Reginald Baker
Encyclopedia
Reginald Leslie "Snowy" Baker (8 February 1884 – 2 December 1953) was an Australia
n athlete, sports promoter and film actor, who was born in Surry Hills, an inner-city suburb of Sydney, New South Wales. He died in Los Angeles, California
, United States
Baker was also prominent at polo, water polo, cricket and diving, and proficient in surfing, fencing, hockey, rowing, yachting and equestrian events. He appeared at the 1908 London Olympics, representing Australasia in the 4x200m freestyle relay
, finishing fourth, and in the diving
where he lost in the first round, coming seventh against the powerful Germans who dominated the sport at the time. He also took part in the Olympic boxing competition, where he lost the final match against Johnny Douglas
, winning a silver medal. Douglas' father, J H Douglas, as President of the Amateur Boxing Association, presented his son with the gold medal and Baker with the silver. The official report did not name referees, but a number of newspaper and magazine reports later claimed that Douglas senior had refereed the final and Baker confirmed this in an interview in 1952 with respected journalist Norman Bartlett. (This is denied in the article on Douglas). The pair met in a bare-knuckle return match at a London club and Baker knocked out Douglas.
, Baker became one of the premier boxing promoters in Australia, bringing to the country many of the best boxers of the day from North America and Europe. He was responsible for starting the careers of many of Australia's best pugilists, most notably Les Darcy
. However, he and Darcy had a major falling out, resulting in the latter stowing away to the United States. When Darcy died in May 1917 from complications resulting from a botched dental procedure, many Australians blamed Baker for his death. It was this fall from grace in the eyes of the Australian public that would ultimately result in Baker's permanent relocation to California
.
, The Man from Kangaroo
, and The Shadow of Lightning Ridge
. During this same time, he was also writing and editing a publication titled 'Snowy Baker's Magazine'. For many years, until he settled in the United States, Baker was Australia's leading actor and matinee idol.
in horse riding. He taught Elizabeth Taylor
, Shirley Temple
, Greta Garbo
and Rudolph Valentino
how to ride, fence and swim.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n athlete, sports promoter and film actor, who was born in Surry Hills, an inner-city suburb of Sydney, New South Wales. He died in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Athletics record
Baker played 26 sports during his lifetime and excelled at most of them:- At the age of 13 Baker was the New South WalesNew South WalesNew South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
open swimming champion for 110 and 220 yards (100 and 200m). - At 16 he played in the Australian Rugby UnionAustralian Rugby UnionThe Australian Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Australia. It was founded in 1949 and is a member of the International Rugby Board the sport's governing body. It consists of eight member unions, representing each state and territory...
team against Great BritainGreat BritainGreat Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
. - At 17 he was middleweight boxing champion of New South Wales, and
- At 18 took the middleweight and heavyweight boxing titles of AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Baker was also prominent at polo, water polo, cricket and diving, and proficient in surfing, fencing, hockey, rowing, yachting and equestrian events. He appeared at the 1908 London Olympics, representing Australasia in the 4x200m freestyle relay
Swimming at the 1908 Summer Olympics - Men's 4x200 metre freestyle relay
The men's 4x200 metre freestyle relay, or 800 metre team race, was one of 6 swimming events on the Swimming at the 1908 Summer Olympics programme...
, finishing fourth, and in the diving
Diving at the 1908 Summer Olympics
At the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, two diving events were contested, both for men only. The competition was held on Tuesday July 14, 1908 and Friday July 24, 1908.-Medal summary:...
where he lost in the first round, coming seventh against the powerful Germans who dominated the sport at the time. He also took part in the Olympic boxing competition, where he lost the final match against Johnny Douglas
Johnny Douglas
John "Johnny" William Henry Tyler Douglas was a cricketer who was captain of the England team and an Olympic boxer.-Early life:...
, winning a silver medal. Douglas' father, J H Douglas, as President of the Amateur Boxing Association, presented his son with the gold medal and Baker with the silver. The official report did not name referees, but a number of newspaper and magazine reports later claimed that Douglas senior had refereed the final and Baker confirmed this in an interview in 1952 with respected journalist Norman Bartlett. (This is denied in the article on Douglas). The pair met in a bare-knuckle return match at a London club and Baker knocked out Douglas.
Rugby Union career
Baker was a scrum-half who claimed a total of 2 international rugby caps for Australia. His debut game was against Great Britain, at Sydney, on 2 July 1904.Olympic boxing results
- Defeated William J. DeesWilliam J. DeesWilliam J. Dees was a boxer from England. He won the Amateur Boxing Association of England's middleweight championship in 1897, and was the heavyweight champion in 1900. He represented Great Britain at the 1908 Olympic Games in London in 1908....
(Great Britain) KO 2 - Defeated William Childs (Great Britain) 2-0
- Defeated William PhiloWilliam PhiloWilliam Philo was a British Middleweight professional boxer who competed in the early twentieth century. He won a bronze medal in Boxing at the 1908 Summer Olympics losing against Reginald Baker in the semi-finals...
(Great Britain) KO 1 - Lost to Johnny DouglasJohnny DouglasJohn "Johnny" William Henry Tyler Douglas was a cricketer who was captain of the England team and an Olympic boxer.-Early life:...
(Great Britain) 0-2
Sports Administration
After his retirement from professional sport following a debilitating motor vehicle accident, Baker turned his hand to boxing promotion. Working with a dubious, larger-than-life character by the name of Hugh D. "Huge Deal" McIntoshHugh D. McIntosh
Hugh Donald "Huge Deal" McIntosh was an Australian show-business entrepreneur born to parents of Scottish and Irish origin and modest means in Sydney's Surry Hills, then a ramshackle suburb with a reputation for crime and vice among the largely Irish immigrant population. His policeman father Hugh...
, Baker became one of the premier boxing promoters in Australia, bringing to the country many of the best boxers of the day from North America and Europe. He was responsible for starting the careers of many of Australia's best pugilists, most notably Les Darcy
Les Darcy
James Leslie Darcy was an Australian boxer. He was a middleweight, but held the Australian Heavyweight Championship title at the same time....
. However, he and Darcy had a major falling out, resulting in the latter stowing away to the United States. When Darcy died in May 1917 from complications resulting from a botched dental procedure, many Australians blamed Baker for his death. It was this fall from grace in the eyes of the Australian public that would ultimately result in Baker's permanent relocation to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Film career
Baker became Australia's darling of the screen when his silent movie career took off. His movies included The Enemy WithinThe Enemy Within (1918 film)
The Enemy Within is a 1918 Australian silent film starring renowned Australian sportsman Snowy Baker in his first screen role. He plays a secret agent battling saboteurs based on the International Workers of the World...
, The Man from Kangaroo
The Man from Kangaroo
The Man from Kangaroo is a 1920 Australian silent film starring renowned Australian sportsman Snowy Baker. It was the first of several films he made with the husband and wife team of director Wilfred Lucas and writer Bess Meredyth, both of whom had been imported from Hollywood.-External links:* at...
, and The Shadow of Lightning Ridge
The Shadow of Lightning Ridge
The Shadow of Lightning Ridge is a 1921 Australian silent film starring renowned Australian sportsman Snowy Baker. Inspired by Zorro, he plays an Australian studying who returns home to avenge his mother against a powerful squatter...
. During this same time, he was also writing and editing a publication titled 'Snowy Baker's Magazine'. For many years, until he settled in the United States, Baker was Australia's leading actor and matinee idol.
US Career
Baker moved to the California in the 1920s. While residing there he acted in some films, managed a polo club and coached such actors as Douglas FairbanksDouglas Fairbanks
Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. was an American actor, screenwriter, director and producer. He was best known for his swashbuckling roles in silent films such as The Thief of Bagdad, Robin Hood, and The Mark of Zorro....
in horse riding. He taught Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor
Dame Elizabeth Rosemond "Liz" Taylor, DBE was a British-American actress. From her early years as a child star with MGM, she became one of the great screen actresses of Hollywood's Golden Age...
, Shirley Temple
Shirley Temple
Shirley Temple Black , born Shirley Jane Temple, is an American film and television actress, singer, dancer, autobiographer, and former U.S. Ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia...
, Greta Garbo
Greta Garbo
Greta Garbo , born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson, was a Swedish film actress. Garbo was an international star and icon during Hollywood's silent and classic periods. Many of Garbo's films were sensational hits, and all but three were profitable...
and Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino was an Italian actor, and early pop icon. A sex symbol of the 1920s, Valentino was known as the "Latin Lover". He starred in several well-known silent films including The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, The Sheik, Blood and Sand, The Eagle and Son of the Sheik...
how to ride, fence and swim.
Selected Filmography
- The Enemy WithinThe Enemy Within (1918 film)The Enemy Within is a 1918 Australian silent film starring renowned Australian sportsman Snowy Baker in his first screen role. He plays a secret agent battling saboteurs based on the International Workers of the World...
(1918) - The Lure of the BushThe Lure of the BushThe Lure of the Bush is a 1918 Australian silent film starring renowned Australian sportsman Snowy Baker.-External links:* at the National Film and Sound Archive...
(1918) - The Man from KangarooThe Man from KangarooThe Man from Kangaroo is a 1920 Australian silent film starring renowned Australian sportsman Snowy Baker. It was the first of several films he made with the husband and wife team of director Wilfred Lucas and writer Bess Meredyth, both of whom had been imported from Hollywood.-External links:* at...
(1920) - The Jackeroo of CoolabongThe Jackeroo of CoolabongThe Jackeroo of Coolabong is a 1920 Australian silent film starring renowned Australian sportsman Snowy Baker. It was made with the husband and wife team of director Wilfred Lucas and writer Bess Meredyth, both of whom had been imported from Hollywood. The film was re-edited and released in the USA...
(1920) - The Shadow of Lightning RidgeThe Shadow of Lightning RidgeThe Shadow of Lightning Ridge is a 1921 Australian silent film starring renowned Australian sportsman Snowy Baker. Inspired by Zorro, he plays an Australian studying who returns home to avenge his mother against a powerful squatter...
(1921)
External links
- http://colsearch.nfsa.afc.gov.au/nfsa/search/summary/summary.w3p;adv=yes;group=;groupequals=;page=0;parentid=;query=Number%3A355696%20|%20Number%3A354609%20|%20Number%3A552885%20|%20Number%3A358976%20|%20Number%3A552861%20|%20Number%3A556066%20|%20Number%3A356514%20|%20Number%3A351402%20|%20Number%3A351724%20|%20Number%3A354504%20|%20Number%3A551289%20|%20Number%3A364454%20|%20Number%3A446244;querytype=;resCount=10Reginald (snowy) Leslie Baker at the National Film and Sound Archive]