More Belle Vue Memories

We all enjoy Ron's incredible albums celebrating Belle Vue in the Gallery.

Ron Historyo Albums

Main Mask is a fan, of course, and has sent this treasure from his Belle Vue file. A 1952 programme, take note of the new European light heavyweight champion.

Years ago Ray Noble even documented his memories for us.

Blood, Sweat and Speedway

Belle Vue has been frequently mentioned over the years. With shows twice, sometimes three times a week there are so many memories for so many fans. Yet we have to go back to 2013 for a dedicated thread of Belle Vue memories.

Let's enjoy it again. It may bring back more memories and gives newer members a chance to join in.

blue boy

Hi all, I wonder how many members of this brilliant wrestling site remember the Belle Vue golden years of late 1950's early 1960's. I along with my brother-in-law attended every Saturday night without fail (excepting when the circus was in town). My dear ole mum worked at the zoo and got us 2 best seats for every event. Over the years I saw them all Jack Pye (favourite trick, blind side of the ref and run his opponents eyes across the top rope) Vic Faulkner (pure class) Bert Royal (vic's tag team partner had the speed of a gazelle) Ian Campbell (the Scottish giant) Jim Breaks (wrestlings technical master, which way did he go) and my favourite of all BILLY TWO RIVERS and his tomahawk chop sell out every time he was on the bill. I saw the ex heavyweight boxer Primo Carnera wrestle at the zoo a man mountain of a man. He wrestled Ernie Baldwin 5' 8'' the bout lasted about 8mins. My favourite ref who else but dick the doormouse, I remember him refereeing a Jack Pye bout and Pys as usual had his opponent in the corner and would not back off, the doormouse picked up a corner bucket and wacked Pye over the back. To say Pye was enraged was an understatement, the doormouse the opponent and the corner man all legged down to the safety of the dressing rooms.

We lived in Hulme when we used to go to the zoo 53 bus every Saturday night. We moved in 1968 when they demolished Hulme. In the move all my programmes, autographs and photo's were discarded, the most painful loss were my beloved photos of most of the wrestlers, has I said my mum worked at the zoo and on a Saturday night her job was to man the canteen in the Kings hall. All of the wrestlers used the canteen for a brew or a snack as they waited for a dressing room to come available. My mum used to come into the hall and get me and take me into the canteen to meet my idols, most of them were very ameniable and would say hello and shake hands and sign autographs (even JACK PYE).

Oh very very happy days and thanks to this wonderful site I can relive those golden days. A very big thanks to the guys who have put this site together you will never know what joy you have give me.

Hack

Your memorabilia may be gone Blue Boy, but you've got your memories. And what memories; I did enjoy reading them and look forward to you joining in other threads.

Heritage member Ray Noble shared his memories some time ago and can be read in Blood, Sweat and Speedway in the Places section.

Ron Historyo

When I started going to Belle Vue there was still some of the Zoo left but for me there were The Bobs, The fastest big dipper in the world I believe at that time. You were chained up to the top on a winter night looking out on the hills miles away and the first drop took your breath away. The first three drops were huge. Just a bar to hang onto while you sat in your seat. Not so much health and safety then. After that I liked to watch the wrestlers go in the back and again come out after the show was over.The whole night was fun. I even saw Barry White perform at the Kings Hall in the 1970's.For a while.... the centre of my universe.

martin

I too have fond memories of Belle Vue. 1976 and I was so excited. My Dad had been promising me he would take me to watch the wrestling at Kings Hall for ages and the day had arrived. I couldn't sleep. I'd never been to any live sporting venues before so to see my heroes in the flesh was truly magical. To this day I remember seeing Veidor, Bert Royal, Dennison, Bobby Barnes, Muir and St.Clair. My best memory was going to get a drink and being stood next to a wrestler who had just beed DQ'd. I was petrified but this man asked me how old I was, if I was enjoying the night and if I wanted to be a wrestler. He also bought me that drink. He told me to follow my dreams and although I only spent 3 years in the ring they were good times. With that I say 'Thank You' to Brian Maxine.

tony st.clair

What memories !!!! Lots and lots of them about this wonderful venue,and not only from wrestling. I also watched Barry White, and I remember being at a Rod Stewart concert with Rollerball and his lovely wife Ann. And I used to be a speedway fan as well. The best moment for me was winning the British Heavyweight belt from Gwyn Davies and then celebrating with my brother at his pub, The Welcome Inn. Those REALLY were the Good old days,

Ron Historyo

Fantastic watching you Tony St Clair and you went on to do great things.

christopher taberham

Tony, like Ron H it was great to watch you working which i did many times in Newcastle. You where a great Favorite of my late Mam Marjorie and you gave her many years of top action ( and entertainment) in the ring.Thanks kidda ! Warmest Regards from Tyneside .

grahambrook

I used to go to Kings Hall, Belle Vue, every Saturday night between 1970-72 when I was a sixth former and, indeed, after that when I came home from university for holidays. When I first started going the promoters were Morrell and Beresford who gave way to Wryton who gave way to Crabtree. The first show was topped by Mick Mc.Manus and Steve Logan vs Kalmon Gaston and Peter Szakacs. Albert "Rocky" Wall faced Peter Stewart, Mick Mc.Michael vs Johnny Saint and Deep River vs Andras Swajcsic.

Duncan

Interesting top of the bill there Graham. Has a real Dale Martin feel to it. Cerainly when I started getting really interested in the game, these were four names that you would always expect on "southern" bills. Remember Mick being critiscised for not wanting to work out of London at one stage but certainly that changed in latter years. Happy days!

Ron Historyo

When Kings Hall closed I just sleep walked into it not knowing it was coming.Belle Vue was so great that the whole site should have been regenerated. But like the Mill Towns and the Mining Villages it just fell into decline. I guess it went the same fate as most of the old cinemas and rugby league grounds. Shame.

maskedmummy

We must remember it was around this time that some m & b shows were run as Dale Martin Metro

Tonycheek

well i too have great memories off the belle vue.wrestling,speedway,and the bobs,my favourite 2 bouts were the zebra kid v haystacks,and rocco v jones,haystacks took a good hiding and wouldnt come back to the ring,i am a big man city fan and now live in blackpool,i used to live in middleton manchester,i pass belle vue on way to city,and when i pass were the main gates were the memories come flooding back,o to live those glorious nights again,love the sight

Ron Historyo

I have searched so much old footage lately as I find it unbelievable how little you can pin guys down.

For example, I have seen it alleged that there is no pre 1970 Billy Robinson footage on TV. Yet I can find other wrestlers in the 1950's.

http://www.britishpathe.com/video/heavy-weight-wrestling-aka-heavyweight-wrestling/query/end

Bernard Hughes

Hi Ron H , yes I have seen that clip before. I was surprise that Gregory threw Assirati all over the place. I am sure that one of the times that Bert held the British Heavyweight title, he took it from Gregory. Incidentally, on another note on this thread, sadly I never saw Tony St. Clair fight live, but I often saw his dad, Francis St. Clair Gregory live at St. James Hall. Hard gritty fighter, style a bit like Alf Rawlings but always suffered by giving weight away against the big boys that were getting bigger and heavier each visit. A great Competitor.

David Mantell

Francis StClair Gregory had been a Cornish/Devonshire style wrestling champion before turning pro and had used elements of that style in his pro work. Quite which elements is anyone's guess since Cornish Wrestling is a jacketed fighting system.

Ron Historyo

Could not resist a posting this weekend.

nightlight

The Belle Vue archives are set to go online from later this year:

http://www.chethams.org.uk/bellevue/

Hopefully there'll be plenty of wrestling-related stuff in there!

Ron Historyo

I was just cleaning out an old chest and came across a book, "the Belle Vue Story" by Robert Nicholls. I had been looking for this as I thought it might have some old photo's or posters of Wrestling that I could date. It had just about everything else, but even so a fine book if you are feeling nostalgic about a fantastic place to go.

graleman

My first time at Belle Vue was inside my mother's womb! 1960 and my father knew all the local wrestlers. He got front seats and brought my heavily pregnant mother with him. Emile Poilve was fighting Billy Joyce, and Emile got thrown over the top rope, and landed on my mother. Ken Joyce was at ringside and both Billy, Ken and Emile were nearly crying, thinking my mother was injured. But all was well!! My family had free entrance for ages after that!!

Hack

Great story Graleman, that must have been told and re-told many times when you were a child. Just think, you got your dad free entrance to the wrestling before you were even born. Now that is impressive.

John Shelvey

Soooo, if you were there and witnessed the 'falling on the pregnant lady incident' you would return for the next show and sit at ringside with your girlfriend or wife who had a pillow stuffed up her jumper? Just how many men had free tickets for Belle Vue?

Cheers, John.

Ron Historyo

I thought I would revive this thread because I have been talking to my father-in-law. Allan was born in 1927 and his highlight seems to be ducking a diving into the air raid shelters in the war. Born in Swinton, a rugby league town that is now part of Salford. I had not realized that Salford once had a third rugby league team Broughton Rangers, who used to play at the Cliff where Man Utd trained until this century. Broughton Rangers left the Cliff and played at Belle Vue before going out of existance. If Swinton were playing away in the 1940's Allan and his mates would go and watch Broughton at Belle Vue, a big day out and a few beers, and then later they would go to the wrestling. (why did he not tell me years ago). These days he can only remember three wrestlers. He saw a few masked men but can't remember them.

The two who got the crowd roaring were Jack Pye and Bill Benny. Allan has never forgotten them. Head and shoulders above all others for excitement.

The big flop.....Seeing Primo Carnera... who Allan says was hopeless.

When I was a youth in the Sixties and Seventies you could just pick up the Manchester Evening News to see who was on at the wrestling, but I don't know about before that. Finding 40's and 50's bills has been hard , even for a time traveller. But I did manage to find some nostalgia to reflect those times, and very well placed on this thread.

Bernard Hughes

Hi Ron. Re. your latest bill on Bellevue.

Like many people I read about Freddie Mills and listened to his fights on the wireless ( as it was known then). He was killed in London to order by some criminals if the papers are to be believed . Evidently he was in big trouble.

But I did see Jack London Wrestle (?) live once at Newcastle. Like your Dad said about Carnera---- Hopeless. One punch after 2 rounds of pushing and struggling.

The bills made it sound more interesting than it was." Ex Heavyweight boxing Champion, now making a brilliant career in Wrestling!"

Some of these people had brilliant imagination.

Connecting with the Father & Son thread , Jack's son Brian, was also the Heavyweight boxing champion of Britain.

RAY NOBLE

I sent you all things about Belle Vue in the1954-5 in Wrestling Heritage it was mentioned in 2008 i dont see it now. Perhaps my 75 years is against me

Ron Historyo

I just could not resist this one . Look at the art work.

Steve Casey

Hi all.

Memories for me regarding Belle Vue were going with my Father as a youngster in the late 60's....I remember watching Kendo training in the dressing room with chest expanders.....the famous Pye brothers who 'beat up' my Dad.....loved the speedway....and the Rod Stewart concert. Alas I never got to wrestle there.....a full King's Hall was like no other atomosphere....great days.

Eddie Rose

A full King's Hall; you're right Steve. Nothing to compared with it. It seduced me into wrestling when I worked at Belle Vue as a student in 1959 and I was persuaded to go into the King's Hall one Saturday night after finishing work to watch.

The bout that was about to start was Ernie Riley versus Eric Taylor for the British LHW Championship. 6000 in the audience, the music, the lights, old Ben Green the MC and then the wrestling was so enthralling that I was hooked.

I told Eric many years later that it was largely his fault I was a wrestler. It gave him a good chuckle!

There is a pretty big chapter in "Worn Out Bodies" devoted to the King's Hall and its place in wrestling history. Certainly my favourite venue.

The Riot Squad

Ray's brilliant story of Belle Vue is still available, and always has been, in the Places section

Blood, Sweat and Speedway

The Riot Squad

John Shelvey

I recognised the winner but can't put a name to him? He must have done some boxing at sometime in his life as he threw forearms as well as punches with both hands. (Repeatedly)! Thanks John and the Rios.

Cheers, John.

Ron Historyo

Think back if you can to 1969. What was going on at belle Vue. http://www.wrestlingheritage.co.uk/apps/photos/album?albumid=15913427

In the galleries I give you the full 1969 season, the quality is as good as I can capture and work with , but this is preservation.

Look out for Andre the Giant , Look out for McManus v Pallo twice in this year and notice that long before he did TV Kendo was fighting Top Guys.

Most of all with this set of bills you get the name of the Ref.

It's pure nostalgia and much more to come in the future.

Hack

Riveting stuff. "Pure nostalgia" as you say Ron.

Thanks again for helping us re-live the memories.

Going way back on this thread you mentioned Broughton Rangers, Salfords' third rugby club.

Wasn't Broughton Rangers the name of Paul Mitchell's tag team.

Paul was a contributor to the forum but hasn't been around for some time.

Where are you Paul? Hope you're okay. Do come and tell us about the Broughton Rangers name.

Ron Historyo

Again I bring this thread alive for two reasons.

I forgot to mention that when I first went to Belle Vue at th end of the sixties we sat pretty tightly packed. Always shoulder to shoulder with a stranger and maybe with one of the Pillars in the way , bobing and weaving the head.

By the mid seventies you could go and choose your seat and have several empty seats between you and the next people. Never to get a pillar in the way again.

With a capacity of 5-6000 you can sort of estimate that maybe attendences were down below 2000 , still good when you condider many venues only held 1200 like the Wryton. But not very good for the Kings Hall. However what I have stated first hand is a piece of history.

My second reason , again History is ....Enjoy BelleVue 1960 this weekend. I have captured most of this season in the Galleries.

http://www.wrestlingheritage.co.uk/apps/photos/album?albumid=15923654

The Lariat

My memories from around 74-77 when I was a regular. Got 2 buses to BV and didn't bother with the other stuff there. It was really cheap to get in (about 50p for a kid) and the place always stank of cigs. As you entered you were given a handbill for the lineup of the next show which usually 2 weeks later but more when the summer break or Xmas circus was on. They also hung a load of full sized posters over the ropes and kids like me stood by one to claim it when the show was about to start. I had loads of them but threw them out when I got too cool for wrestling in my late teens. D'oh! Usually 6/7 bouts per show with the headliner late middle card. Nagasaki, Daddy, Stacks were the biggest draw with Saint, Breaks, Royals, St Clairs, Roach, Marino, Gwyn Davies all attractions. Latterly got Rocco, Dynamite, Marty Jones, Sammy Lee, John Naylor and Tally-Ho Kaye quite a bit. Saw less of Southern based workers like McManus, Logan, Street and Barnes. Sadly never saw Kellett, Pallo, Starr, 2 Rivers or Borg Twins. Remember large family groups of Asian people as the years went by particularly if Tiger Singh or Daddy was on. Great days.

October 24, 2015 at 3:21 PM Flag Quote & Reply

Ron Historyo

In the galleries I have put some of the 1961-1962 seasons for Belle Vue. These were towards the end of the Jack Pye Era , but he was still packing em in.

Look out for The Mask and a lot of younger guys in the early stages of their careers.

Men like Ginsburg , Foley , Roy St Clair , Tony Charles.

You will spot Max Crabtree long before he was in charge and a sighting of Togo , the James Bond Era was just starting.

http://www.wrestlingheritage.co.uk/apps/photos/album?albumid=15930945

Hack

Great bills Ron. Seem better than the shows I saw there in the early 1970s! One bill with Zebra Kid, Ramon Napolitano, Bud Cody and Gordon Nelson. An early appearance of midget wrestlers on a Joint Promotions show, answering a question raised in the forum some time back.

Some new names to me Andre Marie, Justice Ross, Jim Briggs, Bob Fitzsimmons. I wonder if we got to know any of them later with other names?

Ron Historyo

Wonder if Briggs was Breaks.

Hack

Possibility Ron. This Jimmy Briggs seems to have been on at Belle Vue twice that year.

Ron Historyo

Last week I added 1959 belle Vue and this week you will find 1957-1958 in the Galleries.

http://www.wrestlingheritage.co.uk/apps/photos/album?albumid=15981811

Hack

More great research and memories Ron.

Having been away I've only been able to take a look tonight.

http://www.wrestlingheritage.co.uk/apps/photos/album?albumid=15981811

Oddly, although so many people speak fondly of Belle Vue it wasn't a hall I loved. I've nothing against the wrestling I saw there, but it was a big cavernous hall. Sorry Belle Vue lovers.

Ron Historyo

So it's Easter 1943 , and if you believe previous attempts at writing British Wrestling History , the war had destroyed all wrestling. It had to be completeley rebuilt after a long interval.

It is a bit of a pet topic of mine. Belle Vue did ninety odd shows ever year. But have you ever seen anything like this. We have Easter Friday and twice a day on Saturday and Monday. Almost unprecidented.

Who the hell was on the bills , I don't Know and I am not so sure Ray does either.

Graham Bawden

A visit to the famous Kings Hall at the Belle Vue, what a dream come true for any wrestling fan. An amazing night out by all accounts. Would of loved to have seen all my favourites in action Bert Royal, Vic Faulkner, Pat Roach, Bob Kirkwood, Steve Grey, Eddie Nipper Riley, Rollerball Rocco, Alan Dennison. Great days.

frank thomas

Agreed there graham, would have loved to have visited belle vue myself, but never did. The reason being? My dad worked as a lorry driver, and visited Manchester on almost a daily basis. His response to my entreaties: "I'm in the ***** place five days a week, do you think I want to be there on my day off?"

Ron Historyo

The wrestling itself was probably drawing no more than 2000 people by then and there were few overseas stars anymore.

The 1943 bill shows just how popular it all was long before us.