Note: The following is one of a series of columns looking at places and events of interest in Bulloch County history.
In the April 8, 1937 issue of the Bulloch Herald it was announced that on the upcoming Thursday that a pair of boxing matches would be held at the Georgia Theater (now the Averitt Center). The evening's entertainment would begin with the regular Thursday movie, this week's selection being Dorothy Lamoure in "Jungle Princess", starting at 7 pm. a special event would be held.
After the movie, for this evening only, there would take place what may have been Statesboro's first ever public pugilistic performances. This event would feature two boxing bouts.
In the first, a Bantam-weight class (112-119 pounds) match of three 2-minute rounds, a contest was to take place between “Tiger” Johnny Smith from Statesboro and Southeastern-region amateur boxing champion Frankie Weil of Savannah.
Frankie Weil was the reigning fly-weight class (105-112 pounds) champion in the Savannah Boxing League who fought for the Union Bag Athletic Association. Johnny Smith was a feather-weight class (119-126 pounds) boxer, and was said to be evenly matched.
The Union Bag Athletic Association was a strictly whites only social club made up of Union Camp employees in Savannah, Georgia. The men competed in area baseball, bowling, and boxing leagues, and had their own facility on Union Camp property.
Following this was the main event, a heavier weight contest between local boxing star “Battling” Russell Hall of Statesboro and “Captain” Melvin Weil of Savannah, also consisting of three 2-minute rounds.
The Bulloch Herald newspaper also made mention of a special Battle Royale between the “Black Bomber” and a number of unnamed challengers, with the winner being the last man standing in the ring.
This fight was the brainchild of William C. Macon, the publicity man for the Georgia Theater, who was most likely the son of owner and manager Hal Macon Sr. Tickets to this featured festival of fisticuffs would be available at several locations, including Franklin's Drugstore, the City Drugstore, the College Pharmacy and the Varsity Shop.
As no mention was made in following newspapers of the winners of these matches, it can only be assumed that Savannah's "Fighting Weil" had triumphed over their opponents.
Roger Allen is a local lover of history. Allen provides a brief look each week at the area's past. E-mail Roger at rwasr1953@gmail.com.