Downey-Paterson Fight (lost early boxing film; 1897)

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Synopsis provided in International Photographic Films, 1897-1898.

Status: Lost

Downey-Paterson Fight (also known as The Downey and Patterson Fight) is an early boxing film. Released in 1897 by the International Film Company, it depicted Jack Downey emerging victorious following a sixth-round KO on Frank Paterson/Patterson. It was among over 50 boxing films produced by the early 1900s, with the work being an attempt to capitalise on boxing's popularity following The Corbett-Fitzsimmons Fight's release.

Background

Jack Downey was a lightweight boxer who resided in Brooklyn, New York.[1] His debut match was a points win over Frank Walsh on 1st October 1892.[1] A straight puncher who typically weighed between 126-132 pounds, he had become a huge star within the City of Churches by 1897.[2][1] Among his more notable matches included three points draws against Franke Erne,[2] and a tie against George Dixon on 15th February 1897 in what was considered "the fight of his career".[1] With his growing popularity came film opportunities; his first was a sparring match against his rival Billy Monahan,[3][4] who he had previously beaten via a points decision on 20th July 1896.[1] Released by the American Mutoscope Company in 1897 in two parts as Downey-Monaghan (Round 1) and Downey vs. Monaghan, it was marketed as featuring some knockdowns and a KO but it is unclear whether Downey emerged victorious.[3][4] 1897 was not an especially successful year for Downey.[1] Aside from his Dixon draw and a fourth points tie against Erne, he drew against Larry Becker and Black Griffo, lost by DQ versus Spike Sullivan, and achieved his sole win in a re-match against Becker via TKO on 18th December 1897.[1]

Still, given Downey's popularity in New York,[2] other film companies were eager to feature him in their boxing movies.[4] Aside from the American Mutoscope Company,[3] the International Film Company also produced a work starring Downey,[5][6] the organisation having been formed in 1896 by Charles H. Webster and Edmund Kuhn.[7][8] The International Film Company's interest in boxing is unsurprising for a few reasons. Firstly, the company's early operations involved releasing legal "reproductions" of Thomas Edison's works.[9][10][8] The Edison Manufacturing Company had notably kickstarted the boxing film genre with Leonard-Cushing Fight in 1894.[11] But perhaps the true motives arose following the May 1897 release of The Corbett-Fitzsimmons Fight, the first feature production that generated almost $1 million in revenue.[12] Indeed, Fight Pictures found that more than 50 boxing films were produced between the years 1897 and 1904.[6] Joining the boxing bandwagon was Downey-Paterson Fight, which International Photographic Films claimed consisted of Downey facing off against Frank Paterson from Boston.[5]

Aside from the film synopsis, nothing else is known regarding this "Frank Paterson". However, Fight Pictures identified the work had the alternative title of The Downey and Patterson Fight.[4] Therefore, the film is most likely referring to Frank Patterson, a fellow lightweight boxer whose first known match was against Joe Murphy on 18th February 1888.[13] Like Downey, Patterson experienced a journeyman career though The Cyber Boxing Zone claimed he was much better than his record would suggest, often drawing bouts he otherwise would have objectively won in modern times.[13] His 1897 record was patchy, though he did achieve wins against Frank Bryant and Eddie Gardner.[13] The only issue that prevents full confirmation is that International Photographic Films claimed he hailed from Boston,[5] whereas The Cyber Boxing Zone stated he "fought out of Brooklyn, New York".[13] Still, Downey-Paterson Fight being a typo holds some merit, considering the aforementioned Downey vs. Monaghan notably misspelt Monahan's name.[3][1]

The Fight and Aftermath

The bout between Downey and Patterson is not listed on either BoxRec or The Cyber Boxing Zone,[1][13] most likely because it was among the numerous choreographed exhibition boxing bouts being filmed during that era.[6] According to the International Photographic Films synopsis, the fight consisted of six rounds that lasted for up to 90 seconds.[5] It saw Patterson achieve a knockdown on Downey in the third round, but the latter returned the favour two rounds later. In the decisive sixth round, Patterson suffered a second knockdown, before Downey secured a KO victory via harnessing the famous solar plexus punch used by Bob Fitzsimmons to KO James. J Corbett.[14][5]

With this, the International Film Company captured 900 feet of footage or 150 feet per round.[5] This easily made it the longest film in the organisation's history, with most of its other works being between 50-150 feet.[5] The plan was to sell each round individually for $30 each to independent exhibitors, a practice utilised in most other early boxing films since the release of Leonard-Cushing Fight.[15][5] Thus, a full sale of Downey-Paterson Fight would have generated $180, worth $6,773.47 when adjusted for 2024 inflation.[16] Analysis by Fight Pictures suggests Downey-Paterson Fight attempted to piggyback on The Corbett-Fitzsimmons Fight and Corbett and Courtney Before the Kinetograph.[6] Particularly, it remarked that the International Photographic Films' claim of the film being "the best ever offered to the public" as being a textbook example of American film studios attempting to capitalise on gruelling boxing fights with KO outcomes.[6][5] Downey-Paterson Fight was first released on 27th November 1897.[17][4] But interestingly, the June issue of The Phonoscope implies that the work might have originally been released in June 1897 as Famous Knock-Out Fight.[18] This notably occurred with other International Film Company works, including its film on lynching.[18][17] Rather humorously, the listing is misspelt as Famous Kock-Out Fight.[18]

Following 1897, both boxers continued with relatively unremarkable fight records.[1] Downey won four more bouts but began a never-ending losing streak by the start of the 1900s.[1] His final known ranked encounter was a points loss to Mike Donovan on 24th February 1908.[1] Patterson again saw more draws instead of wins, though he did achieve victory in his last-known bout, against Lew Ryall on 12th June 1900.[13] His career longevity was likely affected by his loss to Billy Barrett on 19th February 1900, as he suffered a broken jaw.[13] Meanwhile, the International Filming Company's existence was short-lived as legal action from Edison caused the company to cease operations in 1898.[19][8]

Availability

Ultimately, no footage of Downey-Paterson Fight is known to have survived, becoming among many International Film Company works to be lost.[20] An aspect that likely contributed to its disappearance was the decision to release the rounds separately.[5] As noted by A History of Sports Highlights, this often was a bad business move, as most exhibitors and consumers would only be interested in viewing the final round.[15] Downey-Paterson Fight is therefore among over 90% of pre-1929 American works believed to be almost certainly lost forever,[21] with no images known to have resurfaced either.

See Also

External Links

References

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 BoxRec detailing Downey's professional fight record. Retrieved 8th May '24
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 10th February 1897 issue of The Brooklyn Citizen previewing the Downey-Dixon fight (found on Newspapers.com). Retrieved 8th May '24
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 AMB Picture Catalogue 1902 summaries of Downey-Monaghan (Round 1) and Downey vs. Monaghan (p.g. 38-39). Retrieved 8th May '24
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Fight Pictures: A History of Boxing and Early Cinema listing early boxing films (p.g. 292). Retrieved 8th May '24
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9 International Photographic Films, 1897-1898 providing film summaries of the majority of the International Film Company works. Retrieved 8th May '24
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Fight Pictures: A History of Boxing and Early Cinema summarising Downey-Paterson Fight and stating it tried to replicate the success of Corbett's films (p.g. 97-98). Retrieved 8th May '24
  7. ↑ Rutgers-New Brunswick School of Arts and Sciences summarising the founding and early history of the International Film Company. Retrieved 8th May '24
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Who's Who of Victorian Cinema biography on Webster. Retrieved 8th May '24
  9. ↑ The Emergence of Cinema: The American Screen to 1907 summarising the establishment of the International Film Company and how it originally "duplicated" Edison films (p.g. 167). Retrieved 8th May '24
  10. ↑ Before the Nickelodeon: Edwin S. Porter and the Edison Manufacturing Company summarising how the International Film Company's early Edison duplicates were perfectly legal (p.g. 153). Retrieved 8th May '24
  11. ↑ Library of Congress summary of Leonard-Cushing Fight. Retrieved 8th May '24
  12. ↑ Bright Lights Film Journal documenting The Corbett-Fitzsimmons Fight. Retrieved 8th May '24
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 Cyber Boxing Zone page on Patterson. Retrieved 8th May '24
  14. ↑ Boxing 24/7 summarising the bout between Fitzsimmons and Corbett, with the former achieving a KO victory via the solar plexus punch. Retrieved 8th May '24
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 A History of Sports Highlights noting Leonard-Cushing Fight was sold via separate rounds (p.g. 27). Retrieved 8th May '24
  16. ↑ in2013dollars stating $180 in 1897 is equal to $6,773.47 when adjusted for 2024 inflation. Retrieved 8th May '24
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 November-December 1897 issue of The Phonoscope listing of Downey-Paterson Fight (p.g. 13). Retrieved 8th May '24
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 June 1897 issue of The Phonoscope listing of Famous Kock-Out Fight (p.g. 14). Retrieved 8th May '24
  19. ↑ Before the Nickelodeon: Edwin S. Porter and the Edison Manufacturing Company noting the International Film Company closed its doors to avoid legal action from Edison (p.g. 115). Retrieved 8th May '24
  20. ↑ Networks of Entertainment: Early Film Distribution 1895–1915 noting most International Film Company productions no longer exist (p.g. 207). Retrieved 8th May '24
  21. ↑ The Film Foundation reporting on the majority of silent American films being declared lost forever. Retrieved 8th May '24
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