jackjohnson

This images is looking east from 42nd Street and 7th Avenue. The building shown on teh left in teh center is the Times Building. In the distance you see the platform for the Elevated on Sixth Avenue.

great catch.. Now can you get the name of the theater? Hammerstein's something or another.

Hammerstein's Roof Garden, operated by Oscar Hammerstein I. He opened it in 1904, above two theaters that he owned: the Victoria and the Republic. Jack Johnson, the African-American world champion prizefighter, appeared at the Victoria Theater in July of 1910, for an engagement of several days.

Thanks! Johnson was a key figure, maybe even a tragic figure, in the history of rase relations in America.

The New York Times, on July 12, 1910, ran a story about Johnson's tumultuous welcome in New York City. (This was right after his victory in Reno over former heavyweight champion James Jeffries, "The Great White Hope," cemented Johnson's claim to the title): [http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9E07E6D9173AE733A25751C1A9619C946196D6CF

This image has been used in the indicommons.org post: Black History across the Commons - Part 1

This is one of 4 Bain Collection photos of Jack Johnson taken in the same place and apparently at the same time, one of which is dated May 3, 1912

Presumably taken in New Mexico in the lead up to Jack Johnson's July 4, 1912 fight with Jim Flynn. Marty Cutler and "Professor" Burns were mentioned as sparring partners that accompanied Johnson from Chicago in a May 25, 1912 NY Times article ("Johnson Starts for Las Vegas"). The Library of Congress has two related photos, of Jim Flynn sparring and of Jim Flynn's training camp. (Note that this is not the Burns - Tommy Burns - that Johnson beat in his legendary July 4 1910 December 1908 fight. Tommy Burns was a sparring partner for Flynn, according to a May 1, 1912 NY Times article ("$1,100 for Johnson's Training").)

Burns fight 1908, Jim Jefferies 1910.

Thanks @David.Lafevor. Missed your comment ages ago, and just happened past this after the PBS special. Corrected mine, hopefully people noticed yours!