*On Monday, January 3, 1949, wrestling was shown on WBKB (channel 4) from the
Midway Arena with Russ Davis as commentator.  He was joined by Bill Evans.

Chicago, Illinois:  Monday, January 3, 1949
(Midway Arena) … Walter Palmer vs. Ruffy Silverstein … Pierre LaBelle vs. Al Williams …
Jack Conley vs. Larry Davis … Danno McDonald and Pete Vulkovich vs. Rowdy Pocan
and Ray Ryan … (promoter:  Fred Kohler)

Chicago, Illinois:  Wednesday, January 5, 1949
(Rainbo Arena) … World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz vs. Karol Krauser … Jack
Conley vs. Joe Millich … Larry Davis vs. Ned Taylor … Pete Bartu and Billy Venable vs.
Pierre LaBelle and Danno McDonald … (promoter:  Fred Kohler)

Cicero, Illinois:  Wednesday, January 5, 1949
(CIO Auditorium) … (promoter:  Karl Pojello)

*On Wednesday, January 5, 1949, wrestling was shown on WENR-TV (channel 7) at 8:30
from the Rainbo Arena with Wayne Griffin as commentator.

*On Thursday, January 6, 1949, wrestling was shown on WGN-TV (channel 9) at 8:30 p.
m. with Jack Brickhouse as commentator from the Madison Athletic Club.

Chicago, Illinois:  Thursday, January 6, 1949
(Madison Arena) … Ralph Garibaldi vs. Jim McMillen … Tiny Burke vs. Joe Millich … Kola
Kwariani and Ned Taylor vs. Bill Demetrios and Pat Graham … Rowdy Pocan vs. Pete
Vulkavich … (promoter:  Fred Kohler)

Chicago, Illinois:  Friday, January 7, 1949
(Marigold Arena) … (promoter:  Karl Pojello)

Chicago, Illinois:  Wednesday, January 12, 1949
(Rainbo Arena) … (promoter:  Fred Kohler) … (broadcast on WENR) (channel 7) (8:30 p.
m.) … (hosted by Wayne Griffin)

Chicago, Illinois:  Friday, January 14, 1949
(International Amphitheater) … Gorgeous George b. Ralph Garibaldi (11:30) (George
was accompanied by Jackson Hunter) … Hans Schanbel b. Bert Rubi … Karol Krauser
and Walter Palmer drew … Duke Keomuka and Youni Shiranuhi b. Jack Davis and Rudy
Kay (Originally scheduled to be Rudy Kay and Jack Conley) … Fred Davis b. Kola
Kwariani (Davis was scheduled to wrestle Sam Menacker, who may have been traveling
with Gorgeous George) … (promoter:  Fred Kohler) … (announcer:  Les Moffett) …
(broadcast:  WENR-TV) (8:30 p.m.) …  (9,486 fans) … (gate:  $17,864) ($13,739 net) …
Note:  This show was reported to have set a “post war” record for attendance in Chicago;
this show marked the return of wrestling to the Amphitheater.

Chicago, Illinois:  Friday, January 14, 1949
(Marigold Gardens) … Gorgeous George Arena b. Walter Allen (22:00) … (promoter:  
Karl Pojello) … (less than 1,000 fans in attendance)

*In the January 14, 1949 edition of the Chicago Daily Tribune, it was announced that
WENR-TV was sending two hours of live original programming of professional wrestling
eastward across the network ABC.

Chicago, Illinois:  Wednesday, January 19, 1949
(Rainbo Arena) … (promoter:  Fred Kohler) … (broadcast on WENR) (channel 7) (8:30 p.
m.) … (hosted by Wayne Griffin)

Chicago, Illinois:  Wednesday, January 26, 1949
(Rainbo Arena) … (promoter:  Fred Kohler) … (broadcast on WENR) (channel 7) (8:30 p.
m.) … (hosted by Wayne Griffin)

Chicago, Illinois:  Wednesday, February 2, 1949
(Rainbo Arena) … (promoter:  Fred Kohler) … (broadcast on WENR) (channel 7) (8:30 p.
m.) … (hosted by Wayne Griffin)
Note:  This marked the debut of Wrestling from the Rainbo on the ABC affiliate in New
York City on WJZ-TV (channel 7) (9:30-11:00 p.m.)

Chicago, Illinois:  Friday, February 4, 1949
(Marigold Gardens) … Farmer Don Marlin vs. Maurice Tillet … (promoter:  Karl Pojello)

Chicago, Illinois:  Friday, February 11, 1949
(International Amphitheater) … NWA (National Wrestling Association) World Heavyweight
Champion Lou Thesz and California recognized World Champion Enrique Torres drew …
Primo Carnera b. Hans Schnabel … Tarzan Kowalski and Fritz Schnabel drew … Duke
Keomuka and Youni Shiranuhi b. Jack Conley and Rudy Kay … (promoter:  Fred Kohler)
… (no live television)

Chicago, Illinois:  March 4, 1949
(International Amphitheater) … Gorgeous George b. Walter Palmer (DQ) … Frederich
Von Schacht b. Jack Moore (Moore was a substitute for Antonino Rocca) … Cyclone
Anaya b. Ivan Kalmikoff … Howard Cantonwine vs. Tarzan Kowalski … Lou Klein b. Mike
London (DQ) … (promoter:  Fred Kohler

*On March 22, 1949, it was announced in the Chicago Daily Tribune that the wrestling
matches scheduled for Saturday night on WBKB were cancelled “in favor of the dog
show.”

Chicago, Illinois:  Monday, March 28, 1949
(Midway Arena) … Morris Shapiro b. Zack Malkov … Rudy Kay b. Lou Klein … Gordon
Hessell b. Kostas Davelis … Billy Hickson b. Jack Carter … Nick Kapitan and Ray Ryan
drew … (promoter:  Fred Kohler)

Chicago, Illinois:  Wednesday, March 30, 1949
(Rainbo Arena) … Morris Shapiro b. Al Szasz … Jim McMillen b. Lou Klein … Flash
Clifford b. Kostas Davelis … Gordon Hessell and Billy Hickson drew … (promoter:  Fred
Kohler)

Chicago, Illinois:  Friday, April 1, 1949
(International Amphitheater) … Walter Palmer b. Hans Schnabel to capture the World
Heavyweight Title (2/3) … Cyclone Anaya b. Leon Kirilenko (20:28) … Rudy Kay and
Frederich Von Schacht b. Duke Keomuka and Youni Shiranuhi (2/3) … Hans Kampfer
and Jim McMillen drew (20:00) … (promoter:  Fred Kohler) … (5,000+ fans) … (gate:  
$10,000+) … (referees:  Tony Hadjich, Fred Ledebuhr) … (in attendance:  members of
the Illinois State Athletic Commission)

Chicago, Illinois:  Monday, April 4, 1949
(Midway Arena) … Kimon Kudo b. Al Szasz … Hans Kampfer b. Flash Clifford … Billy
Hickson and Billy Konke drew … Jack Vansky b. Ray Ryan … (promoter:  Fred Kohler)

Chicago, Illinois:  Wednesday, April 6, 1949
(Rainbo Arena) … Ivan Kalmikoff and Rudy Kay b. Morris Shapiro and Al Szasz … Jim
McMillen b. Flash Clifford … Jack Carter and Billy Konke drew … Billy Hickson b. Jack
Vansky (DQ) … (promoter:  Fred Kohler)

Chicago, Illinois:  Thursday, April 7, 1949
(Madison Arena) … Cyclone Anaya b. Ivan Kalmikoff … Leon Kirilenko b. Morris Shapiro
… Billy Hickson b. Ray Ryan … Jack Carter b. Billy Venable … Zack Malkov b. Kostas
Davelis … (promoter:  Fred Kohler)

Chicago, Illinois:  Monday, April 11, 1949
(Midway Arena) … Rudy Kay vs. Morris Shapiro … Hans Kampfer vs. Babe Sharkey …
Jack Carter vs. Jack Vansky … Billy Konke vs. Billy Venable … Kostas Davelis vs. Don
Koch … (promoter:  Fred Kohler)
Notes:  The facility was at 6115 Cottage Grove Avenue.  Kampfer was said to be once a
“wealthy brewer in Leipzig, Germany,” and “came to this country because of his love for
wrestling.  He had won tournament after tournament in his native land.” Sharkey was a
“former heavyweight champion of Texas.”

Chicago, Illinois:  Wednesday, April 13, 1949
(Rainbo Arena) … Don Eagle vs. Leon Kirilenko (2/3) … Morris Shapiro vs. Babe
Sharkey … Hans Kampfer vs. Don Koch … Kostas Davelis vs. Jack Vansky … Jack
Carter vs. Billy Venable … (promoter:  Fred Kohler)

Chicago, Illinois:  Thursday, April 14, 1949
(Madison Arena) … Cyclone Anaya vs. Kimon Kudo (2/3) … Hans Kampfer vs. Rudy Kay
… Jack Carter vs. Gordon Hessell … Billy Hickson vs. Billy Venable … Tiny Burke vs.
Zack Malkov … (promoter:  Fred Kohler)

Chicago, Illinois:  Monday, April 18, 1949
(Midway Arena) … Walter Palmer b. Hans Kampfer (2/3) … Kimon Kudo b. Jack Vansky
(jiu-jitso match with jackets) … Gordon Hessell and Billy Konke drew … Billy Hickson b.
Jack Carter … Don Koch and Ned Taylor drew … (promoter:  Fred Kohler)

Chicago, Illinois:  Wednesday, April 20, 1949
(Rainbo Arena) … Buddy Rogers b. Pierre LaSartes (2/3) … Morris Shapiro and Jack
Vansky drew … Billy Darnell b. Don Koch … Billy Konke b. Jack Carter … Einar Olson b.
Ray Ryan … (promoter:  Fred Kohler)
Notes:  Buddy Rogers’s wrestling ability was said to be a combination of “Frank Gotch,
Earl Caddock, Ed ‘Strangler’ Lewis, and Jim Londos all rolled into one,” according to
Wrestling As You Like It magazine (4/14/1949).

Chicago, Illinois:  Thursday, April 21, 1949
(Madison Athletic Club) (Arena) … Cyclone Anaya b. Morris Shapiro … Rudy Kay and
Leon Kirilenko were both counted out … Gordon Hessell b. Karl Myers … Ray Ryan and
Pete Vulkavich drew (Vulkavich was a substitute for Billy Konke) … Billy Venable b. Einar
Olson … (promoter:  Fred Kohler)
Notes:  Ryan was from Rockford, Illinois and was said to be “almost as short of stature as
is Abe Coleman.”

Chicago, Illinois:  Wednesday, April 27, 1949
(Rainbo Arena) … (promoter:  Fred Kohler)

Chicago, Illinois:  Thursday, April 28, 1949
(Madison Athletic Club) (Arena) … (promoter:  Fred Kohler)

Chicago, Illinois:  Friday, April 29, 1949
(International Amphitheater) … Hans Schnabel b. Gorgeous George (countout in the
third fall) (2/3) … Antonino Rocca b. Frederich (Fritz) Von Schacht … Cyclone Anaya and
The Mighty Atlas (Morris Shapiro) b. Ivan Kalmikoff and Rudy Kay … Vic Holbrook and
Kola Kwariani drew … (promoter:  Fred Kohler) … (5,698 fans)

Chicago, Illinois:  Monday, May 2, 1949
(Midway Arena) … The Schnabel Brothers (Fritz and Hans Schnabel) b. Leon Kirilenko
and Jack Vansky … Farmer Don Marlin b. Don Koch … Billy Hickson b. Billy Konke …
Benito Gardini b. Jack Carter … (promoter:  Fred Kohler)

Chicago, Illinois:  Wednesday, May 4, 1949
(Rainbo Arena) … Frankie Hart b. Morris Shapiro … Billy Darnell b. Leon Kirilenko …
Gordon Hessell and Billy Hickson drew … Benito Gardini b. Kimon Kudo … Jack Carter b.
Billy Konke … (promoter:  Fred Kohler)

Chicago, Illinois:  Thursday, May 5, 1949
(Madison Arena) … Cyclone Anaya and Frankie Hart b. Leon Kirilenko and Ray Ryan …
Ruffy Silverstein b. Flash Clifford … Zack Malkov b. Benito Gardini … Don Koch and Ned
Taylor drew … (promoter:  Fred Kohler)

Chicago, Illinois:  Wednesday, May 11, 1949
(Rainbo Arena) … Billy Darnell vs. Buddy Rogers … Zack Malkov and Ruffy Silverstein
vs. Benito Gardini and Leon Kirilenko … Two additional matches … (promoter:  Fred
Kohler)

*At this time, Walter Palmer was the local heavyweight champion and Billy Goelz was the
junior heavyweight titleholder.

Chicago, Illionis:  Monday, May 16, 1949
(Midway Arena) … Jim McMillen vs. Hans Schnabel … Cyclone Anaya vs. Frankie Hart …
Jack Carter and Zack Malkov vs. Benito Gardini and Ned Taylor … Billy Hickson vs. Billy
Venable … (promoter:  Fred Kohler)

Chicago, Illinois:  Wednesday, May 18, 1949
(Rainbo Arena) … Cyclone Anaya vs. Hans Schnabel … Don Eagle vs. Fritz Schnabel …
Farmer Don Marlin and Ruffy Silverstein vs. Benito Gardini and Leon Kirilenko (2/3) …
Flash Clifford vs. Don Koch … Gordon Hessell vs. Billy Hickson … (promoter:  Fred
Kohler)
Note:  Schnabel was originally booked to wrestle Buddy Rogers, who was said to be from
California.

Chicago, Illinois:  Thursday, May 19, 1949
(Madison Arena) … Walter Palmer vs. Hans Schnabel (non-title match) … Leon Kirilenko
and Ray Ryan vs. Jack Carter and Frankie Hart (2/30 … Flash Clifford vs. Pete Schuh …
Einar Olson vs. Billy Venable … (promoter:  Fred Kohler)
Note:  The facility was at 5247 W. Madison Street.

Chicago, Illinois:  Wednesday, May 25, 1949
(Rainbo Arena) … Don Eagle vs. Hans Schnabel … (promoter:  Fred Kohler)

*In May, June or July 1949, Cyclone Anaya beat Walter Palmer in Chicago to capture the
World Heavyweight Title

Waukegan, Illinois:  June 11, 1949
( ) … Buddy Rogers b. Ivan the Terrible … Farmer Don Marlin b. Tony Sinatra …
Cyclone Anaya and Bily Hickson b. Benito Gardini and Pat O’Dowdy

Waukegan, Illinois:  Saturday, June 18, 1949
( ) … Jim McMillen b. Tony Galento … Ivan the Terrible b. Bernardo Pantazi … Cyclone
Anaya and Gordon Hessell b. Pete Bartu and Benito Gardini

Chicago, Illinois:  Thursday, June 23, 1949
( ) … World Junior Heavyweight Champion Billy Goelz and Billy Hickson drew

Waukegan, Illinois:  Saturday, June 25, 1949
( ) … Buddy Rogers b. Ivan the Terrible … Cyclone Anaya and Billy Goelz b. Benito
Gardini and Ray Ryan … Jack Carter and Billy Hickson drew

*In July 1949, Kohler had planned to move his primary wrestling shows from the Rainbo to
the Marigold, but worked out his differences with Leonard Schwartz, the owner of the
former.

Chicago, Illinois:  July 20, 1949
(Rainbo Arena) … Don Eagle vs. Walter Palmer … (promoter:  Fred Kohler) …
(commentator:  Wayne Griffin) … (Broadcast on WENR) (channel 7) (ABC Affiliate)

Rockford, Illinois:  Tuesday, August 2, 1949
( ) … Rudy Kay and Don Marlin b. Jack Carter and Benito Gardini … Seelie Samara b. Ed
White

Rockford, Illinois:  Tuesday, August 9, 1949
( ) … Walter Palmer b. Billy Goelz … Seelie Samara b. Rudy Kay … Farmer Don Marlin b.
Ned Taylor

Rockford, Illinois:  Tuesday, August 16, 1949
( ) … Walter Palmer b. Cyclone Anaya (CONFIRM) (Cyclone Anaya was reported to have
been the World Champion by this time) … Rod Fenton b. Kirk Patrick … Pat O’Dowdy b.
Juan Hernandez

Rockford, Illinois:  Tuesday, August 23, 1949
( ) … Don Eagle and Walter Palmer drew … Don Marlin b. Benito Gardini … Bert Rubi
and Zach Malcov drew

Rockford, Illinois:  Tuesday, August 30, 1949
( ) … Cyclone Anaya b. Walter Palmer to retain his claim to the World Heavyweight Title
… Ray Ryan b. Pat O’Dowdy … Billy Hickson b. George Drake

Chicago, Illinois:  Tuesday, September 6, 1949
(Midway Arena) … Don Eagle b. Rudy Kay … Benito Gardini b. Gus Bouras … Jim
McMillen b. Bull Hefer … George Drake and Billy Hickson b. Rod Fenton and Red Patrick

Chicago, Illinois:  Wednesday, September 7, 1949
(Rainbo Arena) … Billy Darnell b. Benito Gardini … Ivan Rasputin b. Whitey Whittler …
Billy Hickson and Danno McDonald drew … George Drake b. Rod Fenton … Jim Spencer
b. Gus Bouras

Chicago, Illinois:  Wednesday, September 7, 1949
(Bidwell Stadium) … Don Eagle b. Jack Carter … Rudy Kay b. Bull Hefer … Ned Taylor b.
Red Patrick … Andy Rockne and Pete Schuh b. Bill Demetrious and John Pavich

Chicago, Illinois:  Thursday, September 8, 1949
(Madison A.C.) … Rudy Kay and Walter Palmer drew (60:00) … Ivan Rasputin b. Andy
Rockne … Danno McDonald b. Red Patrick … George Drake and Billy Hickson b. Gus
Bouras and John Pavich

Chicago, Illinois:  Saturday, September 10, 1949
(Parichy Stadium) … Don Eagle b. Billy Goelz … Benito Gardini b. Bull Hefer … Jack
Carter and Billy Hickson b. Andy Rockne and Ray Ryan … Ned Taylor b. Gus Bouras

Chicago, Illinois:  Saturday, September 17, 1949
(Marigold Gardens) (initial show on Saturday) … Benito Gardini and Rudy Kay vs. The
Schnabel Brothers (Fritz and Hans Schnabel) … Walter Palmer vs. ? … Billy Darnell vs.
Buddy Rogers … (promoter:  Fred Kohler)
Note:  Broadcast on WGN, DuMont Network (initial show) beginning at 9:00
*This show marked the inaugeral Saturday night Marigold Gardens show and the
first time wrestling was beamed out across the DuMont Network from the WGN
feed.  A truly historic event.

Libertyville, Illinois:  Saturday, September 17, 1949
(Libertyville High School) … Jack Carter vs. Billy Goelz … Cyclone Anaya vs. Jim McMillan
… George Drake and Billy Hickson vs. Ray Ryan and Al Williams

Chicago, Illinois:  Tuesday, September 20, 1949
(Midway Arena) … Don Eagle b. Al Williams … Jim McMillen and John Pavich b. Andy
Rockne and Pete Schuh … Billy Hickson b. Ray Ryan … Angelo Martinelli and Danno
McDonald drew … (promoter:  Fred Kohler)

Chicago, Illinois:  Wednesday, September 21, 1949
(Rainbo Arena) … Hans Schnabel b. Farmer Marlin … Rudy Kay and Jim McMillen drew
… Jim Spencer b. Andy Rockne … Jack Carter and Danno McDonald b. Angelo Martinelli
and Ray Ryan

Chicago, Illinois:  Thursday, September 22, 1949
(Madison A.C.) … Benito Gardini and Rudy Kay drew with Farmer Marlin and Walter
Palmer … Jim McMillen b. Jim Spencer … Andy Rockne b. John Pavich … Ray Ryan b.
Danno McDonald

Chicago, Illinois:  Saturday, September 24, 1949
(Marigold Arena) … Don Eagle b. Frankie Talaber … Al Williams b. Jack Carter … Jim
Spencer b. John Pavich … George Drake and Billy Hickson b. Angelo Martinelli and Ray
Ryan

Chicago, Illinois:  Tuesday, October 11, 1949
(Midway Arena) … George Drake and Danno McDonald drew … Jim McMillen and John
Pavich b. Benito Gardini and Pete Schuh … Hans Schnabel b. Rudy Kay

Chicago, Illinois:  Wednesday, October 12, 1949
(Rainbo Arena) … Buddy Rogers b. Duke Keomuka … Jack Carter and Angelo Poffo b.
Danno McDonald and Pete Vukavich … Pat Graham b. Pete Schuh … Jim McMillen b.
Benito Gardini (DQ)

Chicago, Illinois:  Thursday, October 13, 1949
(Madison A.C.) … Ray Ryan b. Angelo Poffo … Eddie Paquette and Jim Spencer b. Joe
Gordon and Bob Ringe … Nanjo Singh b. John Pavich … Rudy Kay b. Frederich Von
Schacht (DQ)

Chicago, Illinois:  Saturday, October 15, 1949
(Marigold Arena) … Walter Palmer b. Hans Schnabel (DQ) … Joe Gordon and Bob Ringe
drew … George Drake and Billy Hickson b. Angelo Martinelli and Angelo Poffo … Nanjo
Singh b. Pete Schuh

Libertyville, Illinois:  October 22, 1949 (?)
(High School Gym) … Duke Keomuka vs. Jim McMillan … Kostas Davelias vs. Ned Taylor
… Rudy Kay and Al Williams vs. Hans Schnabel and Jim Spencer

Chicago, Illinois:  Tuesday, October 25, 1949
(Midway Arena) … Joe Dorsetti and Al Williams b. George Drake and Billy Hickson … Lou
Singer b. Ned Taylor … Angelo Martinelli b. Ray Ryan … Jim McMillen b. Joe Gordon

Chicago, Illinois:  Wednesday, October 26, 1949
(Rainbo Arena) … Billy Goelz and Al Williams drew … Pete Vukavich b. Rowdy Pocan …
Joe Gordon and Jim McMillen b. Eddie Paquette and Pete Schuh … Rudy Kay b. Jim
Spencer … (promoter:  Fred Kohler)

Chicago, Illinois:  Thursday, October 27, 1949
(Madison A.C.) … Walter Palmer b. Duke Keomuka … John Pavich b. Benito Gardini …
Ned Taylor b. Eddie Paquette … George Drake and Billy Hickson drew with Angelo
Martinelli and Angelo Poffo

Chicago, Illinois:  Friday, October 28, 1949
(International Amphitheatre) … Don Eagle b. Hans Schnabel (special referee:  Jack
Dempsey) … World Heavyweight Champion Cyclone Anaya and Walter Palmer drew …
Frankie Talaber and Lord James Blears drew … Tarzan White b. Ivan Rasputin … Nanjo
Singh b. Rudy Kay

Chicago, Illinois:  Saturday, October 29, 1949
(Marigold Arena) … George Drake b. Angelo Poffo … Benito Gardini and Pete Schuh b.
John Pavich and Lou Singer … Billy Hickson and Angelo Martinelli drew … Walter Palmer
b. Nanjo Singh … (promoter:  Fred Kohler)

Libertyville, Illinois:  November 12, 1949
(High School Gym) … World Heavyweight Champion Cyclone Anaya vs. Walter Palmer …
Billy Goelz vs. Frankie Hart … Nick Kapitan and Angelo Poffo vs. Jack Carter and Pete
Vukovich

Chicago, Illinois:  Friday, November 18, 1949
(International Amphitheater) … Don Eagle b. Cyclone Anaya to capture the World
Heavyweight Title (2/3) … Walter Palmer and Tarzan White b. The Schanbels (Fritz and
Hans Schnabel) (2/3) … Frankie Talaber b. Benito Gardini … Joe Millich b. Nanjo Singh
… (promoter:  Fred Kohler) … (10,745 fans) (sellout) … (gate:  $24,182)
Note:  A wrestling spectator named John Klabacha died of a heart attack during the show.
*The Chicago Daily Tribune did not report this match as a title match.

*Ratings were given in the November 18, 1949 edition of the Chicago Daily Tribune:  
Wrestling on Wednesday nights on WENR was the number 12th show with a 36.3 share.  
Number 13 was wrestling on Monday and Wednesday on WGN with a 35.6 share.  In an
opinion poll, the WENR  (Rainbo/Kohler/Wayne Griffin) was considered better than the
WGN (Marigold/Kohler/Brickhouse) show.

Libertyville, Illinois:  December 3, 1949
(High School Gym) … Cyclone Anaya vs. Rudy Kay … Jim McMillen vs. Pete Schuh …
Danny Fenelon and Tarzan White vs. Benito Gardini and Ned Taylor

Chicago, Illinois:  Saturday, December 10, 1949
(Marigold Gardens) … Benito Gardini vs. The Great Balbo … (promoter:  Fred Kohler) …
(announcers:  Jack Brickhouse, Vince Lloyd) … (director:  Dick Liesendahl) …
(Broadcast:  WGN, DuMont Network)

*On December 13, 1949, the owner of the Rainbo Arena, Leonard Schwartz, obtained a
promoter’s license by the Illinois State Athletic Commission to run wrestling.  Schwartz
would replace Fred Kohler, whom he was leasing the facility to, beginning on January 4,
1950.  Kohler had promoted wrestling at the Rainbo for an estimated 18 years.  Kohler, in
an attempt to fight back, filed an application to promote at the Marigold Gardens on
Wednesday nights, but was denied.  Schwartz would be working with a former partner of
Kohler and Ed White, Carl Schaller.  Schwartz and Schaller would receive grapplers from
the Jack Pfefer booking agency.

Chicago, Illinois:  December 16, 1949
(International Amphitheater) … Gorgeous George b. Rudy Kay … Walter Palmer and
Tarzan White b. The Zaharias Brothers (Babe and Chris Zaharias) … Cyclone Anaya b.
Ivan Rasputin ... Lucky Simonovich b. Frankie Talaber (or Talaber and Simonovich drew)
… (promoter:  Fred Kohler) ... (gate:  $13,300)  Simonovich and Talaber earned $100
each.
Notes:  George earned $1,945 (16 per cent of the net) and Kay earned $500 (5 per cent
of the net).  Anaya and Rasputin were paid $150 each.  The tag team wrestlers earned
$200 as a team or $100 each.





Research by Tim Hornbaker
February 22, 2011
Chicago Wrestling Results - 1949