When we looked at wrestling in Leicester there was a period in the first half of the 1960s when both Paul Lincoln and Norman Morrell were putting on top quality bills. and there was Jack Taylor at the Granby Halls.
Portsmouth Guildhall is probably the only major venue from "the Golden Era"that still has events several times per year usually to heaving crowds so I would have to say Portsmouth even though it is a city
If Cities are to be included, surely it has to be London by sheer size and with The Met, Tooting Granada, Fairfield Halls, Lime Grove, Seymour Hall, Wembley, Royal Albert Hall, Wimbledon Palais, Olympia, The Ring Harringey, Blackfriars, and so on.
I read somewhere that Portsmouth and Doncaster produced more Professional Wrestlers per head of the population than any other places of comparable size.
At the peak circa 1958-1964 the best town must have been Manchester. Not only was there Belle Vue , but the Free Trade Hall , and many many nightclubs. No town can match those nightclubs. Belle Vue of course had an earlier peak than this where it did over 100 shows a year and at the same time we had the Ardwick Blood Tub and many more inner city suburbs with their stadiums that were often cinemas and Skating rinks.
I agree with you Ron. In the period (and beyond into '70s) there were so many shows in Manchester and surrounding areas (now Greater Manchester). Many were Opposition shows run by people like Jimmy Lewis, Josf Szabo, Grant Foderingham and quite a few others. I once wrestled at three different clubs in one night for a different promoter each time. No wonder I've arthritic joints from neck to knees nowadays. Eddie Rose (Manchester).
As you say Main Mask those you mentioned were great venues and there was dozens more we all have our particular favourites and are also aware of those we haven't mentioned, it's a pity most have now gone or been changed beyond recognition.
Places like Belle Vue, Liverpool Stadium St James Hall held weekly shows, there would also be local independent shows too. Nowadays cities are doing well if they have one or two shows a month in small venues with attendances usually anywhere between 100-500 with the occasional WWE shows once or twice a year. There's wrestling fans in most cities but not the shows we once had, instead people watch wwe, aew, mlw, nwa via TV or online, we get the odd UK promotion turning up on YouTube but these can be sporadic.Most people on the whole get their wrestling now without leaving the house.
Okay, it was a city not a town, but must be Manchester
Part 1 of Ron's great investigations, and do the rest
Manchester: so many halls and dozens of club shows in 60s, 70s, 80s. Eddie Rose.
Long standing venues such as Bristol's Colston Hall and Madeley Street Baths in Hull seem to have been hosting wrestling for many, many years.
When we looked at wrestling in Leicester there was a period in the first half of the 1960s when both Paul Lincoln and Norman Morrell were putting on top quality bills. and there was Jack Taylor at the Granby Halls.
Great post, thanks. Would love to hear what Paul Mitchell can share on this. What about Bolton's Wryton place?
Portsmouth Guildhall is probably the only major venue from "the Golden Era"that still has events several times per year usually to heaving crowds so I would have to say Portsmouth even though it is a city
Thank you, Bernárd.
If Cities are to be included, surely it has to be London by sheer size and with The Met, Tooting Granada, Fairfield Halls, Lime Grove, Seymour Hall, Wembley, Royal Albert Hall, Wimbledon Palais, Olympia, The Ring Harringey, Blackfriars, and so on.
I read somewhere that Portsmouth and Doncaster produced more Professional Wrestlers per head of the population than any other places of comparable size.
As has been pointed out, most of the suggestions are Cities.
As for Towns, Tynemouth .
There will be many towns in Scotland, but they won't count either.
Since the five suggestions so far are all cities, I will point out that the best wrestling TOWN is Hastings & St Leonards with its five venues.
At the peak circa 1958-1964 the best town must have been Manchester. Not only was there Belle Vue , but the Free Trade Hall , and many many nightclubs. No town can match those nightclubs. Belle Vue of course had an earlier peak than this where it did over 100 shows a year and at the same time we had the Ardwick Blood Tub and many more inner city suburbs with their stadiums that were often cinemas and Skating rinks.
As you say Main Mask those you mentioned were great venues and there was dozens more we all have our particular favourites and are also aware of those we haven't mentioned, it's a pity most have now gone or been changed beyond recognition.
Are or were?
Places like Belle Vue, Liverpool Stadium St James Hall held weekly shows, there would also be local independent shows too. Nowadays cities are doing well if they have one or two shows a month in small venues with attendances usually anywhere between 100-500 with the occasional WWE shows once or twice a year. There's wrestling fans in most cities but not the shows we once had, instead people watch wwe, aew, mlw, nwa via TV or online, we get the odd UK promotion turning up on YouTube but these can be sporadic.Most people on the whole get their wrestling now without leaving the house.