Just outside of Rotherham the Lumley Arms in 1967 had a fairly unique venture , Sunday Dinner Time Wrestling.
It's a story of a local man Joe Knowles coming home to Maltby.
His previous place is shown well advertised here.
Born in Maltby in 1921 Joseph H Knowles had married Iris Warren in 1950. In February 1967 they brought the same ideas and more to the Lumley Arms.
But before the month was out there was going to be a wrestling connection.
In February 67 a local mini Skirt Contest had Dai Sullivan as a judge.
The burning question is , Did Joe find his own wrestlers. Did he just know one guy who could bring a few to do a show and then maybe put Joe onto another contact who in turn bring in something different.
Or did Joe find a small promoter who handled the summer of 1967 for him.
I have established that this was indoor wrestling and if you google The Lumley Arms , Maltby , and "Images" you will see two pictures of wrestling going on there.
This couple were innovators of Pub entertainment
Here are the first three bills and look at the decent quality.
CLICK FOR A LARGER IMAGE
And in order here is the next three in April.
Five shillings , not a bad price for what must have been a fairly close up view for all.
And again , and also we are looking at more than one stable of wrestlers here. Look at the changes over time.
North East lads and Barnsley , Johnny Saint from Manchester and as ever St John and Slavic
Jimmy Devlin is on four times. What could the capacity of this place be.
At the end of the season we have a statement to the press about how well things were going.
Taking have doubled in under a year.
Many of the adverts had a full weeks schedule of events.
People had their wedding receptions there and even coach parties of 50 or more visitors.
So Joe and Iris make a possible valid claim that Sunday Dinner Wrestling in a pub was possibly a first for them and the wrestling industry.
It's a window in time that does not seem to come back next year , or even continue past June. No sign that the council banned it.
It was of course a few years past the very peak of Golden Age Wrestling , round about 1963 and the publicity that the McManus/Pallo TV Feud created in the country.
But at this time TV Wrestling was very popular.
The challenge has gone out to the remaining wrestlers from the past. Does anyone remember this venue.
I agree with Ron that the bills make Don Robinson the likely promoter. But would likely be a bill show, that is Knowles paying a fixed fee and no risk to the promoter. Otherwise I can't see Robinson putting on a show in a pub, he used big venues. This also makes me think it feasible that Sullivan introduced Knowles to Robinson.
Could be Jack Land. I remember him bigger, but that was later.
To cap it all , on balance Joe Knowles may have known Dai Sullivan , the Mini Skirt Judge , who's son Earl McCready was on one bill and in turn Don Robinson looks to be the most likely promoter to provide these wrestlers. Maybe Sullivan gave Knowles an intro to Don Robinson. Not easy because from mixed stables , but that of course was always the case giving the Indies a decent roster that could rival Joint in many towns. Unusual maybe to provide a small two bout show with the ring as well. You would think a fixed fee would need to be reduced.
All things considered though , this is a small piece of history , social history as well. Times have changed. We have wrestlers on this site , lets hope they can identify who those two guys were. Can we eliminate Jack Land (kramer) as the wrestler shown.
To get a real feel , here is a photo of the place on the day of that very first show in February 67.
A real challenge here , because looking at the February bill , I cannot understand who is the well built blond haired guy is in the photo.
https://www.mediastorehouse.co.uk/memory-lane-prints/mirror/0000to0099-00042/customers-lumley-arms-maltby-yorks-21270918.html
I like the idea of a "serious mini skirt competition." Certainly not the first Sunday lunchtime wrestling. Interesting bills though Ron.
This is the nookiest of nooks Ron. Interesting bills with an assortment of wrestlers from all over. The promoter? Various possibilities. A bit of a conundrum. You're on the case.
Interestingf stuff, as always, Ron. Here is a link to a picture of the crowd watching Wrestling at the pub, from February, 1967.
https://www.imago-images.com/st/0060219860