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Date: 24 Jul 2008 09:21:23
From: samsloan
Subject: Chess in "The Front" Starring Woody Allen
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There was an incident involved in the making of the 1976 movie "The
Front", starring Woody Allen.
One of the early scenes in the movie shows Woody Allen playing the Ruy
Lopez against his Communist contact in a dingy chess club.
That dingy chess club was the "Chess House" owned by Charlie Hidalgo,
located on 72nd Street half way between Broadway and Columbus on the
North Side of the Street. It later became a Mama Leones.
When Woody Allen was scouting for a place to shoot this scene, he
found the Chess House, and agreed to rent the place from Charlie
Hidalgo for an substantial sum in advance.
Charlie Hidalgo, who was always broke, was so happy to be getting all
this money that he hired a crew to put on new wall paper and fix the
place up to that it would look good in the movie.
When Woody Allen and his camera crew arrived a few days later, they
were shocked to find that their set had been "ruined". Fran Goldfarb,
who was then manager of the Manhattan Chess Club, was there and told
the story. (By the way, I was planning to be there too but I was busy
that day and did not come.) The whole point to the Woody Allen scene
was that the place was run-down, dirty and dingy. So, Woody Allen
quickly had to hire a new work crew to replace the shiny new wall
paper with old, dirty and dingy wallpaper, with stains, marks and
spots on the walls. Of course, Woody Allen paid for all this, and the
scene was shot.
I was hoping that Charlie would leave the new-old wallpaper up for
historical purposes since it would appear in the movie, but alas with
the money he got from Woody Allen, Charlie remodeled the place and
ruined the decor.
The reason I am recounting this event now is I am trying to figure out
when Charlie Hidalgo died for a book I am working on. The Chess House
went out of business not long thereafter and by 1978 Charlie had a new
place on 72nd Street just a few doors west of the corner with Broadway
upstairs on the south side of the Street. Frank Kuenrich, a chess
expert, and New York City Scrabble Champion, was the manager.
I believe that Charlie Hidalgo died in around 1980 but I do not know
exactly when. Charlie was a chess expert about 2100 strength. Charlie
was crazy but his family was wealthy. His brother, Otto Hidalgo, was
an important real estate broker with Ely Cruikshank Co Inc, but died
in 1973. I can find Otto but cannot find Charlie listed in the Social
Security Death Index. Perhaps his first name was not really Charlie.
Does anybody know? I need this for a book I am writing.
Also, does anybody know how to spell Frank Kheunrich? He was seen in
New York a few months ago living in a flop house after having evicted
from his apartment.
Sam Sloan
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Date: 10 Aug 2008 12:51:38
From: N. Silver
Subject: Re: Chess in "The Front" Starring Woody Allen
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samsloan wrote:
> That dingy chess club was the "Chess House" owned by Charlie Hidalgo,
In the beginning, Charlie used to address all his employees as Dr.-------.
> I believe that Charlie Hidalgo died in around 1980 but I do not know
> exactly when. Charlie was a chess expert about 2100 strength. Charlie
> was crazy but his family was wealthy. His brother, Otto Hidalgo, was
> an important real estate broker with Ely Cruikshank Co Inc, but died
> in 1973. I can find Otto but cannot find Charlie listed in the Social
> Security Death Index. Perhaps his first name was not really Charlie.
> Does anybody know? I need this for a book I am writing.
Charlie spent some time at the Manhattan Chess Club on W57th St.
If he had another name maybe they would know it.
> Also, does anybody know how to spell Frank Kheunrich? He was seen in
> New York a few months ago living in a flop house after having evicted
> from his apartment.
I'm sorry to hear that.
Frank Kuehnrich
(You can look it up under 1978 NYC scrabble championship.)
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Date: 10 Aug 2008 13:58:58
From: N. Silver
Subject: Re: Chess in "The Front" Starring Woody Allen
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N. Silver wrote:
> samsloan wrote:
> Charlie spent some time at the Manhattan Chess Club on W57th St.
> If he had another name maybe they would know it.
Oh my gawsh, the Manhattan Chess Club no longer exists.
It hasn't existed since 2002. Shows how out of touch I am.
>> Also, does anybody know how to spell Frank Kheunrich? He was seen in
>> New York a few months ago living in a flop house after having evicted
>> from his apartment.
>
> I'm sorry to hear that.
>
> Frank Kuehnrich
>
> (You can look it up under 1978 NYC scrabble championship.)
>
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Date: 27 Jul 2008 05:40:34
From: samsloan
Subject: Re: Chess in "The Front" Starring Woody Allen
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I just realized that Woody Allen is in this picture on the top.
http://www.chessgraphics.net/jpg/wa2.jpg
Woody is sitting on the right hand side wearing a tan jacket with his
back to the camera. This is the actual layout of the real Chess House
on 72nd Street. When Reuben Fine played Charlie Hidalgo, they were
sitting at the board immediately to the right of where Woody is
sitting now.
Sam Sloan
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Date: 26 Jul 2008 11:36:13
From: samsloan
Subject: Re: Chess in "The Front" Starring Woody Allen
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On Jul 26, 2:19 pm, "Chess One" <[email protected] > wrote:
> Here is an on-line ref with 2 pics from the movie
>
> http://www.chessgraphics.net/wa.htm
>
> Howard Prince (Woody Allen) and Alfred Miller (Michael Murphy) catch a game
> of chess at the beginning of The Front (1976) Directed by Martin Ritt and
> written by Walter Bernstein
> A black comedy on the MacCarthy blacklists illuminated by an outstanding
> performacne by Zero Mostel
>
> PI
Good picture. That is it exactly.
This illustrates my game with Edward Lasker.
I was sitting at the left hand front table on the right end of table
facing the door.
When Reuben Fine and Charlie Hidalgo started playing, they were right
across the aisle from me at the middle of the three boards.
Unfortunately, with a crowd gathered to watch the games and me still
playing Edward Lasker, I did not get to see any of the moves.
Of course, had I known that Fine was going to leave so quickly, that
Lasker would take so long to move and would never resign and that this
would be the one and only chance for me ever to play Reuben Fine in my
entire life, and had I thought about it, I would have resigned by game
against Lasker so that I could play Reuben Fine.
Sam Sloan
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Date: 26 Jul 2008 14:06:35
From: Howard Brazee
Subject: Re: Chess in "The Front" Starring Woody Allen
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On Sat, 26 Jul 2008 11:36:13 -0700 (PDT), samsloan
<[email protected] > wrote:
>Good picture. That is it exactly.
>
>This illustrates my game with Edward Lasker.
Anybody here read _The Yiddish Policemen's Union_? The victim goes
by the name of Emanuel Lasker, although the "Emanuel" might have
another meaning. He played chess.
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Date: 26 Jul 2008 19:38:26
From: Paul B. Thompson
Subject: Re: Chess in "The Front" Starring Woody Allen
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"Howard Brazee" <[email protected] > wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Sat, 26 Jul 2008 11:36:13 -0700 (PDT), samsloan
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>Good picture. That is it exactly.
>>
>>This illustrates my game with Edward Lasker.
>
> Anybody here read _The Yiddish Policemen's Union_? The victim goes
> by the name of Emanuel Lasker, although the "Emanuel" might have
> another meaning. He played chess.
See http://www.biography.com/search/article.do?id=9374143
Emanuel was a far greater player than Edward.
PBT
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Date: 26 Jul 2008 19:08:02
From: Howard Brazee
Subject: Re: Chess in "The Front" Starring Woody Allen
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On Sat, 26 Jul 2008 19:38:26 -0400, "Paul B. Thompson"
<[email protected] > wrote:
>> Anybody here read _The Yiddish Policemen's Union_? The victim goes
>> by the name of Emanuel Lasker, although the "Emanuel" might have
>> another meaning. He played chess.
>
>See http://www.biography.com/search/article.do?id=9374143
>
>Emanuel was a far greater player than Edward.
Well, sure. But with all of the cross-posting in this thread, I
thought this book was worth mentioning. I'm trying to guess how the
movie will work (directed by the Coen Brothers).
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Date: 25 Jul 2008 14:41:17
From: SBD
Subject: Re: Chess in "The Front" Starring Woody Allen
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On Jul 24, 5:49 pm, Brian Lafferty <[email protected] > wrote:
> I'll scan those pages and make them available to
> anyone who is interested.
Isn't that a violation of copyright?
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Date: 25 Jul 2008 11:56:23
From: Opry phantom
Subject: Re: Chess in "The Front" Starring Woody Allen
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> >> =A0 There's a book out now by a guy who used to play a lot in a well
> >> known joint near 42nd many years ago. =A0He even played the (in)famous
> >> Treysman a few times. Maybe he knew Hidalgo, or knows somebody who
> >> remembers the info you're checking on.
> >> =A0 At least you're not trying to check on someone from the Stuyvesant
> >> that was on 2nd Ave. eons ago.
> >> =A0 I'll try to get the name of the still living guy if possible.
>
> > Yes. That book is "Hooked on Chess" by Bill Hook. It shows on the
> > cover a picture of Abraham Kupchik, a grandmaster strength player who
> > once won a tournament game from Capablanca, playing in the flea house
> > on 42nd street when he was 80 years old.
>
> >http://www.amazon.com/dp/9056912208/
>
> > That picture has no caption so you would have to know Kupchik to
> > recognize him.
>
> > I bought the book a few weeks ago and have it here. The story about
> > Woody Allen filming in the Chess House is mentioned on page 85 of that
> > book, but with some differences in the details.
>
> >http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074554/
>
> > Sam Sloan
>
> I think it is by Andy Soltis, Pictoral book of chess(will get the exact
> title next week at the library). =A0It has a chapter on the Stuyvesant
> Club when it was on 14th street. =A0Lots of good, fun information. =A0It'=
s
> long out of print. =A0I'll scan those pages and make them available to
> anyone who is interested.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
Yeah, 14th near 2nd. Years later the area became a real toilet. The
joint was chess in the front; poker etc. in back (or upstairs?) A
loaded Alekhine stumbled in there one Gotham night, looking for hot
skittles.
The book that has a chapter on Frank "Superfly" Lucas the American
Gangster, has a chapter on 14th near Second ave. a couple of decades
back. Sorta like E.107th without the glitter.
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Date: 24 Jul 2008 13:35:36
From: samsloan
Subject: Re: Chess in "The Front" Starring Woody Allen
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On Jul 24, 3:50 pm, "Jim Beaver" <[email protected] > wrote:
> "samsloan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> news:360e98d5-bfc2-42fa-a3e5-dee85bb4a507@r35g2000prm.googlegroups.com...
>
> > There was an incident involved in the making of the 1976 movie "The
> > Front", starring Woody Allen.
>
> > One of the early scenes in the movie shows Woody Allen playing the Ruy
> > Lopez against his Communist contact in a dingy chess club.
>
> > That dingy chess club was the "Chess House" owned by Charlie Hidalgo,
> > located on 72nd Street half way between Broadway and Columbus on the
> > North Side of the Street. It later became a Mama Leones.
>
> > When Woody Allen was scouting for a place to shoot this scene, he
> > found the Chess House, and agreed to rent the place from Charlie
> > Hidalgo for an substantial sum in advance.
>
> One big problem with this story: Woody Allen didn't direct THE FRONT, nor
> did he produce it. He was simply an actor in it. Therefore it is extremely
> unlikely that he was involved in deciding on or hiring locations for the
> film. Martin Ritt was the director/producer, and even though Allen's
> longtime partners Charles Joffe and Jack Rollins were the money finders, it
> would be almost unheard of for a director of Ritt's stature to hand over a
> directorial choice like location to one of his actors. The story only works
> if you replace Allen's name with Ritt's. With that change, it's quite a
> typical story, actually. It happens a lot, and not just with locations.
> Many times actors (inexperienced ones, at least) will be hired in part
> because of how they looked in their audition, only to go get a complete
> makeover once they've gotten hired. A lot of actresses, in particular, have
> to be de-glammed after they get their first job.
>
> Jim Beaver
OK. I accept these changes. I was not there on the day in question.
However, I regularly came to that club and I base my story on what was
told to me especially by Fran Goldfarb, who was there.
Sam Sloan
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Date: 24 Jul 2008 14:38:01
From: Jim Beaver
Subject: Re: Chess in "The Front" Starring Woody Allen
|
"samsloan" <[email protected] > wrote in message
news:8683be77-4cef-4b8b-b742-1f63e709bdb8@a21g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
> On Jul 24, 3:50 pm, "Jim Beaver" <[email protected]> wrote:
>> "samsloan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>
>> news:360e98d5-bfc2-42fa-a3e5-dee85bb4a507@r35g2000prm.googlegroups.com...
>>
>> > There was an incident involved in the making of the 1976 movie "The
>> > Front", starring Woody Allen.
>>
>> > One of the early scenes in the movie shows Woody Allen playing the Ruy
>> > Lopez against his Communist contact in a dingy chess club.
>>
>> > That dingy chess club was the "Chess House" owned by Charlie Hidalgo,
>> > located on 72nd Street half way between Broadway and Columbus on the
>> > North Side of the Street. It later became a Mama Leones.
>>
>> > When Woody Allen was scouting for a place to shoot this scene, he
>> > found the Chess House, and agreed to rent the place from Charlie
>> > Hidalgo for an substantial sum in advance.
>>
>> One big problem with this story: Woody Allen didn't direct THE FRONT,
>> nor
>> did he produce it. He was simply an actor in it. Therefore it is
>> extremely
>> unlikely that he was involved in deciding on or hiring locations for the
>> film. Martin Ritt was the director/producer, and even though Allen's
>> longtime partners Charles Joffe and Jack Rollins were the money finders,
>> it
>> would be almost unheard of for a director of Ritt's stature to hand over
>> a
>> directorial choice like location to one of his actors. The story only
>> works
>> if you replace Allen's name with Ritt's. With that change, it's quite a
>> typical story, actually. It happens a lot, and not just with locations.
>> Many times actors (inexperienced ones, at least) will be hired in part
>> because of how they looked in their audition, only to go get a complete
>> makeover once they've gotten hired. A lot of actresses, in particular,
>> have
>> to be de-glammed after they get their first job.
>>
>> Jim Beaver
>
> OK. I accept these changes. I was not there on the day in question.
> However, I regularly came to that club and I base my story on what was
> told to me especially by Fran Goldfarb, who was there.
I don't doubt that's how the story's been passed down. As far as most
non-film-geeks are concerned, if they remember the movie at all, it's as a
Woody Allen film, so it's natural to conflate his involvement in the film
with a sense that it was A Woody Allen Film, with the presumption that he
was the "decider" on it just as he'd have been on a film he actually did
direct.
Jim Beaver
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Date: 24 Jul 2008 12:50:33
From: Jim Beaver
Subject: Re: Chess in "The Front" Starring Woody Allen
|
"samsloan" <[email protected] > wrote in message
news:360e98d5-bfc2-42fa-a3e5-dee85bb4a507@r35g2000prm.googlegroups.com...
> There was an incident involved in the making of the 1976 movie "The
> Front", starring Woody Allen.
>
> One of the early scenes in the movie shows Woody Allen playing the Ruy
> Lopez against his Communist contact in a dingy chess club.
>
> That dingy chess club was the "Chess House" owned by Charlie Hidalgo,
> located on 72nd Street half way between Broadway and Columbus on the
> North Side of the Street. It later became a Mama Leones.
>
> When Woody Allen was scouting for a place to shoot this scene, he
> found the Chess House, and agreed to rent the place from Charlie
> Hidalgo for an substantial sum in advance.
One big problem with this story: Woody Allen didn't direct THE FRONT, nor
did he produce it. He was simply an actor in it. Therefore it is extremely
unlikely that he was involved in deciding on or hiring locations for the
film. Martin Ritt was the director/producer, and even though Allen's
longtime partners Charles Joffe and Jack Rollins were the money finders, it
would be almost unheard of for a director of Ritt's stature to hand over a
directorial choice like location to one of his actors. The story only works
if you replace Allen's name with Ritt's. With that change, it's quite a
typical story, actually. It happens a lot, and not just with locations.
Many times actors (inexperienced ones, at least) will be hired in part
because of how they looked in their audition, only to go get a complete
makeover once they've gotten hired. A lot of actresses, in particular, have
to be de-glammed after they get their first job.
Jim Beaver
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Date: 24 Jul 2008 13:24:06
From: Anim8rFSK
Subject: Re: Chess in "The Front" Starring Woody Allen
|
In article <[email protected] >,
"Jim Beaver" <[email protected] > wrote:
> A lot of actresses, in particular, have
> to be de-glammed after they get their first job.
How do I get that gig?
--
Star Trek 09:
No Shat, No Show.
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Date: 24 Jul 2008 12:04:19
From: Opry phantom
Subject: Re: Chess in "The Front" Starring Woody Allen
|
On Jul 24, 11:17=A0am, samsloan <[email protected] > wrote:
> On Jul 24, 1:34 pm, Opry phantom <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Jul 24, 9:21 am, samsloan <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > > There was an incident involved in the making of the 1976 movie "The
> > > Front", starring Woody Allen.
>
> > > One of the early scenes in the movie shows Woody Allen playing the Ru=
y
> > > Lopez against his Communist contact in a dingy chess club.
>
> > > That dingy chess club was the "Chess House" owned by Charlie Hidalgo,
> > > located on 72nd Street half way between Broadway and Columbus on the
> > > North Side of the Street. It later became a Mama Leones.
>
> > > When Woody Allen was scouting for a place to shoot this scene, he
> > > found the Chess House, and agreed to rent the place from Charlie
> > > Hidalgo for an substantial sum in advance.
>
> > > Charlie Hidalgo, who was always broke, was so happy to be getting all
> > > this money that he hired a crew to put on new wall paper and fix the
> > > place up to that it would look good in the movie.
>
> > > When Woody Allen and his camera crew arrived a few days later, they
> > > were shocked to find that their set had been "ruined". Fran Goldfarb,
> > > who was then manager of the Manhattan Chess Club, was there and told
> > > the story. (By the way, I was planning to be there too but I was busy
> > > that day and did not come.) The whole point to the Woody Allen scene
> > > was that the place was run-down, dirty and dingy. So, Woody Allen
> > > quickly had to hire a new work crew to replace the shiny new wall
> > > paper with old, dirty and dingy wallpaper, with stains, marks and
> > > spots on the walls. Of course, Woody Allen paid for all this, and the
> > > scene was shot.
>
> > > I was hoping that Charlie would leave the new-old wallpaper up for
> > > historical purposes since it would appear in the movie, but alas with
> > > the money he got from Woody Allen, Charlie remodeled the place and
> > > ruined the decor.
>
> > > The reason I am recounting this event now is I am trying to figure ou=
t
> > > when Charlie Hidalgo died for a book I am working on. The Chess House
> > > went out of business not long thereafter and by 1978 Charlie had a ne=
w
> > > place on 72nd Street just a few doors west of the corner with Broadwa=
y
> > > upstairs on the south side of the Street. Frank Kuenrich, a chess
> > > expert, and New York City Scrabble Champion, was the manager.
>
> > > I believe that Charlie Hidalgo died in around 1980 but I do not know
> > > exactly when. Charlie was a chess expert about 2100 strength. Charlie
> > > was crazy but his family was wealthy. His brother, Otto Hidalgo, was
> > > an important real estate broker with Ely Cruikshank Co Inc, but died
> > > in 1973. I can find Otto but cannot find Charlie listed in the Social
> > > Security Death Index. Perhaps his first name was not really Charlie.
>
> > > Does anybody know? I need this for a book I am writing.
>
> > > Also, does anybody know how to spell Frank Kheunrich? He was seen in
> > > New York a few months ago living in a flop house after having evicted
> > > from his apartment.
>
> > > Sam Sloan
>
> > =A0 There's a book out now by a guy who used to play a lot in a well
> > known joint near 42nd many years ago. =A0He even played the (in)famous
> > Treysman a few times. Maybe he knew Hidalgo, or knows somebody who
> > remembers the info you're checking on.
> > =A0 At least you're not trying to check on someone from the Stuyvesant
> > that was on 2nd Ave. eons ago.
> > =A0 I'll try to get the name of the still living guy if possible.
>
> Yes. That book is "Hooked on Chess" by Bill Hook. It shows on the
> cover a picture of Abraham Kupchik, a grandmaster strength player who
> once won a tournament game from Capablanca, playing in the flea house
> on 42nd street when he was 80 years old.
>
> http://www.amazon.com/dp/9056912208/
>
> That picture has no caption so you would have to know Kupchik to
> recognize him.
>
> I bought the book a few weeks ago and have it here. The story about
> Woody Allen filming in the Chess House is mentioned on page 85 of that
> book, but with some differences in the details.
>
Yikes, Treysman makes appearances in WIKI. Described as odds
offering "hustler", mainly at Stuyvesant. In his 50s, he was rated
2650.
The guy who whipped Capa for World Championship stumbled in there
one night, looking for a game. Wonder ol' Treysman was there to
oblige.
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Date: 24 Jul 2008 11:44:31
From:
Subject: Re: Chess in "The Front" Starring Woody Allen
|
On Jul 24, 2:17=A0pm, samsloan <[email protected] > wrote:
> On Jul 24, 1:34 pm, Opry phantom <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Jul 24, 9:21 am, samsloan <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > > There was an incident involved in the making of the 1976 movie "The
> > > Front", starring Woody Allen.
>
> > > One of the early scenes in the movie shows Woody Allen playing the Ru=
y
> > > Lopez against his Communist contact in a dingy chess club.
>
> > > That dingy chess club was the "Chess House" owned by Charlie Hidalgo,
> > > located on 72nd Street half way between Broadway and Columbus on the
> > > North Side of the Street. It later became a Mama Leones.
>
> > > When Woody Allen was scouting for a place to shoot this scene, he
> > > found the Chess House, and agreed to rent the place from Charlie
> > > Hidalgo for an substantial sum in advance.
>
> > > Charlie Hidalgo, who was always broke, was so happy to be getting all
> > > this money that he hired a crew to put on new wall paper and fix the
> > > place up to that it would look good in the movie.
>
> > > When Woody Allen and his camera crew arrived a few days later, they
> > > were shocked to find that their set had been "ruined". Fran Goldfarb,
> > > who was then manager of the Manhattan Chess Club, was there and told
> > > the story. (By the way, I was planning to be there too but I was busy
> > > that day and did not come.) The whole point to the Woody Allen scene
> > > was that the place was run-down, dirty and dingy. So, Woody Allen
> > > quickly had to hire a new work crew to replace the shiny new wall
> > > paper with old, dirty and dingy wallpaper, with stains, marks and
> > > spots on the walls. Of course, Woody Allen paid for all this, and the
> > > scene was shot.
>
> > > I was hoping that Charlie would leave the new-old wallpaper up for
> > > historical purposes since it would appear in the movie, but alas with
> > > the money he got from Woody Allen, Charlie remodeled the place and
> > > ruined the decor.
>
> > > The reason I am recounting this event now is I am trying to figure ou=
t
> > > when Charlie Hidalgo died for a book I am working on. The Chess House
> > > went out of business not long thereafter and by 1978 Charlie had a ne=
w
> > > place on 72nd Street just a few doors west of the corner with Broadwa=
y
> > > upstairs on the south side of the Street. Frank Kuenrich, a chess
> > > expert, and New York City Scrabble Champion, was the manager.
>
> > > I believe that Charlie Hidalgo died in around 1980 but I do not know
> > > exactly when. Charlie was a chess expert about 2100 strength. Charlie
> > > was crazy but his family was wealthy. His brother, Otto Hidalgo, was
> > > an important real estate broker with Ely Cruikshank Co Inc, but died
> > > in 1973. I can find Otto but cannot find Charlie listed in the Social
> > > Security Death Index. Perhaps his first name was not really Charlie.
>
> > > Does anybody know? I need this for a book I am writing.
>
> > > Also, does anybody know how to spell Frank Kheunrich? He was seen in
> > > New York a few months ago living in a flop house after having evicted
> > > from his apartment.
>
> > > Sam Sloan
>
> > =A0 There's a book out now by a guy who used to play a lot in a well
> > known joint near 42nd many years ago. =A0He even played the (in)famous
> > Treysman a few times. Maybe he knew Hidalgo, or knows somebody who
> > remembers the info you're checking on.
> > =A0 At least you're not trying to check on someone from the Stuyvesant
> > that was on 2nd Ave. eons ago.
> > =A0 I'll try to get the name of the still living guy if possible.
>
> Yes. That book is "Hooked on Chess" by Bill Hook. It shows on the
> cover a picture of Abraham Kupchik, a grandmaster strength player who
> once won a tournament game from Capablanca,
When did Kupchik ever beat Capablanca in a serious tournament game?
As far as I can find, Kupchik's lifetime score against Capa was +0 -7
=3D3 in ten games from 1913 to 1931.
playing in the flea house
> on 42nd street when he was 80 years old.
>
> http://www.amazon.com/dp/9056912208/
>
> That picture has no caption so you would have to know Kupchik to
> recognize him.
>
> I bought the book a few weeks ago and have it here. The story about
> Woody Allen filming in the Chess House is mentioned on page 85 of that
> book, but with some differences in the details.
>
> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074554/
>
> Sam Sloan- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
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Date: 24 Jul 2008 11:17:45
From: samsloan
Subject: Re: Chess in "The Front" Starring Woody Allen
|
On Jul 24, 1:34 pm, Opry phantom <[email protected] > wrote:
> On Jul 24, 9:21 am, samsloan <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>
> > There was an incident involved in the making of the 1976 movie "The
> > Front", starring Woody Allen.
>
> > One of the early scenes in the movie shows Woody Allen playing the Ruy
> > Lopez against his Communist contact in a dingy chess club.
>
> > That dingy chess club was the "Chess House" owned by Charlie Hidalgo,
> > located on 72nd Street half way between Broadway and Columbus on the
> > North Side of the Street. It later became a Mama Leones.
>
> > When Woody Allen was scouting for a place to shoot this scene, he
> > found the Chess House, and agreed to rent the place from Charlie
> > Hidalgo for an substantial sum in advance.
>
> > Charlie Hidalgo, who was always broke, was so happy to be getting all
> > this money that he hired a crew to put on new wall paper and fix the
> > place up to that it would look good in the movie.
>
> > When Woody Allen and his camera crew arrived a few days later, they
> > were shocked to find that their set had been "ruined". Fran Goldfarb,
> > who was then manager of the Manhattan Chess Club, was there and told
> > the story. (By the way, I was planning to be there too but I was busy
> > that day and did not come.) The whole point to the Woody Allen scene
> > was that the place was run-down, dirty and dingy. So, Woody Allen
> > quickly had to hire a new work crew to replace the shiny new wall
> > paper with old, dirty and dingy wallpaper, with stains, marks and
> > spots on the walls. Of course, Woody Allen paid for all this, and the
> > scene was shot.
>
> > I was hoping that Charlie would leave the new-old wallpaper up for
> > historical purposes since it would appear in the movie, but alas with
> > the money he got from Woody Allen, Charlie remodeled the place and
> > ruined the decor.
>
> > The reason I am recounting this event now is I am trying to figure out
> > when Charlie Hidalgo died for a book I am working on. The Chess House
> > went out of business not long thereafter and by 1978 Charlie had a new
> > place on 72nd Street just a few doors west of the corner with Broadway
> > upstairs on the south side of the Street. Frank Kuenrich, a chess
> > expert, and New York City Scrabble Champion, was the manager.
>
> > I believe that Charlie Hidalgo died in around 1980 but I do not know
> > exactly when. Charlie was a chess expert about 2100 strength. Charlie
> > was crazy but his family was wealthy. His brother, Otto Hidalgo, was
> > an important real estate broker with Ely Cruikshank Co Inc, but died
> > in 1973. I can find Otto but cannot find Charlie listed in the Social
> > Security Death Index. Perhaps his first name was not really Charlie.
>
> > Does anybody know? I need this for a book I am writing.
>
> > Also, does anybody know how to spell Frank Kheunrich? He was seen in
> > New York a few months ago living in a flop house after having evicted
> > from his apartment.
>
> > Sam Sloan
>
> There's a book out now by a guy who used to play a lot in a well
> known joint near 42nd many years ago. He even played the (in)famous
> Treysman a few times. Maybe he knew Hidalgo, or knows somebody who
> remembers the info you're checking on.
> At least you're not trying to check on someone from the Stuyvesant
> that was on 2nd Ave. eons ago.
> I'll try to get the name of the still living guy if possible.
Yes. That book is "Hooked on Chess" by Bill Hook. It shows on the
cover a picture of Abraham Kupchik, a grandmaster strength player who
once won a tournament game from Capablanca, playing in the flea house
on 42nd street when he was 80 years old.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/9056912208/
That picture has no caption so you would have to know Kupchik to
recognize him.
I bought the book a few weeks ago and have it here. The story about
Woody Allen filming in the Chess House is mentioned on page 85 of that
book, but with some differences in the details.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074554/
Sam Sloan
|
| | |
Date: 24 Jul 2008 22:49:14
From: Brian Lafferty
Subject: Re: Chess in "The Front" Starring Woody Allen
|
samsloan wrote:
> On Jul 24, 1:34 pm, Opry phantom <[email protected]> wrote:
>> On Jul 24, 9:21 am, samsloan <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>> There was an incident involved in the making of the 1976 movie "The
>>> Front", starring Woody Allen.
>>> One of the early scenes in the movie shows Woody Allen playing the Ruy
>>> Lopez against his Communist contact in a dingy chess club.
>>> That dingy chess club was the "Chess House" owned by Charlie Hidalgo,
>>> located on 72nd Street half way between Broadway and Columbus on the
>>> North Side of the Street. It later became a Mama Leones.
>>> When Woody Allen was scouting for a place to shoot this scene, he
>>> found the Chess House, and agreed to rent the place from Charlie
>>> Hidalgo for an substantial sum in advance.
>>> Charlie Hidalgo, who was always broke, was so happy to be getting all
>>> this money that he hired a crew to put on new wall paper and fix the
>>> place up to that it would look good in the movie.
>>> When Woody Allen and his camera crew arrived a few days later, they
>>> were shocked to find that their set had been "ruined". Fran Goldfarb,
>>> who was then manager of the Manhattan Chess Club, was there and told
>>> the story. (By the way, I was planning to be there too but I was busy
>>> that day and did not come.) The whole point to the Woody Allen scene
>>> was that the place was run-down, dirty and dingy. So, Woody Allen
>>> quickly had to hire a new work crew to replace the shiny new wall
>>> paper with old, dirty and dingy wallpaper, with stains, marks and
>>> spots on the walls. Of course, Woody Allen paid for all this, and the
>>> scene was shot.
>>> I was hoping that Charlie would leave the new-old wallpaper up for
>>> historical purposes since it would appear in the movie, but alas with
>>> the money he got from Woody Allen, Charlie remodeled the place and
>>> ruined the decor.
>>> The reason I am recounting this event now is I am trying to figure out
>>> when Charlie Hidalgo died for a book I am working on. The Chess House
>>> went out of business not long thereafter and by 1978 Charlie had a new
>>> place on 72nd Street just a few doors west of the corner with Broadway
>>> upstairs on the south side of the Street. Frank Kuenrich, a chess
>>> expert, and New York City Scrabble Champion, was the manager.
>>> I believe that Charlie Hidalgo died in around 1980 but I do not know
>>> exactly when. Charlie was a chess expert about 2100 strength. Charlie
>>> was crazy but his family was wealthy. His brother, Otto Hidalgo, was
>>> an important real estate broker with Ely Cruikshank Co Inc, but died
>>> in 1973. I can find Otto but cannot find Charlie listed in the Social
>>> Security Death Index. Perhaps his first name was not really Charlie.
>>> Does anybody know? I need this for a book I am writing.
>>> Also, does anybody know how to spell Frank Kheunrich? He was seen in
>>> New York a few months ago living in a flop house after having evicted
>>> from his apartment.
>>> Sam Sloan
>> There's a book out now by a guy who used to play a lot in a well
>> known joint near 42nd many years ago. He even played the (in)famous
>> Treysman a few times. Maybe he knew Hidalgo, or knows somebody who
>> remembers the info you're checking on.
>> At least you're not trying to check on someone from the Stuyvesant
>> that was on 2nd Ave. eons ago.
>> I'll try to get the name of the still living guy if possible.
>
> Yes. That book is "Hooked on Chess" by Bill Hook. It shows on the
> cover a picture of Abraham Kupchik, a grandmaster strength player who
> once won a tournament game from Capablanca, playing in the flea house
> on 42nd street when he was 80 years old.
>
> http://www.amazon.com/dp/9056912208/
>
> That picture has no caption so you would have to know Kupchik to
> recognize him.
>
> I bought the book a few weeks ago and have it here. The story about
> Woody Allen filming in the Chess House is mentioned on page 85 of that
> book, but with some differences in the details.
>
> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074554/
>
> Sam Sloan
I think it is by Andy Soltis, Pictoral book of chess(will get the exact
title next week at the library). It has a chapter on the Stuyvesant
Club when it was on 14th street. Lots of good, fun information. It's
long out of print. I'll scan those pages and make them available to
anyone who is interested.
|
| | | |
Date: 26 Jul 2008 14:19:15
From: Chess One
Subject: Re: Chess in "The Front" Starring Woody Allen
|
"Brian Lafferty" <[email protected] > wrote in message
news:KF7ik.502$DS3.17@trnddc01...
> I think it is by Andy Soltis, Pictoral book of chess(will get the exact
> title next week at the library). It has a chapter on the Stuyvesant Club
> when it was on 14th street. Lots of good, fun information. It's long out
> of print. I'll scan those pages and make them available to anyone who is
> interested.
Here is an on-line ref with 2 pics from the movie
http://www.chessgraphics.net/wa.htm
Howard Prince (Woody Allen) and Alfred Miller (Michael Murphy) catch a game
of chess at the beginning of The Front (1976) Directed by Martin Ritt and
written by Walter Bernstein
A black comedy on the MacCarthy blacklists illuminated by an outstanding
performacne by Zero Mostel
PI
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Date: 24 Jul 2008 10:34:00
From: Opry phantom
Subject: Re: Chess in "The Front" Starring Woody Allen
|
On Jul 24, 9:21=A0am, samsloan <[email protected] > wrote:
> There was an incident involved in the making of the 1976 movie "The
> Front", starring Woody Allen.
>
> One of the early scenes in the movie shows Woody Allen playing the Ruy
> Lopez against his Communist contact in a dingy chess club.
>
> That dingy chess club was the "Chess House" owned by Charlie Hidalgo,
> located on 72nd Street half way between Broadway and Columbus on the
> North Side of the Street. It later became a Mama Leones.
>
> When Woody Allen was scouting for a place to shoot this scene, he
> found the Chess House, and agreed to rent the place from Charlie
> Hidalgo for an substantial sum in advance.
>
> Charlie Hidalgo, who was always broke, was so happy to be getting all
> this money that he hired a crew to put on new wall paper and fix the
> place up to that it would look good in the movie.
>
> When Woody Allen and his camera crew arrived a few days later, they
> were shocked to find that their set had been "ruined". Fran Goldfarb,
> who was then manager of the Manhattan Chess Club, was there and told
> the story. (By the way, I was planning to be there too but I was busy
> that day and did not come.) The whole point to the Woody Allen scene
> was that the place was run-down, dirty and dingy. So, Woody Allen
> quickly had to hire a new work crew to replace the shiny new wall
> paper with old, dirty and dingy wallpaper, with stains, marks and
> spots on the walls. Of course, Woody Allen paid for all this, and the
> scene was shot.
>
> I was hoping that Charlie would leave the new-old wallpaper up for
> historical purposes since it would appear in the movie, but alas with
> the money he got from Woody Allen, Charlie remodeled the place and
> ruined the decor.
>
> The reason I am recounting this event now is I am trying to figure out
> when Charlie Hidalgo died for a book I am working on. The Chess House
> went out of business not long thereafter and by 1978 Charlie had a new
> place on 72nd Street just a few doors west of the corner with Broadway
> upstairs on the south side of the Street. Frank Kuenrich, a chess
> expert, and New York City Scrabble Champion, was the manager.
>
> I believe that Charlie Hidalgo died in around 1980 but I do not know
> exactly when. Charlie was a chess expert about 2100 strength. Charlie
> was crazy but his family was wealthy. His brother, Otto Hidalgo, was
> an important real estate broker with Ely Cruikshank Co Inc, but died
> in 1973. I can find Otto but cannot find Charlie listed in the Social
> Security Death Index. Perhaps his first name was not really Charlie.
>
> Does anybody know? I need this for a book I am writing.
>
> Also, does anybody know how to spell Frank Kheunrich? He was seen in
> New York a few months ago living in a flop house after having evicted
> from his apartment.
>
> Sam Sloan
There's a book out now by a guy who used to play a lot in a well
known joint near 42nd many years ago. He even played the (in)famous
Treysman a few times. Maybe he knew Hidalgo, or knows somebody who
remembers the info you're checking on.
At least you're not trying to check on someone from the Stuyvesant
that was on 2nd Ave. eons ago.
I'll try to get the name of the still living guy if possible.
|
| |
Date: 24 Jul 2008 09:23:29
From: samsloan
Subject: Re: Chess in "The Front" Starring Woody Allen
|
Sorry, I left out the link:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074554/
On Jul 24, 12:21 pm, samsloan <[email protected] > wrote:
> There was an incident involved in the making of the 1976 movie "The
> Front", starring Woody Allen.
>
> One of the early scenes in the movie shows Woody Allen playing the Ruy
> Lopez against his Communist contact in a dingy chess club.
>
> That dingy chess club was the "Chess House" owned by Charlie Hidalgo,
> located on 72nd Street half way between Broadway and Columbus on the
> North Side of the Street. It later became a Mama Leones.
>
> When Woody Allen was scouting for a place to shoot this scene, he
> found the Chess House, and agreed to rent the place from Charlie
> Hidalgo for an substantial sum in advance.
>
> Charlie Hidalgo, who was always broke, was so happy to be getting all
> this money that he hired a crew to put on new wall paper and fix the
> place up to that it would look good in the movie.
>
> When Woody Allen and his camera crew arrived a few days later, they
> were shocked to find that their set had been "ruined". Fran Goldfarb,
> who was then manager of the Manhattan Chess Club, was there and told
> the story. (By the way, I was planning to be there too but I was busy
> that day and did not come.) The whole point to the Woody Allen scene
> was that the place was run-down, dirty and dingy. So, Woody Allen
> quickly had to hire a new work crew to replace the shiny new wall
> paper with old, dirty and dingy wallpaper, with stains, marks and
> spots on the walls. Of course, Woody Allen paid for all this, and the
> scene was shot.
>
> I was hoping that Charlie would leave the new-old wallpaper up for
> historical purposes since it would appear in the movie, but alas with
> the money he got from Woody Allen, Charlie remodeled the place and
> ruined the decor.
>
> The reason I am recounting this event now is I am trying to figure out
> when Charlie Hidalgo died for a book I am working on. The Chess House
> went out of business not long thereafter and by 1978 Charlie had a new
> place on 72nd Street just a few doors west of the corner with Broadway
> upstairs on the south side of the Street. Frank Kuenrich, a chess
> expert, and New York City Scrabble Champion, was the manager.
>
> I believe that Charlie Hidalgo died in around 1980 but I do not know
> exactly when. Charlie was a chess expert about 2100 strength. Charlie
> was crazy but his family was wealthy. His brother, Otto Hidalgo, was
> an important real estate broker with Ely Cruikshank Co Inc, but died
> in 1973. I can find Otto but cannot find Charlie listed in the Social
> Security Death Index. Perhaps his first name was not really Charlie.
>
> Does anybody know? I need this for a book I am writing.
>
> Also, does anybody know how to spell Frank Kheunrich? He was seen in
> New York a few months ago living in a flop house after having evicted
> from his apartment.
>
> Sam Sloan
|
|
