Kids boxing and wrestling for entertainment; forest fires, new policies at Will Rogers and the surprise wedding announcement of Jack Shea, Olympic Gold Medal speed skater, to Helen Stearns, helped fill the pages of this 82-year-old newspaper.

Here is a headline: “Catholic Group Entertained at Sports Smoker”

A “sports smoker” was an informal gathering for men only. The story leads off:

“Furious mixing, comedy and a little gore were all thrown in for the Catholic men who attended the smoker at St. Bernard’s school last evening. The boxers and wrestlers were all boys of high school age and what they lacked in experience they made up in willingness and what the audience lacked in size they made up in enthusiasm”.

Following are excerpts from some unnamed poetic reporter:

“The best bout on the boxing program went the 3-round limit with Fat Dupree having a little the better of Charlie Keough. Both big, rugged boys, they slapped each other around willingly and furiously until the gong found them both ready to fall.

“The second bout was run off in two stages. In the first round Roger Bouck clouted Tarzan Tanzini on the proboscis with the result that Tarzan’s smeller spouted gore all over the place. The bout was stopped and the nose doctored, and after the other boxers had taken their bows, these two youngsters came back and finished it. Roger promptly slapped the tender nose again and Tanzini came in like a whirlwind to throw a few gloves at Bouck’s own schnozzle.

“Ray Kinville and Bunny Dupree put on a nice slamming match as did Gerard Meagher and Miles Van Nortwick.

“Francis Buckley threw Hubert Miller two straight falls in the first of the wrestling matches using a half nelson in the first and a body slam in the second.

“Johnny Munn and Boy Ryan split. Munn getting the first fall in five minutes and Ryan the second in four.

“Then in the surprise bout of the evening, Johnny Duquette, a little fellow weighing 100 pounds, wringing wet and in his overcoat, wrestled George Stearns, who tips the scales at 140 pounds. The extra forty did not mean anything at all to Johnny as he slapped Stearns down in two and a half minutes. The pair sent the audience into gales of laughter by getting simultaneous toe holds on each other.”

The Shea wedding

“Miss Elizabeth Helen Stearns became the bride of John A. Shea, of Lake Placid, Olympic Speed Skating champion and senior at Dartmouth college, early in February, members of the bride’s family revealed today.

“The marriage was secret and took place in New York City before a Justice of the Peace. A second ceremony was performed April 19 at the Church of the Ascension, New York, the Rev. Francis J. Skeehan officiating.

“Those present from Lake Placid were the Hon. James A. Shea and Mrs. Shea and Eugene Shea, his brothers; parents of the groom; Miss Frances Latttremore and Miss Neola Adams.

‘The bride, who is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Stearns of 24 Front Street has been a member of the staff of the Western Union office at Lake Placid for several seasons, and is a popular member of the younger set both here and in the neighboring village. During the past winter she resided in New York.

“Mr. Shea has an international reputation as one of the greatest skaters of today. At Dartmouth he is a member of the Psi Upsilon fraternity.”

Forest fires

Just as Conservation Commissioner Lithgow Osborne, in a page one story issued a warning to area sportsmen about the serious fire hazards because of the drought, three forest fires were reported on page 3.

“At 2:30, Observer W. H. Finney, stationed on Pok-O-Moonshine saw a thin wraith of smoke curling up from the trail about a half-mile from the summit. Deeming it unnecessary to summon the aid of a ranger, Finney loaded 40 pounds of water of his back and went to the scene of the blaze, extinguishing it in short order. A careless hiker dropping a cigarette was said to have been the cause.

“At 3 p.m., Observer Lawrence Stationed at Palmer Hill noticed a gray haze beginning to hang over Wilmington Notch 12 miles away. The Lake Placid ranger was promptly notified by phone and with six men from CCC Camp #63 [Civilian Conservation Corps] hastened to the scene. Although the fire was gaining headway the party arrived in time to get it under control.

“The third fire was reported in the Malone area, thought to be only a grass fire, but no details were available at press time.”

New policies Will Rogers

In 1934 the Will Rogers Hospital was known as the National Variety Artist’s sanatorium or simply the NVA; it is now that wonderful Saranac Village at Will Rogers, a first class facility where older folks can enjoy a first class lifestyle.

“Patients at the National Variety Artist’s sanatorium consider themselves greatly benefitted from the change in the NVA executive board which occurred about two months ago. At that time, according to the information given out today at the sanatorium, Warner Bros., and Metro Goldwyn-Mayer acquired the controlling power on the board. Working together, these two major movie concerns have instituted several new policies, which, in the opinion of the patients, mean a great deal, not only to those who are living at the san, but also to the people of Saranac Lake.

“At the present time, Herman Levine, of the new York City NVA association headquarters, is in charge of the sanatorium. However, a petition signed by the 47 patients at the NVA has been sent to Harold Rodner, of Warner Bros., requesting that Dr. George Wilson, attending physician, be appointed to the position of medical superintendent. It is planned also to have a social director, and it is understood that Mrs. William Morris of Camp Intermission has been offered the position.

“John Eskin of New York City is the new dietician at NVA. He comes here with 15 years of experience in his line. He will be in charge of the buying and one of the new policies is to have all the purchases made with the merchants in the village of Saranac Lake.

“Restoration of the former practice of having movies and special entertainment at the NVA is another policy which the new regime plans to carry out. According to Mr. Levine, the sanatorium will be filled to capacity, which is 100 to 125 patients within a short time. Cooperation among the theatres of the country in support of the sanatorium has greatly increased this year with the new management.

“All persons connected with the theatre profession are now eligible to enter the sanatorium. This is another change made by the new board.”