On this day the birth of Rene Ben Chemoul
In 1933 Heinrich Froehner won the European heavyweight title from Atholl Oakeley in Nottingham
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On this day the birth of Rene Ben Chemoul
In 1933 Heinrich Froehner won the European heavyweight title from Atholl Oakeley in Nottingham
Another American to add to the list of the ones who visited these shores, Karl Von Schober!
Wrestling overseas today, Davey Boy Smith (as “The British Bulldog”) defeated Owen Hart, in Dallas, Texas, on this day in 1995.
On out TV screens, on this day in 1977:-
Zoltan Boscik (F) v Alan Sargeant (0)
Johnny Yearsley (F) v Steve Veidor (FF)
John Kowalski (0) v Tibor Szakacs (F)
Mick McManus (RSF) v Robbie Baron
08 January, 1924
Birth of Jim Hussey
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Yes, James, that's what I meant about ethnicity.
I don't think the UK ever had any wrestler who came anywhere near Chemoul's level in terms of having an ardent following based on his home country or race. I don't recall Masambula being venerated by African fans nor Al Fontayne by the Jews. The Polish community didn't seem to turn out to cheer Czeslaw on. Possibly Great Gama and his family but on bills dominated by them in a rather niche way.
Reviewing the video The Ost has kindly inserted, I just wonder how Chemoul stacked up by comparison with a Breaks or Kidd or Faulkner or, older than him, Bert Royal?
I never saw him live but remain to be convinced; but your personal recollections are a great help, thanks.
Anglo
I only saw Chemoul when he was in his late 40s. He was still as fast as they come but he must have slowed down a bit and he relied a lot on Walter Bordes to do the work. He was still a flyer when there really weren't flyers here - or if there were I never saw them. In his younger days he must have been outstanding.
As for popularity. In the 60s and 70s there was a good deal of antipathy toward Franco-Algerians and I think he and others provided a safety valve so that the downtrodden could on a Friday night see their heros exact some sort of retribution on their behalf . But that, of course, may be sociological rubbish
To Augment HACK's Info.Above-regarding The EUROPEAN HEAVYWEIGHT
Title Match in 1933 between ATHOLL OAKELEY and HEINRICH FROEHNER
-Below is The Bill/Flyer for This Collision at The NEW VICTORIA HALL
NOTTINGHAM!!
MAIN MASK
Rene Ben Chemoul. Big name.
But was he any good? Really?
Or did he just have the right ethnicity to attract thousands of punters with great regularity over decades in Paris?
On this day in 1986, our own Tony St. Clair was wrestling overseas in Japan, tagging with US wrestler Jim Duggan, against Kendo Nagasaki (not ours, Kazuo Sakurada) and Riki Bassan, losing by countout.
On our TV screens from Croydon, 1964, on this day.
Francis Sullivan v Earl Maynard
Joe Murphy v Ted Hanan