My memory differs from both of you. It's true as Anglo Italian says that those he named travelled nationwide over a long period and Robin didn't. But in earlier discussions Robin and some other Scots were criticised for rarely, if ever, leaving Scotland in comparison with English wrestlers. Reality was that an exclusively Scottish wrestler could travel just as far as anyone working for just Dale Martin, just Morrell or just Wryton. Many worked nationwide, but many didn't.
In my books he was an exception rather than an example. The big names like Kellett, Masambula, Logan, Pallo, McManus, Nagasaki and many others made every attempt to travel nationwide. Part of the duty within televised Joint Promotions.
I think we touched on this subject quite some time ago, and it was pointed out that for example, Andy Robin rarely ventured south, but he was racking up mileage with the venues in the North of Scotland he appeared at.
In my case how could I finish work at five go South somewhere, wrestle at a promotion until say 22:30 then go home, sleep for ?? hours, then up again at say 06:00 and be back at work at 07:00, impossible!
The only way was to take a day off from work, but then again you lost the wage for a day.
The farthest that I ventured was Nuneaton for Jack Taylor.
The north-south divide was due to distances travelled for part time wrestlers, which was most of them. Finishing work, travelling to the hall, back home and a bit of sleep restricted distances travelled. As promoters worked on a mostly regional basis it would be easier for a wrestler if, say, Dale Martin in the south, or Wryton in the north and midlands, were able to give them sufficient work.
Maybe the South-north divide had more to do with the production of text and photography for The Wrestler and programmes and books and TV Times and The Sun, Alan.
Not many signs of the North being very prolific in churning out articles.
They could have.
Do you remember Big King Al? He was a very Northern writer who had some articles published but disappeared after a one-way trip to Ct Bartelli's cottage.
Wayne Bridges went through a phase during the mid-eighties of wrestling nearer home. I remember Ringsport stating at the time that he had missed/ cancelled several appearances away from home territory, again down to business. I think there was possibly more of a divide prior to the 1970s as The Wrestler magazine appeared to mainly mention wrestlers from the Southern promotions. The North & Scotland a brief mention and Wales hardly at all. Subsequently many of the same faces appeared in rotation in The Wrestler.
There was, not sure it was a "hard and fast" rule, but due to the nature of some wrestlers not working full time, or having to be around for their job, it made travel (except for on rare occasions) an issue.
I think we mentioned on here, recently, that Basil "Romany" Riley very rarely ventured north, as he had a small shop (or maybe a small supermarket) that he ran with his wife, that he had to be around to open up for, every morning, and work late-ish, some nights.
I think we are all missing one important point.
It mattered very much whether you were a full time pro or a part time pro!
As I mentioned previously, in my case and a lot of other cases we were on the whole part time pro’s.
My memory differs from both of you. It's true as Anglo Italian says that those he named travelled nationwide over a long period and Robin didn't. But in earlier discussions Robin and some other Scots were criticised for rarely, if ever, leaving Scotland in comparison with English wrestlers. Reality was that an exclusively Scottish wrestler could travel just as far as anyone working for just Dale Martin, just Morrell or just Wryton. Many worked nationwide, but many didn't.
Can't agree with you Mad Mac.
You nominate Robin as an example.
In my books he was an exception rather than an example. The big names like Kellett, Masambula, Logan, Pallo, McManus, Nagasaki and many others made every attempt to travel nationwide. Part of the duty within televised Joint Promotions.
Robin somehow operated outside this obligation.
For some wrestlers it was even an east/west divide within the North/South
I think we touched on this subject quite some time ago, and it was pointed out that for example, Andy Robin rarely ventured south, but he was racking up mileage with the venues in the North of Scotland he appeared at.
This thread seems to consider North/South divide in terms of England. Remember there were several Scottish wrestlers appearing regularly in England
Right to the point Hack!
In my case how could I finish work at five go South somewhere, wrestle at a promotion until say 22:30 then go home, sleep for ?? hours, then up again at say 06:00 and be back at work at 07:00, impossible!
The only way was to take a day off from work, but then again you lost the wage for a day.
The farthest that I ventured was Nuneaton for Jack Taylor.
Cheers
Another mystery Anglo Italian.
The north-south divide was due to distances travelled for part time wrestlers, which was most of them. Finishing work, travelling to the hall, back home and a bit of sleep restricted distances travelled. As promoters worked on a mostly regional basis it would be easier for a wrestler if, say, Dale Martin in the south, or Wryton in the north and midlands, were able to give them sufficient work.
Maybe the South-north divide had more to do with the production of text and photography for The Wrestler and programmes and books and TV Times and The Sun, Alan.
Not many signs of the North being very prolific in churning out articles.
They could have.
Do you remember Big King Al? He was a very Northern writer who had some articles published but disappeared after a one-way trip to Ct Bartelli's cottage.
Wayne Bridges went through a phase during the mid-eighties of wrestling nearer home. I remember Ringsport stating at the time that he had missed/ cancelled several appearances away from home territory, again down to business. I think there was possibly more of a divide prior to the 1970s as The Wrestler magazine appeared to mainly mention wrestlers from the Southern promotions. The North & Scotland a brief mention and Wales hardly at all. Subsequently many of the same faces appeared in rotation in The Wrestler.
There was, not sure it was a "hard and fast" rule, but due to the nature of some wrestlers not working full time, or having to be around for their job, it made travel (except for on rare occasions) an issue.
I think we mentioned on here, recently, that Basil "Romany" Riley very rarely ventured north, as he had a small shop (or maybe a small supermarket) that he ran with his wife, that he had to be around to open up for, every morning, and work late-ish, some nights.