1956 Photo from "Shady Side: The Life and Crimes of Norman T. Whitaker"
Sam Sloan
by John S. Hilbert on page 246 there is a group photo from the 1956
Eastern States Open in Washington DC. The author incorrectly
identifies it as being from the 1957 Western Open but I am sure it is
from the 1956 Eastern States Open.
I am in the photo. I am sitting on the floor in the lower right hand
corner.
The photo has 55 players in it. As I recall, there were exactly 56
players in the tournament. Whitaker is in the photo, but he did not
play. Laucks, the sponsor, is in the photo but as I recall he did not
play either. If I am correct, this means that all but four players in
the tournament were in the photo.
Since you played, you should probably also be able to find yourself in
the photo.
I can recognize clearly in the photo myself, Bobby Fischer, Forry
Laucks, Norman T. Whitaker, Nicholas Rossolino, William Lombardy and
Hans Berliner.
There are several other faces I recognize but I cannot remember their
names. That looks to me like Larry Gilden in the center bottom row but
I do not recall him being in the tournament.
The black player in the top row I recall as being named Y. Ferguson,
the only black player in the tournament.
Can you find this photo and see if you recognize anybody in it?
I can no longer find the e-mail address of John Hilbert, the author.
Sam Sloan
At 11:48 AM 6/13/2004 -0400, william adams wrote:
>hi
>
>found a web page
>not sure if this email still works
>
>i knew norman in the late 50s
>we went to a few chess tournaments together
>as well as meeting in the dc clubs
>and touring once with forry laucks
>
>he talked about fischer
>had very personal details of him and his mother
>but we never all met together
>
>i toured with norman and forry laucks to mexico for matches in 57
>so it is likely they repeated this with fischer later as they liked to do
>that sort of thing
>
>i did meet bobby in philadelphia
>at the us junior (he watched did not play - age 11?) c. 1953??
>i met him again at the eastern open in dc
>bobby was 13 as i recall
>i played lombardy and lost
>he went to the mens room a lot
>was he using a book as later accused of elsewhere?
>rossolimo was there too
>
>ntw was heavily involved with the federal cc in the ymca
>which is where i first met him
>he arranged it having heard of me from my play at the divan
>
>he was a member and played occasionally (off hand but club rated games not
>tournaments) at the divan but never a director as i can recall although he
>may have helped run things from behind the scenes
>
>i do recall berliner and helping them run a blindfold exhibition
>
>he was a cheapskate
>sold me a used chess clock for $3 that lasted for only a few games
>
> on occasion would pick up a female on the way home from a tournament that
>he claimed to spend the night with after he dropped the rest of us off
>sometimes he drove two of us to the md open
>sometimes we rode with some other adult players who drove
>homer jones is a name i recall - he resided at the time in chestnut lodge
>in rockville md
>
>ntw also bragged about girlfriends in various cities
>and doing a 16 year old girl who begged him for her first time
>
>in acapulco he and forry were looking at investing in a hotel
>i inferred that ntw had interests in real estate in other places too
>that provided him with some income
>
>ntw kept a home base in georgetown on m street
>as far as we could see he always had enough money
>although he was extremely frugal
>he never worked as long as i could tell
>
>i ran into him again many years later
>and lost to him in a tournament in dc
>at (i think) a dc rec center which had an active club
>somewhere the naval observatory
>
>he had been in a car accident some time before
>some kid wrecked up
>not clear if ntw had helped him get an illegal license
>had a very built up shoe to even out his legs
>drove a vw that he parked illegally in front of the building
>used a cane to walk but was still basically independent and mobile
>
Miriling
>Whitaker"
>On 13 June 2004 sl...@ishipress.com (Sam Sloan) wrote in
>Message-id: <40cca190...@ca.news.verio.net>
>
>In the book "Shady Side: The Life and Crimes of Norman Tweed Whitaker"
>by John S. Hilbert on page 246 there is a group photo from the 1956
>Eastern States Open in Washington DC. The author incorrectly
>identifies it as being from the 1957 Western Open but I am sure it is
>from the 1956 Eastern States Open.
>
>Sam Sloan
>
>
>At 11:48 AM 6/13/2004 -0400, william adams wrote:
-snipped-
>
>>i did meet bobby in philadelphia
>>at the us junior (he watched did not play - age 11?) c. 1953??
>>i met him again at the eastern open in dc
>>bobby was 13 as i recall
>>i played lombardy and lost
>>he went to the mens room a lot
>>was he using a book as later accused of elsewhere?
>>rossolimo was there too
>>
>-snipped-
>>
>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Fischer played in the 1956 Eastern States Open on Thanksgiving weekend in
Washington, DC. There were 56 participants. Hans Berliner came in first with a
6-1 score. Fischer, Lombardy, Rossolimo and Feuerstein were runners-up with
5.5-1.5. E. Forry Laucks contributed more than $500 to the prize fund.
Here are the results of six of Fischer's games from that tournament:
Fischer 1-0 Attilio di Camillio
Ed Nash 0-1 Fischer
Erich Marchand 0-1 Fischer
Goldhamer 0-1 Fischer
Fischer 1/2-1/2 N. Hurttlen
Arthur Feuerstein 1/2-1/2 Fischer
I don't know the name of the other player who drew Fischer.
George Mirijanian
Steve Grant
news:20040613152357...@mb-m06.aol.com...
>
> Fischer played in the 1956 Eastern States Open on Thanksgiving weekend in
> Washington, DC. There were 56 participants. Hans Berliner came in first
with a
> 6-1 score. Fischer, Lombardy, Rossolimo and Feuerstein were runners-up
with
> 5.5-1.5. E. Forry Laucks contributed more than $500 to the prize fund.
> Here are the results of six of Fischer's games from that tournament:
> Fischer 1-0 Attilio di Camillio
> Ed Nash 0-1 Fischer
> Erich Marchand 0-1 Fischer
> Goldhamer 0-1 Fischer
> Fischer 1/2-1/2 N. Hurttlen
> Arthur Feuerstein 1/2-1/2 Fischer
>
> I don't know the name of the other player who drew Fischer.
>
> George Mirijanian
Lou Hays, Bobby Fischer: Complete Games of the American World Chess Champion
doesn't mention the seventh player either.
Taylor Kingston
> In the book "Shady Side: The Life and Crimes of Norman Tweed Whitaker" by John S. Hilbert on page 246 there is a group photo ... The author incorrectly identifies it as being from the 1957 Western Open but I am sure it is from the 1956 Eastern States Open. >
The above statement is misleading. The caption actually reads
"Unidentified tournament photograph, possibly from the 1957 New
Western Open." Therefore it is incorrect to say "the author
incorrectly identifies it." Mr. Hilbert is a far more careful
historian than Mr. Sloan.
Taylor Kingston
Miriling
>Whitaker"
>On 14 June 2004 tkin...@chittenden.com (Taylor Kingston) replied in
>Message-id: <dbe68208.04061...@posting.google.com>
>Mr. Hilbert may be a "far more careful historian than Mr. Sloan," but he
certainly did not do his homework in calling the photo in question an
"unidentified tournament photograph, possibly from the 1957 New Western Open."
Any chess historian worth a hill of beans would know that the group photo in
the Hilbert book could not possibly be from the 1957 New Western Open.
The 1957 New Western Open, held 4-7 July at the Astor Hotel in Milwaukee, Wis.,
had 122 participants. It's true that Fischer and Berliner were among the
players, but the photo that Sloan cites is one in which he clearly recognizes
himself, Fischer, Berliner, Lombardy, Rossolimo, Whitaker and Laucks, among
others. None of the last four individuals were even at the 1957 New Western
Open.
Mr. Hilbert should have left the photo as an "unidentified tournament
photograph" - if he didn't know - and not added "possibly from the 1957 New
Western Open."
In this case, score 1-0 for Sloan, since he correctly identified the photo as
one from the 1956 Eastern States Open.
In my opinion, Sloan is more knowledgeable about U.S. chess history, especially
history in the latter half of the 20th century, than a lot of chess historians,
including the self-professed one from Pennsylvania.
George Mirijanian
>
>
>
Taylor Kingston
"In this case, score 1-0 for Sloan, since he correctly identified the
photo as one from the 1956 Eastern States Open. In my opinion, Sloan
is more knowledgeable about U.S. chess history, especially history in
the latter half of the 20th century, than a lot of chess historians,
including the self-professed one from Pennsylvania."
I must respectfully disagree. Score one for Sloan if his
identification of the photo is correct, but subtract at least two for
misrepresenting Hilbert's caption. Hilbert's identification was
clearly tentative, Sloan misrepresented it as positive.
This kind of carelessness is not unusual for Sloan. At times he
commits inaccuracies bordering on fabrication, e.g. his recent utterly
fallacious post about Carlos Torre undressing "at a major tournament."
The relevance of Pennsylvania to this matter eludes me; last I heard
from John Hilbert, he still lived near Buffalo, New York.
Taylor Kingston
Miriling
>Whitaker"
>On 14 June 2004 tkin...@chittenden.com (Taylor Kingston) replied in
>Message-id: <dbe68208.04061...@posting.google.com>
>
-snipped-
> The relevance of Pennsylvania to this matter eludes me; last I heard
>from John Hilbert, he still lived near Buffalo, New York.
>
> Taylor Kingston
>
>
>I was not talking about Mr. Hilbert. I respect his ability as a chess
historian. I was talking about another person, an individual in Pennsylvania
who has slandered enough people on this newsgroup and whose chess historian
credentials pale in comparison to Mr. Hilbert's.
George Mirijanian
>
>
>
Parrthenon
more accurately, compendium-izing, and Sam Sloan has lived part of the history
that Mr. Hilbert writes. Sloan IS history, and there will always be things
that he knows that the most careful student of the subject will not. Perhaps
Mr. Hilbert let down on the photo, given the info provided by George
Mirijanian. But Mr. Hilbert's work is carefully done on the whole.
John Hilbert's good points are taking pains, enormous research,
well-organized presentation of material, straightforward if not stylish
writing. His key weak point is sometimes not knowing when to eliminate
information that does not belong in a work of history as opposed to a
compendium.
Taylor Kingston's argument represents rushing to the barricades against
what should have been better sense on his part. He should simply have written,
"Sloan's right in the main. John Hilbert, who is normally pretty careful, let
down on this one."
EZoto
>
>Lou Hays, Bobby Fischer: Complete Games of the American World Chess Champion
>doesn't mention the seventh player either.
>
EZoto
Jud McCranie
wrote:
>In the book "Shady Side: The Life and Crimes of Norman Tweed Whitaker"
>by John S. Hilbert on page 246 there is a group photo from the 1956
>Eastern States Open in Washington DC.
I have a little story about Whitaker and what is likely that photo.
I knew Whitaker in the late 60s and early 70s. A few months before
the 1972 Spassky-Fischer match, he showed me a glossy black and white
8 x 10 of him, young Fischer, and a group of chess players. It its
likely to be that photo. He said that he was going to make copies of
it and go to the match in Iceland and sell them. I don't know if he
actually did that because it was one of the last times I saw him, and
I didn't see him after Spassky-Fisher.
I don't remember much about the photo. In the same conversation he
told me about a match that he, Fischer, and others played in Mexico,
or somewhere. He said that he played board 1 and Fischer played board
2, so the photo could have been from that match.
I haven't heard of that match, except from Whitaker. Does anyone know
anything about that?
---
Replace you know what by j to email
Miriling
>Whitaker"
>On 14 June 2004 parrt...@cs.com (Parrthenon) replied in
>Message-id: <20040614220535...@mb-m26.news.cs.com>
>
> I think the distinction here is that John Hilbert does history or, perhaps,
>more accurately, compendium-izing, and Sam Sloan has lived part of the
>history
>that Mr. Hilbert writes. Sloan IS history, and there will always be things
>that he knows that the most careful student of the subject will not.
-snipped-
>
I agree with Parrthenon completely. He has made a very astute observation,
making the distinction between one writes about chess history and one who has
lived part of it.
George Mirijanian
Taylor Kingston
ĹSloan's right in the main. John Hilbert, who is normally pretty
careful, let down on this one.'"
Again I must respectfully disagree. IMO, Sloan may be right, but not
"in the main." If his identification of the photo is correct, well and
good. A small but definite service to chess history. However, he does
a greater disservice to factual accuracy by saying "The author
incorrectly identifies it as being from the 1957 Western Open." That
statement is misleading and false, since Hilbert plainly labeled it as
an unidentified photo, POSSIBLY from the 1957 Western. "Unidentified."
"Possibly." Very tentative words.
A more accurate and tactful Sloan might have written, say, "The
author is unable to identify the photo positively, but hazards a
guess, which turns out to be incorrect. Having been at the event in
question, I can positively identify it as ů" etc.
Parr again: "I think the distinction here is that John Hilbert does
history or, perhaps, more accurately, compendium-izing, and Sam Sloan
has lived part of the history that Mr. Hilbert writes."
No, the distinction I am making is that Hilbert may have failed in
fully researching an obscure 44-year-old photo, but Sloan reported
inaccurately a sentence which, presumably, is on a printed page right
in front of him. I consider the latter the greater error.
Taylor Kingston
Miriling
>Whitaker"
>On 14 June 2004 Jud McCranie youknowwha...@adelphia.net wrote in
>Message-id: <ressc0hh06ncatmuh...@4ax.com>
It's very possible that the photo you're talking about is one that was taken in
early March 1956, when Fischer went along with members of the Log Cabin Chess
Club in New Jersey for a tour of Havana, Cuba. Fischer played at the Capablanca
Chess Club in Havana, where he gave a 12-board simul, winning 10 games and
drawing 2. Whitaker might have been a member of that Log Cabin Chess Club
contingent. The driving force behind that club was E. Forry Laucks, who had
Fischer play in the Log Cabin 50-50 Tournament in February 1956, during the
Washington's Birthday weekend, in West Orange, N.J. It is unknown, I believe,
how well Fischer fared in that 50-50 event. The tournament was won by Saidy
ahead of Sherwin.
George Mirijanian
>
>
>
>
>
Jud McCranie
>It's very possible that the photo you're talking about is one that was taken in
>early March 1956, when Fischer went along with members of the Log Cabin Chess
>Club in New Jersey for a tour of Havana, Cuba. Fischer played at the Capablanca
>Chess Club in Havana, where he gave a 12-board simul, winning 10 games and
>drawing 2. Whitaker might have been a member of that Log Cabin Chess Club
>contingent. The driving force behind that club was E. Forry Laucks,
There's a good chance that you're right. Whitaker dedicates his book
"Selected Endings" it to Forry Laucks. And maybe it was Cuba instead
of Mexico.
Miriling
>Whitaker"
>On 17 June 2004 Jud McCranie youknowwha...@adelphia.net replied in
>Message-id: <ajo4d0l7hth0mbmg0...@4ax.com>
In Hilbert's book about Whitaker, the author confirms that Whitaker and Fischer
were members of the Log Cabin Chess Club team that toured Cuba in 1956. The
club's founder, Elliott Forry Laucks, was also part of the contingent. He was
one of the most controversial chess organizers in U.S. chess history. He died
on July 31, 1965, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he was competing in the U.S.
Open. He collapsed and died after the sixth round. He had just celebrated his
68th birthday nine days earlier.
George Mirijanian
>
>
>
>
>
>
Jud McCranie
>In Hilbert's book about Whitaker, the author confirms that Whitaker and Fischer
>were members of the Log Cabin Chess Club team that toured Cuba in 1956.
I think that is very likely where the picture I saw was from. Replace
"Mexico" with "Cuba" in my memory of a conversation from 32 years ago,
and everything fits.
Miriling
>Whitaker"
>On 18 June 2004 Jud McCranie youknowwha...@adelphia.net replied in
>Message-id: <nl46d01lg2hu10ao9...@4ax.com>
If you can get your hands on a copy of the April 1956 issue of Chess Review,
there is a photograph on page 101 that shows some of the players who were
members of the Log Cabin Chess Club contingent who toured Cuba in early March
of that year. Besides Fischer, Whitaker, and E. Forry Laucks, there were
William Walbrecht (representing the New Jersey State Chess Association), Ted
Miller (from the Fool's Mate Chess Club in Newark, N.J.), Robert Houghton (from
the Public Service Chess Club, also in Newark), and E.R. Glover (president of
the Mercantile Library Chess Club). I think that there were eight players in
all who made up the Log Cabin team, but I don't know who the eighth player was.
Maybe that person is mentioned in Hilbert's book about Whitaker.
George Mirijanian
>
>
>
>
>