Gary Marsh was a one time second for Devereux Promotions at Wimbledon Palais. He began a short lived wrestling career in 1966, working for Devereux and Dale Martin Promotions. Opponents included the likes of Chris Bailey, Leon Fortuna and Ray McGuire. Gary disappeared from our sights towards the end of 1969.
It sounds like he was a second who managed to get in on the act. He must have had some skills and Bailey, followed by a few others, trusted him enough to build up a storyline.
We never discuss the seconds on here. This looks like a rare situation where the role was built up and while we are only reading details on bills, doesn't it just look like they had a great thing going?
Great to see Chris Bailey going top of the bill in his feud with Garry Marsh. Sounds like they built is up well.
Noticeable by absence are Steve Logan and Jackie Pallo.
It looks like Ken Joyce was the matchmaker, billing himself as European Welterweight champion - so of course not a trace of Colbeck on these bills either.
I have several other of the typewritten Lincoln bills. I believe they were mailed out to people (there were also wrestler promos in the same style, e.g. "Jacques Lageat - coming soon!"). I'd say there's more to it. It might be as simple as a second way for people to book tickets, or maybe the working relationship was more co-operative than that.
That Paul Lincoln stencilled bill looks dubious, especially as DeMarto was the Manor Place promoter.
Then I came across this, the programme for the night. It's a DeMarto programme, very different from the Lincoln style. Now was this handbill some young fan playing around? Or does it open the question again about the relationship between DeMarto and Lincoln?
As a point of interest the Manor Place programme wednesday 25th October, this programme of Merton(Wimbledon) Civic Hall 9th November gives some reports of the bill.Alan.
Well, that doesn't have the usual, colourful look of a Paul Lincoln Poster!, instead a "Xeroxed" (as people used to sometimes call photocopies in the old days) sheet with space for someone to use a typewriter to type in the details. It even has a photo of French Wrestler Gaby Calderon on it, for no real reason!
Yes I see what you mean Anglo Italian. It's another of wrestling's mysterious webs. My impression of DeMarto was that he was a significant independent promoter, but would he have been as significant without the context that Lincoln provided? Similarly Don Robinson. It was Kirkwood again that said that he considered Robinson a "Northern arm of Paul Lincoln." We didn't pursue what he meant. In the global business world Robinson was much more important than Lincoln, so Lincoln no doubt respected Robinson. Robinson told me he "shared Lincoln's office in London." Just what did that mean? Robinson has mense business interests but I would consider Lincoln far more prominent in wrestling. As for Devereaux we mostly consider them operating within Dale Martin, but from 1958 to 1962 they operated as part of the BWF independent group and some years ago Palais Fan referred us to one of their programmes proclaiming independence from Joint Promotions. I suppose what I'm getting at is that you say Lincoln shared his resources with others. Or were they just benefiting from the opportunities he provided?
I don't think it fair to say DeMarto worked "within" Paul Lincoln, though there was a close working relationship within the BWF. Anglo, was it DeMarto that Bob Kirkwood said gave him the trial before he worked for Lincoln and the opposition? I might be wrong, but it wasn't Lincoln himself that gave him the trial.
Ok,Thanks for the info
From the A-Z
Gary Marsh was a one time second for Devereux Promotions at Wimbledon Palais. He began a short lived wrestling career in 1966, working for Devereux and Dale Martin Promotions. Opponents included the likes of Chris Bailey, Leon Fortuna and Ray McGuire. Gary disappeared from our sights towards the end of 1969.
Thanks Anglo,
What I can remember it was quite entertaining the build up.
Hi Al
It sounds like he was a second who managed to get in on the act. He must have had some skills and Bailey, followed by a few others, trusted him enough to build up a storyline.
We never discuss the seconds on here. This looks like a rare situation where the role was built up and while we are only reading details on bills, doesn't it just look like they had a great thing going?
Hi Anglo,
Who was Garry Marsh?
He was a second at Wimbledon Palais
Was he related to someone in wrestling?
Out of interest his partner of choice for the tag match was Peter Rann
Great to see Chris Bailey going top of the bill in his feud with Garry Marsh. Sounds like they built is up well.
Noticeable by absence are Steve Logan and Jackie Pallo.
It looks like Ken Joyce was the matchmaker, billing himself as European Welterweight champion - so of course not a trace of Colbeck on these bills either.
Thanks for sharing.
Hi all,
Have just added two new albums to the Gallery section, with a focus on Devereux Promotions.
I have several other of the typewritten Lincoln bills. I believe they were mailed out to people (there were also wrestler promos in the same style, e.g. "Jacques Lageat - coming soon!"). I'd say there's more to it. It might be as simple as a second way for people to book tickets, or maybe the working relationship was more co-operative than that.
That Paul Lincoln stencilled bill looks dubious, especially as DeMarto was the Manor Place promoter.
Then I came across this, the programme for the night. It's a DeMarto programme, very different from the Lincoln style. Now was this handbill some young fan playing around? Or does it open the question again about the relationship between DeMarto and Lincoln?
As a point of interest the Manor Place programme wednesday 25th October, this programme of Merton(Wimbledon) Civic Hall 9th November gives some reports of the bill.Alan.
I've just added another handbill for Manor Place, a Paul Lincoln one.
It is dated 22 April 1963. In the gallery there's a DeMarto programme from Manor Place dated 9 April 1963.
Thanks for the kind words, glad these are of interest. And thanks Big Al for your programmes also.
This week I will be adding a couple of Devereux galleries. Fits in well with the above comments.
Yes I see what you mean Anglo Italian. It's another of wrestling's mysterious webs. My impression of DeMarto was that he was a significant independent promoter, but would he have been as significant without the context that Lincoln provided? Similarly Don Robinson. It was Kirkwood again that said that he considered Robinson a "Northern arm of Paul Lincoln." We didn't pursue what he meant. In the global business world Robinson was much more important than Lincoln, so Lincoln no doubt respected Robinson. Robinson told me he "shared Lincoln's office in London." Just what did that mean? Robinson has mense business interests but I would consider Lincoln far more prominent in wrestling. As for Devereaux we mostly consider them operating within Dale Martin, but from 1958 to 1962 they operated as part of the BWF independent group and some years ago Palais Fan referred us to one of their programmes proclaiming independence from Joint Promotions. I suppose what I'm getting at is that you say Lincoln shared his resources with others. Or were they just benefiting from the opportunities he provided?
Thanks Al , I have stuck them in the Isle of Wight part 2
I don't think it fair to say DeMarto worked "within" Paul Lincoln, though there was a close working relationship within the BWF. Anglo, was it DeMarto that Bob Kirkwood said gave him the trial before he worked for Lincoln and the opposition? I might be wrong, but it wasn't Lincoln himself that gave him the trial.
Enjoyed them , a great collection....thanks