The Golden Age of Checkers

[jaguar72]

Thanx Gary......
I am MOST looking forward to reading your thoughts on the subject....educate me brother.
The table , now, belongs to you......

Regards,

Jay " Don't call me Ray" Hinnershitz

Well, there is really nothing of value I can add, Jay.

As far as I am concerned, your hypothesis that checkers declined because of (in effect) the national inferiority complex (I'm probably overstating the case, but that is what happened, more-or-less) that occurred after the Soviets launched Sputnik is both original and fascinating...it would probably make a spiffy subject for a Master's Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation.

The "we-only-play-checkers-and-they-play-chess" mentality would, I think, be characteristic of the times. I was not at all aware that newspapers dropped checkers columns during the rise of both Bobby Fischer and Soviet developments in science, but it figures.

And then along comes Fischer, as crazy (even then) as a box of rabid weasels, with his incredible and unique genius plus enough quirky and larger-than-life charisma to make chess both popular and a way to show the Soviets that we can do intellectual stuff, too. And, of course, he was able to do what he said he would. "It ain't bragging if you can do it", said Dizzy Dean... .

And checkers gets lost in the shuffle and falls through the cracks, neither respected nor appreciated for its own considerable merits. That all of this coincided with the rise of the best checkers player ever (from Ohio, of course...) is just a fine piece of irony... .

Anyhow, a really excellent post, Jay; I wish the idea had occurred to me, but it didn't.

Please note that the thoughts expressed in this post are just my opinions; I have done absolutely no research on any of this and I could be wrong, wrong, wrong... .

V/R,

Gary Jenkins/Jaguar72

[Danny_Alvarez]

IMHO, the golden age of American Checkers ended with the Cold War.....the American News Media whipped the American public into believing that everything (meaning the future of American economics, civility, education, etc., etc.) depeneded on American superiority in any ,and every form.
The Soviets did not compete in "Checkers" as we know it....they played Chess.
This coincided with rise of Bobby Fischer as an American Chess player. His career as a Chess player is, of course, well documented in the American press.
It is no coincidence that at this very time, almost ALL American major Newspaper publishers dropped their Checkers columns in favor of Chess Columns.
Sadly, it was at this very time that the best (BEST) Checkers player of all time began his reign, which is another subject.
With that stated, my opinion is that the golden age ....(and this is strictly my own opinion of American Checkers) was the 1890-1940ish era.

And checkers gets lost in the shuffle and falls through the cracks, neither respected nor appreciated for its own considerable merits. That all of this coincided with the rise of the best checkers player ever (from Ohio, of course...) is just a fine piece of irony... .

Anyhow, a really excellent post, Jay; I wish the idea had occurred to me, but it didn't.

Please note that the thoughts expressed in this post are just my opinions; I have done absolutely no research on any of this and I could be wrong, wrong, wrong... .

Jay and Gary very interesting theory.... i enjoyed it and i cannot argue against it.... i think the points you've made are valid and if you did a bit of research it would be hard to dispute.

cheers
Danny

[tommyc]

The game [checkers/draughts] can t look after the players they have ,[OR SHOULD I SAY HAD,]so there s no point in blaming chess or the newspapers for any slide into the Black Hole?

[Jay H]

The game [checkers/draughts] can t look after the players they have ,[OR SHOULD I SAY HAD,]so there s no point in blaming chess or the newspapers for any slide into the Black Hole?

Tommy, Tommy, Tommy..............

Jay "member of the Tommyc fan-club" Hinnershitz

[tommyc]

HEHEEH M y mother always told me to "tell it like it is" being a good catholic as she was and especially now that we re in LENT[40 DAYS]....you see? But anyways i always look after my fans so.................FANCLUB membership to you JH next term will be @ a special cut down rate1/2 price? just so as you can seee how MUCH you are appreciated.

[Jay H]

HEHEEH M y mother always told me to "tell it like it is" being a good catholic as she was and especially now that we re in LENT[40 DAYS]....you see? But anyways i always look after my fans so.................FANCLUB membership to you JH next term will be @ a special cut down rate1/2 price? just so as you can seee how MUCH you are appreciated.

Thanx brother...and I'll be sure to wear some Green on St. Party's day especially for you ....

Jay "lovin' the discounted rate" H

[Jay H]

Hey Gary,
I wish I could take credit (or blame...depending on which bull is being gored...LOL!) for the concept.,,,
BUT...it is not mine.
It was given to me many years ago during a conversation I had with with either Earl Hangen or Paul Ottey, back in the 1980's. It has stuck with me, and I never had the opportunity to share it until this thread.
Earl corresponded with almost everybody in the game in the 1980's-90's, and he may have been given the notion from someone else, although Earl himself DID live through this period in time....and there are not too many others still attached to the game at this time who have.
Louis Cowie, Ed Bruch, Mac Banks,Bill Salot, Richard Hallett.....I wonder if any of these gentleman would like to shed some light from thier own personal experiences on the subject. Some of these great players are ACForumites...if they are reading, please enlighten us (!!)
I know Earl did extensive research into newspaper columns in an effort to piece together a "start to finish" listing of all "WOOD'S LADDER" standings,(which began in the Donora Herald back in 1936) and he corresponded with Gene Rader...who once challenged anyone to display a more complete collection of newspaper columns than he (Rader) had in his collection.
It sounded great to me.....and, I believe it. I did not live through the time period, but I have felt, since the first of hearing (from either Earl or Ottey) this reasoning, that it is legitimate.
On another note, yes, Tinsley himself is on record as lamenting the fact that he is (was) viewed by the American Media as playing "a child's game".....
But, my own personal opinion of the Golden Age of the game in general was the age of the Scottish Grandmasters....Jordan, Stewart, Wyllie, Freedman, Buchanon....1890's-1905ish.
I don't belive there has ever been another place or time where the game carried the prestige as it did at this time in Scotland.
Possibly in America in the 1920's...stake matches were played, organized by the players themselves....tournaments were being played...all had newspaper (local media) coverage.....several players actually made a living as "Checkerists"....
Perhaps Alex's idea of a Golden Age has yet to see the light......we'll see....
Regards

Jay "Always in tune" H

[tommyc]

Thanx brother...and I'll be sure to wear some Green on St. Party's day especially for you ....

And JH dont forget m birtday the day before the sham....rocks...........but i always celebrate it on PADDYS DAY. HEHEEH TWO FOR THE PRICE ONE. HUH!!

[Alex_Moiseyev]

I still haven't heard any prove regarding so-called Golden Age in Checkers. My statement is simple - Checkers never had a Golden Age now and in the past. If you disagree - then provide your arguments, if agree - nothing to discuss and we can close and discontinue topic.

[Danny_Alvarez]

I think in this case if you really believe there hasn't been a golden age ... maybe you should provide proof Alex. At the end of the day this is very very subjective, so there isn't a right or wrong answer.

In my opinion at the end of the ninteenth century and beginning of the 20th checkers was at its golden age.
Prize money was enough that the champion could buy a home with the winnings. People playing it socially were well into the millions and there were several contenders for the top championship spots. Newspaper columns run worldwide and readership of both columns and books was avid. checkers cultural awareness was at its highest in the 1920's.

To say that we will come near that or even surpass it, is beyond utopian.

cheers
Danny Alvarez

[Jay H]

I still haven't heard any prove regarding so-called Golden Age in Checkers. My statement is simple - Checkers never had a Golden Age now and in the past. If you disagree - then provide your arguments, if agree - nothing to discuss and we can close and discontinue topic.

Fer gawds sake....now your suggesting what we should and should not discuss...!!??!! on a thread you didn't even create.....
Seriously....just how far do you believe your influence should extend.....
John created an interesting topic to discuss....if you are not interested......stay out of the thread, simple as that.

Jay "baffled beyond belief" Hinnershitz

[jaguar72]

I still haven't heard any prove regarding so-called Golden Age in Checkers. My statement is simple - Checkers never had a Golden Age now and in the past. If you disagree - then provide your arguments, if agree - nothing to discuss and we can close and discontinue topic.

forum [L; akin to L foris outside, fores door] b: a public meeting place for open discussion

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary
Tenth Edition, 2000

So, Alex, in what way are we violating forum rules (either in general or specifically) by having this interesting, literate and civilized discussion about a Golden Age of checkers (either pro or con)? It seems to me "arguments "have been provided and interesting (and quite complex) ideas have been presented, and will continue to be presented, which is the entire purpose of a forum.

Perhaps you can explain your objections to me so I fully understand.

Thanks!

V/R,

Gary Jenkins/Jaguar72

[Alex_Moiseyev]

maybe you should provide proof Alex.

OK. Give me your definition of "Golden Age in Checkers" and we'll go from there ... if I agree with them. We can also ask other people for definition. After we'll be in agreement with definition, then we can see if any specific period of time meet ALL criterias.

Also we have to decide - are we talking about Worldwide Checkers or American Checkers or any other geographical regio. Maybe we can find "Golden Age in Checkers" in Europe (end of 1800's ?) or in USA (1930's-1950's ?) or in Barbados (1980's-2000's). Thats possible.

My personal definition of Golden Age always includes Financial Success as one of requirement
and we never accomplish this in any given period of time.

Sometimes we had Publicity, Populaity, Respect - another MUST criterias, but never Financial Success.

Golden Age of Checkers is still ahead.

For me personally all these discussions are very painful and disturbing because remind me all our failures.

[liam stephens]

“There are none so blind as those who will not see” - Scriptural Proverb.

Proof, if any proof were needed, lies in the status in which the game was held in the 19th century.
The following passage is from Oldbury’s Ency, page 120.

"Of greater interest, is to know to whom those authors were addressing themselves. Payne’s Preface was written by the ubiquitous Dr Samuel Johnston, who elsewhere himself refers to frequenting the coffee houses of Mill Lane to play draughts with other Gentlemen … and doubtless to discourse upon the weighty matters of the day. Old prints confirm the scene drawn by Boswell. In other texts, apocryphal tales are recounted of Great Men who played: Napoleon; the Duke of Wellington; Benjamin Franklin; General Ulysses S. Grant; Garibaldi, et al.
Evidence more factual on this point may be may be gleaned from the List of Subscribers to the book of Sturges, London, 1800, a list that could really boast its inclusion of many eminent names of the day, among whom is frequently cited the name of Lady Hamilton (she had two copies: His and Hers ?). Indeed, Sturges’ work was dedicated to H.R.H. Prince of Wales, later King George IV. All this tending to show that draughts while popular with the masses also had social status and was practiced and enjoyed by the elite: distinguished men of letters, international statesmen, generals, Royalty, even U. S. Presidents. "

[Alex_Moiseyev]

The following passage is from Oldbury’s Ency, page 120.

Thanks for quote, Liam ! I feel sorry about Derek, he treated checkers very miserably and ... yes, in way he sees checkers we can say that we had Golden Ages. However this is Derek Checkers, not my Checkers and here we are in disagreement.

Golden Age of my Checkers is still ahead.