Very interesting new addition by Ron Historyo today. Great research as always. Looking forward to the rest of the series hope we don't have long to wait for part 2.
It's a great read and refreshing to locate the very birth of such a major phenomenon.
So the Black Devil was Jim Wango...that's interesting for his story which I had pieced together several years ago; and his tragic end.
At the start there seemed to be a small pool of stalwarts before Assirati and Clark had their huffs. But it was almost all heavyweight, they just didn't have enough smaller wrestlers and seemingly presumed the public didn't want the lighter guys. This would prevail until Kidd in the fifties and then especially McManus and Pallo in 1962. Yet Billy Riley was in there. He was a welterweight, wasn't he? Yet regularly billed against heavyweights. Have I missed something?
We so often consider Kathleen Look for her non-male novelty value. What really strikes me in the read is how clever, wily, she was and how she brought the whole show forwards. By 1936 she had lightweight and middleweight bouts; and then of course the unbelievable Coronation Week. Great analysis Ron of the pecking order according to clout but more importantly cost. You are in Miss Look's head as you write!
Jack Alker was billed much earlier than 1939.
What a wonderful surprise at the very end to see the carefully compiled rogues gallery and all their mugs to bring the story to life.
I am left wondering about Oakely's role, why he was content for Miss Look to take the limelight, even when he had stopped wrestling. But I think we have to look outside Belle Vue. These guys must have been at it throughout the country and Oakely probably had a Miss Look in every city. Belle Vue gives us a large scale microcosm on the national scene.
Wrestling was so special that it resumed on 31st November 1931!
I have no interest in thirties championship titles, every bill had a championship match and as you say any research in that direction would be a waste of time.
But I am challenging your claim, Ron, that there was nowhere like Belle Vue. Relwyskow was in his pomp; others were active. Just wondering how the other cities compared alongside what you claim to be groundbreaking Manchester marketing?
I have detested the Gordon Banks syndrome since 1966 (best in the world --- but we don't know any others.)
I can see your point Anglo and all the Belle Vue wrestlers were used at other venues by other promoters. Belle Vue could not even command them all. For the most part it took a lot of money to get Doug Clark to play ball. Assirati just would not. Pye hardly used.
So why should Belle Vue be the best.
Here you are.
By 1935 , where else was pulling in 5000 plus for all the shows.
Kath Look delivered with Panache as far as I am concerned. She stole a march on the others and they had to catch up.
There were odd shows of magnitude at White City Hull , and Stanley Race track at Liverpool. Doug Clark thrilled Leeds and Huddersfield with his Gerstmans bouts.
And there would have been others.
But I can't see anything consistently being at the Belle Vue level.
Once the war began , the locals of Longsight , Gorton , Levenshulme etc had Belle Vue wrestling twice a week into the mid 1950's. A platform laid by Miss Look.
Occasionally Heritage comes up with pieces that are ground breaking and a real discovery of history. This series by Ron is one of them. Part 2 is now up and running.
Thanks Mark , I will stick my neck out and say that I believe I have uncovered all that happened in the progression of Wrestling at Belle Vue in the 1930's. Lot of work and I don't think much has been missed unless you collect results. Wonderful advertising and I will not say any more for now.
This weeks news letter , I believe 1935 was the big breakthrough year. The best advertising there had ever been and the breakthrough for wrestling at Belle Vue.
It's a great read and refreshing to locate the very birth of such a major phenomenon.
So the Black Devil was Jim Wango...that's interesting for his story which I had pieced together several years ago; and his tragic end.
At the start there seemed to be a small pool of stalwarts before Assirati and Clark had their huffs. But it was almost all heavyweight, they just didn't have enough smaller wrestlers and seemingly presumed the public didn't want the lighter guys. This would prevail until Kidd in the fifties and then especially McManus and Pallo in 1962. Yet Billy Riley was in there. He was a welterweight, wasn't he? Yet regularly billed against heavyweights. Have I missed something?
We so often consider Kathleen Look for her non-male novelty value. What really strikes me in the read is how clever, wily, she was and how she brought the whole show forwards. By 1936 she had lightweight and middleweight bouts; and then of course the unbelievable Coronation Week. Great analysis Ron of the pecking order according to clout but more importantly cost. You are in Miss Look's head as you write!
Jack Alker was billed much earlier than 1939.
What a wonderful surprise at the very end to see the carefully compiled rogues gallery and all their mugs to bring the story to life.
I am left wondering about Oakely's role, why he was content for Miss Look to take the limelight, even when he had stopped wrestling. But I think we have to look outside Belle Vue. These guys must have been at it throughout the country and Oakely probably had a Miss Look in every city. Belle Vue gives us a large scale microcosm on the national scene.
Wrestling was so special that it resumed on 31st November 1931!
James Morton
I do like those cartoons. Who are they ?
Occasionally Heritage comes up with pieces that are ground breaking and a real discovery of history. This series by Ron is one of them. Part 2 is now up and running.
Thanks Mark , I will stick my neck out and say that I believe I have uncovered all that happened in the progression of Wrestling at Belle Vue in the 1930's. Lot of work and I don't think much has been missed unless you collect results. Wonderful advertising and I will not say any more for now.