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| Gabe Saienz |
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born:
26 March 1913 Los Angeles, California, United States of America |
died:
07 July 1989 Los Angeles, California, United States of America (age 76) |
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American child actor, who notched up a few appearances in some of the earlier Our Gang films. Previous sources have listed his surname as “Saienz,” but it appears that it may have actually been “Saenz” (no “i”), as evidenced by an obituary for his brother Ernest. As with Buddy McNeal, Gabe was also an amateur boxer. The two are frequently mentioned in the same newspaper clippings. It’s unknown if they ever faced off against each other in the ring. Gabe was the son of Manuel Edward “Cy” Saenz. “Cy” may have been a shortened way of saying the family surname (pronounced similarly to “science”). Cy appears to have taught Gabe boxing. Gabe’s mother was Rose Isabel Peralta. The couple had seven kids total - Gabe, Ernest “Ernie” Gilbert Saenz, Manuel Saenz, Edwin Saenz, Daniel Saenz, Jack Saenz, and Marcela Saenz. Gabe’s grandfather (Cy’s dad), Jesus, was one of Culver City’s founding fathers and a significant partner in the development and prosperity of the La Ballona Valley. Gabe’s brother Ernie, like Gabe, was a boxer, as well as a football player at Hamilton High School. Ernie also played professional football for the Los Angeles Dons and Hollywood Bears. A 1934 issue of Venice News: “Gabe Saenz, who won his first match at the Culver Town ring last week, decisioning Rudy Gavarra in a slam-bang battle, returns for an engagement with Eddie Haggerty, Lion Man from the Del Rey hills and rated the outstanding middleweight in the bay district. Gabe will find Haggerty “different meat” than was Gavarra. While Rudy slapped Gabe with some terrific and punishing blows in their scrap last week, he displayed none of the boxing skill or punching power that Haggerty has.” September 12, 1934 issue of the Evening Vanguard: GABE SAENZ (sic) TO MAKE BOW AS BOXER AT CULVER TOMORROW - “Hamilton high school football followers will have a chance to practice up on their rooting for the football season tomorrow night at the Culver City Amateur Athletic club. One of their former Yankee grid stars, Gabe Saenz, makes his bow as a box-fighter, tackling the rough, tough, slashing Eddie Haggerty, Lion Man from the Del Rey Hills. Gabe has a flock of followers who played football with him or who watched from the sidelines as he pushed noses right and left, packing the ball for good ol’ Hamilton, and they’ll be on hand to see how he can do without benefit of headgear or noseguard. Saenz and Haggerty will comprise one of the main event attractions at the arena.” |
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Real name: Gabriel Manual Saienz |
Films listed on this page: complete Hal Roach filmography. |
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