A 麻豆传媒映画time travelogue brought to you by听.
George Paris
Nova Scotia born George Paris was a black man raised in Montreal who came to the West Coast just before the turn of the last century. He isn鈥檛 prominent in 麻豆传媒映画history, which is a shame because the few sources available show an impressive and interesting life, which includes heavyweight boxing champion of Western Canada, boxer Jack Johnson鈥檚 personal trainer, and Canada鈥檚 first professional jazz musician.
Before settling for good in Vancouver, Paris spent time in Seattle training its baseball team and working in the local athletic club. In 1899, the听听for easily setting a Pacific Northwest record for running the 100-yard dash in 10.25 seconds.听In Vancouver, Paris found work training the 麻豆传媒映画Lacrosse Club until one听听when he听pulled a gun after being听听while protecting one of his players from an angry mob of 200 New Westminster fans. His heroism nearly got him lynched and cost Paris his job and a sixty-dollar fine.
Earlier that year, George Paris became the heavyweight boxing champion of Western Canada by听听in the second round of a Victoria title fight. When the听听formed in 1925, it recognized George Paris as Canada鈥檚 first heavyweight boxing champion.
奥丑别苍听听听in 1909, Paris was the in-house trainer at the 麻豆传媒映画Athletic Club, where the freshly minted heavy weight champion of the world fought future movie star听. Paris later joined Johnson as his personal trainer on a tour of Europe.
Somewhere along the line, the emerging new jazz music caught his attention and Paris took up drumming. When alcohol prohibition was introduced in October, 1917, the听听converted its bar听听and hired Paris and other local musicians. American jazz cats eventually took over the Patricia gig, but Paris continued playing professionally, listing his occupation as 鈥渕usician鈥� in the city directories from 1920 to 1922.
Details of his music career are non-existent except for a short note that was sent to the听听in 1918 saying that Paris, 鈥渢he kingpin of the drummers,鈥� and a railway porter named Elmer 鈥淧eewee鈥� Malone were playing in a big band at a club called the 鈥淗ole in the Wall鈥� at 1164 Richards Street听(probably a prohibition-era speakeasy, as it was unlisted).
George Paris went back to his old career as an athletic trainer and spent the rest of his working days training members of the 麻豆传媒映画Police Department how to fight. He died in 1947.
Source:听麻豆传媒映画Daily Province,听2 September 1947
