Characters: A State Street Boxer 1950's

Growing up in the 1950's afforded us to street characters. On State Street that great street. Our dad was treating us to a movie and a stage show at the Chicago theater. There was an old looking black man who evidently was a boxer at one time. He was a little man must have been a bantam weight. He was speaking quite loudly to no one in particular. He would shuffle his feet, wave his arms and move around gracefully. Then the green rocket came rolicking past us, that's what we called the State Street, streetcar. Everything changed instantly when the green rocket clanged its bell. The boxer crouched down and began boxing with an invisible opponent. Short quick steps, jabs and from time to time a knock out punch and an occasional upper cut. Most of the folks smiled and gave him room for his imaginary thirty second, ten rounder. Dad enjoyed watching and I was totally fascinated and wondered about him for the rest of the day. Was he winning absolutely yes. He smiled proudly raising his hands above his head not minding that a few teeth were missing. He danced a little and then resumed a slow smooth casual walk.
I began to wonder does that happen every time the streetcar clangs its bell?
Is it voluntary? Or does he have to go into his fight routine? Does he have to go down different streets to avoid the green rocket clang? We moved on and watched a John Wayne movie. Then watched the movie screen roll up ward and a full orchestra rose up from the depths of the undertheater to become a live stage performance. A stand up comic told jokes then Steve Lawrence and Edie Gorme. What a treat!.......TT