After months and months of on and off research I have come up with a brief bio of our strongman. There are pieces missing. Please contact me if you have more information. Anyway here is what we do know...
Born: Francesco Paolo Pantalone March 7, 1889 to Francesca and Angelo Nicola Pantalone in Sant' Eufemia, Abruzzo, Italy. His parents knew he was special right away for he was born with hair on his chest in the shape of a cross.
He made his first journey to the United States in 1896 at age 7.
Pin the Tail on the Donkey?
At the age of 12 he discovered his strength while working with a restless mule. As one man began to shoe the mule, Frank was told to hold on to its tail. The mule became upset and darted foward. Frank's grip was so strong that the tail stayed in his hand as the mule ran away.
According to my research Frank returned to the United States in 1905. (Feb 20, 1905 on the SS Republic) I'm not sure if this was a permanant stay. If it was then he was in the United States when his second "encounter" with a mule occured. Never-the-less, the eye-witnessed even goes like this: While working in a blacksmith shop, he began to shoe a mule. The mule kicked him. Frank became angry, seized the mule by its legs and threw it out into the street. This happened about 1907, he was 18 years old.
During his stay in the United States he lived in (Southwest area of)Colorado with family and was married. His first wife died. He did some bare-knuckle boxing in which he won 36 out of 37 fights. But he was the type of fighter that could not be controlled in the ring. He was afraid one day his strength would end it for the other fighter. They called him one of the "White Hopes" -- any non African American male who could take away the heavy-weight title from Jack Johnson. During this period he was a section foreman for Rio Grande Southern at San Bernardo. (Mine). As WWI approached Frank and his brothers made a pact to return to Italy and fight for the Italian Armed Forces. He kept his promise and returned sometime between 1914-1915. He was awarded 7 decorations. While in the hospital from a military wound he fell in love with the sister of a medical official. Her name was Concetta Volpe and they married in 1920. In 1921 they had a daughter and named her Leonia.
In 1924 Frank decided to move to the U.S. once again (Arpil 11 1924). He would never see Italy again let alone his daughter and wife. But this was not the plan. His manifest papers stated that he planned to stay only 6 months. Whatever happened to keep him from returning home is unknown at this time. He lived on New York for awhile at 154 Naussau St, Room 607. I've heard that there is a statue of him somewhere in the big city. (someone help me find it!)
I believe it was during this time Frank traveled the country exercising his amazing feats and eventually landed in Hollywood. It is said he befriended Rudolph Valentino. In Hollywood he became property of the movie studios and was not allowed to perform again professionally until 1941. However, he did do charity shows. I do not know if any of the movies he was in made it to the screen and if they did I do not know the names or under what studio from which they were released. He never capitalized on his strength and I think this was due to the retrictions of the Hollywood studios and their contracts.
Eventually he settled in Joliet. He lived on Desplaines Street (he rented from a woman named Frankie Arnold and her daughter Hazel. He was a prison guard at the old Stateville at one point. I do know that in the later part of his life he belonged to the I.H.C.B. &.C.L.U. of America Local Union no.75 affiliated with the A.F.of L. He worked as a Labor Foreman for Connors Construction building the Caterpiller Plant in Joliet. At the time of his death he was employed by the Rust Engineering Co.
He planned to return to Italy for a visit along with his friend Rocky Marciano. Unfortunately, he never made it. Frank died of heart-failure on November 20, 1952. He leaves behind one daughter, 3 grandsons, and 6 great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, friends (paesani) and many fond memories. His legacy will never be forgotten.
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