Professional wrestling had its share of gangland-style rivalries during the 1930s, and
although the combatants didn't use a Tommy Gun, the "wars" were just as hot...at least
when it came to making money, pulling double-crosses, and trying to diminish competitors.

These lists are a work in progress.  If you have anything to add, feel free to e-mail me.


1930

(faction 1)

Paul Bowser (promoter in Boston)
Lou Daro (promoter in Los Angeles)
Gus Sonnenberg
Ed "Strangler" Lewis
Joe Stecher
Everette Marshall
Ed Don George
Henri DeGlane
Joe Malcewicz
John Spellman
Stanley Stasiak
Dick Daviscourt
Nick Lutze
Dr. Karl Sarpolis

(faction 2)

Jack Curley (promoter in New York City)
Ray Fabiani (promoter in Philadelphia)
Dick Shikat
Jim Londos



1931 - 1932

The wrestling war in 1931-'32 between the Curley-Londos faction and the Paul Bowser
syndicate was an expansive battle for the hearts and minds of professional wrestling fans.  
It was contested in New York City, Boston, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Detroit,
Chicago, and other cities, which was unusual because most promotional wars were limited
to a region.  This was a national war between heavyweight promoters and booking agents,
who used the top wrestlers available, and there no were limitations in effort to draw fans to
their live programs.

(faction 1)

Jack Curley (promoter in New York City)
Joe "Toots" Mondt (booking agent)
Ray Fabiani (promoter in Philadelphia and Boston)
Lou Daro (promoter in Los Angeles)
Jim Londos (heavyweight champion)
Ray Steele
Hans Steinke
Earl McCready
Jim McMillen
Karl Sarpolis
Rudy Dusek
Pat O'Shocker
Stanislaus Zbyszko
Gino Garibaldi
Joe Savoldi
George Zaharias
Renato Gardini
Sandor Szabo
Dick Daviscourt
Ernie Dusek
Hans Kampfer
Herb Freeman
Milo Steinborn
Paul Jones
Kola Kwariani

(faction 2)

Paul Bowser (promoter in Boston)
Jack Herman (promoter in New York City)
The Johnstons (promoters in New York City)
Ed Don George
Henri DeGlane
Joe Stecher (what time-frame?)
Gus Sonnenberg
Nick Lutze
Lee Wykoff
Bibber McCoy
Len Macaluso
Stanley Stasiak
Jack Sherry
George Zarynoff
Pat McGill
Karl Pojello
Jim Browning
Marvin Westenberg

1932:

The wrestling war evolved again when Jim Londos left the Jack Curley syndicate, and then
Curley teamed with Paul Bowser.

(faction 1)

Jack Curley (New York promoter)
Paul Bowser (Boston promoter)
Billy Sandow (Los Angeles/Hollywood promoter)
Joe "Toots" Mondt
Jack Pfefer
Ed "Strangler" Lewis
Sammy Stein
Ed Don George
Jack Sherry
Jim Browning
Joe Malcewicz
Earl McCready
Dick Shikat
Sandor Szabo
Herb Freeman

(faction 2)

Jim Londos
Rudy Dusek (New York matchmaker)
The Johnstons (New York promoters)
Ray Fabiani (Philadelphia promoter)
Tom Packs (St. Louis promoter)
Lou Daro (Los Angeles promoter)
Billy Sandow (manager and promoter)
Ray Steele
Everette Marshall
John Pesek
Ernie Dusek
Hans Steinke
Abe Coleman
Gino Garibaldi
Jim McMillen
Joe Savoldi
George Zaharias
Paul Jones
Joe Stecher (- 08/1932 - 12/1932)

*At some point in 1931-'32, Joe Stecher jumped from the Bowser-Curley syndicate to the
Jim Londos group.
**Daro in Los Angeles seemed to promote a mixture of Bowser-Curley workers and Londos
workers.








June 1936 - August 1936

(faction 1)

Joe "Toots" Mondt (booking agent)
Ray Fabiani (promoter)
Lou Daro (promoter)
Ed "Strangler" Lewis
Orville Brown
Dean Detton
Dorve Roche
Vincent Lopez
Dick Raines
Jim McMillen
George Zaharias

(faction 2)

Everette Marshall
Ali Baba
Dick Shikat


November 1936 - Early 1937

(faction 1)

Joe "Toots" Mondt
Ray Fabiani
Dean Detton
Orville Brown
Hans Steinke
Frank Sexton
Bobby Bruns

(faction 2)

Billy Sandow (booking agent/promoter)
Al Haft (promoter)
Everette Marshall

Notes:  In late 1936, early 1937, Sandow's group attained a major amount of power by
forming working agreements with Ed White of Chicago, Jack Pfefer of New York city..etc.
In early 1937, Orville Brown joined the Sandow-Marshall-Haft troupe.

*Joe Williams of the Syracuse Herald wrote in his December 21, 1936 column that Jack
Curley and "Toots" Mondt were engaged in a wrestling war and running opposition to each
other on Monday nights in New York City.

February 1937

(faction 1)

Gabe Kaufman (promoter, Kansas City)
Billy Sandow (booking agent)
Al Haft (promoter)
Orville Brown
Everette Marshall
Dick Shikat
Ray Steele
Lou Thesz
Lee Wykoff

Notes:  Lee Wykoff was said to be a policeman for Everette Marshall in November 1936.  
Wykoff took on Steele and Brown in "worked" shoots, although some believe the Brown
match was actually a shoot.  This match occurred on November 9, 1936 in Kansas City.

Early 1938

(faction 1)

Joe "Toots" Mondt
Ray Fabiani
Jim Londos






Research by Tim Hornbaker
February 16, 2011
Promotional & Syndicate Wars - 1930s