Pre-JOINT PROMOTIONS-One of the TITANS in The Sport-BOTH as a Wrestler from 1930-and
as a Wrestling Promoter finishing his Wrestling Activities in 1954-was SIR ATHOLL OAKELEY!!
He Staged Spectaculars and Extravaganzas at LONDON's 2 Biggest Wrestling Venues-HARRINGAY-
from 1949-and The ROYAL ALBERT HALL until 1953!
Staging his Own Championships up to World HEAVYWEIGHT Title Level-He could have Sold Out
Arenas MANY Times over with His 'Full Programme Attractions'!
Below I'm Holding My Original Poster for OAKELEY's CORONATION TOURNAMENT-16TH APRIL
1953!!-Not long before JOINT Took Over the Venue!! Fabulous Item-One of My Best!!
Note MICK MCMANUS Billed from IRELAND!!
MAIN MASK
Yes, Gerry Hoggarth had happy memories of Sir Atholl Oakley. He remembered the bout with Jock Ward (who, he told me, was actually of German origin) and was later delighted to receive through the post a £25.00 bonus from Sir Atholl.
He also remembered Acker Bilk playing his clarinet in the RAH ring during the interval.
I would have loved to have had the opportunity to ask Gerry whether he fought Gargantua and, if so, how he fared. Gerry always considered Ernest Baldwin the best heavyweight of that era and fought him twice, once drawing and in the other, both wrestlers being counted out after toppling from the ring. Both men were very strong and excellent technicians.
Impressive picture with reference to wrestler of the year would tell everyone what to expect
A wonderful poster at the top of this post. The later promoters could have learned a lot from this Athol Oakley. So, why did they succeed when he didn't. I see that on that poster it doesn't even say Wrestling. Did everyone just know.
In the Coronation Programme Parade McManus moves from Ireland to become a Scottish Ace
The Ost, Jack Beaumont was Oakeley mwt champ...very interesting. Also Matassa Belt is worth attention.
Babe Foley = John Foley?
Mick's billed as The Scottish Ace there! What a multi-national he was.
Certainly a year of chgange at the RAH promoter-wise. Can't help thinking Mick was up to something that night, whether as a spy or scout or whatver. That we will definitely never know. You say "DM had taken over" but we can only wonder at what dealings there were to arrive at that result.
The 1953 Pathé footage of Gargantua is against Haystacks Bright, so either they switched the billed opponent or he returned there later in the year.
You are very fortunate to have such wonderful memorabilia, Main Mask, and thank you for sharing.
Good grief Main Mask. Anglo Italian is revving up the car right now. We'll be round to your place sometime between 2am and 3am. Make sure you're asleep we'll be careful not to wake you.
Such a shame we didn't see that when our friend Gerry Hoggarth was alive. Do read about Gerry in The Iron Man of The Lakes
Oakeley was back the following month
By the Autumn Dale Martin had taken over