Great, great stuff. The closest I ever came to the camp was when I called and spoke with his cook, Lana Shabazz. She was so sweet and willing to talk with a total stranger. Being a huge fan, I'm sure I made it easy for her. He was in training for Larry Holmes at the time. When I asked how The Greatest was doing, her response (I'm paraphrasing), "We're confident that he'll win if he just shows up to train". Thanks for the upload. I wish I could have been there.
I grew up in Pottsville, of which this training camp (in Deer Lake) is a borough. Hosting the camp The Greatest Sportsman of All Time trained at during his prime is one of the many things we, people from the area, are both at awe and very prideful of. Thank you for this video! I was only a few years old at the time but I do remember my father taking me to the camp to watch him train.
It actually was turned into a children's home around 1986? I stayed there from 1988-1990. The grounds themselves are awesome. Between the rocks with different fighter's names on them, to the big outdoor fire pit, to the chapel. It truly was an awe inspiring place. "Thy Kingdom Come Children's Home resident"
I grew up in Orwigsburg, near Deer Lake during this time. I remember it vividly. It was great to be near Ali during his greatest time. Thanks for posting this footage. Brought back some wonderful memories.
Wow dude, you brought back some wonderful memories. I was at Deer Lake a few times when I was a teenager, my uncle used to take me. I have a picture of me and Ali together. Thanks for Posting this.
My father in law owns this camp now...we go up alot, living 20 min away. Its neat to see video of the camp back when he was there..loved the mustache lol.
the only trainning i see ali's doing is hitting the speed bag and heavy bag for a few seconds and a few seconds of sparring and jogging along side of the road for a few seconds. thats it???
I'm sorry, I had missed this posting. Of course I would be interested. Please let me know how I can help. (Post a new comment, not a reply to this one. That I won't miss.)
You are blessed to have been able to spent time like that with the greatest. You did the right thing by making videos and having him sign things back then, or else you would have regretted it if you hadnt. Whats the name of the song?
Though we loved visitng Ali at his camp, it was a blessing that wasn't fully appreciated at the time. The music is "Flight Of The Bumble Bee" by Rimsky - Korsakov and "Black Superman - Muhammad Ali" by Johnny Wakelin and The Kinshasa Band.
Wow! That is so cool! You guys are so lucky to have those memories and movies! They're PRICELESS! I was waiting to see if he was going to put a mustache on the big picture he signed for you, that would have ben funny. I guess that camp is now for sale again...if I onl had the money! Thank you for sharing this!
"Harold S. Pollack W32, Reading, Pa., retired chair of Pollack Furs, a family furrier business, where he worked from 1932 until 2002; April 16. stores in Lebanon, Harrisburg, Pottsville, and Reading, as well as a mink farm in Deer Lake. In 1971 he and his brother invited boxer Muhammad Ali to the mink farm to train. Ali accepted the offer and in 1971 the brothers sold Ali land in Orwigsburg ...." (Pollack obit)
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"Great" people do not torture and murder minks to make bloody coats.
you r one lucky fella. what an absolutely amazing guy he was and you r so lucky to have spent time with him. i met him at a book signing in waterstones in edinburgh & was lucky enough to shake his hand and have my photograph taken with him. even then he was an giant 6'4" figure to stand next to.
What an excellent piece of nostalgia for you and your brothers. I had always been a fan of Ali & growing up 13 miles away in Minersvile made him like a local when he started training in Deer Lake. I remember one night in 1977 when I happened to be in the DUSSELFINK when he and his entourage came to for a little livation. But seriously, very cool video for sure!
No it hasn't, though that would be cool and in line what I'd like to do for a new career. I've got a film I've submitted to film festivals and for which I am seeking a distributor. (The trailer for "An Uncommon, Common Man" is posted here as well).
Boy does this bring back memories!........My Grandfather was best friends with a guy named Harvy Moyer, who helped build the training camp...........He would take us down there and I'll never forget Muhamad giving us a personal tour and "sparing" with the three of us kid's and joking with my Grandfather who Muhamad would call "old mannn". .......I was nine years old...far too young to appreciate that I was in the presence of greatness.
I don't know how to go about meeting Ali now either. He's much more private then he was when he was training. I think there are still events he attends. Wikipedia says he greets runners at the start of the LA Marathon every year. I guess I'd google around to find out what public event he will be attending and go there to meet him. (It won't be intimate as Deer Lake was).
1. We only saw Holmes spar Ali a few times and you are right, Ali purposefully took a lot of punches. When Ali tried, Holmes was no match for him. No one was. This was in the early-mid 70's (after Holmes was beaten by Duane Bobick—remember him?—to represent the US in the 1972 Olympics).
2. In 1980, Ali (38) was heavier and somewhat slower (though still quick); you can see that in the video. There was no stuttering that we heard. (I think his poor performance vs. Holmes was largely due to diuretics he had taken to lose weight. His energy was low by the 2nd round).
Larry Holmes, the Easton Assassin, trained 20 miles from Allentown. We only watched him train once (in 1980), a day after watching Ali train. We thought Ali would beat Holmes, but he was un-Ali-like in that fight.
Great, great stuff. The closest I ever came to the camp was when I called and spoke with his cook, Lana Shabazz. She was so sweet and willing to talk with a total stranger. Being a huge fan, I'm sure I made it easy for her. He was in training for Larry Holmes at the time. When I asked how The Greatest was doing, her response (I'm paraphrasing), "We're confident that he'll win if he just shows up to train". Thanks for the upload. I wish I could have been there.
uncjim 2 months ago
Great clip! Thx for sharing. God bless Muhammad Ali
Dadmeandali 3 months ago
I grew up in Pottsville, of which this training camp (in Deer Lake) is a borough. Hosting the camp The Greatest Sportsman of All Time trained at during his prime is one of the many things we, people from the area, are both at awe and very prideful of. Thank you for this video! I was only a few years old at the time but I do remember my father taking me to the camp to watch him train.
arel3 3 months ago
awesome
kuriaki71 4 months ago
You were unbelievably lucky to get to hang around Ali. Thanks for sharing this great story.
InnocenceExperience 5 months ago
Click the link and pause when you see Ringo Star 1:37
InnocenceExperience 5 months ago
Comment removed
InnocenceExperience 5 months ago
thanks for puttin this up
alexmcginness 6 months ago
"Dark Gable" lol
TheJgraves15 6 months ago
wow great footage and the signed paintings much be worth $thousands today
jrgniuwer 7 months ago
It actually was turned into a children's home around 1986? I stayed there from 1988-1990. The grounds themselves are awesome. Between the rocks with different fighter's names on them, to the big outdoor fire pit, to the chapel. It truly was an awe inspiring place. "Thy Kingdom Come Children's Home resident"
etwgoose 8 months ago
Man you are so lucky. Maybe the luckiest person in the world.
musood6630 9 months ago
wow! thanks so much for sharing this.
memphisdrean 1 year ago
Comment removed
thrashmetal4life1 1 year ago
I grew up in Orwigsburg, near Deer Lake during this time. I remember it vividly. It was great to be near Ali during his greatest time. Thanks for posting this footage. Brought back some wonderful memories.
reformr 1 year ago
@HHHAZZELL
Hey man
I would love to see it...
MIKEDINSMORE2 1 year ago
wow ur lucky
Blackjesus3 1 year ago
Wow, very lucky...
djprynce 2 years ago
Wow dude, you brought back some wonderful memories. I was at Deer Lake a few times when I was a teenager, my uncle used to take me. I have a picture of me and Ali together. Thanks for Posting this.
F250Dude 2 years ago
@F250Dude Cool, can you post a link please?
thegiftedmedia 10 months ago
Dear Curtfrantz,
do you have more footage from this time. Can you post more please its really interesting,
thanks,
damonp2006 2 years ago
i like this song
lasvegasNEV 2 years ago
My father in law owns this camp now...we go up alot, living 20 min away. Its neat to see video of the camp back when he was there..loved the mustache lol.
d5enzo 2 years ago
remind me of when vegeta grew his stache
jontray87 2 years ago 3
@jontray87 Now that's a complement to Vegeta.
thegiftedmedia 10 months ago
WOW!
baddestmanonearth 2 years ago
the only trainning i see ali's doing is hitting the speed bag and heavy bag for a few seconds and a few seconds of sparring and jogging along side of the road for a few seconds. thats it???
jeryd2003 2 years ago
I'm sorry, I had missed this posting. Of course I would be interested. Please let me know how I can help. (Post a new comment, not a reply to this one. That I won't miss.)
curtfrantz 3 years ago
You are blessed to have been able to spent time like that with the greatest. You did the right thing by making videos and having him sign things back then, or else you would have regretted it if you hadnt. Whats the name of the song?
reznick8 3 years ago
Though we loved visitng Ali at his camp, it was a blessing that wasn't fully appreciated at the time. The music is "Flight Of The Bumble Bee" by Rimsky - Korsakov and "Black Superman - Muhammad Ali" by Johnny Wakelin and The Kinshasa Band.
curtfrantz 3 years ago
Wow! That is so cool! You guys are so lucky to have those memories and movies! They're PRICELESS! I was waiting to see if he was going to put a mustache on the big picture he signed for you, that would have ben funny. I guess that camp is now for sale again...if I onl had the money! Thank you for sharing this!
pulppeeler 3 years ago
"Harold S. Pollack W32, Reading, Pa., retired chair of Pollack Furs, a family furrier business, where he worked from 1932 until 2002; April 16. stores in Lebanon, Harrisburg, Pottsville, and Reading, as well as a mink farm in Deer Lake. In 1971 he and his brother invited boxer Muhammad Ali to the mink farm to train. Ali accepted the offer and in 1971 the brothers sold Ali land in Orwigsburg ...." (Pollack obit)
-----------
"Great" people do not torture and murder minks to make bloody coats.
lumpagogo 3 years ago
Oh please. I hate when bleeding heart animal zealots like you rain on people's parades. If you don't like the "bloody coats", don't buy one...
rdangelo 3 years ago
The only thing worse than a lover of JC or a dress-wearing Moslem is a Humanist.
The Trinity of Bastardi.
lumpagogo 3 years ago
you r one lucky fella. what an absolutely amazing guy he was and you r so lucky to have spent time with him. i met him at a book signing in waterstones in edinburgh & was lucky enough to shake his hand and have my photograph taken with him. even then he was an giant 6'4" figure to stand next to.
jackjay1 3 years ago
What an excellent piece of nostalgia for you and your brothers. I had always been a fan of Ali & growing up 13 miles away in Minersvile made him like a local when he started training in Deer Lake. I remember one night in 1977 when I happened to be in the DUSSELFINK when he and his entourage came to for a little livation. But seriously, very cool video for sure!
Kolkraqr9 3 years ago
No it hasn't, though that would be cool and in line what I'd like to do for a new career. I've got a film I've submitted to film festivals and for which I am seeking a distributor. (The trailer for "An Uncommon, Common Man" is posted here as well).
curtfrantz 3 years ago
Boy does this bring back memories!........My Grandfather was best friends with a guy named Harvy Moyer, who helped build the training camp...........He would take us down there and I'll never forget Muhamad giving us a personal tour and "sparing" with the three of us kid's and joking with my Grandfather who Muhamad would call "old mannn". .......I was nine years old...far too young to appreciate that I was in the presence of greatness.
schuylkillstcroix 3 years ago
I don't know how to go about meeting Ali now either. He's much more private then he was when he was training. I think there are still events he attends. Wikipedia says he greets runners at the start of the LA Marathon every year. I guess I'd google around to find out what public event he will be attending and go there to meet him. (It won't be intimate as Deer Lake was).
curtfrantz 4 years ago
1. We only saw Holmes spar Ali a few times and you are right, Ali purposefully took a lot of punches. When Ali tried, Holmes was no match for him. No one was. This was in the early-mid 70's (after Holmes was beaten by Duane Bobick—remember him?—to represent the US in the 1972 Olympics).
curtfrantz 4 years ago
2. In 1980, Ali (38) was heavier and somewhat slower (though still quick); you can see that in the video. There was no stuttering that we heard. (I think his poor performance vs. Holmes was largely due to diuretics he had taken to lose weight. His energy was low by the 2nd round).
Larry Holmes, the Easton Assassin, trained 20 miles from Allentown. We only watched him train once (in 1980), a day after watching Ali train. We thought Ali would beat Holmes, but he was un-Ali-like in that fight.
curtfrantz 4 years ago
WOW! What great memories. I hope Mr. Ali has the opportunity to view this. Well done!
signinmom514 4 years ago