DEATH OF THE GHOUL-1961!!

I was not aware of any doctors at wrestling matches.

Has Les Prest any knowledge ?

I have seen St John's Ambulance personnel in attendance but that was generally for injuries.

Agree with Hack, too. Cynical exploitation of the death. Cold and callous.

And not a word revealing his identity!

Like the obit should be limited to his unbeaten run.,,,tosh.

What 1961 turf wars were there between the promoters to abandon any sense of humanity like this!

Agree with Hack, it does come across as a sly dig at the independent promoters, and in my view, using the death of a former loyal employee, is stepping over the mark and is underhand.

I am not saying that what is said is untrue; maybe Joint Promotions did take better care of their wrestlers, maybe they did advise anyone unwell, not to wrestle, but the way it is written just leaves me with a bitter taste in my mouth.

Me sceptical? How could anyone be sceptical in this wonderful world of wrestling?

It's quite possible he was ill. If so, it's possible and even likely he moved to the opposition so that he had more control over his bookings.

But this was written in a context of a Joint Promotions who took every opportunity to undermine their independent opposition and may have cynically used the Ghoul to do so.

A fascinating piece Main Mask. What a great find and wonderful addition to our collection. Thanks.

But what does it tell us? Well, that the Ghoul is dead and had a good run certainly.

But as for the rest.

Is this a genuine appraisal of a man who worked for too long? He wouldn't have been the first.

Or is it a story of an organisation bruised at losing one of their top stars and eager to discredit him and his new bosses as he swapped allegiance to the independent promoters who were having a surge in popularity around 1960?

It could be an accurate record is a wrestling programme. But that would be a rarity.

The final paragraph almost seems to say that local councils should only work with Joint Promotions and no one else.

Thanks also to Ron. Was he really my Ghoul ?

Thanks MM, fascinating ! Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately ) I never saw The Ghoul that late in his career. He was still knocking them all out when I last saw him.

It seems a shame if he still had to get into the ring to earn money for his family, when not fit to do so.

Of course, you can never get the full truth by what promoters tell us or by what scribes in magazines write.

The Ghoul put bums on seats for Norman Morrell for many years and I am sorry for him if he was not paid enough to save for the future and had to go on too long. Similarly, writers for magazines sell lots of issues for their publishers if they write articles like this one.

We may never know the full truth.

On a different issue , nice to see a different photo of Norman Walsh. Thanks again MM.

Great stuff MM and a lot of fair comment there.

Whilst Joint were prepared to safeguard his health , he may well Have needed the money and took on local work in the Greater Manchester Area. He lived where Chorlton meets Didsbury.

I believe he had a wife and three children ,but might have been estranged and thus far nobody has ever come forward as a relative either offering or seeking information.

He absolutely enchanted a young man named Bernard in the same way that Kendo had a hold over many of us.

On Wrestling Heritage he will always be Bernard's Ghoul.

And the Conclusion of the Piece!!...

MAIN MASK