Before the Advent of JOINT PROMOTIONS-One Man Dominated Top Class Wrestling in
LONDON and the South-ATHOLL OAKELEY!
Famous for his Spectaculars at HARRINGAY ARENA- He also ventured to the South Coast
to Promote and one such OAKELEY Venue here was SOUTHAMPTON!
Accompanied by Stylised 8" x 10" One Pager Programmes which Featured a Photo of one
of his Top Draws-there was no way you could miss how much you would be paying for one
of these with the Price emboldened in one inch Black Type at the bottom!
In the case of the rare example Programme to follow the front page Features THE GREAT
MANTO-apparently the 'Best Heavyweight in Europe'!!
The Bouts Page on the reverse may be of particular interest to RUSLAN-mentioning
OPEN HEAVYWEIGHT TOURNAMENTS etc!
A 2000 Capacity was available at THE STADIUM-and 5 old shillings could secure you a
Ring Side Seat!
For this example Show-I love the Commentary Notes-PATRICK MAGEE being described
as a 'Human Guided Missile'!! for instance!
MAIN MASK
Thanks for posting, fascinating material as always. Any ideas who won that 1950 open heavyweight tourney???
I am trying to phathom out why I haven't ever heard of so many "world famous" names ... what hype!
Registered post - what a deft touch.
I guess the majority of wrestling spectators were casuals, fortunately not too many nerds like us around. So I also guess that what the promoter wrote about unknowns would imperceptibly be swallowed hook line and sinker by willing punters who had forked out half a crown - or two. You want to believe when you buy into a wrestling show, don't you?
Very cool thanks. I think that completes a trifecta of spellings for Martin Bucht/Butch/Bucth.