NWA Member: Sam Muchnick Admitted to Organization: July 18, 1948 (a founder) St. Louis Office: Hotel Claridge, 1800 Locust Street, Suite 230-232 Phone Number: Central 1-7487 L.D., Central 1-7486, Central 1-7900 (1955) Corporation Name: Sam Muchnick Sports Attractions Corporation Name: St. Louis Wrestling Club (-1963-) Booking Company: St. Louis Wrestling Enterprises Sam Muchnick served as the President and Secretary of the National Wrestling Alliance. He also maintained the records of the organization at his Hotel Claridge office. After the end of the Muchnick-Thesz war in St. Louis, both Sam Muchnick Sports Attractions and Mississippi Valley Sports Club owned "St. Louis Wrestling Enterprises," which "operates as a booker" for matches throughout the territory. Muchnick received 2 1/2% from the 15% that Lou Thesz earned for every appearance he made. The money was compensation for booking Thesz and also for being National Wrestling Alliance President. As of August 3, 1949, Muchnick and Thesz still hadn't signed the papers for their deal to split St. Louis. By August 19, 1949, the Muchnick-Thesz deal was complete. The agreement gave Muchnick total control over "all promotional business." Muchnick felt he had more experience on the promotional end, and could cut corners and save money, whereas the Thesz faction were wasting cash in areas. He felt they could get along on the matchmaking side of things. As of September 26, 1949, the date for the proposed unification match between Orville Brown and Thesz hadn't yet been set in concrete. Muchnick believed it would occur on November 25 or December 9. In a letter to Morris Sigel of Houston, Muchnick said that he was very busy dealing with both "clubs," and that Thesz was away, so he had "been burdened considerably with work but as soon as we get a system clicking it will be much easier." In a letter to Jack Pfefer dated September 12, 1950, Muchnick explained that Fred Kohler had booked a Thesz-Bill Longson match on television. "That match could draw a lot of money here later," Muchnick wrote. "That's what television does. They want to stay at home and want to see good matches for nothing. Sure glad we don't have it here." Muchnick mentioned in a letter to Leonard Schwartz (12/17/50) that they had the "worst crowd here in four years last Friday." He added that "Houston had a $14,000 house the same night with Thesz vs. Gagne and Kowalski vs. Eckert." The fact that Muchnick was receiving money off the hard work of Thesz was a contentious issue. Thesz complained about some of his bookings in smaller towns to Muchnick, and there was the assumption by some people that Muchnick was slave-driving Thesz to make more money for himself. Additionally, other NWA members griped about Muchnick's pay, thinking that it was unnecessary. Muchnick reassured members that he had much devotion to the job as NWA President, and the amount of time and energy he put forth was apparent, and quickly became a non-issue. Muchnick admitted that in 1954, he made about $13,000 for being NWA President and booking Thesz, and Thesz himself would've made around $52,000. Muchnick booked wrestlers in St. Louis, Hannibal, Sedalia (at times), Cape Girardeau, Evansville, Louisville, and Indianapolis. Muchnick told Springfield, Illinois promoter Harry Newman, via letter, on August 6, 1953 that "I only have one-third of the booking office" [in St. Louis], and that things were referred to him "because the fellows think I can handle it better, or for other reasons." He mentioned wanting to expand to East St. Louis, Alton, Hillsboro, and Wood River, and that Newman had also booked in Southern Illinois or in cities close to St. Louis. In 1954, Muchnick had television on KSD-TV in St. Louis and also programming in Champaign, Illinois and Memphis. In a letter to Thesz on June 15, 1954, he explained that the numbers were off on Saturday nights, but blamed it on the fact that the building was warm. They were bringing in $1,100 on average, "which is not too good." They were working to improve the comfortability for audience members, including thinking about adding air conditioning. Muchnick believed that they'd sell out weekly if they had it, but building representatives thought it would cost too much. Muchnick had heard that Orville Brown of Kansas City had booked a show in Shelbina, Missouri, a town that he considered part of his territory. He wrote Brown about this issue on June 17, 1954, explaining that in the past, he'd respected Brown's territory, and that he considered Shelbina "within our precincts." He said that "one of the very fine things of the Alliance is that we respect each other's territory." Last year, he also noted, he was asked to book a show in Sedalia, and he refused "because that is your [Brown's] territory." He was then asked by the Missouri State Athletic Commission, and did so, but sent Brown half of the profits. Muchnick felt Brown's booking of Shelbina was an "honest mistake." In 1957, Ray J. Gillespie was the publicity director for Sam Muchnick Sports Attractions, Dick Esser was the director of ticket sales, and Margaret Nehoul was the secretary. Nehoul had be Muchnick's secretary going back to 1953, perhaps even before that. In 1959, professional wrestling in Missouri drew 100,089, according to a report issued by the National Wrestling Association, and a dollar volume of $142,501.62. This figure was less than Michigan (148,654) and Cleveland (237,413). Attendance improved in Missouri in 1960, drawing 249,130 ($240,151.00). In 1960, Bobby Bruns was booking for Muchnick, in addition to booking in St. Joseph and Kansas City. The National Wrestling Association announced in a special bulletin on March 5, 1962 that Edouard Carpentier was suspended for one year "or at least until he fulfills his contract and committment in St. Louis, Missouri as of March 2, 1962." In early 1969, there was talk about Gust Karras, Bob Geigel and Pat O'Connor buying out the shares owned by Mrs. Eddie Quinn, who reportedly owned 11-12 percent of the St. Louis office. Around 1972, Muchnick withdrew his recognition of the Central States Heavyweight championship after some controversy between champion Pat O'Connor and Harley Race. Some promoters within the five-state territory that recognized the Central States title backed Race as titleholder, while others supported O'Connor. Muchnick, however, was considering creating a new title, which would be called the Missouri State Heavyweight Title, beginning with a tournament on channel 11. Wildman wrestler The Sheik was banned from wrestling in St. Louis by Muchnick. According to an undated article, which was likely published in Muchnick's local arena program, Muchnick explained: "I don't believe that our fans want to see the time-consuming rituals and completely uncalled-for tactics of The Sheik. Hard, bruising action is one thing, but the line has to be drawn somewhere. Therefore, I will not contact the Sheik for any further dates in this city." Between 1972 and '73, Muchnick moved his office from the Claridge Hotel, where it had been since the 1940s, to the Warwick Hotel at 1428 Locust Street. T.J. Turner of the Wrestling News interviewed Muchnick printed in the July 1980 issue (#63), and asked the promoter who was the best wrestler who ever worked for him. Lou Thesz would be the obvious answer, but surprisingly not. Muchnick replied by saying Ed "Strangler" Lewis, who only worked for him once - and as a substitute. "I guess he would be the best that ever worked for me," he said. Turner then asked him who was the most difficult wrestler to deal with, and Muchnick replied that he was disappointed in "Superstar" Billy Graham, "who missed two dates for me without calling and explaining why. So I never intend having him on any of my cards." Muchnick was not a fan of shenanigans in professional wrestling. He knew that drama and colorful characters had their place, and was all for giving his audience what they wanted to see, but he wasn't going to book the gimmick matches seen elsewhere. Plus, he had a very high standard for the kind of wrestling he wanted to deliver to the St. Louis audience. That first class standard gave local fans outstanding pro wrestling year-after-year from the 1940s until the '80s. It was absolutely remarkable. St. Louis Wrestling Club, Inc. The St. Louis Wrestling Club was incorporated in the State of Missouri on June 27, 1972 and the registered office was at the Claridge Hotel at 1800 Locust Street. The cost for the incorporation, at that time, was $53.00. According to the articles of incorporation, there were 3,000 shares at $10.00 per shape adding up to $30,000. The original incorprators were Sam Muchnick and Willard R. "Bill" Longson. The purpose of the corporation was the "operate a business dealing with the promotion of wrestling; to promote all athletic sports and events; to engage in the business of furnishing amusement, entertainment and diversions of all kinds to the general public, either indoors or outdoors," and so on... Longtime NWA attorney Harry Soffer, also a notary public, signed the documents. According to the initial registration report, Muchnick was listed as the president of the corporation. Gust Karras and Frank Tunney were the vice presidents, Longson the secretary, and Muchnick the treasurer. The company board of directors consisted of Muchnick, his wife Helen, Karras, and Tunney. The 1973 registration report listed an updated board of directors to include Muchnick, Tunney, Karras, Longson, and the Heart of America Sports Attractions, Inc., a corporation made up of Bob Geigel, Pat O'Connor, Gust Karras, and George Simpson. Tunney was no longer vice president, however. Things remained pretty much the same until 1976, when the annual registration report listed Muchnick and Longson as the president and secretary, respectively, and the company was without the presence of the St. Joseph-Kansas City interests. Karras passed away in January 1976, five months before the report was submitted. Over the next year, things in the St. Louis office became a little more interesting. Sam remained the president of the company, his wife Helen the vice president, and Larry Matysik was listed as the secretary. Another vice president, however, was Verne Gagne of Minneapolis, the founder of the AWA. The board of directors included Muchnick, Gagne, and Pat O'Connor. Gone was Longson, so it seems like a strong possibility that Gagne and O'Connor bought the shares of Longson and/or Karras. This configuration remained through 1981. In 1982, Muchnick's name was gone due to his retirement and replaced by Robert F. Geigel, the new president of the St. Louis Wrestling Club. Gagne remained as the vice president and Matysik remained the secretary. However, the listing of the board of directors included Geigel, Gagne, O'Connor and Harley Race. In 1983, O'Connor replaced Matysik was the company's secretary. Missouri Secretary of State Roy D. Blunt issued a Certificate of Rescission of Forfeiture for the St. Louis Wrestling Club, Inc. on November 1, 1984. Also issued as a Forfeiture of Charter or Authority to do Business. O'Connor signed an affidavit on an application to rescind the forfeiture on May 21, 1985, paying a $90 fee. The company officers and board remained the same in 1984 and '85. In 1986, Race dropped from the company, leaving Geigel, Gagne and O'Connor, but in 1987, again, the State of Missouri issued a Forfeiture of Charter or Authority to do Business on November 2, 1987. This time, no one filed an application to rescind the order. Research by Tim Hornbaker January 7, 2011 |
St. Louis Booking Office |