In The Early 1940's in MANCHESTER-Professional Wrestling was Staged at The ARDWICK
STADIUM-A Pugilist Arena Nicknamed 'The BLOOD TUB'!!
This STADIUM Stood Opposite The NEW HIPPODROME on ARDWICK GREEN-Just SOUTH of
The City Centre on LONDON ROAD!
Top Wrestlers of The Time Appeared There including a Very Young BILLY JOYCE!-See Below
My Original Flyers!-Dubbed The BLOOD TUB for its Guarantee of Plenty of Claret!-The Venue
Was 'Eclipsed' for Wrestling When The Sport Returned to My Beloved KINGS HALL at
BELLE VUE-Just Along HYDE ROAD from THE GREEN in 1945 Promoted Big Style Again by
DICK and JESSE ROGERS!-Until 1956!-ARDWICK STADIUM is Now Long Since Demolished!
On 29TH AUGUST 1938 a New Art Deco Style Building Opened on ARDWICK GREEN-
Launched by The Famous Actress MARGARET LOCKWOOD!
The Building's Frontage/Main Facade was in Glazed WHITE Terracotta and its Primary
Purpose was for Cinema and Variety Shows!
In The Early 1960's The Venue began to Host Pop Concerts-and The BEATLES Performed
There Twice in 1963 and 1965!-Other Artists Who Appeared Included The ROLLING
STONES and IKE and TINA TURNER!-It had a Capacity of 2693!
In 1977 The Venue was Rebranded The MANCHESTER APOLLO and Cinema was Dropped
From its Entertainment Roster!
Which brings Us to 1982 and Our Good Friend BRIAN DIXON Who began Putting On
Wrestling Shows at The APOLLO!
Below MAIN MASK is Holding My Original Poster for a DIXON Event on SATURDAY 20TH
MARCH!-This Show Features his Wife MITZI in The Ladies Tag Match and STEVE VEIDOR
Taking-On The Sinister MASKED EXORCIST in The Double Main Event!
JON CORTEZ is Still Going and Our Favourite COLIN JOYNSON is The Main Support!
So 40 Years!! on from The BLOOD TUB-Thanx to BRIAN DIXON and ALL STAR!-We Still
Could Enjoy Great Professional Wrestling at ARDWICK GREEN in MANCHESTER!!
MAIN MASK
More for you OSTY!
I'm Showing you My 1943 Original Programme for Wrestling in CLECKHEATON!
This Promoter was Happy to Produce an Event Programme in This Small NORTHERN
Town!!-Note ALL The DETAIL!! DEWSBURY's HARRY SMITH is The Promoter
for This Show!
Also 2 Original Programmes for TOWER CIRCUS-BLACKPOOL in 1941 and 1942!
Among Many Others-LIVERPOOL STADIUM and KING GEORGES HALL in
BLACKBURN-2 of My Old Stomping Grounds- Produced Event Programmes
For Their Shows during The War Years!
I have Proof of BELLE VUE Wrestling Show Attendances during The 1930's!-as
I have Some Original Handwritten KATHLEEN LOOK Accounts Declaring Gate
Receipts for Shows as well as Number and Breakdown of Priced Seats Monetarily!
Even Detailing Number of UNSOLD Tickets!
So it's a Source of Disappointment to Me that The Promotional Publicity
Machine Perfected so well by PAUL LINCOLN wasn't as 'Geared Up' in The
War Years as it was Under LOOK in The '30's and The ROGERS after 1945
With The Seemingly Lack of Posters/Programmes for The Shows 1940-1944!
MAIN MASK