I've just finished a really interesting wrestling history: THE MAN OF ALL TALENTS by Steven Bell and I would strongly recommend the book to all member of Wrestling Heritage.
You will get a picture of an amazing person in Douglas Clark that will grip your attention, a loving look at an era of Rugby League when Huddersfield were the premier team and a vivid picture of the start of professional wrestling in this country when it was first named "All-In Wrestling" meaning a mixture of styles from all over the world.
In a way the book "aged" me when I came across names of people, eminent in the 1920 - 30s who I knew quite in the 1960s. Names like George de Relwyskow (Junior) who used to promote at Belle Vue in Manchester and who encouraged me in my early days in wrestling and Jack Pye of Blackpool via Yorkshire. He is my all-time favourite wrestler. Jack was a quiet man with an outrageous ring persona and I enjoyed the honour of being refereed by him in a contest with Jim Moser at the Mecca in Blackpool some fifty years ago.
Steven Bell gives an extraordinary account of how our sport originated and developed from almost one hundred years ago into the current format that entertains so many fans today.
The book is available from Amazon as well as leading bookshops.
Eddie Rose (Manchester).
Based on Eddie's review, I've just purchased said title. Photo compliments of Libnan Ayoub, from his great book, "100 Years of Australian Professional Wrestling", (probably the only book of its type, on the subject).
Today, 1st February, is the anniversary of the death of Douglas Clark in 1951
Read our tribute to Douglas Clark
Well, Mrs Hack did make me wait until yesterday to unwrap "The Man of All Talents." I looked in all the usual places but couldn't find it.
First impression was that I found acknowledgement for Wrestling Heritage and Ron Historyo specifically (he deserved it) so that's a good start.
Seriously, I've only just begun, but this is a professionally produced book (they aren't all these days), thoroughly researched, and well written in a style that is interesting and makes me want to read the next page. So I'm off now ........
Mine has arrived but been hidden away by Mrs Hack until Christmas. I'm looking forward to it and have just seen that after 7 reviews it's got 5 stars on Amazon.
One for the Christmas list.
Remember we've also got the Chick Knight book to look forward to before the end of the year.
Hopefully another from Eddie?
Nice tribute to Doug Clark in the War Museum at Trafford Warf (Trafford side of Salford Quays) Free to get in and Doug's Belt when he worked with Gerstmans is on display , some Cumberland and Westmorland gear and his rugby boots. Photos and posters also.
It's on the tram route too Eddie.