Thanks to Hack and Ron recently we were able to figure out that the famous "trophy" which was held by many great wrestlers of the 50s and 60s was known as the Belle Vue Trophy. Chick Purvey photo and tourney results made that obvious. Now I am back to our old friend Mr. McMichael. And the question is - when did he actually win the Belle Vue Trophy?
Going to attach here few my most recent finds. Thanks to everyone dear friends.
now with the plinth (base).
I wonder if the fans attending the Daily Mirror days got a reduced admission if they brought a copy of the paper with them, I have seen that sort of offer with other similar sponsorship.
From the Belle Vue programmes of the early 60's i've seen the only regular "event" they seem to mention is Daily Mirror Day, some sort of sponsorship of cards. I have seen it referred to shows with a KO tournament but also to shows with just regular matches. Also there's no grand explanation of which events are Daily Mirror Days, it's just a byline in the event description on the back page of the programmes.
Only Ron can tell you his memories Ruslan. As for the other part of the question this is how it worked. Usually the promoter would put together a show, organise everything and put on a show under his own name. They took the profit or the losses.
Sometimes, an individual or an organisation would buy a packaged show from the promoter. The promoter would do all the arrangements and would receive an agreed sum for the package irrespective of attendance. These shows would bear the name of the of whoever bought the package.
Dale Martin sold quite a few shows, I have seen Wryton packaged shows, I have been told Norman Morrell never sold packages and I don't know about Relwyskow. Independent promoters would often sell packages to working mens clubs or social clubs. Those I have spoken to said they liked the arrangement because they were guaranteed an income and were insured against loss.
Thanks to everyone, appreciate. Ron, do you have memories of Belle Vue from the 60s. I was thinking how it all worked back then, if the trophy had the name of Belle Vue, was it solely because eliminations were held there or it was because the venue was also organizer of actual wrestling matches. My experience shows that both are equally possible, so I am not sure. In the 1860s it was venue owner who was also a promoter of all wrestling matches and challenge trophies there. But that was long ago.
Question to Ron, do you know who was promoter/organizer of the Belle Vue Cup?
Ron, I am VERY, VERY, VERY thankful to you for this your find and for sharing it with us. Historicity of the trophy was re-established by you. The proper name of it was The Belle Vue Cup (or Trophy). Now we have two confirmed events the Chick Purvey 63 victory and Mick McMichael 70.
Brilliant !!!
It would be wonderful to have the full list of winners one day. I understand that it wasn't as important as RAH Cup, but let's put it that way. It was a Belle Vue Cup, one of the most historical venues associated with Catch Wrestling and by the way, this trophy is right out of the Golden Era of Catch, it's not a 50s-60s silverware, as some would think, instead it was a magnificent piece of art manufactured by Victorian or Edwardian jewelers.
Belle Vue Cup .....here was the advert.
I still cannot find literally anything on Steve Wright winning Wryton KO tourney...sounds unbelievable...but yeah, that's a fact, no credible evidences of that. On all posters he's called British Open Champion, whatever that means and he's wearing the Wryton belt (Paul Mitchell identified it).
that changes situation 1970...3 years is a long time...I still would think it happened in 1972-73...but may be that's it March 1970, and may be there was no re-match, are we sure it was a draw?
March, 1970 Ruslan, not 1973. The three year difference wouldn't matter to the promoters even though they charged a shilling in old money for their four page programme of nothingness.
Well I'm surprised Mick McMichael was looking that big in 1973. He was always tubby, but in this photo looks bigger and in better condition than I remember him.
I'm not sure how the conclusion has been reached that the taking of this photo is linked to a Belle Vue Tournament, as many have said before there was no logic and belts/trophies would be used randomly to meet a specific occasion.
Anyway, if it was a Belle Vue Knock out tournament before 1973 then this is the most likely candidaye
30 March 1970
BELLE VUE, MANCHESTER
Ted Heath stpd Ray Steel
Johnny Saint 1-0 Steve Best
Mick McMichael 1-0 Joe Critchley
John Foley kod Ken Else
Ted Heath 1-0 Johnny Saint
Mick McMichael 1-0 John Foley
Ted Heath 1-1 Mick McMichael
Photo of Mick McMichael with the Belle Vue Trophy appeared on the cover of August 1973 Wrestling Review. I am assuming he won the KO Tourney at Belle Vue at some point before that date. Any help on this matter will be highly appreciated.