It seems that Thornton used both these names sometimes within days of each other.Surely the fans in the Greater Manchester area must have realized he was the same wrestler therefore what was the point in using two names?
I think in the first instance one promoter would have had a strong opinion that he should have some sort of identity and in this case an International one. Some ideas then stick , some take a a while , some fail and for the most part in the end he went or had to go with Pierlot. Changed forever when he when to North America. Promoters have to judge if you have broken through. Blond Adonis , Blondie Crabtree were tried on Shirley , yet in the end they went with Shirley , well for the best part of 20 years , then the Guardsman identity. Somehow Big Daddy became Huge. Many of the early men Thornton worked with in the clubs had that same International identity that was totally false. Clark Mellor , Sam Betts , Jack Land and Charlie Glover all spring to mind.
Thornton was not on his own when it came to duel within one week. Billy Robinson was Bill Kenton at one and the same time. Billy Joyce and Bob Robinson was another, Often Robinson on Dales Bills. , also Ernie Riley was Jack Fay.
Have you any specific examples Peter? I ask because it might well depend on the date and the places. It could be a case of moonlighting and using one name for Joint and another for independents. Many fans would go to a specific hall and a wrestler would be known by a particular name. I remember Maurice Hunter/Ian McKenzie working simultaneously at Preston Public Hall using both names. Harry Duval was Harry at the Public Hall and Paul Duval at the Baths. Our first sighting of Klondike Jake wasn't Jake, it was actually Bill.
As long ago as 1958 he was appearing as Pierlot at the Globe in Old Trafford and as Thornton in Salford.Possibly because too many fans might know him outside the ring in Salford
Thanks Peter. It looks as though it was a case of promoter's preference as Ron said, which wasn't unusual. You would think by now we would all have learned not to try and find logic in wrestling.
There were two Pierlots; part of the Troupe Continentale which was a group of four wrestlers.
Surely if fans spoke to Pierlot before or after the match they would know he was not French?
I think in the first instance one promoter would have had a strong opinion that he should have some sort of identity and in this case an International one. Some ideas then stick , some take a a while , some fail and for the most part in the end he went or had to go with Pierlot. Changed forever when he when to North America. Promoters have to judge if you have broken through. Blond Adonis , Blondie Crabtree were tried on Shirley , yet in the end they went with Shirley , well for the best part of 20 years , then the Guardsman identity. Somehow Big Daddy became Huge. Many of the early men Thornton worked with in the clubs had that same International identity that was totally false. Clark Mellor , Sam Betts , Jack Land and Charlie Glover all spring to mind.
Thornton was not on his own when it came to duel within one week. Billy Robinson was Bill Kenton at one and the same time. Billy Joyce and Bob Robinson was another, Often Robinson on Dales Bills. , also Ernie Riley was Jack Fay.
Have you any specific examples Peter? I ask because it might well depend on the date and the places. It could be a case of moonlighting and using one name for Joint and another for independents. Many fans would go to a specific hall and a wrestler would be known by a particular name. I remember Maurice Hunter/Ian McKenzie working simultaneously at Preston Public Hall using both names. Harry Duval was Harry at the Public Hall and Paul Duval at the Baths. Our first sighting of Klondike Jake wasn't Jake, it was actually Bill.