dmize
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Post by dmize on Aug 20, 2011 5:53:00 GMT -5
Watching The Rifleman this morning and Sammy Davis Jr. is a guest star.
Pretty slick man with a sixgun.
I was talking to Bob Munden a long time ago,and he said that 2 of the fastest men he had ever seen was Sammy Davis Jr. and Jerry Lewis.
On this episode,Im sure it was probably fake, he threw a knife drew and shot and stuck the knife in the bullet hole. A feat that Mr. Munden told me about all those years ago,that Mr. Davis could actually do.
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Len
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Post by Len on Aug 20, 2011 8:07:00 GMT -5
I knew Sammy Davis competed in fast draw but had no idea Jerry Lewis was in to guns.
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paulg
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Post by paulg on Aug 20, 2011 9:02:22 GMT -5
Who said black men can't shoot. :-) In the most recent issue of Guns Of The Old West there is an article about Arvo Ojala and on page 52 2nd paragraph it states that Davis Jr. and Jerry Lewis were students of Ojala's. Ojala was the quick draw instructor to the stars back in the day.
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Post by Boge Quinn on Aug 20, 2011 9:37:53 GMT -5
Sammy Davis Jr was an amazingly talented man.
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caryc
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Post by caryc on Aug 20, 2011 14:08:02 GMT -5
On this episode,Im sure it was probably fake, he threw a knife drew and shot and stuck the knife in the bullet hole. A feat that Mr. Munden told me about all those years ago,that Mr. Davis could actually do. I think everyone saw that Rifleman episode but I don't think Sammy Davis Jr. could actually do that trick with the knife and gun. It was just TV. He was an amazingly talented man but I don't believe he could do that. If it could be done, I think Bob Munden would be the most likely candidate to do it and I don't think he has ever done it. If Davis could actually do it repeatedly, I'm sure it would be documented someplace but, it's not, at least that I know of. |
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Post by Boge Quinn on Aug 20, 2011 17:32:18 GMT -5
I seriously doubt that as well - but he was one of the greatest singers who ever lived, one of the best dancers who ever lived, and a great musician on dern near any instrument. And he seemed like a super-nice dude. And he married up.
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caryc
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Post by caryc on Aug 20, 2011 18:28:44 GMT -5
I seriously doubt that as well - but he was one of the greatest singers who ever lived, one of the best dancers who ever lived, and a great musician on dern near any instrument. And he seemed like a super-nice dude. And he married up. Yep, he accomplished enough in his lifetime. He doesn't really need that feat attributed to him. As I said, if anybody in the world could do that it surely would be on tape somewhere. |
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dmize
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Post by dmize on Aug 20, 2011 18:54:26 GMT -5
Well as I am sitting here in my Lay-Z-Boy. I can tell you without a doubt,that in 1993 when my boss hired Mr. Munden to to a exhibition for the dealerships grand opening, Mr. Munden told me about Mr.Davis' abilities and he at that time told me that Sammy COULD throw a knife and then draw and hit the target before the knife hit. As far as putting the knife in the bullet hole,I dont know,so excuse me for mis speaking that point
This morning was the first time I have ever actually watched The Rifleman,and to see that episode was a treat.
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Post by wickerbill on Aug 20, 2011 21:47:30 GMT -5
He also did an episode of Wild Wild West.
Bill
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Post by 375supermag on Aug 21, 2011 8:10:42 GMT -5
Pretty much all of us do... I don't really know how fast Sammy Davis, Jr. was in drawing a handgun, however, there is a story on the IMDB site stating that the star of the TV show Lawman and Laredo, Peter Brown, once won a fast draw competition between what is described as many Western stars of the day. Don't know how true that might be, either. |
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caryc
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Post by caryc on Aug 21, 2011 13:00:15 GMT -5
Things were a bit different back then when quick draw was just getting started and all those TV stars were getting into it.
When it first started, there was a contact in the holster. The timer started when the gun was drawn and broke the contact. There was no "reaction" time included. The contestant just drew when he was ready.
It was possible to get very fast times like that. As quick draw developed, better timers were created. As the better timers were developed, reaction time was included.
When performing a fast draw now the contestant stands facing the target. He is given a "ready" call by the judges. There is a light above the target. When the judge presses a button, this light blinks one time. From that first blink there is a random period between one and five seconds that the light will blink again. The contestant never knows how long it will be.
When the light blinks again the timer starts, this is the signal to draw and fire. When the contestant fires, the timer stops.
There is a big difference in times when that "reaction" time is included in the draw.
Again, I'm casting no aspersions on Mr. Davis. If you Google "Sammy Davis Jr. fast draw" you will find the clip of him singing "Streets Of Laredo" and demonstrating his gun spinning abilities. He was very very good.
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don44
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Post by don44 on Aug 21, 2011 13:48:00 GMT -5
I seen him in Phoenix many years ago and he really was good with revolvers. Put on quite a show .... singing, dancing and doing all kinds of tricks with his guns.
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Post by Boge Quinn on Aug 21, 2011 13:54:33 GMT -5
If you Google "Sammy Davis Jr. fast draw" you will find the clip of him singing "Streets Of Laredo" and demonstrating his gun spinning abilities. He was very very good. "Shucks, I wouldn't put it on if I wasn't good at it!" That was GREAT, thanks. |
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robl
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These were the good ole days!
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Post by robl on Aug 21, 2011 18:06:26 GMT -5
"I almost found out how Chester got his limp"! Mel Torme was another fast draw artists and great singer. Also a collector of high dollar colts. Hollywood was differnt back then...
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dmize
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Post by dmize on Aug 21, 2011 18:51:56 GMT -5
First off. I ddint post this to start a debate.
Secondly the part that actually caught my eye was the twirling and spinning abilites he showed in the episode I saw.
Thirdly was when he did "the" trick Mr.Munden told me about almost 20 years before I saw it.
Yes Hollywood was MUCH different back then. Watch the westerns and think about something as simple as the riding abilities they had much less "gun handling" abilities.
I Know that a lot of "tricks" were put on by professions,such as the thru the stamp on the washer shot in Winchester '73. But also read of the training Glenn Ford went thru for The Fastest Gun In The West.
And to this day it makes me nervous/laugh to think of Jerry Lewis in character doing quick draw much less trick shooting. =)
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