Stern, Bill – Bill Stern’s Favorite Boxing Stories

Description

Stern, Bill ‘Bill Stern’s Favorite Boxing Stories’ 1949 1st hardcover edition. 212-pages. Blue Ribbon Books, Garden City, New York. VG/Good-. This one has handwritten on the frontispiece: “Property of George DeMott – Millville – Pennsylvania – 11-1-49 (at Minot, N. Dak.)” I queried AI concerning that party and received the following response: “George DeMott of Millville, Pennsylvania was a prominent professional circus juggler, clown, writer, and chaplain.
Born on a farm in Millville, Columbia County, Pennsylvania on July 21, 1907, he would have been 42 years old when he signed this book on November 1, 1949.

Who Was George DeMott?
• Circus Performer: DeMott spent 45 years touring the United States and Canada as a professional clown and juggler. He performed with major historic shows, including the Hagenbeck & Wallace Circus and the Cole Bros. Circus.
• Educational Pioneer: He is widely credited with pioneering the concept of bringing professional juggling programs into school assemblies. His educational shows combined live demonstrations of throwing tricks and balancing acts with lectures on the history of juggling.
• Houdini Connection: As an 18-year-old working at the Fox Theatre in Philadelphia, he met Harry Houdini, which served as a major inspiration for his life in show business.
• Community Leadership: Later in life, he served as the official chaplain for the International Jugglers’ Association (IJA).
Given his background as a touring mid-century entertainer, it is highly fitting that his library included a theatrical, action-packed book of sports stories like Bill Stern’s anthology.”

Published in 1949 by Blue Ribbon Books, Bill Stern’s Favorite Boxing Stories by famed sports broadcaster Bill Stern is a hardcover vintage collection featuring dramatic, nostalgic tales from the history of boxing.

Physical and Publication Details:
• Author: Bill Stern
• Publisher: Blue Ribbon Books
• Publication Year: 1949
• Binding: Hardcover with grey leather-like boards
• Illustrations: Interior line drawings

Content and Overview:
• Genre: Sports history / anthology / anecdote collection
• Style: Dramatic mid-century sports commentary reflecting Bill Stern’s signature theatrical radio storytelling style.
• Context: Originally related to or following the 1948 Pocket Books paperback original edition (illustrated by Louis Glanzman), the 1949 Blue Ribbon release offered fans a sturdier hardcover format.