FROM THE LENS OF GEORGE KALINSKY

Formally known as Madison Square Garden’s “official” photographer, George Kalinsky is easily one of the most sought-after professionals in entertainment, with a quick glance at his work you immediately understand why. Whether it’s sports, music, theater, or perhaps just a simple snap shot, Kalinsky’s photos seem to capture the attention of people round the world.

Whether it’s sports, music, theater, or perhaps just a simple snap shot, Kalinsky’s photos seem to capture the attention of people around the world. His story, well, one could possibly describe it as divine intervention or possibly a twist of fate, but it is nothing less than inspiring! Like the Garden, Kalinsky seems to encompass a magical persona. With a gift of capturing moments in time through the zoom of his lens and a click of a shutter, George has been responsible for revolutionizing photography.

Sports photography would seem like an obvious choice with the symbiosis of artistic and athletic talent George demonstrated at a young age. Reporting to the Herald Tribune on Saturdays, he found quickly that he was not only able to reproduce the most popular cartoons, but had the creative ability to craft his own. Also playing both basketball and baseball through his school age years, he developed his athletic ability that would earn him an invite to the Baltimore Orioles Spring Camp in 1962. He dazzled scouts with his incredible speed, George recalls “I remember vividly, Billy Hitchcock and Hank Bauer wanting to sign me; I knew I was fast, but I also knew I was not Willie Mays. I wanted to be the best at something and I didn’t know what it was going to be, but I knew it wasn’t going to be baseball,” and just like that, George Kalinsky turned down a contract to play professional baseball.

Even more confident that his future lay within his artistic ability, George enrolled in Pratt Institute’s Industrial Design program. “My education at Pratt really assisted me in becoming a better artist and photographer. I had the talent of creating beauty, that was God’s gift, but Pratt taught me design and why what I was creating was beautiful. What made the same object more appealing at one angle rather than another, these lessons I still draw from today.” George would not leave Pratt without phenomenal achievement, designing the Princess telephone and the first three way baby carriage before his departure.

Already exceeding what most wish to accomplish in a lifetime, Kalinsky, with his over-achiever, athletic, competitive mentality, knew he had not reached his pinnacle. Dredging through a period of financial hard times, George’s search finally ended in 1966 in none other than South Miami Beach. In Miami to interview for an opening as a sports cartoonist at the Miami Herald, Kalinsky left the newspaper confident that the interview went smoothly. After taking photos of his drawings he headed over to South Beach with his camera strapped around his shoulder. With a glance across 5th street, George immediately recognized Howard Cosell. Within minutes Muhammad Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, stepped across the street to meet Cosell and both men proceeded into the Fifth Street Gym. Without hesitation, Kalinsky followed the two gentlemen only to be stopped by Ali’s trainer Angelo Dundee who informed George that his admittance would cost him $1. George quickly responded that he was the official photographer for Madison Square Garden and showed the camera strapped around his shoulders, the words just fell out of his mouth…a statement that would be prophetic. Amused by George’s response, Dundee allowed him through. Not quite realizing the magnitude of what he was about to do, George asked permission to photograph Ali’s workout, and with the snap of a flash George’s quest for his calling was answered. With 12 images of the workout in his camera, George learned that Ali’s high profile fight was cancelled, which meant he had not only the latest photos of Ali, but most likely the only photos that Ali would be taking for a while. With camera in tote, Kalinsky dashed to the Herald to get the film processed. The film was developed and a photographer was born! George Kalinsky’s first 12 photos were sent across the nation and were seen around the world.

Maybe it was a backbone made of steel, or possibly the fact that he had nothing to lose, whatever the case, George Kalinsky took his first and only roll of sport action film and headed to meet with John F.X. Condon, President of Madison Square Garden’s Boxing Division. Although George had a design degree and had been working as an Art Director at a New York Agency, the extent of his photography experience lay within that one roll. When asked to see the rest of his portfolio, George responsed “this is all I’ve got.” Both amazed and a little taken back, Condon took a look and loved what he saw. He gave George a boxing assignment for that upcoming weekend with the potential of becoming Madison Square Garden’s official Boxing Photographer. “I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I went with the hopes of maybe getting some freelance work, being offered any position, nevertheless a position as the official photographer for the Garden never entered my mind. It was well beyond my expectations,” Kalinsky explained.

George left the office on top of the world, ecstatic over what just took place. On his way down, with his new good luck charm in hand, a man stopped him. In need of some photos of his knee for an insurance claim, the gentleman asked if the camera worked and explained what he needed to George. George without hesitation took the photos that were needed and got them developed instantly. While snapping away, it turns out that the man was Frankie Blauschild, Head of PR for the New York Knicks. A huge Knicks fan, George exclaims that he would love any opportunity to work with the team. Whether it was simply timing, or God sealing Kalinsky’s fate, whatever the case, this was his destiny… Blauschild gives Kalinsky a shot and tells him to show up to shoot the Lakers vs. Knicks game scheduled for that night. He explained to George that the Knicks photographer had fallen down a flight of subway stairs and they needed a replacement, if Blauschild liked the pictures the job would be Kalinsky’s. Needless to say, in one day George Kalinsky, with one roll of film, became both the Madison Square Garden’s Boxing and New York Knick’s Official Photographer. The Rangers, Jets, Mets, and the world would follow…recognizing George’s unique style, and gift of capturing the true essence of these athletes.

Kalinsky is also responsible for transforming the game-day programs that we have come to know today. Very similar to what small colleges and high schools currently produce, programs were just thumbnail pictures with mini bios to accompany them. With his vision and extra-ordinary artistic flair, Kalinsky teamed with the concession company and Harry M. Stevens to turn these 6-12 page booklets into a money making extravaganza. Full glossy pages, filled with pictures, articles and of course advertising, were all revamped and completed within the first year of George’s stint at the Garden. The program that we know today made its debut in 1967 at the Garden.

Arenas and teams, one by one would convert under Kalinsky’s direction. The first head-to-head boxing shot was created by Kalinsky… the famous photo of Muhammad Ali outside Frazier’s gym in Philly…that’s right, Kalinsky. He spent five hours in Joe Frazier’s gym photographing the images that would help to create the prefight hype for the 1971 bout between Frazier and Ali, which was dubbed the “Fight of the Century.” The ever so famous shot of Willis Reed limping onto the MSG court, you guessed it…also Kalinsky. His notoriety transcends beyond the sports world into politics, theater and other segments of the entertainment industry. In 1974, after immersing himself into a full fledged career in photography, one week before the Ali and Frasier would meet in a rematch, Old Blue Eyes came knocking. “I was sitting here at my desk with my door open and there was a soft knock. I looked up and there was Frank Sinatra with his body guard who asked if they could come in…I was shocked. Frank came in, introduced himself and asked me to tell him everything I knew about photography in less than five minutes. Before I knew it we were eating at Frank’s favorite restaurant Patsy’s and three hours later, Sinatra had become my protégé and my friend. He requested that I take pictures of his concert ‘The Main Event,’ which I did.” Six months later, George caught wind that Sinatra was in town. With a photo in hand, he walked into the Waldorf, got Sinatra’s room number and walked right up to his door, without a problem and without hesitation. George presented him with what Sinatra would proclaim the best picture he’d ever seen of himself and the same photo that graced the cover of Sinatra’s concert programs. “There would be times I would hear we were in the same country at the same time, and I’d give him a call. I had an exhibit in Tokyo in 1986, and by coincidence Frank was also in town. He came by for a private viewing, that’s just the relationship we had.” The friendship between George and Frank lasted through Frank’s last days. After Sinatra’s death, his daughter Tina called George. She, in an emotional state told him that he captured the essence of who her father was in one particular photo better than any photograph ever taken of him. “When Tina explained how she felt about that photo, the one with Frank holding a cigarette, I had to hand the phone to my wife June, I was so taken by the statement I became a little unraveled.” Even now a bit emotional George continues to explain, “for a photographer that is the ultimate compliment.”

Compliments and requests flow in and become one in the same for George. Humble in nature, George is completely unaware of his own eminence, with accolades such as the International Photographer of the year in 2001, an inductee in the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, 10 books under his belt, 1000 magazine covers, not to mention his work as part of a permanent exhibition in the Governor’s mansion in Albany, NY…just to name a few. So, when he wants to see the sold out, last performance of “700 Sundays,” Billy Crystal’s huge Broadway success, it never crosses George’s mind to make a few calls, and maybe cash in on his own name. This is the man former President George H. W. Bush asked “So Mr. Kalinsky, what’s it like to be a legend.” Instead Kalinsky simply states in his quiet voice, “June and I really wanted to see 700 Sundays, but the show was sold out, there weren’t anymore tickets.” he continues to explain, “the phone rings and on the other end was Billy Crystal asking me if I would come to the show and take a picture of him on the stage from the back, like the shot I took of Ewing with his hands up to the crowd in Madison Square Garden. I explained with that shot I would have to be on the stage while he was performing. Billy said we’d work it out.” The day of the performance George met Billy Crystal at 1pm and they choreographed each step ensuring George would be able to capture the images Crystal wanted. “My friends in the audience weren’t sure if I was part of the play or if I was working!” Tickled by the moment and still a bit shocked by the opportunity, Kalinsky lets out a shy chuckle. It’s no wonder George has had tremendous success, it’s exactly this unpretentious demeanor that brings an instant ease and comfort to anyone in his presence.

Responsible for capturing and in some cases creating icons through his photographic visions, Kalinsky continues to dazzle his fans. Refining and fusing his tremendous talent of art with his photography, George has now created a new genre of photography entitled “Sports Fine Art.” He has taken photographs, both old and new, and has strategically enhanced them with paint, adding an entirely new dimension to his gallery. A perfectionist, Kalinsky has been working on this technique for decades and has now unveiled his masterpieces to the world…and the world has taken notice. With deals currently in the works, it’s only a matter of time until these pieces of art become as famous as every other venture George has touched. With excitement dancing in his eyes, Kalinsky exhibits his incredible work, “June just told me to lock myself in a room until I got it right, and that’s what I did. I finally came out with a creation I’m proud of.” Portraits of the biggest names in sports, music and other facets of entertainment all come alive with vivid colors of paint.

And if all of this success doesn’t amaze you, maybe his current venture with Van Wagner will. Simply by signing his name, George Kalinsky has even further solidified his brand. Teaming with Van Wagner, one of the largest home media companies in the United States, George Kalinsky’s signature will accompany his famous photos on billboards across the nation. In a campaign that has already launched in several major cities, George’s signature will appear as large as the photos it compliments.

With a loving family, a booming career with proven longevity, and God definitely leading the way, George Kalinsky remains the heavyweight champ of photography.

To view both George Kalinsky’s photography and fine art collection go to www.georgekalinsky.com