In 1958 Ted Beresford brought his brand of Wrestling To Grantham and had a long run at The Old Barracks. The wrestling took place in the Drill Hall behind this magnificent Frontage. He was already promoting at Nottingham , Lincoln , Halifax , Bradford and Huddersfield. His way in was old friend W. Mallinson , the Guildhall Keeper and Mayor's Officer who was Organiser and Publicity agent.
On the left the very first show and below the debut match we believe for Alan Dennison.
As early as 1960 it was a TV venue.
Over the years Championship Contests too.
And finally after almost a decade this is when it all finished.
The style of the billing often gave all the wrestlers parity with each other. Not so much the bill on the left but several of those above.
Grantham was the birthplace of Margaret Thatcher.
Wonder if se ever went to the wrestling. I have a feeling that she was already in London during this time.
Did Billy beat the Outlaw that day. Well yes but it was on a DQ.
I will find some more Grantham Highlights , some early matches before this and some Independents.
1980's though and a new venue for Joint Promotions. Still going strong in Grantham.
When Beresford started in 1958 the early shows had between 450 and 500 people at them. Beresford built it up , he did title contests , and it took several months to find a champion for his Londsdale Belt that eventually was won by Al Nicol after many rounds. This story was told on a separate Al Nicol Thread.
Also he brought in the big touring names of the times as well and openly stated that as long as he touched near capacity of almost 1000 seats at times, then he was happy to do two shows a month.
The sixties were exciting times and Ted stated that TV exposure had been responsible for the rise in popularity of Wrestling.
Harold Sakata (Oddjob) left and below earlier Two Rivers and Zebra Kidd
Look at 1966 below , Outlaw , Maivia , Starr and Gauchos , all star studded stuff.
Strike me pink....British Heavyweight Championship in Grantham. Not fair. I want to write in and complain to someone.
On the bill with the magnificent Zooltin Botchik, Dr Death creeps in for one of his earliest outings.
Fascinating to see two unknown locals slipped in on the Dal Martin bill with The TV Outlaw. They must have been cheap and qualify for the "Wrestlers we've never heard of" thread. Judo Stuart Bellamy ... doesn't roll of the tongue, does it?
Looking at Marco's Assembly Hall I don't think this was some unique nightclub belonging to an Italian. Before the war they built The British Manufacture and Research Company (BMARC)which Built Anti Aircraft and Navy Cannons , during the war it employed 6000 people in Grantham. It had it's own social club which was the main nightlife place for people in Grantham during the 1950's. I think Marco's was the affectionate name of it later as the factory wound down.
This was it in the 1950's.
Ironically , the Westgate Hall was where they held the first wrestling.
In 1937 Johanfesson put on three shows in the open air getting crowds of about 500. There was some success and also some objections from parts of the community.
Above , Johanfesson put the masked Marvel to sleep with a choker and he was carried from the ring. But the mask was more to promote the secret identity and keep you guessing than a tool for an unmasking that might well have revealed nobody of any importance. Babe Quesick was bestowed with the title of Jr Lightweight World Champ and why not seeing as his dad was the promoter. Quesick , taking his mothers name was on all the shows and had a great career into the 1950's.
Thanks Ron. Quite a contrast of the early 1960s independents, presumably Lincoln, with a collection of names that were well known or destined for fame, with the Jack Taylor bills of the mid 1960s. Though I bet the Taylor bills would have been just as enjoyable.
Did Paul Lincoln ever put on female matches? Jack wasn't afraid. He brought in the ladies, his own Doctor Death and his own boys - Jenkins, monk, Apollo, Ricardo, and there's our new friend Paul Rudean, who we suspect was Steve Casey (but not the Steve Casey that was Steve McHoy). This wrestling can get so confusing.
And Skull Murphy.Jack Taylor had Skull Murphy before Skull Murphy.
Not much trace of Independents during the Beresford tenure except these two shows. About that time Paul Lincoln had done deals with Granada Cinema's for shows. I assume it is him although George Kidd did some promoting with others.
But the minute the lease was up at the Barracks the Indies crept in and had a go in the town
I think the Assembly Hall was a modern place , and Westgate Hall the old Corn Exchange.
This looks like the start of another good tale Ron. The best seats only going up a shilling from start to finish. Robinson against The Outlaw would have been an attractive match.
All good stuff.Thanks Ron