CALLSIGNMAG was Expressing his Appreciation of Wrestling Events Showcased at The
Iconic HACKNEY EMPIRE!
So Thought I would Share some of My Programmes for This Venue-Chiefly from the Year
1963!!
Below we Start with an Appearance by LES BLOUSSONS NOIRS-The FRENCH TEDDY
BOYS in The Tag Match! + 'Official World' MID-HEAVYWEIGHT Champion MIKE MARINO
is here and Regular Stalwart- ROGER GREEN!
A LINCOLN-ALEXANDER Promotion!!
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I believe it was a testament to the marketing and publicity skills of Paul Lincoln that he managed to virtually fill the magnificent Hackney Empire ( happily still functioning as a theatre today) on a Saturday evening- no mean feat considering his lack of television coverage and a relatively small stable of wrestlers. I attended several shows way back in the 1960's when in comparison to the often lack lustre Dale Martin events the Lincoln presentation was slicker including the programme and the presentation of the wrestlers and the bouts themselves which always seemed to have more edge when the occasion demanded.A particular highlight for me was when the brilliant Max Ward decamped from his referee status and became a wrestler again usually against Dr Death or "Docker" Don Steadman. There was always a "buzz" at the Hackney Empire which made it such a popular venue. Happy days indeed.
I'd say that the TV Times wrestler numbers is propaganda. In the mid 1960s there was a huge number of independent shows, many in small clubs admittedly but each needed wrestlers. Unfortunately Paul Lincoln used only a small percentage of the independent wrestlers available. I agree with both Bernard and Adrian. There is a repetition but Adrian is right that Lincoln used his small roster creatively, which led to his huge success.
Here's a bit more about bout/match repetition taken from the 1968 book " A Pictorial History Of Wrestling."
What a superb main event at a very historic and superb venue
You're right Adrian, i recently uploaded a TvTimes article from the mid 1960s which stated that Joint Promotions had somewhere between 350-400 wrestlers on their books whilst the independents only around 150. I don't think this was a bit of propaganda/self promotion on Joints part. Considering the Independents books would have included Lady Wrestlers too, then dividing the remainder into weight categories doesn't leave much room for new bills/contests not greatly repeated.
Is it me, or does anyone else find these bills very repetitive? Marino , Dr Death or Steadman on the bills so often.
The ' KING of DOCKLAND'- 'DOCKER' DON STEADMAN Tackles his Boss
The Notorious DOCTOR DEATH On This HACKNEY Show! +
JOEY SKARLO is here!-I had a Great Chat with JOEY at The 2019 KENT
Reunion about amongst Other Wrestlers-DOCTOR DEATH and MIKE MARINO!
Lovely Fella-JOEY- So Sad We Lost him 6 Months after this Meeting!!
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