The research of professional wrestling history is an ongoing chore that often turns up
special tidbits of information.  This page will highlight certain recent items found from a
variety of sources.  It should be noted that sometimes the location of a new piece of the
puzzle will only inspire more questions, and send the researcher in a completely new
direction.  If anyone has anything to contribute to this page or to any of the various topics,
drop me an e-mail at Thornbaker@aol.com.  Research by Tim Hornbaker unless otherwise
noted.

32)  Women's Wrestling a Major Draw in Northern California in 1944 - 8/30/10

First of all, I have to say that The Queen of the Ring by Jeff Leen is a must read for any
serious wrestling fan.  When reading the book, you learn about the trials and tribulations
of Mildred Burke and many other women wrestlers in a male-dominated sport.  Men were
not only were featured more prominently in the ring, but controlled all the behind-the-
scenes aspects of the sport.  More often than not, wrestlers and bookers looked down
upon the "girl" grapplers, considering it much more of a side show than a serious athletic
spectacle.  This is an unfortunate sidebar to professional wrestling history - the general
chauvinism displayed so freely by many of the most acclaimed individuals of the 1930-'50s
time-frame.  It should be known that there were women wrestlers more talented than many
of their male counterparts.  The assessment that women's wrestling was a "joke" and
unsuccessful is absolutely wrong.

Wrestling researcher Becky Taylor sends Legacy of Wrestling proof of the popularity of
women's wrestling, as a February 11, 1944 show at the Oakland Auditorium in Oakland,
California drew upwards of 9,000 fans.  The program was headlined by Mae Young, known
for her recent WWE performances, and Gladys Gillem, and Young went over in 2-of-3
falls.  Red Vagnone took the semifinal over "badman" Cy Williams.

The attendance of 9,000 doubled many of the male-dominated wrestling shows in Oakland
during the same year, and was said to be have been the biggest attendance "since the
Golden era of wrestling here about 10 years back."

Taylor also noted that a California State Athletic Commission rule prevented women
wrestlers from appearing more than twice every six months in any particular city.  The
apparently bigoted commission later successfully got women's wrestling banned altogether
in the state, and it would remain so until the mid-1960s.  It makes you wonder, however,
why they'd push for such stringent measures when women's wrestling was so popular, and
brought in the kind of money that it did.  I guess this was one of those times when money,
to a bunch of usually cash starved and narrow-minded old codgers, was secondary to their
belief that women belonged in the kitchen and not performing on the wrestling mat.

33)  The "White" Wrestling Rules Implemented in Portland in 1922 - 9/24/10

A professional wrestling experiment occurred in Chicago on January 25, 1922 that called
for a rounds system during matches, known as the "White Rules," and named after its
creator, promoter Ed White.  White, who later was known as the manager of Jim Londos
and a member of the infamous "Trust," was referred to as the "Marquis of Queensbury" of
professional wrestling by some sportswriters.  The innovation received a lot of attention,
and soon the rules were being adopted elsewhere in places like Montana and Oregon.  In
Portland on February 9, 1922, the first matches using the novel system occurred at the
Labor Temple, and a "fair-sized" crowd saw Eli Lux beat Paul Kenny by decision after
winning the only fall in the third round of a 60-minute match (6 rounds in total).  John
Vidahoff beat Jimmy Anderson by decision after three 10-minute rounds without a fall, and
Red Nutting toppled Jack Larry with a three round decision.  After each 10-minute round,
each wrestler received 2-minutes rest.  The show was promoted by Ad Garlock.  In some
places, each round under the "White Rules" were 15-minutes in length.

The new system was praised by some pundits and fans, who seemed to be thrilled by the
pace, and the fact that after each round and rest period, the wrestlers came out strong.  
For those who enjoyed the classic catch-as-catch-can rules, this innovation was a
disturbing change, and one they wanted to see done away with as soon as possible.  In
most territories, it was only a temporary device to attract attention.

34)  Basanta Singh Claims the World Welterweight Wrestling Championship in
1922 - 9/28/10

Basanta Singh was a journeyman and occasional headliner during his career lasting from
at least the mid-to-late 1910s to the early '30s.  He was from India, but lived in several
territories during his stay in the U.S, having first arrived around 1913.  He got some press
in early 1922 when he claimed that there were heavyweight wrestlers in his home country
who could beat Joe Stecher, Earl Caddock, Ed "Strangler" Lewis and Stanislaus Zbyszko
all in the same night.  He believed that the catch style originated in India, and while most
heavyweights in America were 190-230 pounds, those in India were 250-300.

Singh worked a great deal in the Pacific Northwest and had memorable matches against
Oscar Butler and others.  Usually weighing around 150 pounds, and sometimes hovering
closer to the middleweight weight class, Singh went east to Iowa, and battled World
Welterweight Champion Jack Reynolds on May 12, 1922 in Cedar Rapids.  Singh won the
match, but was over the welterweight limit, weighing 152 to Reynolds' 143.  Thus,
Reynolds retained his championship.  Based on Singh's victory, he was given another
match against Reynolds in a real title bout on June 20, 1922 in Indianapolis, and this time
around, the champion prevailed.  Reynolds took two-straight falls to remain the rightful
holder of the title.

This is where it gets interesting.  Singh arrived back in the Pacific Northwest in early
October 1922, claiming to be the World Welterweight Champion, and was billed as such in
advertising.  The reasoning behind it:  He beat Jack Reynolds on his tour of the east.  The
Portland newspaper claimed that Singh's only loss during his trip was to Ira Dern in Salt
Lake City, when Dern weighed 170 to his 150 pounds.  They are overlooking the fact that
he was defeated by Reynolds in a title bout in Indianapolis.

Singh had no legitimate claim to the championship, but you can see how a wrestler
manipulated the facts to generate publicity, and how a championship claim sometimes
appeared out of no where.

35)  "Joe Ginsberg" ... aka ... "Joe Malcewiecz" looking to be first Hebrew World
Heavyweight Champion - 9/29/10

This is an oddity.  The December 24, 1922 edition of the Portland Oregonian newspaper
stated that there had never before been a Hebrew heavyweight champion in professional
wrestling, but there was a major prospect in the sport possibly going in that direction.  "Joe
Ginsberg" hoped to be the first man to accomplish the feat.  The paper continued by
reporting that only a short time before, "when wrestling under the name of Joe
Malcewiecz," Ginsberg beat Earl Caddock and Yussif Mahmout.  Ginsberg was also ready
to meet Ed "Strangler" Lewis.

"Joe Malcewiecz," as the newspaper claimed, was apparently Ginsberg's wresting name.  
But the man who beat Earl Caddock was actually Joe Malcewicz of Utica, New York.  In the
1920 United States Federal Census, the Malcewicz Family lived in Oneida County, New
York, and 22 year old Joseph was residing with his parents, Anthony and Helen Malcewicz.
During World War I, Joe registered for the service using the name "Malcewicz," and there
are no references to "Ginsberg" being in any way affiliated with him or his family.

I think what this comes down to is that Joe Malcewicz used the identity "Joe Ginsberg" in
some of his matches, not the other way around.  Malcewicz was his birth name.

36)  A $20,000,000 wrestling gate in 1944 - How can it be possible? - 10/1/10

When thinking about the largest gates in professional wrestling between 1900 and 1965,
we conjure thoughts of Gotch vs. Hackenschmidt, Lewis vs. Sonnenberg, Thesz vs. Leone,
and Rogers vs. O'Connor.  However, in December 1944, a Houston crowd ponied up over
$20,000,000 to enter a wrestling show at the City Auditorium featuring four championship
matches.  No, you didn't read that wrong.  This was 1944, and not a WrestleMania show
held in the modern times.  To get into the show, fans bought war bonds, and didn't pay a
regular admission - meaning that the Houston crowd of 11,000 paid a gate of $20,708,000
to see the program.

Here are the facts:

Houston, Texas:  Friday, December 8, 1944
(The Coliseum) … World Heavyweight Champion Bill Longson b. Lou Plummer (2/3) …
Olaf Olson b. Lou Thesz to capture the Texas State Heavyweight Title (Thesz suffered a
fractured shoulder) (8:14) … World Junior Heavyweight Champion Leroy McGuirk b.
“Sockeye McDonald (match stopped due to the challenger’s eye injury) … Women’s
Wrestling Champion Mildred Burke b. Mae Weston (17:25) … Bobby Managoff b. Ellis
Bashara (16:22) … (promoter:  Morris Sigel) … (referees:  Karl Sarpolis (main event), Al
Lovelock, John Galiano) … (physician:  Dr. Ben Bayer) … (11,000 fans)
Notes:  The crowd purchased $20,708,000 in war bonds.  According to the newspaper
report, this was “the largest wrestling gate in history and the largest crowd ever to see a
mat show in Texas.” The wrestlers were paid for their expenses only.  The show was
sponsored by the Texas Junior Chamber of Commerce and Sigel was a member of that
group.  Before the show, an $18,000,000 gate was predicted.  Admission was “by war
bond purchase only.”  The Houston Post claimed it was the “largest wrestling gate in
history.” Parts of the show were broadcast on KPRC at 10:15, and Jerry Schultz was going
to give hold-by-hold commentary.  Lloyd Gregory was going to do interviews.  Members of
the marine battalion state guard were ushers at the show.  A contingent of wounded
veterans from McCloskey hospital were ringside.  Film of the show was taken by Jimmy
Lederur, a Universal news cameraman.

37)  Tag Team Wrestling debuts at Dallas Sportatorium & World Tag Team
Championship claimants spring up almost immediately thereafter - 10/1/10

Nearly 3,000 fans were drawn to the Sportatorium for what the Dallas Morning News
referred to as "one of the most unusual wrestling matches in the history of the sport," on
December 22, 1942.  This marked the debut of tag team wrestling at the Dallas wrestling
venue.  The heels, Juan Humberto and Gorilla Macias toppled Ellis Bashara and Jack
Kennedy in the initial bout with Humberto doing most of the heavy lifting.  By Sunday,
December 27, Humberto and Macias were claiming to be the World Tag Team
Champions.  According to the newspaper, the Texas State Commission and the National
Wrestling Association didn't recognize tag team champions, but the duo were fine with
being known as the unofficial titleholders.

Here is the December 22 show:

Dallas, Texas:  Tuesday, December 22, 1942
(The Sportatorium) … Juan Humberto and Gorilla Macias b. Ellis Bashara and Jack
Kennedy (tag team match) … Flash Clifford b. Roy Graham (DQ) … Chief Little Beaver b.
Miguel Torres … (promoter:  Ed McLemore) … (2,500+ fans)
Notes:  The Dallas Morning News said the main event was going to be a “tag bout,” which
was “one of the most unusual wrestling matches in the history of the sport.” The paper
stated that the wrestler can tag his partner “any time he wishes, and the man tagged then
can go into action.” Also, “a fall is scored when both members of one team are pinned,”
and that “the match actually may go for five or six falls” within the two-hour time-limit.  
Clifford was from Louisville and Beaver from Cherokee, North Carolina.  This was the first
tag team match at the Sportatorium.

38)  Ted Thye, only months after becoming a light heavyweight, topples Pete
Sauer for a claim to the World Light Heavyweight Title - 10/9/10

Like in many parts of the country, professional wrestling in Portland was seeing a boost in
ticket sales in 1922-'23, but Portland's increase was completely due to the hard work of
middleweight sensation Ted Thye.  Thye's reputation as a winner lured many big names to
the coast, and he toppled one after another.  By the summer of 1922, Thye was having
trouble making the middleweight limit, and soon announced his plans to jump to the light
heavyweight division with a 175 pound limit.  Reputed light heavyweight Al Karasick
entered town and Thye beat him on two occasions at the Heilig Theater.

The local Portland promoter wanted to establish a tournament for light heavyweights to
narrow the division down to a singular titleholder.  In the first match on January 17, 1923,
incidentally, Thye lost his first match in Portland in nearly 10 years to Mike Yokel, dropping
a decision after two hours.  Yokel was to advance in the tournament and face 23 year old
Peter Sauer the next week.  However, the newspapers indicated that Yokel didn't want to
face Sauer, and that he was returning to Salt Lake City.  That opened the door for Thye to
step in and wrestle Sauer on January 24, 1923.

Almost five pounds less than his opponent, Thye scored the first fall of their scheduled two
hour bout in one hour and 10 minutes.  Sauer was given 15 minutes to recover, and was
unable to continue, giving Thye the match, the championship, and Sauer's title belt.  Thye
was the new World Light Heavyweight Champion.  After the match, Thye had nothing but
good words about Sauer, saying that in a few more years, he'd be one of the best in the
business.  Thye's prediction was right as Sauer would change his name to "Ray Steele"
and become a major heavyweight player.

There is a side note to all of this.  Sauer's claim to the championship was tainted, meaning
that Thye's claim was also tainted.  Let me explain.  When Sauer beat Clarence Ekludnd in
October 1922 in Santa Paula, California, he was over the light heavyweight weight limit -
much like the Basanta Singh-Jack Reynolds situation listed above.  But like Singh, Sauer
claimed the light heavyweight title, was presented with a championship belt, and toured as
a claimant.  The title passed from Sauer to Thye in Portland in January 1923 -- but in truth,
Eklund still held a stronger claim.

39)  Clearing up the U.S. Heavyweight Title situation in 1958 - 10/25/10

The cooperation of bookers intermixed with Jim Barnett and Johnny Doyle is being
explored in detail on this website, and two pages are examining the latter's syndicate as it
grew to immense proportions in the early 1960s.  Between 1958 and '63, there were few
more successful promoters in the United States.  You can read more about them on the
following pages:

The Rise of Jim Barnett and Johnny Doyle
Barnett and Doyle Fight for NWA Membership

These pages are a work in progress.

The "United States Heavyweight Title" became the feature championship in many of
Barnett and Doyle's territories and was held by the likes of Verne Gagne, Wilbur Snyder,
and Dick the Bruiser.  There was title lineage continuity in some pages, while in others, the
bookers did what was necessary to draw fans and swapped the title because it was good
for business.  The name of the championship even varied to include the infamous "United
States TV" Title.

There are two championship title changes that will be focused on in this posting.  
According to the leading title history website (wrestling-titles.com) run by a friend of this
site, Hisaharu Tanabe, Gagne beat Dick the Bruiser for the U.S. Title on April 12, 1958 in
Chicago.  This title switch actually occurred the night before, April 11,1958 at the
International Amphitheater.  There was a show at the Marigold on Saturday, April 12, but
headlined by the Volkoffs.  Gagne and Bruiser were not on the bill that evening.

Most websites claim that Wilbur Snyder dethroned Gagne for the U.S. Title on November
15, 1958 in Chicago.  Once again, there was a show at the Marigold in Chicago on
November 15, 1958, but neither Snyder and Gagne were apart of it.

In fact, both Gagne and Snyder were in Omaha on November 15 and Gagne was
defending his championship against Snyder at the City Auditorium before 4,200 fans.  
However, in Omaha, Gagne was recognized as a claimant to the World Heavyweight Title
in addition to being known as the United States champion elsewhere.  Snyder won two-of-
three-falls and captured the World Title in Omaha...and Gagne's claim to the U.S. Title.  
Snyder remained United States champion through late December 1958, losing a bout to
Angelo Poffo in Cincinnati at the debut of Barnett-Doyle's studio television show.

40)  Bowser's last days as a wrestling promoter - In a War for the city against old
friend, Eddie Quinn!?! - 11/4/10

In my Bowser biography and on page 279 of my book on the National Wrestling Alliance, I
clearly stated that Bowser's final wrestling program occurred on July 15, 1960 at Boston
Garden.  I was wrong - completely wrong.  Bowser's last wrestling program was actually
three months earlier on March 11. 1960.  The July 15 show was promoted by Eddie Quinn,
who had crow-barred his way into the city and opposed his longtime business partner and
friend.  Quinn attacked when Bowser was the most vulnerable.  Allow me to elaborate.

Sometime in the September-October 1959 time-frame, Bowser lost his vital Saturday TV
outlet on WBZ.  This was the show he relied on for promotion leading up to his live Garden
programs, and it had been quite successful.  Earlier in 1959, Bowser was selling his
venues out, and had many over 10,000 crowds.  Following his October 2, 1959 show,
Bowser closed up shop - a highly unusual move.  The darkness of his wrestling promotion
indicated one of the harshest downfalls in wrestling history.  Little do people understand
just how far Bowser fell in such a short period of time.

In the January 30, 1960 edition of the Boston Globe, writer Jerry Nason quoted Bowser as
saying that he was looking to restart his operations in March, and that he first needed a
television arrangement.  The March 11, 1960 Globe reported that it was the first winter in
"40 years" that Bowser's promotion was quiet during the winter.  Through this time,
sportswriters touched on the news that Eddie Quinn was going to pounce on the Boston
market.  The Boston Globe (2/18/60) stated that "It's War" with Quinn and his Armory A.A.
troupe coming in.

In the February 20, 1960 edition of the Globe, Quinn denied there was a war in Boston.  
He said:  "If there was, what's Pat O'Connor doing on Bowser's March 11 show?  I manage
O'Connor!  He's under five year contract to me." This was a debatable statement,
especially when it came to the National Wrestling Alliance and NWA President Sam
Muchnick.  But Quinn firmly believed he held the rights to the NWA Titleholder, O'Connor.  
That is another story altogether.

Quinn rallied his troops - and like he was doing in Chicago - attacked with an offensive that
meant to eliminate the established promoter.  On the opposite side, Bowser was physically
ill, and in no place to retaliate or defend his city.  Quinn turned up the heat with the likes of
Killer Kowalski, Bearcat Wright, Bobby Managoff, Lou Thesz, Johnny Valentine, and even
Bruno Sammartino.  It was no contest.  Bowser was not holding wrestling shows, and Quinn
was claiming a vacant market.  In July 1960, Bowser passed away, and Quinn assumed the
role as kingpin of the city.

41)  Boxer Tom McNeeley and the AWA reportedly in Boston in 1962 - 11/8/10

Research of Boston in 1962 finds two non-"Big Time Wrestling" (Tony Santos) shows
headlined by Verne Gagne, the American Wrestling Association World Heavyweight
Champion.  My first impression was that this was an attempt by the Barnett-Doyle group to
edge into Boston, and further their national expansion.  The first show, on September 27,
1962 at the Garden, featured Gagne and Dick the Bruiser, plus Bill Miller and Ricky Sexton
subbing for Pat O'Connor, who was absent.  A few weeks later, on October 17, 1962,
Gagne returned to battle Miller in the main event of a Garden show.  The Boston Globe
did not indicate how successful either of these shows were.

A little more digging turned up an interesting bit of professional wrestling history.  Both
Gagne matches were refereed by boxer Tom McNeeley.  McNeeley lost a big fight to Floyd
Patterson at Maple Leaf Gardens on December 4, 1961, and, according to the Associated
Press (9/13/62, Springfield Union) was retiring from boxing altogether.  McNeeley was
instead considering the pro wrestling business.  To mark the transition, he was going to
referee a few matches, and take it from there.

Some may remember McNeeley's son Peter, who fought Mike Tyson in 1995.

The Boston Globe (10/17/62) reported that the day before, at the New Garden
Gymnasium, McNeeley began to train to become a professional wrestler under the
tutelage of Jackie Nichols, a well known grappler.  It was seemingly official, and McNeeley
was edging closer to making his wrestling debut.

Sponsoring McNeeley on his path was not the Doyle-Barnett clique, but a former football
star at Boston College and pro wrestler, Dom Papaleo (Dominic L. Papaleo).  Papaleo was
the promoter for both Boston wrestling shows that featured Gagne in 1962.  From
Cambridge, he attended BC from 1946 to 1949 and was drafted into the NFL in 1950.  
During the early 1950s, he toured the country as a pro wrestler, and appeared with many
of the greats of the era.

However, the Boston promotion of Papaleo faded, as did the wrestling aspirations of
McNeeley.  By November 1962, he was back in the ring as a fighter, and had more than 20
pro boxing matches before he officially called it quits.

42)  The Early Career of Dick Shikat (Richard Schikat) in Germany - 12/12/10

Wrestling historian Ronald Grosspietsch of Hannover, Germany has provided a large
portion of Dick Shikat's early history in Europe, all of which is new information to me.  
Some of this data comes from the research of late German historian Gerhard Schaefer.  
Printed material on Shikat's pre-American wrestling career in U.S. publications was very
sketchy.  There was mention that he had served in World War I, and began wrestling
shortly after its end, but little else was provided.  In 1923, he arrived in the United States
along with Hans Steinke, and worked mainly in the San Francisco area.

Shikat's wrestling record dates back to 1918, according to Grosspietsch, and he turned
professional after serving as a sailor (minesweeper) in the German Navy.  He met Rudolf
Zurth, who'd act as a promoter for many years in Germany, and the two began to travel
together.  From there, Shikat found suitable training under promoter Harry van der
Heyden, and participated in the latter's tournament at Wilhelmshaven.  Zurth claimed later
that Shikat beat all other participants, demonstrating his wrestling skill at the age of 21
years of age.  He debut in Berlin on August 3, 1919, and won from Risse, then drew with
Steinke on August 11.  Shikat topped Max Gebhardt on December 30, 1919 on the final
day of a Berlin tournament, and placed fifth overall.

Between 1920 and 1923, Shikat participated in tournaments at Hamburg, Bremen,
Dresden, and Munich.  The summer 1922 tournament at Bremen saw Shikat place second
overall behind Jaan Jaago.  A year later in Munich, he won second place after losing a
match to Hans Schwarz Sr.  In October 1923, Shikat ventured to the United States.  Shikat
was affluent in both the Graeco-Roman and catch-as-catch-can styles, but the latter would
be more developed during his American tour, eventually leading him to the World
Heavyweight wrestling championship on two separate occasions.  The second one,
incidentally, was taken in a dramatic double-cross in 1936, in one of pro wrestling's most
controversial in-ring situations.

43)  Billy Sandow and brother Max Bauman bulldoze into St. Louis in 1935 - 2/15/11

St. Louis was a piping hot territory in late 1935.  Tom Packs' senior enterprise was drawing
more than 10,000 fans to his programs with top stars Danno O'Mahoney, Gus
Sonnenberg, Ray Steele, and boxer King Levinsky.  This is two years into the lifespan of
the fabled "Trust" and many promoters are very happy with how things are progressing
with O'Mahoney as the undisputed titleholder.  Outsiders to the dominant syndicate,
including Al Haft and Billy Sandow, aren't so pleased.  Under the new arrangement, a
tighter net of wrestlers are able to meet O'Mahoney where his predecessor Jim Londos
worked with Sandow's Everette Marshall and others.  O'Mahoney's bosses want him
protected from independent guys.

Camped in the Wichita region, Sandow and his brother Max Bauman endlessly tout
Marshall as a future heavyweight champion and use many tricks to prop their man up at
the expense of Trust workers.  They push their forces into St. Louis to run opposition to
Packs becoming at least the third promotion in the city.

St. Louis, Missouri:  November 18, 1935
(Convention Hall of the Municipal Auditorium) ... Everette Marshall b. Fred Peterson (8:10)
... Charles Fischer b. Alex Kasaboski (33:22) ... Ivan Rasputin b. Bad Boy Brown ...
George Melber b. Joe Miller ... Frankie Schroll b. Walter Sirois (countout) ... Johnny
Anderson b. Henry Hill ... Hans Schnabel b. Terry McGinnis ... (promoter:  Max Bauman) ...
(referees:  Lou Spandle, Harry Cook, Joe Sanderson) ... (2,069 fans) ... (gate:  $1,187.20)
Notes:  Bauman was the brother of Billy Sandow, who managed headliner Everette
Marshall.  Occhi was said to have captured four Ozark welterweight wrestling titles and
three middleweight titles.  Marshall trained at Anderson-Sehl Gymnasium at 2623 Olive
Street.  Fischer weighed 175-pounds.  The show was sponsored by the American Legion
Clifton Heights Post 222.  Before the main event, a quartet sang from the ring.

The workers were mainly a mix of Kansas City independent wrestlers and locals.  Maurice
O. Shevlin of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat wrote a piece about Sandow and his crew on
November 20, 1935.  Shevlin stated that there was a four-page supplement in a recent
Kansas City newspaper promoting Marshall and Sandow, making them "appear the
greatest wrestling combination the world had ever known." Sandow was said to have gone
to the Missouri State Athletic Commission and shown a willingness to post $5,000 for a
match for Marshall against O'Mahoney with the money to be given to charity.

Interestingly, as "policemen" of O'Mahoney, Ed "Strangler" Lewis wanted to put up $1,000
to wrestle Marshall, and Jim Browning showed similar interest.  Missouri Athletic
Commission chairman Garrett Smalley proposed a four-man tournament between
Marshall, Lee Wykoff, Lewis, and Browning to see who'd meet O'Mahoney at a future date
in St. Louis.  In that situation, Marshall may have been the least qualified to shoot with the
others, if that was going to be the case.

Smalley said that the parties would only have 10-days to agree to the tournament and it
was a "put up or shut up" situation.  Shevlin noted that "it is very doubtful that Sandow will
accept for Marshall an arrangement of this kind, for he realizes that Ed Lewis [had] a
dislike for Marshal which approaches the stage of viciousness, may leave him without a
wrestler." Also that Lewis considered Browning the "best wrestler in the game today." An
added emotional stake in this was that Sandow previously managed Lewis.

Shevlin wrote:  "It might be well to skp the political side of the argument.  It has too many
ramifications, and doesn't belong in sports, but politics is playing a big part in the present
promotional fight."

44)  New Texas State Junior Title Switches in El Paso in 1946 - 2/21/11

Our friend Hisa at the premier wrestling title website, www.wrestling-titles.com can add two
new title changes to the Texas State Junior Heavyweight Title lineage.  After Billy Raborn
vacated the championship because his duty station shifted from Alamogordo Airbase to
Vancouver, a several week tournament was staged - won by Milt Olsen of Wisconsin in late
November 1945 over Al Szasz (The Hood).

El Paso, Texas:  Tuesday, January 15, 1946
(Liberty Hall) … Charley Trejo b. Milt Olsen to capture the Texas State Junior Heavyweight
Title (2/3) … Tommy Felis b. Alberto Campos (2/3) (third fall by DQ when Campos
punched the referee) … Gorilla Poggi b. George Curtis (2/3) … The Red Devil and Ted
Torres drew (30:00) … (promoter:  Don Hill) … (referee:  Billy Hallas)

El Paso, Texas:  Tuesday, January 22, 1946
(Liberty Hall) … Gorilla Poggi b. Charley Trejo to capture the Texas State Junior
Heavyweight Title (2/3) … Tommy Felis b. Red Devil (2/3) (third fall by DQ) … Ted Torres
b. Alberto Campos (2/3) … George Curtis b. Oso Blanco … (promoter:  Don Hill)

These title changes were listed as such by the El Paso Times.  Strangely, however, when
Olsen returned to El Paso on March 5, 1946, he was again listed as the Texas Junior
champion.  Where and when he regained the title, is not known - if he even did regain it
from Poggi in the ring.  But it seems that promoter Don Hill wanted a champion in his
territory while Olsen was gone (Olsen had returned to Wisconsin).  Perhaps another
edition of the Times printed information about this situation and might clear it up.

Read the El Paso results for 1946 here.

45)  The Truth behind Ad Santel vs. Indian wrestler Gobar - 3/12/11

All over the Internet there are reports that Indian grappler Jatrinda Goho Gobar beat Ad
Santel for the World Light Heavyweight Title in 1922.  This can't be any further from the
truth.  Let me elaborate.  On August 30, 1921, Gobar did take a victory from Santel in San
Francisco, winning one fall at the 1:03:00 mark of their 2-hour match.  However, one report
stated that Santel was as much as 45 pounds overweight for the bout and extremely out of
shape.  Because Santel wasn't within the limits of the light heavyweight division, he wasn't
defending his title.  Two weeks later, on September 13, 1921, Santel beat Gobar in San
Francisco, winning two-of-three-falls and making Gobar tap for the third.  The newspaper
report stated that Santel had Gobar in a submission hold that was nearly breaking the arm
of his opponent.

Incidentally, Gobar was initially supposed to wrestle Ed "Strangler" Lewis, but the match
had to be postponed because Lewis was battling an eye disease (trachoma).

46)  Heart of America Heavyweight Title History Needs to be Amended - 4/5/11

The Heart of America Heavyweight Title became the main regional championship in
Kansas City when it was implemented on May 18, 1950.  It was defended along the
booking circuit of Orville Brown, who had just recently been injured in a car accident and
forcibly retired.  A total of 10 champions held the belt between 1950 and 1952 to include
Bill Longson, Wladek Kowalski, Bob Orton, Enrique Torres, and Sonny Myers.  However, in
April 1952, something unique happened.

A tournament was staged in St. Joseph on Friday, April 11, 1952 with the winner being
declared the "Midwest" Heavyweight champion and awarded Brown's diamond-studded
belt.  The new Midwest crown would be recognized in five-states: Kansas, Missouri, Iowa,
Nebraska and Oklahoma.  Going into the tournament, Myers, who had been previously
recognized as the Heart of America champion, was only billed as the Missouri State
Champion by St. Joseph newspapers.  Another source cited the status of the Heart of
America Title actually being vacant at this time.

Myers, not so ironically, won the tournament and captured the Midwest Heavyweight
crown.  He was presented with the diamond belt and was acknowledged as the "Midwest"
champion in St. Joseph through June.  When the wrestling season resumed in the Central
States in September into October, Myers was billed only as the Heart of America champion
- with all references to a "Midwest" Title being forgotten.  However, he was still carrying
Brown's diamond belt.

On October 9, 1952 in Kansas City, Red Berry beat Myers for the championship and the
newspaper report noted that Berry became the “2nd Heart of America champion in the
history of Orville Brown’s diamond studded belt, which was placed in open competition last
May (sic) to symbolize mat supremacy for this 5-state area.” Myers reportedly was
successful in defending his championship through 48 matches.

The Midwest championship Myers was holding changed names and became known as the
"Heart of America" Title.  It seems to me that they vacated the first lineage of the Heart of
America Title, held a new tournament to declare a Midwest champion, got their titleholder
and gave him the belt, then renamed it back to the original designation for continuity
sake.  It is pretty much the same lineage, but this is an important hiccup in the title's history
- particularly the fact that Brown's old MWA World Title belt was now the prize in the
territory.







Copyright 2011 Tim Hornbaker
Researcher's Corner - Page 2