Having looked at Inverness where Joint promotions had decided that it was worth a shot, I now go a little further North. Today you could travel along a lot of coast to the tip of Scotland along the A9, but in the 1960's there were no bridges to get across the Moray Firth , Cromarty Firth and The Dornoch Firth.
The big question , “ Was it worth going further than Inverness.”
As you get to Dingwall you are now in Roth Shire which today is joined with Cromarty. The first bill I come across is 1963.
The Town Hall , if you put a ring in it could probably get 350 people in. I think two hundred plus was what was achieved in reality.
1965 North West Promotions had a go. Jefferson , probably one of the most tricky promoters to advertise a fair bill with genuine known wrestlers. He was always up to something. He got the girls up there very early on. I wonder what Johnny Saint thought of it all.
It looks like they must have done at least break even.
1966 saw Continental Matchmakers of Manchester having a go. There is a bit of experience in there , Saint still working for the opposition and early Wild Angus , what a great career he had. I am not entirely sure who was behind this company.
A little nearer Inverness I found a lone bill , unique in it's own way in The Muir of Ord. I presume in the middle of summer the Curling frozen outdoor rink or arena would not be in use. Is this even a New Type of Venue for that thread.
A strange mixture of wrestlers and hard to say who was behind it. Why there???
More towns to follow.
There is an uncertainty about how well all these bills were put together , copying names , making up names , there was no limit. I also cannot confirm exactly where Jefferson (O'Shea lived) and what became of him.
A little bit special are two bills in 1977 two nights running in Invergordon and Tain. Four of the wrestlers work both nights and for sure stop over somewhere.
Kellet being one of them and Klondyke Bill.
But 230 miles from Ayr is Dale Storm. Could Dale tell us more.
Michael Portillo did a series of Great Coastal Railway Journeys and Series 1 Episode 8 was Invergordon to Tain. Who was behind the Promotion of these bouts.
Well some inside info here from Andy (Dale Storm) as Hack sent these bills to him.
These two bills were part of a full weeks work for Orig Williams. Other venues were at Elgin , probably Aviemore and The Corn Exchange in Edinburgh.
What took place was rather different to the bills advertised. It seems that Tony Scarlo was not there. Young Starsky was probably Young Apollo , Gypsy Salvadore probably Manchester's Mickey Gold. Dale was probably on with Steve Taylor and Max Reager with Starsky.
Dale also does not recall Bobby Graham and Bruce Welsh either nor Bill Turner
Kellett was there and Orig himself would have turned out. All very fluid.
With Orig, very likely, a ladies bout would have filled it up a bit , with probably Rusty Blair and Cherokee Princess (Gloria Payne) best guess.
The Tain show was organised by Orig whilst the Invergordon show was a Bill Money job paid for by the Club committee. This show was at the Aluminium Smelter Place that has gone now.
Still more to follow.
Who was Syd McManus, a name we’ve discussed before? And I’m thinking Dave was actually Mike Mahoney?
We came across Continental Matchmakers in Dalkieth and this is what I wrote then
I found Continental Matchmakers promoting all over the Britain and Ireland ... Barnoldswick, Bodmin, Chester, Coventry, Derry, Downham Market, Dublin, Dunfermline, Frodsham, Galway, Inverness, Maesteg, Matlock, Nantwich, Stonehaven, Wilmslow,
Many of the bills are very similar to the ones in Dalkeith, regulars Williams, O'Shea, Saint, Flynn, St John, Swasjics, Klondyke....
Then I found the address of Continental Matchmakers. 29 Talbot Road is a six bedroom terraced house in Fallowfield.Made me think it could be Sean O'Shea. I couldn't find who was living at that address in 1966, can you Ron? I would put half a crown on it being a Jack Jefferson (Shaun O'Shea)
Then I came across a report from the Irish Times, 26th October, 1965. The report stated that Continental Matchakers of Manchester were planning to sue Cork Council because they had banned a ladies match. The spokesman for Continental Matchmakers was Orig Williams.
Now I'm not aware of Orig living in Manchester. So possibly an O'Shea/Williams collaboration, or an O'Shea business with Orig working for him.
I think the boom for wrestling was now over and for 1969 I can show you a scandalous bill at Dingwall with some really dishonest advertising. This one beats the biscuit.
Invergordon was on the far side of the Cromarty Firth about 25 miles from Inverness. A total mystery why in 1970 , Joint Promotions would put on a bout in the Distillery Social Club. With a gate of under 200 , how could they pay 8 wrestlers and a ring crew etc.
Well just maybe they got some free drinks to take home. Anyone got any better ideas.
Also worthy of note , the minimum price of ten shillings in the social club in 1970 was equal to the luxury price at Belle Vue in the same year. So ringside in effect was double price
Tain was right up on this side of the Dornoch Firth. Some shows involving defectors from Joint promotions. No promoter named but Adrian Street headlining.
Alness the Averon Centre in the 1970's could hold an impressive 500 and was near Invergordon. No Promoter but Pallo headlining with Andy Robin. But also Orig and Monty Swan. Were they all helping each other.
Click to enlarge
Dalmore , another Social Club , also part of Alness
More to follow
Mr. Historyo gets a half point deducted: it’s Ross-Shire, hence Dingwall-based Ross County F.C. Notwithstanding that, were some of these possibly a “testing of the waters” to see if it was viable to run in the Far North?
Yes 1965 , not like me to not sneak the date on. If you pull up a picture of the Curling Ponds there does not look to be any seating.
It's a very strange venue. I also wonder if it was part of a small tour , maybe a couple of social clubs thrown in. I can't find any bills that would fit a tour to , but social clubs are very small venues.
Anglo is so right about the treatment of the fans. Incredibly short sighted and bad for the industry.
What year was the Muir of Ord event, Ron? I am guessing 1965?
It's a Saturday night in the middle of Summer, a prime night for making money by wrestling at a big venue, anywhere in the UK, so why would these lads travel up there? It's a seven hour drive from Wakefield, for Reg Ray, using today's road system.
O'Shea tried it in Ireland without any variation of the name at all, and was threatened with legal action by Dale Martins. Might have been a couple of years later. I don't think he was as honourable as Cape Promotions for example.
Later I think we can produce a bit of inside information on some other towns/shows up that way.
The Curling pond is a fascinating twist for a venue , I had never heard of the Muir of Ord.
I feel sure it's just a complete lie. Mick wouldn't go all the way up there for the opposition - and certainly not down the bill!
Which makes you wonder how he got away with it and what sort of anger was created by this. Mind you, Syd was probably a no-show in any case - more reason to hate the absent Southerner.
You seem to find an earlier start for Mitzi every week, Ron. Must have been nearly a schoolgirl in 1965....
That 1963 bill is great! "Syd" MacManus, the "TV bad man of the ring", I assume this was Mick?
Gorilla Reg Ray from the USA!