#elroy hirsch

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NFL Top 100 All-Time Wide Receivers

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Elroy Hirsch : Born June 17, 1923

Elroy Leon "Crazylegs" Hirsch was an American professional football player, sport executive and actor. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 196...

Link: Elroy Hirsch

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#40 - Elroy “Crazylegs” Hirsch - HB - Chicago Rockets (1946-1948)

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Three Historic Football Illustrations by Robert Riger: Thorpe, Hirsch, Grange

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From Wausau to Hollywood: Elroy Hirsch’s journey from the playing field to the movie set

Badger football fanatics are likely familiar with the legacy of Elroy “Crazylegs” Hirsch, a star for UW-Madison and its eventual Director of Athletics. Less known is Hirsch’s second act: a short but sweet career in Hollywood. His star ascended with Crazylegs (1953), a film based on his own life, and would rise even further with Unchained (1955).

That film, based on Prisoners are People by Kenyon J. Scudder, dramatized the potential for hardened criminals to change their ways. (You’ll recognize the film’s theme song, “Unchained Melody,” performed here by Todd Duncan.)  

Later, Hirsch would appear in Zero Hour (a 1957 film better known for its parody in Airplane!), as well as various television programs. Throughout his career, Hirsch’s hometown fans showered him with support. As seen above, the people of Wausau flocked to the premiere of Crazylegs. We here at UW-Madison Archives are thrilled to incorporate newly acquired photographs and films of Elroy “Crazylegs” Hirsch into our collections. 

Images, top to bottom: Hirsch with Crazylegs co-star Joan Vohs (Image #S16998); Hirsch greets young football fans in a scene from the same movie (Image #S16995); Lloyd Nolan catches a punt from Elroy’s son Win in another scene (Image #S16994); Wisconsin welcomes home its Hollywood star (Image #S16996); Crowds assemble for the Wausau premiere of “Crazylegs” (Image #S16997). 

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Posted by Jillian Slaight for UW-Madison Archives

For more information about UW campus history, contact [email protected] or visit library.wisc.edu/archives. On, Wisconsin!