Paddy Harmon
Born(1876-05-25)May 25, 1876
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.
DiedJuly 22, 1930(1930-07-22) (aged 54)
Des Plaines, Illinois, U.S.A.
Occupation(s)Sports promoter, Dancehall owner
Known forChicago Stadium

Patrick 'Paddy' T. Harmon (May 25, 1876 - July 22, 1930) was an Irish American businessman and sports promoter based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. He is noted for the building of Chicago Stadium arena in 1929, then the world's largest indoor arena. Born in poverty to immigrant parents, he became an entrepreneur, owning dance halls and promoting boxing matches. He succeeded in getting the Stadium built, even helping to fight a fire on its roof, but was ousted within a year of its opening. He died due to injuries sustained in a car crash less than a year later. He poured his entire fortune into the Stadium, leaving only his Stadium shares, and the $2.50 in his pockets to his family. His funeral was held in the Stadium, paid for by friends.

Biography

Harmon was born on the west side of Chicago to Irish immigrant parents.[1] Harmon started making money at the age of nine turning off gaslights each morning for US$16 per month. At 14, he started selling newspapers on a downtown street corner to support his family.[2] At 16, he booked his first event; a dance that returned $83 on an investment of $40 to rent a hall.[2]

A big success were roller skating promotions in 1902 and 1903 when roller skating was a craze in the Midwest.[3] In 1909, Harmon helped build the "Ice Palace" ice skating rink, in an attempt to have year-round ice skating and ice hockey. However, the building's refrigeration system was not up to the task, and Harmon converted it into the "Dreamland" Ballroom. By the 1920s, Harmon owned two popular ballrooms in Chicago, and won the contract to operate the ballroom at the end of the Navy Pier.[1]

Harmon also was a sports promoter, initiating a six-day cycling race event in 1912.[4] Harmon became a boxing promoter after the legalisation of professional boxing in Illinois in 1926[5][6] Harmon also was well-known for giving to children at each Christmas.[7]

Harmon's biggest project was announced in 1926: the Chicago Stadium, to be located in his old "Valley" neighbourhood.[8] It was very ambitious. At first, the project envisioned 39,000 seats. Harmon invested US$2,500,000 (equivalent to $42,606,589 in 2022) in the project of a total cost of US$9,000,000 (equivalent to $153,383,721 in 2022). The Stadium opened in March 1929 with a boxing match. Several weeks later, a disgruntled workman set a fire on the Stadium's roof, which was in its final stages of completion. Harmon himself climbed up to the roof to help fight the fire, pouring water on the fire, while 10,000 persons were seated inside waiting for a boxing match.[2] Harmon had survived several setbacks in getting the Stadium built: opposition from some of the National Hockey League (NHL) owners, the Madison Square Gardens of New York which hoped to build a Garden in Chicago, and investors pulling out. Harmon persevered, "I was knocked down 20 times after I thought I have everything all set",[4] following his homespun philosophy "Never Stay Licked."[9] The stadium opened in March 1929 with a bout between Tommy Loughran and Mickey Walker for a purse of US$150,000 (equivalent to $2,556,395 in 2022) (won by Loughran).[10]

The Stadium was not an immediate success for Harmon, who owned 42.5% of the Stadium's stock.[11] Harmon reached an impasse trying to get the Chicago Black Hawks NHL ice hockey team as a tenant, leaving the Stadium without ice hockey. Harmon enlisted veteran hockey executive Frank Patrick to try and get a second NHL franchise for Chicago,[12] but the NHL refused to hear the application without the Black Hawks consent. Harmon, along with Stadium investor James Norris, threatened to form a new hockey league, and alternatively was also interested in purchasing the Ottawa Senators NHL hockey team which was in financial trouble.[13] The Black Hawks instead signed a lease to play another season in the Chicago Coliseum. Matters came to a head in November 1929. The Stadium shareholders forced Harmon to resign as Stadium president, allowing him to continue in sports promotion for the Stadium.[14] The Stadium signed an agreement with the Black Hawks only weeks later, accepting the Black Hawks' terms.[15] Harmon died the following year from injuries in a car crash; one of his final wishes was to have his body placed in the Stadium.

Harmon was asked about his success as a promoter:

It is not hard to please the public. All you have to remember is that we are all born children, that we all die children and that in-between times we are children.

— Paddy Harmon, The Chicago Stadium Organ "Remember the Roar", The Tracker[16]

After his ouster, Harmon campaigned in a Republican Party primary for the sheriff of Cook County, Illinois but was defeated.[17]

Death

Harmon died from injuries sustained in an automobile crash. Harmon lost control of his vehicle at high speed on the Northwest Highway between Des Plaines and Mount Prospect, Illinois. His car flipped over after losing control on the soft shoulder of the highway. He died in the Des Plaines Hospital from bleeding in his lungs. He asked that his body be placed in the Chicago Stadium.[18] His wife May and friend E. J. Brand were in the car and survived.[18]

The Harmons' treatment at the Des Plaines Hospital was the subject of controversy, when it was learned that Robert Parks, manager of the hospital had forged his medical credentials. Parks worked as an auto mechanic by day, and surgeon at night. Harmon's son Frank refused to pay a $200 bill for the care of Paddy and May at the hospital after learning of Parks not having medical credentials. "Dr" Parks was arrested for violating Illinois medical laws.[19]

Harmon's funeral service was held in the Stadium.[20] The eulogy was read by Judge John Lyle: "Paddy was gruff, but back of the gruffness was a heart bigger than Chicago. Either you were his friend or you weren't - there was no middle ground."[20]

Harmon died virtually penniless, with only the $2.50 in his pockets to his name, although he had some 204,000 shares in the Stadium.[21] He had no life insurance and no bank account. His friends paid for the funeral.[22] According to the Stadium president Sidney Strotz, Harmon had an estimated $70,000 to $90,000 only months before. The money disappeared without any accounting.[23] In August 1930, the Stadium held a fund-raising boxing show to set up a trust fund for Harmon's daughter Patricia.[24] Gate revenues were $44,000, raising $10,000 for the fund.[25] Later that year, May Harmon would file for bankruptcy, citing $92,000 in liabilities ($91,000 in a debt related to building the Stadium) and $150 in assets.[26]

Legacy

The Stadium struggled for several years and was placed into receivership in 1933. It was bought in 1935 by James Norris and Arthur Wirtz for $250,000. Wirtz would later take over the Black Hawks ice hockey team. The Stadium was used until 1994 when the United Center was built. It was demolished in 1995.

It was reported in 1933 that Frank E. Harmon, Paddy's son, had become a boxing promoter, promoting a match at the Coliseum.[27]

References

  1. 1 2 "Chicago Stadium Project Introduced". www.connectingthewindycity.com. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 "Fighting Paddy Harmon Wins Battle Against All Odds". Spokane Daily Chronicle. March 29, 1929. p. 36.
  3. ↑ "Auto Injury Fatal to 'Paddy' Harmon". The Pittsburgh Press. July 22, 1930. p. 1.
  4. 1 2 Robertson, Orlo L. (March 27, 1929). "Paddy Harmon Realizes His Dream Stadium". Ellensburg Daily Record. Associated Press. p. 2.
  5. ↑ "Boxing Gaining Stronger Grip On Windy City". The Evening Independent. January 1, 1929. p. 5A.
  6. ↑ "Chicago Makes Bid To Become Fight Center". The Washington Observer. August 14, 1926. p. 8.
  7. ↑ "Paddy Harmon Requests Funeral From Stadium". The Tuscaloosa News. July 23, 1930. p. 9.
  8. ↑ Johnston, J. J.; Curtin, Sean (2004). Chicago Boxing. p. 2. ISBN 9780738532103.
  9. ↑ "Chicago To Have Largest Arena". The Spokesman-Review. February 24, 1929. p. 24.
  10. ↑ "Big Purse For Chicago Bout". Rochester Evening Journal and the Post Express. February 11, 1929. p. 10.
  11. ↑ "Paddy Harmon Loses Stadium Presidency". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. November 20, 1929. p. 3.
  12. ↑ "Patrick In With Harmon". The Morning Leader. May 7, 1929. p. 12.
  13. ↑ DeGeer, Vern (May 7, 1929). "Broadcasting the Sports Gossip". The Border Cities Star. p. 2.
  14. ↑ "Harmon Resigns". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. November 20, 1929. p. 13.
  15. ↑ Ross 2015, pp. 204–205.
  16. ↑ Smith, Rollin. "The Chicago Stadium Organ "Remember the Roar"". The Tracker. 66 (1): 14.
  17. ↑ Dunkley, Charles (July 23, 1930). "Two Sportsmen Have Passed". The Calgary Daily Herald. p. 6.
  18. 1 2 "'Paddy' Harmon Dies As Auto Turns Over". The New York Times. July 23, 1930. p. 23.
  19. ↑ "Auto Mechanic-Surgeon Afoul of Medical Laws". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. August 19, 1930. p. 24.
  20. 1 2 "'Paddy' Harmon Buried From Chicago Stadium". The Sunday Morning Star. July 27, 1930. p. 29.
  21. ↑ "Boxing Show For Harmon's Widow". Greensburg Daily Tribune. August 13, 1930. p. 11.
  22. ↑ "Paddy Harmon Had No Money". The Meriden Daily Journal. August 12, 1930. p. 4.
  23. ↑ "Noted Promoter Died Penniless". The Spokesman-Review. August 13, 1930. p. 15.
  24. ↑ "King Levinsky Knocks Out Lomski In Benefit Battle To Benefit Harmon's Daughter". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. September 12, 1930. p. 12.
  25. ↑ "Boxers Harmon Helped Ignored Benefit Show". St. Joseph Gazette. October 29, 1930. p. 6.
  26. ↑ "Paddy Harmon's Wife Files For Bankruptcy". The Lewiston Daily Sun. November 7, 1930. p. 7.
  27. ↑ "Boxing Promoters In Chicago Combine Forces, Plan Show Next Week". The Evening Independent. March 6, 1933. p. 10.

Bibliography

  • Ross, J. Andrew (2015). Joining the Clubs: The Business of the National Hockey League to 1945. Syracuse, New York: Syracuse University Press. ISBN 978-0-8156-3383-9.
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