Amateur boxing is unique in that it embraces the full range of human emotions. In the tensest of situations time has a tendency to slow down; as young fighters compete, families watch as they mature through the cycle of life. This is the boxing experience that few get to see, an experience always heard about secondhand. It sounds unreal as if nothing is so honest and intimate in this age of fantasy. Nothing could be further from the truth … this is boxing in your city, catch it while you can.

The boxing event featured in the above video was put on by Halcyon Charities and Old School Boxing at the Halcyon Masonic Temple, 2831 Franklin Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio.

Click here to view footage from last year’s event.

The Cleveland Public Auditorium opened in 1922. Although the Auditorium hosted two Republican National Conventions (1924 and 1936), SGS was more interested in the event pictured above from the September 22, 1944 Cleveland Gazette. Fletcher Henderson and his orchestra played as fifteen Cleveland ladies vied for the title of Cleveland’s “Miss Bronzeville”.

Fletcher Henderson was one of the great jazz pioneers, and played Cleveland many times. For more information on a couple of Henderson’s visits to our city–check out the amazing Jazzed in Cleveland series by Joe Mosbrook.

Many fans of the Phantasy Theater lament that they missed Husker Du, Nine Inch Nails, and Sonic Youth play at this legendary club. SGS only regrets that they were not able to be witness to the follicle majesty of King Kobra at the Phantasy on June 10, 1985.

The box store shopping experience is as forgettable as a serving of cafeteria-grade mixed vegetables; however, the West 65th street Rite Aid is an exception to this rule. Due to its proximity to a diverse group of West Side residents this Rite Aid is different. On any given day customers can interact with immaculately dressed transvestites shopping for beauty aids, Somali immigrants printing family pictures from the in-store photo kiosk, and the occasional freeloader relaxing in the pharmacy waiting area using the blood pressure monitor; this SGS member tested in at 120/74.

Outside is equally exciting. Today we had the pleasure of meeting a couple who recently arrived in Cleveland by way of Wisconsin. Cheyenne, the Great Pyrenees pictured above was attached to her owner by a rope … which got us thinking. If you see a “rope dog” it means one of two things: the dog is neglected and the owner is too darn lazy to buy a stylish leash, or the dog is so well-behaved that a leash/rope is needless and just for show … fortunately for Cheyenne it is the latter. Her owner was extremely proud of her heritage and “seven toes” stating that she descends from french royalty and “doesn’t eat that much”.

If you haven’t loitered at the West 65th street Rite Aid then by all means do so, you’re bound to make new acquaintances who will remain true with or without the enforcement of City Ordinance 603.02.

El Voyage Maximo from Cleveland SGS on Vimeo.

“Scorpio Diamante’s El Voyage Maximo, which premiered at  the Bangkok International Film Festival will probably be called a perfect film, and in a way I suppose it is. The amazing thing about Mr. Diamante’s new film is that it stays with you hours after the first viewing and then lingers on the corners of the brain for days to come.  Diamante of Cleveland SGS fame has forsaken his previous filmmaking techniques of utilizing sinister music and slimy mustache-twirling villains that bubble before our eyes. In this new venture our protagonist is beamed down to the heart of Cleveland and spends a few days investigating locals and learning what drives their honesty, dedication, and incorruptible spirits amidst the darkness that looms.

El Voyage Maximo may not be organized according to patterns that we are familiar with, yet we don’t question the logic.  Every midwesterner will intrinsically understand the visitor’s quest for true understanding. The picture in essence is a coming of age story where our hero yearns to experience joy.  All the while we as the viewers stay one step ahead of him by understanding just how big this job really is. One may not be ready for the conclusion of this film, as Diamante deftly throws a final right jab that challenges viewers to examine their surroundings from an alternate view.

Maximo is about the insanity of a fundamentalist culture in which practically the whole city has been turned into robots. The inhabitants that remain are those who still decide to live their lives in lieu of some unattainable dream.  Maximo is not full of resolutions because the SGS team doesn’t set up conflicts for easy digestion.  A lot happens in five days in this city, and nothing is ever wrapped up, this is because Clevelanders are too busy living their lives to be locked into their predestined fate.”

Hai Tah Cheong — Photo Play International

Slumbering in every human being lies an infinity of possibilities, which one must not arouse in vain. For it is terrible when the whole man resonates with echoes and echoes, none becoming a real voice. -Elias Canetti, Notes from Hampstead

ClevelandSGS recently stopped in at the Cooley Lounge located at 3670 West 130 St. This spot has been popular at some time or another with family, friends and foes. The Cooley is one of those places where you peek in the window and clench your fists before entering. This is not only from fear of the unknown, but also to make sure that you are allowed to enter. The Cooley graciously welcomes all, but clearly is there to serve a steady clientele of hard drinking regulars.

The Cooley is a no frills, meat and potatoes neighborhood watering hole, so keep your scarf and argyle socks at home, fancy boys. The jukebox is still kicking with Bob Seger and Bob Seger. SGS debated if we had been to any other local haunt where the beers were so cheap. At one point a few regulars brought the heat on our consumption because we were cutting into their supply of Rolling Rock. The Cooley stocks for their regulars and we were throwing a spanner into their cache.

Check out the Cooley Lounge—the kind of place your dad used to go to when he had a bad day.

The Sleeping Beauties saga of 1960 is an interesting story passed down from our Cleveland elders. Lillian Fratantonio’s two little girls captivated the nation with a August 15, 1960 Life magazine article.  The article was about how doctors were baffled by the case of two little Cleveland Heights girls who slipped in and out of comas.

The scan from above is from an August 12, 1960 Cleveland Press story where Mrs. Fratantonio was arrested for allegedly drugging her little girls.

Interestingly in our research we came across a March 28, 1999 Plain Dealer article where reporter Fred McGunagle recounted the ordeal of the “Sleeping Beauties”. The following week (April 4, 1999-Plain Dealer) one of the “Sleeping Beauties” daughters–Venita Fratantonio-Sapatka wrote this about her mother,  “I’d like to say something on behalf of my mother, Lillian Fratantonio , and myself. So what if [my mother] made a mistake 40 years ago? She has more than made up for it since then. Why can’t you let our family members live the rest of our lives in peace? Lillian Fratantonio not only is my mother; she’s my best friend. Please forget about the “Sleeping Beauties,” because I’m wide awake and doing very well, thanks to my mother. I love my family.”

Lillian Fratantonio was always painted as some sort of historical Cleveland evil. We found it interesting how local legends can grow to something they may not actually be. After reading all we could find about the case, it seems clear that this story was about a scared and confused young woman. By most accounts Lillian went on to be an upstanding citizen who took advantage of her second chance to improve her life.