge was not frost free. Just think, there are people who have never had to defrost a freezer. Boggles my mind.
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Tattered and Lost volumes 1 to 7 available at Amazon.

MARTIN AND LEWIS they're not

Think back to comic duos like Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis and it's always the same. One handsome guy to make the ladies swoon, the other to make them laugh. I'm getting the same vibe from these two fellas.

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I have no information about this duo. They were in the Big Bag of Negs. Both snappy dressers. I can make up all sorts of stories about them, but I'll let you do that. Each person can bring what they want to the image. It's just another vernacular photograph giving us a chance to step back in time to some strangers history.