I was just looking through the A-Z section to look up the history of Docker Don Steadman but - and it's possible I just missed his name - I couldn't see anything there. Did I just miss his name or did he not warrant a mention? I did find a brief sentence under The Bermondsey Boys, but nothing else. He was often on Paul Lincoln promotions during the 1960s - often up against Judo Al Hayes, Bob Kirkwood and other 'faces' of the day. Did I just miss his entry, which wouldn't surprise me as my years advance at a rate of knots...!
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Although I used to go to bills at various Granada theatres back then, I agree with Ballymoss that the Hackney Empire stood out. It was a real theatre as against a former cinema and the atmosphere on Saturdays was simply magical. The only problem back then with Paul Lincoln was that there was no TV publicity; so you could watch Al Hayes win the Southern Area title in Hackney, whereas just a few days later at the nearby Leyton Baths, someone else would be announced as champion and the same again at Edmonton! Dale Martin, on the other hand, had the TV monopoly and a champion on TV would have to be announced as such at live events. But hey, what did I know!
I agree. I think Don would have been around 19 at the time and of course went on to become one of the Paul Lincoln stalwarts who I was fortunate to see live in the 1960's. A first rate "heel" he never failed to entertain and probably because of his South London background was surprisingly popular with segments of the audience at Brixton and New Cross. This, however, was not the case north of the river at the
wonderful Hackney Empire!
Absolutely! Never ever would have recognised him.
Here's young Don in 1949:
Can also be seen fighting in the 1969 film The Reckoning available on You Tube
Brilliant Footage of Docker Don here.
I have a photo of a young Don Stedman (Steadman, Steadmann, Stedmann, spelled so many ways). You have reminded to look for it and upload it to this site.
Promoters were too mean to pay for a Doctor to attend. Saint Johns Ambulance was the best they could do.......Not at all shows though
Whenever I see a poster for the Granada Edmonton, it reminds me of an evening there in the 1960s when so far as I was concerned, everything I saw was as genuine as it would have been had it been a boxing match.
The ring was on the stage and the first half was closed with Dr Death v Rebel Ray Hunter with the match ending soon after Ray had what looked like a nasty looking cut and bleeding profusely. There was the usual uproar among spectators as the good Doctor went after the bloodied part. Eventually the ring emptied and we were going to get our drinks. But then the MC came out and asked if there was a doctor in the house - we assumed to treat Hunter.
Two things: I remember feeling amazed that there was no medical assistance there and second, I have no idea whether the call was genuine or not and still don't to this day! Bit of a damp squib ending but after 50 years and many, many nights of wrestling, I'm still no wider!
Hi callsignmag . I was about that age or a year older when I first saw Don Steadman at Newcastle.
A good solid pro , bit of a hard man.
I was quite impressed.
Thanks all. I guessed it might have been me missing the piece rather it not being there! Incidentally, whilst I always enjoyed watching him (always as a heel except when up against Dr Death), I met him several times courtesy of Al Hayes (whose car I used to clean in return for free admission)! I always believed that he had worked at the docks and I had no reason to disbelieve him until one day when he came out of the Hackney Empire together with Al Hayes and I had to be there to give Al his car keys back. Trying to say something to start a conversation, I asked Don if the docks had been busy and he mentioned how he would squeeze in the odd shift when wrestling bookings went quiet. But on this occasion, Al Hayes gave me a knowing look, winked and said that he assumed he was never short of bookings. I remember Don roaring with laughter but neither explained what the joke was - even though it was obviously at my expense! I didn't mind because this must have been around 1959/60 and at around 14 years old, I just felt great to be in their company and to make all my wrestling friends jealous! Not to mention waiting in Al Hayes red MG convertible!
Yes , as the A-Z says Docker Don goes back as far as 1949.
Here you go...........
https://www.wrestlingheritage.co.uk/docker-don-stedman
Here MAIN MASK is Holding a Couple of My Original Large Posters for FINSBURY
PARK's MAJESTIC in The Early '60's Featuring 'DOCKER' DON STEADMAN
Topping The Bill!
Was he One of your Favourites CALLSIGNMAG?
MM