Chief Thunderbird

As a direct descendant of Jean Baptiste Paul , I thank you for this and love to real all of it !

Hello All! Sorry I've been off the radar. Day to day working life has gotten in the way. I have completed a load of newspaper research and presented on my research at a conference about Indigenous cultures. I'm off on holiday today but once I get back I'll post here again.

Thanks for all your help!

I notice he did Australia in a big way long before he came here. One popular opponent was Cowboy Danny Dusek. 1940 was a big year for Thunderbird over there. Interesting that they pitted Indian against Indian by having him fighting Little Wolf.

Gareth was pretty serious about his research. We would like to hear an update.

James Morton is having problems logging in at the moment and has asked us to post the following:

Thanks James.

hhThanks so much for this.

Its funny. Some of these details don't fit with the Chief Thunderbird I know, I'll have to investigate!

Is the magazine a wrestling specialist magazine?

TTIt's

Here's one I found from 1951 Gareth.

Thanks so much for this. So helpful.

I have also found some great articles in the Canadian press. I'll post here when I get a chance.

Is anyone connected to Darren Ward? I think he purchased some archival bits and pieces from one of the promotor families in the early 2000s.

Thanks again!

Passing these on from Main Mask.

In 1955, I can see a record of him facing Ernie Baldwin in a match at Stoke-on-Trent, can't see the result, yet.

I think it was the spectacle of CT more than his skills. I did read somewhere that he didn't know a huge amount about wrestling, but what he did know he was pretty good at.

I'll

I've dug out another Bout for you GARETH-

CHIEF THUNDERBIRD vs. JOGINDER SINGH

MARCH 8TH 1950-PARAMOUNT THEATRE LONDON!

Some Stats for you too-which you may not like-it seems he

was far from from Invincible!.......

BOUTS-888-at least-

356 WINS

324 LOSSES

Fighting 328 Opponents-at least-

He died on NOVEMBER 23RD 1966

If you send me your E-Mail-I'll send a few Items over?

MAIN MASK

Hi Gareth, Yes of course.

What is the good of memories if you don't share them.

Hello again GARETH-You are Welcome!-I have MORE for you-

On APRIL 2ND and APRIL 23RD 1951-two of the Biggest WRESTLING BILLS ever presented

in GREAT BRITAIN were Staged at EARL'S COURT LONDON! Guess Who was Featured in the

Top of the Bill Contests??.....Yep!-CHIEF THUNDERBIRD!!

He was quite Famous due to his RADIO Broadcasts!

His Opponent was PAT O'REILLY-APRIL 2ND-a big strong very rugged Wrestler capable of

'standing the most arduous pace'! The Option of a 'Rematch' was left open for APRIL 23RD!!

THUNDERBIRD on the Bill resulted in Sold-Out Houses long before the Date of the Shows!

Information is Quoted from a VERY Rare MARCH 1951 Mat Wrestling Journal Magazine and

the very first Edition of the (British) WRESTLER MAGAZINE-JUNE 1961!!

I may have more........

MAIN MASK

Hi GARETH!-I can add a little more Information for you regarding CHIEF THUNDERBIRD!!

A Saannich Red Indian-He hailed from Vancouver Island and he started out as a Professional Boxer

before moving into Wrestling in his late 20's! His Powerful and Muscular Physique attracted a lot of

attention at the time and before long he was following the path blazed by LITTLE WOLF-Travelling

across AMERICA!! Some years later he Travelled across to AUSTRALIA and NEW ZEALAND!

He is on Record as stating that the proudest moment in his Life was when he was one of a RED INDIAN

GUARD of HONOUR which watched over the BRITISH King and Queen on their Tour of CANADA!!

As mentioned by other HERITAGE Members-He later came to ENGLAND-although well past his Prime

he still demonstrated that he still had plenty of Ring Skill left!!

During this Tour he Broadcast to CANADA over the B.B.C. and was hoping to go to Buckingham Palace

to once again meet with the King and Queen for whom he held a great affection!

I think I may have more Stuff on CHIEF THUNDERBIRD-I'll check my Files for you!!

MAIN MASK

First of all Gareth, you should read the entry in the A-Z of wrestlers for Chief Thunderbird.

Secondly, I had never heard of a Saanich Snap, before I read that.

I looked at my results and could only find Chief Thunderbird down for one bout v Jim Hussey on 21st March 1951. Can't remember much about that at all.

The one I do remember a bit about was the fight against Alf Rawlings, a tough hard hitting ex Rugby player. This is not in the results so obviously a change in the bill.

Thunderbird entered the ring with full ceremonial headdress and I think I remember an embroidered sleeveless kaftan type of top that slipped over the head.

Memories are fading now, but I think that Rawlings got a submission fall . Chief Thunderbird tried retaliating with what we called an Indian Death Lock and Rawlings foiled it a few times by holding onto the ropes. Eventually Chief Thunderbird started using his Chop (Tomahawk Chop) and giving what we presumed was a War Dance.( I was only 15 then ).

Anyway after going down a few times from the chops and watching the dance, Rawlings got up and proceeded to give his version of a dance. He then started punching and got warned by the referee.

He threw Thunderbird to the ropes and on the way back punched him behind the ear and Thunderbird went through the ropes and a way back onto the stairs to the dressing rooms.

Les Kellett the referee disqualified Rawlings.

I hope that this helps.

bjh99: That's amazing!

Thanks so much!

More than happy to fill in the gaps.

I lived on the west coast of Canada for three years a little while ago. I was studying out there and worked with some people from the local First Nations reserve. It was the reserve where Chief Thunderbird, otherwise known as Jean Baptiste Paul was from.

I did some research into canoe racing and he was part of a very successful team.

I found out he was a wrestler back then and have always wanted to continue my research.

I recently got a membership to the British Library newspaper achive and found quite a few articles on him. His family still live on the reserve now and at one point he had a totem pole erected in his honour after his death. I think it was removed due to age.

Anyway that's why I'm interested!

Thanks again!

I saw Chief Thunderbird twice at Newcastle. I think that the first time was against Jim Hussey and the second bout was against Alf Rawlings.

I will look at the results and see what I can remember.