Comedy Set-To

Reading the catalog's description in the 21st century, one is tempted to say it is misleading, but it is not. Only, after a century of seeing sportive women, and film stars, in all stages of undress, the way the girl boxer's attire was described does not sound true to the way she actually was - overdressed! But so was the gentleman who acted as sparring partner. Against a dark background on a stage, or empty room, a Young Man (BILLY CURTIS) dressed in white shirt and a small coloured scarf tied around his neck as a tie, white trousers, and white plimsolls, and a Young Woman (BELLE GORDON) in sleeveless white shirt, black corset, white skirt barely past the knee, black stockings and open shoes, face each other with 8-ounce grey boxing gloves. The gloves are not tied to the wrists, but rather lose, and are used for mild sparring action with the open hand, a fantasy sports training, rather than a boxing match. The man is knocked down by an open-hand slap. He looks astonished from 'losing', stands up, and both go out of the set, each on one side of the camera. I suspect Belle Gordon was the older of the Gordon Sisters, who became big name attractions with a serious boxing vaudeville act in New York early in the 20th century, filmed by Edison as "Gordon Sisters Boxing" (1901). If you are to see both films, now on video, you'll see the abysmal difference between comedy, and a real boxing document.