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Encyclopedia Dubuque

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DUBUQUE FIGHTING SAINTS and F.I.S.T.: Difference between pages

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DUBUQUE FIGHTING SAINTS. [[Image:puck.jpg|left|thumb|150px|Fighting Saints' puck]]
[[Image:Fist_ver2.jpg|left|thumb|250px|]]F.I.S.T. This 1978 movie directed by Norman Jewison starred Sylvester Stallone, the writer and star of ''Rocky'', the Best Picture of 1977. Stallone played a Cleveland warehouse worker "Johnny Kovak" who becomes involved in the labor union leadership of the fictional "Federation of Inter State Truckers." Kovak sacrifices his principles as he moves up through the union and attempts to expand its influence.  
[[Image:fsb.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Photo courtesy: Bob Reding]] Dubuque's first [[ICE]] hockey team. The 1980-1981 Saints, in their first year of existence, won the Anderson Trophy for the National Championship of the United States Hockey League. The Saints won the Hawkeye Cup as the Southern Division Champions, the Clark Trophy awarded to the U.S. Hockey League Playoff Champions, and the AHAUS Junior A Trophy that is awarded to the National Champions. The Saints record for 1980-81 was 52-11-2, a league record.  In 1982-83, the Saints won their second national championship in three years. In the five years Jack Barzee coached the Saints, the team haD a 156-80-4 record, won two National championships, three playoff titles, and two regular-reason crowns.


[[Image:fightingsaints.png|left|thumb|150px|1988-1989 program]]
[[Image:fistbutton.jpg|left|thumb|150px|Photo courtesy: Bob Reding]]The disclosure that the film would be made in Dubuque was announced to a select group of local citizens on February 22, 1977. It was announced that the film would have an $8 million budget and be a major project for United Artists. Among the reasons given for the selection of Dubuque was the absence of television antennas that would conflict with the look of the 1930s, the era in which the movie's action was to take place.  
The Saints produced several future National Hockey League (NHL) players including Peter and Chris Ferraro, Mark Mowers, Landon Wilson and Andy Wozniewski. Mike Carlson, Brian Collins, and Dean Thomas formed the famous "Bull Dog Line", which was the best in the history of the United States Hockey League to that time. Collins made fifty-five goals and fifty-three assists, while Thomas was credited with thirty-three goals and forty-one assists. This was the first time in League history that two players on the same line scored more than fifty goals during one season. Troy Ward, who coached two seasons in Dubuque, later worked an an assistant in the NHL. By 1985 the Saints had won an additional national title, come close to a third, and taken two league championships.


The same year, the owners announced they would end the franchise on April 30. On April 11, 1985, a "Save Our Saints" campaign was begun with Bill Blum president of the non-profit group called the Dubuque Fighting Saints Association. Another important member of the organization was [[SCHERR, Theodore J.|Theodore J. SCHERR]]. Within five days $13,000 was raised to pay the $8,000 franchise price and pay a $5,000 cash bond required by the hockey league.  
Filming began on May 9 and continued through June. An army of extras was provided with haircuts of the era, costumes, and props. Portions of the [[CARADCO]] building were fitted with new windows that were purposely smashed during filming and then replaced before the company left town.  


After a steep decline in the late 1980s, the Saints returned to glory in the early 1990s. They won their third national title in franchise history in 1993.
Perhaps the most attention was reserved for Stallone who worked in a guarded room at the Julien Motor Inn on the script for a sequel to "Rocky," a film called ''Paradise Alley''. Occasionally Stallone ventured out with his bodyguard providing fortunate residents with a view of the star off the set.  


In the late 1990s, the Saints had another downturnBrian Gallagher headed an East Coast group of investors that purchased the team in 1996. Low attendance (703 fans per game in their final season) and the United State's Hockey League move to a more expensive Tier I status led Gallagher's group to look at relocating the team. In 2001-2002 the Saints moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma and became the Tulsa Crude. Financial troubles continued, and the team folded after one season.  
[[Image:fistp.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Photo courtesy: Bob Reding]]The last filming took place on July 1 in the basement of [[SACRED HEART CHURCH]]Seven Dubuque-area residents moved west with the crew of F.I.S.T. John Cahill, Stallone's chauffeur in Dubuque, accompanied the actor on his next Rambo movie.  


In Dubuque, the Saints were replaced by the [[DUBUQUE THUNDERBIRDS]]. On January 24, 2010 the [[TELEGRAPH HERALD]] reported that the team would be renamed the Fighting Saints recognizing the history of the team and sport in Dubuque.
In February 1978, the [[TELEGRAPH HERALD]] announced the newest official Dubuque [[CITY DIRECTORY]] contained some unexpected entries. Page 309 listed both John and Anna Kovaks, the fictional characters portrayed by Stallone and co-star Melinda Dillon, and the address of the brick duplex on East 22nd which was used to portray their home. Stallone was listed on page 535 and Dillon was mentioned on page 121.
[[Image:6.jpg|left|thumb|150px|Logo of the new Fighting Saints]]


[[Category: Athletics-Hockey]]
[[Category: Entertainers]]
[[Category: Pennants]]

Revision as of 18:42, 23 October 2010

Fist ver2.jpg

F.I.S.T. This 1978 movie directed by Norman Jewison starred Sylvester Stallone, the writer and star of Rocky, the Best Picture of 1977. Stallone played a Cleveland warehouse worker "Johnny Kovak" who becomes involved in the labor union leadership of the fictional "Federation of Inter State Truckers." Kovak sacrifices his principles as he moves up through the union and attempts to expand its influence.

Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

The disclosure that the film would be made in Dubuque was announced to a select group of local citizens on February 22, 1977. It was announced that the film would have an $8 million budget and be a major project for United Artists. Among the reasons given for the selection of Dubuque was the absence of television antennas that would conflict with the look of the 1930s, the era in which the movie's action was to take place.

Filming began on May 9 and continued through June. An army of extras was provided with haircuts of the era, costumes, and props. Portions of the CARADCO building were fitted with new windows that were purposely smashed during filming and then replaced before the company left town.

Perhaps the most attention was reserved for Stallone who worked in a guarded room at the Julien Motor Inn on the script for a sequel to "Rocky," a film called Paradise Alley. Occasionally Stallone ventured out with his bodyguard providing fortunate residents with a view of the star off the set.

Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

The last filming took place on July 1 in the basement of SACRED HEART CHURCH. Seven Dubuque-area residents moved west with the crew of F.I.S.T. John Cahill, Stallone's chauffeur in Dubuque, accompanied the actor on his next Rambo movie.

In February 1978, the TELEGRAPH HERALD announced the newest official Dubuque CITY DIRECTORY contained some unexpected entries. Page 309 listed both John and Anna Kovaks, the fictional characters portrayed by Stallone and co-star Melinda Dillon, and the address of the brick duplex on East 22nd which was used to portray their home. Stallone was listed on page 535 and Dillon was mentioned on page 121.