On This Day 15th March

When I was young I did like those Wryton Stadium posters that were so different from others, or any others I saw at least. Not a bad bill there either Main Mask. Shame about the tee shirt.

I knew Sam topped the Bill at The Albert Hall 😂

Happy Birthday Dwight!

Wrestling overseas today, Sean Regan defeated The Brute, in Victoria, Canada, on this day in 1973.

On our TV screens, on this day in 1972:-

Steve Wright v Jack Martin

Quasimodo v Colin Joynson

A trip back to 1950

15 March 1933

There was little to surprise fans as British heavyweight champion Douglas Clark convincingly defeated Johanfesson in St Patrick’s Hall, Huddersfield, to retain his title.

And Happy Birthday Sapper James.

No mention was made of Kellett and Barrie being father and son.

Indeed, in a thread to which I contributed some months ago there seemed to be a query as to whether or not they really were ,from a fellow contributor. As I stated then, by the time I came to book Kellett, Dave Barrie had long passed so it's a topic of conversation between Les and myself which never arose. It was a cracking tag bout that night with Kellett and Barrie emerging the victors and it was the last bout on due to Conroy's positioning of Ryan/Jones in the centre point of the Saturday afternoon section to make sure they weren't buried amongst the bigger names and got decent TV exposure.

I really enjoyed the bout between Quasimdo and Joynson which Quasimodo won by throwing Joynson out of the ring. The only other time I saw Quasimodo live was against Les Thornton at Belle Vue. He was disqualified on that occasion. I tried to promote Quasimodo myself, but the masked version as portrayed by Buddy Ward. The conversation was going well until he realised that I wanted to book him for his wrestling talents rather than the striptease artistes he was pedalling at the time and, when he did realise, he quickly ended the conversation. Some years later of course a money-saving Adrian Street came over to the independents and would close the first half in bonnet as Quasimodo then open the second half as himself. In his Quasimodo persona he had an excellent stooped limping shuffle to the ring but, as soon as the bell sounded, he began skipping around in his usual style causing mild dichotomy amongst the punters.

A classic tag team in the making ,but not in 1962.

Great recall again, Graham. I remember the Quasimodo bout aring late at night. But I can't remember anything about the tasty tag and whether Kent acknowledged the father and son aspect?

Well, it was Bobo's local hall. Many there knew him as Dave Shirlow, local lad. Bartelli twisted his ankle in the ropes if I recall. Much was made of having to untie his boot to get to the injured ankle as he lay prostrate on the canvas. Again I forget exactly, but Bobo either refused the verdict or was so busy helping Bartelli to stand and exit the ring that Conroy's announcement went largely unheeded. Certainly nothing was done to make Bartelli appear foolish. Incidentally, around this time Bobo was regularly propping up the bar at "The Rovers Return" (occasionally having a game of darts with Abe Ginsberg) and he appeared on a children's TV show (I forget the title but it was hosted by a robot) where he did a neat little tightrope-walking and juggling act. I'm not 100% certain, but I think he ate a bit of fire as well.

Incidentally, I think I'm right in saying that Bobo was Dave Shirlow and that Bobby Barron was Dave Shillitoe. I'm pretty sure that's the right way round. A week or so ago a fellow contributor reminded me that it was at The Prince of Wales hotel in Southport that I refereed for Bobby Barron and amongst the four bouts which I officiated was Dave Shillitoe versus Dave Shirlow. (The other three that night were Gypsy Sarah (Mrs.Barron) versus Klondyke Jane (later Klondyke Kate), Tony Francis versus Steve Peacock and Kevin Conneely versus Woody Waldo).

And the opening Quasi bill is also renowned for the surprise victory of Bobo over The Count. I wonder if there's a story behind that little upset ....

These beautiful old posters are of particular interest to me when they occasionally feature a show I attended and, indeed, I was at the Wryton TV show recorded from their Bolton bolthole. Although it doesn't look like it from the poster, matchmaker Martin Conroy's main wish with this show was to highlight Marty Jones making his TV debut. This was the centre bout of the Saturday afternoon portion of the show.

Happy birthday Sapper.

Sapper James born 1967.

Sheffield, Leeds ... you know these places are all much of a muchness SaxonWolf.

That looks more like a rare appearance for Ezra Francis in Leeds to me...........

Local lad wrestling overseas today is "Judo" Chris Adams, who beat Jimmy Garvin in Justin, Texas for World Class Championship Wrestling promotion, on this day in 1983.

On our TV screens, on this day in 1969: -

Jackie Pallo (1) v Vic Faulkner (1)

Bert Royal (1) v Mick McMichael (1)

Alan Dennison (W) v Jon Cortez

Al Nicol (DQ) v Sid Cooper