NWA Member: Eddie Quinn Admitted to Organization: November 26, 1949* Montreal Office: c/o The Forum, 2313 St. Catherine Street, West Phone Number: Fitzroy 7757 - L.D., Wilbank 6131, Loc.17, Wilbank 3786 (1955) Corporation Name: Canadian Athletic Promotions, Inc. *Quinn didn't actually become a member until October 1950 because he didn't submit his NWA fees until that time. Although Quinn joined the National Wrestling Alliance in November 1949, he didn't submit his fee to actual become a member. This didn't actually occur until October 1950. Sam Muchnick announced in early October that Quinn wired him, saying that "he wants to join the Alliance." Muchnick asked members whether or not anyone objected to him joining, and if he didn't receive anything by October 15, 1950, Quinn was going to become a member. In June 1951, wrestler Ed Faieta wrote several letters to Jack Pfefer while in the Montreal territory, working for Bob and Paul Lortie. According to Faieta, the Lorties had "about 22 towns," and were giving Quinn trouble. Reportedly, at the time, Buddy Rogers was booking the Montreal Forum and that Quinn was leaving. Faieta also was contemplating going to Texas to use the name, "Buck Rogers." In his July 9 missive, he mentioned that Buddy Rogers offered him a spot to work for Quinn. In one of the most unique moves in professional wrestling history, Quinn sent a telegram to Sam Muchnick on December 15, 1959 telling him to "discontinue booking Pat O'Connor of Chicago, professional wrestler, who is under exclusive contract to me." O'Connor, at this particular time, was the reigning NWA World Heavyweight Champion, and there was no logical reason for Muchnick to halt his booking of O'Connor. But little did they know that O'Connor, did in fact, sign a contract with Quinn in Montreal. Quinn's lawyer followed up with a letter to Muchnick, telling him that O'Connor was under contract until November 10, 1964. Muchnick, on December 30, 1959, responded to Quinn's lawyer, and explained that his own attorney in St. Louis had reviewed the O'Connor-Quinn contract and that he didn't feel it was enforceable. That meant everything was going to remain the same, and Quinn's ploy had failed. Another blow came on January 6, 1960 when the chairman of the Illinois State Athletic Commission, Frank B. Gilmer responded to Quinn's lawyer, basically telling him that the contract was not going to be bound in the state. "If Mr. Quinn thinks the agreement is still valid and binding, he should submit the matter to a court of competent jurisdiction," Gilmer wrote. Additionally, both Muchnick and Fred Kohler wrote letters to the Department of Justice, reporting Quinn's actions. Muchnick even felt it was worthwhile to travel to Washington, D.C. to discuss the Quinn situation and the brewing controversies in Richmond, Virginia regarding NWA member Bill Lewis. Research by Tim Hornbaker December 12, 2010 |
Montreal Booking Office |