A Promoter's Last Hope

Dempsey

vs.

Gibbons

July 4, 1923

In the convoluted state of affairs that was the promotion of the World Heavyweight Championship bout in Shelby, Montana, the promoter's held out one faint hope of recovery, the sale of fight film rights. Having contracted with the International News Service, for a fee of $5,000, to provide films of the fight, the promoters hoped that this venture could save the failed promotion. But in this,as in all other aspects of the promotion ,the citizens of Shelby were to be left empty handed.

The group turned over the film to a man named Harry Grossman, recommended by Doc Kearns, to handle the sale of distribution rights. Grossman was advanced $1,000, by the group, and given the print of the film. Grossman and the money were never heard from again. The film ended up in distribution, but the promoters never received any renumeration from it's showing.

A sea of mostly non-paying customers surround the filming towers.

Size: 4 5/8 x 6 1/2 in.