The Rocky Marciano Interviews - Part One (16mm Transfer)

Main Event TV Series 1961
Guests: Joe Walcott, Jackie Gleason, Zsa-Zsa Gabor

One of Rocky's many ventures was to co-produce a TV sports program in 1961 called Main Event. The low budget "Mad-Men" era production was a studio talk show and review of epic fights. The setting was a modest living room arrangement with a sofa where Rocky and his guests would sit and talk. For each episode, Rocky would host a different sports figure, entertainer or celebrity of the day. The shows format was tightly structured and scripted. After introductions and a brief conversation, a featured fight film was shown and then discussed between commercial breaks. The fights were almost all Madison Square Garden films. Some fights were classics, some now obscure. During each fight, Rocky would narrate the voice over. If it was one of his fights, we'd get his perspective on the action. If other fighters were featured, he'd be describing the action and offering his analysis. It was vintage television.

More from The Fight Film Collector: http://fightfilmcollector.blogspot.com/

Here in Part One, Rocky and former champion Jersey Joe Walcott exchange gratitude and mutual respect, only seven years after their last fight. The encounter is refreshing, especially in contrast with today's atmosphere of perpetual animosity. Jackie Gleason tells of his encounter with Tony Galento, and Zsa Zsa Gabor and Rocky discuss, of all things, spousal abuse. More to come . . .