How the bills changed in 1966! Dr Death, Ski Hi Lee and the rest all merging in to increase the variety of the bills. Only the Wild Man of Borneo is absent - too "disgusting" for Tunbridge Wells?
I followed 10/6 ringside seats all the way through from 1946 to 1967, amazing lack of change ... except the night they had the Welsterweight Championship bout with "Championship Prices". Maybe this was a trial that didn't work because I didn't see this roll-out elsewhere.
Looks like T Wells was perceived as possibly the most affluent venue, and if they didn't take the bait, well, hardly worth hiking the prices in ******f***.
Thanks again Ron, each read through is a microcosm of wrestling, here a 21-year history, repesentative of most of DM-Land.
Overall, based on 1946 to 1956 I would say this: a small pool of DM trusties no doubt doing a great job in justifying return bouts, and rotating the limited permutations with a minimal number of outsiders (Howes, Hussey).
Many of these trusties saw the values and skills before breaking away: Lincoln, Stedman, Hunter, Hayes.
But the main group, fairly defined, would hold sway for the next twenty years: McManus, Logan, Kidd, Pallo, Royal, Rann, Marino, Masambula, Kwango.
+ Billy Joyce and Jack Dempsey as Honorary Southerners ☺
Very few heavyweights.
All they needed were 75 venues, to put on 3 shows a night on a monthly basis, and life was hunky dory. They got so good at it that ITV wanted in, and then they went exponential .....
They were seriously steep ticket prices for post-war Britain.
Way back in 1952 ... Hunter & Steadman and Colbeck & McManus "performing" routines they would repeat several hundred times over the years that followed ...
First thing to strike me is the price: a whole guinea in 14946 for four iffy bouts? Right up to D-Day there were far greater bills nationwide for the famed 10/6.
Bob Robinson seemed to enjoy the Pantiles. McManus v Kidd in a minor support bout! And then a return ... and more.
Jack Dale unashamedly wrestling on a Dale Martin bill . was no secrecy needed?
Struggling to comment in the captions, touch of Covid in the system, so commenting here.
How the bills changed in 1966! Dr Death, Ski Hi Lee and the rest all merging in to increase the variety of the bills. Only the Wild Man of Borneo is absent - too "disgusting" for Tunbridge Wells?
I followed 10/6 ringside seats all the way through from 1946 to 1967, amazing lack of change ... except the night they had the Welsterweight Championship bout with "Championship Prices". Maybe this was a trial that didn't work because I didn't see this roll-out elsewhere.
Looks like T Wells was perceived as possibly the most affluent venue, and if they didn't take the bait, well, hardly worth hiking the prices in ******f***.
Thanks again Ron, each read through is a microcosm of wrestling, here a 21-year history, repesentative of most of DM-Land.
Overall, based on 1946 to 1956 I would say this: a small pool of DM trusties no doubt doing a great job in justifying return bouts, and rotating the limited permutations with a minimal number of outsiders (Howes, Hussey).
Many of these trusties saw the values and skills before breaking away: Lincoln, Stedman, Hunter, Hayes.
But the main group, fairly defined, would hold sway for the next twenty years: McManus, Logan, Kidd, Pallo, Royal, Rann, Marino, Masambula, Kwango.
+ Billy Joyce and Jack Dempsey as Honorary Southerners ☺
Very few heavyweights.
All they needed were 75 venues, to put on 3 shows a night on a monthly basis, and life was hunky dory. They got so good at it that ITV wanted in, and then they went exponential .....
They were seriously steep ticket prices for post-war Britain.
What an eye for business these guys had!
Astute observations Anglo and I would add Jackie Pallo v Frankie Hughes (multiple bouts.) Also The Black Panther Grant Fotheringham prominent.
Surprised to see McManus v Ken Joyce so often. I have often stated that they avoided each other ...but maybe some needle did set in later?
And Masambula a light-heavyweight in 1955? We have been told he went down to light-heavyweight after his illness.
Learning all the time ....
Panther Pleasants!!!! What a name!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
George Kidd must have had a holiday home in Tunbridge Wells: he went on to feud with Bert Royal and Melwyn Riss.
Way back in 1952 ... Hunter & Steadman and Colbeck & McManus "performing" routines they would repeat several hundred times over the years that followed ...
First thing to strike me is the price: a whole guinea in 14946 for four iffy bouts? Right up to D-Day there were far greater bills nationwide for the famed 10/6.
Bob Robinson seemed to enjoy the Pantiles. McManus v Kidd in a minor support bout! And then a return ... and more.
Jack Dale unashamedly wrestling on a Dale Martin bill . was no secrecy needed?
Struggling to comment in the captions, touch of Covid in the system, so commenting here.