
*Prior to his January 4, 1933 match with Hans Kampfer at the St. Louis Arena, Everette Marshall took a five-day break from the sport, then returned to the National Gymnasium to work out with Jack Roller, Barney Cosneck, and Morris Gollub. St. Louis, Missouri: Wednesday, January 4, 1933 (St. Louis Arena) … Everette Marshall b. Hans Kampfer (19:57) … Jim McMillen and Joe Stecher drew (30:00) … George Zaharias b. Pat O’Shocker (22:23) … John Katan b. Cliff Olsen (15:23) (Olsen was a substitute for Paul Jones, who had an injured hand) … (promoter: Tom Packs) … (matchmaker: Leon Balkin) … (referees: Harry Cook, Joe Sanderson, Fred Voepel) … (announcer: Joseph G. “Biz” Kenney) … (timekeeper: Earl Brady) … (in attendance: World Champion Jim Londos, Ed White) … (7,042 fans) … (gate: $7,849.34) *Promoters from throughout the country wanted to pit World Champion Jim Londos against Everette Marshall. Tom Packs hurried to sign the match and did so for January 18, 1933. In preparation for the big match, Londos planned to work out at the National Gymnasium, the site in which Marshall had been used to training at. Billy Sandow then moved Marshall’s training location to Tommy Sullivan’s Future City Gym on Washington Avenue. Marshall trained with Fred Peterson and Ernest “Dutch” Hefner. Londos trained with Jack Roller and Morris Gollub, two of Marshall’s former partners. Sandow had expected Roller to move over to the Future City Gym. *On Monday, January 16, 1933, Everette Marshall and his training partner Fred Peterson took their workout up a notch at the Future City Gymnasium and what was supposed to be a clean session turned ugly. Billy Sandow separated the two and then fired Peterson. St. Louis, Missouri: Wednesday, January 18, 1933 (St. Louis Arena) … World Heavyweight Champion Jim Londos b. Everette Marshall (1:12: 24) (Marshall was accompanied by Billy Sandow) … Ernie Dusek and Jim McMillen drew (30: 00) … Ernest “Dutch” Hefner b. John Katan (8:56) … Joe Savoldi b. Abe Kashey (20:31) … (15,429 fans) (paid) (600 additional free tickets) … (gate: $19,629) … (promoter: Tom Packs) … (matchmaker: Leon Balkin) … (referee: Charlie Rentrop, Harry Cook, Joe Sanderson, Fred Voepel) … (announcer: Joseph G. “Biz” Kenney) … (timekeeper: Earl Brady) St. Louis, Missouri: Wednesday, February 1, 1933 (St. Louis Arena) … John Pesek b. Ernie Dusek (35:43) … Gino Garibaldi and Joe Stecher drew (30:00) … Ernest “Dutch” Hefner and George Zaharias drew (30:00) (after the match, Zaharias attacked Hefner in the latter’s dressing room. A number of officials and police stopped the brawl) … Pat O’Shocker b. Paul Harper … (promoter: Tom Packs) … (matchmaker: Leon Balkin) … (referees: Harry Cook, Joe Sanderson, Fred Voepel) … (announcer: Joseph G. “Biz” Kenney) … (timekeeper: Earl Brady) … (4,400 fans) … (gate: $4,421.44) *The Missouri State Athletic Commission fined George Zaharias $25 for his actions on February 1 at the Arena. He was also reprimanded by the commissioner, Seneca C. Taylor. St. Louis, Missouri: Monday, February 6, 1933 (Future City Gymnasium) … Billy Scharbert vs. Ted Sharkey … Paul James vs. Joe Miller St. Louis, Missouri: Wednesday, February 15, 1933 (St. Louis Arena) … Everette Marshall b. Ray Steele (41:53) … George Zaharias b. Lee Wykoff (22:55) … Gino Garibaldi b. Nick Velcoff (18:43) … Pat O’Shocker b. Joe Hackenschmidt (10:35) … (promoter: Tom Packs) … (matchmaker: Leon Balkin) … (referees: Harry Cook, Joe Sanderson, Fred Voepel) … (announcer: Joseph G. “Biz” Kenney) … (timekeeper: Earl Brady) … (5,842 fans) … (gate: $6,319.90) *On Thursday, February 23, 1933, promoter Tom Packs cancelled a scheduled show for Tuesday, February 28 at the St. Louis Arena. He had booked Everette Marshall for the main event, but could not sign an opponent. John Pesek, through his manager Al Haft, refused a $5,000 offer. Before the end of the month, Packs ventured to Houston to sign a match between Jim Londos and Marshall. St. Louis, Missouri: Thursday, February 23, 1933 (Future City Gym) … Billy Scharbert b. Ted Sharkey (24:00) … Cyclone Robinson and Joe Miller drew (30:00) … Bob Corby and Walter McMillan drew (30:00) … Jack Dalton b. Ray McCabe (10:00) … Al Hammerle b. Rollie Pickard (16:00) *World Champion Jim Londos was scheduled to wrestle Joe Stecher in Chicago on Friday, March 3, 1933. St. Louis promoter Tom Packs, who had just returned from a trip to Houston, traveled to Chicago to sign Stecher for a bout against Everette Marshall in the case that Joe captured the championship. St. Louis, Missouri: Wednesday, March 15, 1933 (St. Louis Arena) … NWA World Heavyweight Champion Jim Londos b. Everette Marshall (1: 04:56) … Joe Stecher b. Pat O’Shocker (21:27) … Abe Coleman and Ernie Dusek drew (30: 00) … Dr. Ralph Wilson b. John Katan (22:26) … (promoter: Tom Packs) … (matchmaker: Leon Balkin) … (referees: Harry Cook, Joe Sanderson, Fred Voepel) … (announcer: Joseph “Biz” Kenney) … (timekeeper: Earl Brady) … (9,931 fans) … (gate: $11,372.70) *In preparation for his Friday, April 7, 1933 show in Belleville, Illinois, promoter Bert Gervis met with Tom Packs and the latter’s matchmaker Leon Balkin in St. Louis during the afternoon of Sunday, March 26. Gervis had already signed Abe Kashey to headline his show and was searching for an opponent. St. Louis, Missouri: Wednesday, March 29, 1933 (Future City Gym) … Charley Kuehn b. Howard Corrington (56:00) … Cyclone Robinson and Les Stefter drew (30:00) St. Louis, Missouri: Thursday, April 6, 1933 (St. Louis Arena) … Gino Garibaldi b. Abe Coleman (30:30) … George Zaharias b. Ernest “Dutch” Hefner (29:00) … Dr. Ralph Wilson b. Louis “Blue Sun” Jennings (19:50) … Vic Christy b. Jack Zarnas (14:11) … (promoter: Tom Packs) … (matchmaker: Leon Balkin) … (referees: Harry Cook, Charlie Rentrop, Joe Sanderson) … (announcer: Joseph “Biz” Kenney) … (timekeeper: Earl Brady) … (4,000 fans) … (gate: $4,723.10) Notes: Coleman trained for his match with Garibaldi with Jack Roller. Garibaldi was called the “former DuQuoin coal miner.” St. Louis, Missouri: Monday, April 17, 1933 (North Side Turners’ Hall) … John Anderson b. Earl Wadsack (19:24) … Eric Haeffner b. Eddie Piantanida (28:29) … Edmore Thieriault vs. John Wainwright … Cliff Barnett vs. Louis Woolsey … Jack Hebert vs. Joe Sluce St. Louis, Missouri: Wednesday, April 26, 1933 (St. Louis Arena) … George Zaharias b. Abe Coleman (25:48) … Everette Marshall and Jim McMillen drew (30:00) … Henry Graber b. Abe Kashey (12:16) … Ernest “Dutch” Hefner b. Emil Dusek (countout) (19:14) … (promoter: Tom Packs) … (matchmaker: Leon Balkin) … (referees: Harry Cook, Joe Sanderson, Fred Voepel) … (announcer: Joseph G. “Biz” Kenney) … (timekeeper: Earl Brady) … (3,905 fans) … (gate: $3,856.70) St. Louis, Missouri: Wednesday, May 10, 1933 (St. Louis Arena) … Joe Stecher b. George Zaharias (29:07) (Stecher earned a match with World Champion Jim Londos) … Jim McMillen b. Dr. Ralph Wilson (22:52) … Abe Coleman b. Ernest “Dutch” Hefner (countout) (16:00) … Milo Steinborn b. Henry Graber (5:19) … (promoter: Tom Packs) … (matchmaker: Leon Balkin) … (referees: Harry Cook, Joe Sanderson, Fred Voepel) … (announcer: Joseph G. “Biz” Kenney) … (timekeeper: Earl Brady) … (2,947 fans) (smallest Packs crowd in years) … (gate: $2,729.80) *Promoter Tom Packs signed John Pesek to appear in St. Louis and face Joe Stecher in the case he beat Jim Londos for the World Championship on May 19 in Cleveland. Londos was scheduled to defend his title against Stecher on May 24 at the St. Louis Arena. Packs would attend the matches in Cleveland. *On Monday, May 22, 1933, Joe Stecher worked out at the National Gymnasium in St. Louis in preparation for his match with Jim Londos. He trained with Dr. Karl Sarpolis, Henry Graber, Orville Brown, and Jack Roller. St. Louis, Missouri: Wednesday, May 24, 1933 (St. Louis Arena) … NWA World Heavyweight Champion Jim Londos b. Joe Stecher (42:27) … Hans Kampfer b. Whitey Hewitt (17:53) … Dr. Karl Sarpolis b. Darna Ostopavich (13:04) … Paul Jones b. Floyd Marshall (9:13) … (promoter: Tom Packs) … (matchmaker: Leon Balkin) … (referees: Harry Cook, Joe Sanderson, Fred Voepel) … (announcer: Joseph G. “Biz” Kenney) … (timekeeper: Earl Brady) … (4,452 fans) … (gate: $4,528.45) Note: Sarpolis was a “wrestling dentist from Cleveland” and was “reputed to be a master of scientific wrestling technique and especially effective with such holds as the reverse full Nelson and the back body drop.” *World Champion Jim Londos appeared in St. Louis during the weekend of Saturday, May 27, 1933. On Sunday, he worked out at the National Gymnasium with Orville Brown, who was hoping to made his local debut under the promotions of Tom Packs. Londos advised Brown during the session. *On Thursday, June 1, 1933, Hans Kampfer worked out at the National Gymnasium in preparation for his match with John Pesek. Kampfer trained with Orville Brown. St. Louis, Missouri: Thursday, June 8, 1933 (St. Louis Arena) … John Pesek b. Hans Kampfer (40:15) … Dr. Karl Sarpolis b. Chief Chewchki (DQ) (12:26) (Chewchki brought a bottle into the ring and was disqualified by Harry Cook) (after the match, Chewchki turned his attention to both his opponent and the referee) (officials had to run into halt Chewchki’s actions) … Orville Brown b. Ivan Vacturoff (10:17) … Pat O’Shocker and Milo Steinborn drew (30:00) … (promoter: Tom Packs) … (matchmaker: Leon Balkin) … (referees: Harry Cook, Joe Sanderson, Fred Voepel) … (announcer: Joseph G. “Biz” Kenney) … (timekeeper: Earl Brady) … (2,924 fans) … (gate: $2,191.55) Note: Chewchki was called a “full-blooded Yaqui Indian from New Mexico.” *During the middle of June, St. Louis promoter Tom Packs announced that he undecided whether he would continue running shows through the summer of 1933. *The Sunday, October 1, 1933 edition of the East St. Louis Daily Journal stated that Ray Steele “enjoys the distinction of being the only grappler who has pinned Londos’ shoulders to the mat since the night in August 1929 when Dick Shikat defeated him in a Philadelphia bout, a setback which Londos avenged 11 months later when a victory over Shikat earned him the heavyweight crown. Just two months after Londos’ conquest of Shikat, the Greek mat magician had his shoulders pinned by Steele in the first fall of a match at Phoenix, Ariz., the second fall going to Londos a few moments before the two-hour limit brought the battle to an end with honors even. Londos successfully defended his title against Steele in five or six subsequent encounters, two of which were decided in St. Louis. They also have battled to a draw three times since the Arizona meeting.” St. Louis, Missouri: Tuesday, October 10, 1933 (St. Louis Arena) … Ray Steele b. Gino Garibaldi (41:04) … Pat O’Shocker and Dr. Karl Sarpolis drew (30:00) … George Zaharias b. Milo Steinborn (11:28) … Chief Chewchki b. Casey Berger (10:10) … (promoter: Tom Packs) … (referees: Charley Rentrop, Joe Sanderson, Fred Voepel) … (announcer: Joseph “Biz” Kenney) … (timekeeper: Earl Brady) Notes: On Saturday, October 7, the Missouri State Athletic Commission lifted its suspension of Chief Chewchki. He was a Choctaw Indian from Ardmore, Oklahoma. Chewchki had wrestled Casey Berger to a 60-minute draw at Ardmore “a few months ago.” Steele trained at the National Gymnasium. St. Louis, Missouri: Friday, October 20, 1933 (The Coliseum) … Rudy Dusek vs. Joe Malcewicz … George Manich vs. Sandor Szabo … Ernie Dusek vs. Mayes McLain … Matros Kirilenko vs. Mike Mazurki … Vic Christy vs. Jack Wagner … (matchmaker: Doc Krone) … (sponsored by: Jackson Johnson Jr. American Legion Post) Notes: In the days leading up to this show, Doc Krone of Chicago was appointed the business manager of the post’s grappling enterprises.” Krone announced “an extensive series of elimination matches to determine the real champion of wrestling,” and bouts would be held in Chicago and St. Louis. Krone gave a list of the best wrestlers in the world, and they were, in the following order: Jim Browning, Ed Lewis, Rudy Dusek, Ed Don George, Jim Londos, Joe Stecher, Joe Malcewicz, Joe Savoldi, Jim McMillen, and Dick Shikat. Christy was billed as being from Houston. St. Louis, Missouri: Tuesday, October 24, 1933 (St. Louis Arena) … Ray Steele b. George Zaharias (37:44) … Dr. Karl Sarpolis b. Ernie “Dutch” Hefner (23:17) … Darna Ostopavich and Fred Peterson drew (30:00) … Chief Chewchki b. Jack Zarnas (12:58) … (promoter: Tom Packs) … (referees: Harry Cook, Charley Rentrop, Joe Sanderson, Fred Voepel) … (announcer: Joseph “Biz” Kenney) … (timekeeper: Earl Brady) … (in attendance: NWA President Harry J. Landry) … (4,646 fans) … (gate: $3,739.60) Notes: Peterson claimed to be the Missouri State Heavyweight Champion “on the strength of more than 100 victories in three years of professional mat competition and 96 successive triumphs in the amateur ranks.” He was a native of Kansas City and holds wins over Dick Daviscourt, Casey Berger, George Vassell, reportedly, and others. He was also a training partner of Everette Marshall at the St. Louis Gymnasium. The newspaper said that “his unusual roughness caused Peterson to be expelled from Marshall’s camp.” It was said that Peterson “demonstrated that he is an eel on defense and a battering-ram on offense. He is a rangy athlete of the Joe Stecher type and extremely agile. His best holds are the double arm-scissors, body scissors, headlock, and back body drop.” Peterson, also a former carnival wrestler where he took on all comers, was just breaking into the big time in St. Louis. He made his pro grappling debut around 1930. Jack Zarnas was a “former Ohio U. football player” and was a “protégé of champion Londos.” He was from Youngstown, Ohio. In preparation for his match with Zaharias, Ray Steele trained at the National Gymnasium with Jack Roller, Tony DeVito, Morris Gollub, and Harold Metheny. John Pesek had reportedly posted $1,000 with the Missouri State Athletic Commission to wrestle Jim Londos. St. Louis, Missouri: Wednesday, November 8, 1933 (St. Louis Arena) … Everette Marshall b. Dr. Karl Sarpolis (5:40) … Dick Shikat b. Paul Jones (18:15) … Orville Brown b. Chief Chewchki (7:19) … Fred Peterson b. Ernest “Dutch” Hefner (13:27) … (promoter: Tom Packs) … (referees: Harry Cook, Charles Rentrop, Joe Sanderson) … (announcer: Joseph “Biz” Kenney) … (timekeeper: Earl Brady) Notes: Brown was making his St. Louis debut. The East St. Louis Daily Journal reported that he was a “graduate of the University of Southern California, where he starred at tackle for Howard Jones crack Trojan eleven.” The paper stated that “each summer during his student days at the university, Orville returned to the range and became so expert at riding pintos and lassoing dogies that he carried off prizes as a broncho buster and bulldogger in numerous Oklahoma, Arizona and Texas rodeos.” He impressed many with victories in New York and Philadelphia, and “literally swept Eastern mat fans off their feet with his bustling, effective style of grappling. He was long a favorite on the Pacific coast before he launched his Eastern campaign four months ago.” Marshall trained at National Gymnasium with Jack Roller, Henry Metheny, Jim Crow and Joe DeVito. St. Louis, Missouri: Thursday, November 23, 1933 (St. Louis Arena) … Ray Steele b. John Pesek (47:35) (reverse decision) (while referee Charley Rentrop was knocked out, Steele had Pesek pinned. When Rentrop recovered, he saw that Pesek had Steele in a pinning predicament and counted the winning pinfall) (Seneca C. Taylor, a member of the Missouri State Athletic Commission, reversed the decision and named Steele victor) (Rentrop was rushed to Deaconess Hospital for further observation) … Orville Brown and George Zaharias drew (30:00) … Dick Shikat b. Fred “Frank” Speer (17:52) … Fred Peterson b. Cowboy Jack Russell (7:48) … (promoter: Tom Packs) … (referees: Harry Cook, Charles Rentrop, Joe Sanderson, Fred Voepel) … (announcer: Joseph “Biz” Kenney) … (timekeeper: Earl Brady) … (7,739 fans) … (gate: $7,240.75) St. Louis, Missouri: Monday, November 27, 1933 (St. Louis Coliseum) … Ed “Strangler” Lewis b. Roland Kirchmeyer (30:50) (Kirchmeyer suffered a dislocated neck in the match and taken to a local hospital) … Whitey Hewitt and Jack Smith drew (30:00) … Karol Zbyszko b. Jimmy Moore (12:00) … George Mack b. Casey Columbo (19:00) … (promoter: Eddie Byrne) … (sponsored by: Jackson Johnson American Legion) … (referees: Joe Sanderson, Fred Voepel) … (1,584 fans) … (gate: $658.50) Springfield, Missouri (or Illinois?): Tuesday, November 28, 1933 ( ) … Ed “Strangler” Lewis b. Whitey Hewitt (26:00) … Casey Columbo and Jimmy Moore drew (30:00) … Bob Corby b. Frank Berman … Silent Abbott b. Cheumley Jones St. Louis, Missouri: Thursday, December 7, 1933 (St. Louis Arena) … Ray Steele b. Jim McMillen (47:05) … Everette Marshall b. Fred Peterson (27:33) … Dick Daviscourt and Hans Kampfer drew (30:00) … Tommy Marvin b. Henry Piers (13:51) … (promoter: Tom Packs) … (referees: Harry Cook, Charley Rentrop, Joe Sanderson, Fred Voepel) … (announcer: Joseph “Biz” Kenney) … (timekeeper: Earl Brady) … (5,987 fans) … (gate: $5,008.05) St. Louis, Missouri: Wednesday, December 13, 1933 (St. Louis Coliseum) … Ed “Strangler” Lewis b. Mayes McLain (33:20) … George Hagen and Whitey Hewitt drew (30:00) … Jack Smith b. Jimmy Parker … George Mack b. Silent Abbott … (promoter: Eddie Byrne) … (sponsored by: Jackson Johnson American Legion) *On Wednesday, December 13, 1933, Tom Packs testified before a circuit court in defense against a $25,000 damage suit by former referee Harry S. Sharpe. While the St. Louis promoter was on the stand, former World Champion Ed “Strangler” Lewis appeared in the courtroom and demanded a match with either Ray Steele or John Pesek. *On Thursday, December 14, 1933, a circuit court jury in St. Louis came to a deadlock in the $25,000 suit filed by former wrestling referee Harry K. Sharpe against promoter Tom Packs. Sharpe had claimed that Packs had failed to protect him after he had made a decision in a match in February 1930 between Jim Londos and Fred Grubmeier. Sharpe was attacked by rabid fans and seriously injured. *St. Louis promoter Tom Packs signed Ray Steele to meet Ed “Strangler” Lewis for his Wednesday, December 20, 1933 show at the St. Louis Arena. Lewis replaced John Pesek as Steele’s originial opponent. Steele and Lewis had a “shoot” encounter in New York City a year earlier, as the match had been between two rival factioned wrestlers. Their second match would be hyped as a match with possible similiarities, but the facts were that the “Trust” had united the two warring troupes. Throughout December ’33 and into 1934, fans saw recently unheard of match-ups taking place throughout North America. *In preparation for his match with Ed Lewis, Ray Steele trained at the National Gymnasium with Cliff Olson, Jack Roller, Milo Steinborn, Ray Dowell, and Frank McCarroll. On Monday, December 18, 1933, Steele worked out for the fourth time at the local center. During that training session, Ed Lewis’ manager Barry Pashmaylan (Peshmalyan/Pashmalyan), Bobby Managoff Sr., and John Evko arrived at the gym to watch Steele work out. Roller demanded that they leave, and Managoff did, but Pashmaylan remained. St. Louis, Missouri: Wednesday, December 20, 1933 (St. Louis Arena) … Ray Steele b. Ed “Strangler” Lewis (36:38) (Steele was accompanied by Lloyd Carter, Tommy Marvin and Frank McCarroll) (Lewis was accompanied by his manager Barry Pashmalyan, Joe “Toots” Mondt and Bert Potts, a Chicago wrestling referee) … Jim McMillen and Cliff Olson drew (30:00) … Milo Steinborn b. Lew Plummer (11: 44) … Pat O’Shocker b. Tommy Marvin (8:46) … (promoter: Tom Packs) … (referees: Harry Cook, Charley Rentrop, Joe Sanderson, Fred Voepel) … (announcer: Joseph “Biz” Kenney) … (timekeeper: Earl Brady) … (9,288 fans) … (gate: $9,357.85) Research by Tim Hornbaker |
| St. Louis Wrestling Results - 1933 |
