Sometimes what we hope will prove an interesting story doesn't materialise.
Those of us of that age remember Quasimodo. Who couldn't? He was one of a kind.
He goes back to the birth of Heritage In 1968, when the internet wasn't even a twinkling in anyone's eye, we had our first two articles published simultaneously, Lord Bertie Topham and Quasimodo.
Most telling for me is that he appeared on Paul Lincoln bills. Then I uncovered this 1960 Paul Lincoln Programme from 1960.
Game over.
There's no doubting that face.
What I had hoped would be a mystery to solve is no more. The genuine Quasimodo brought to Britain by the independents at the beginning of 1960.
Grabbed by Joint Promotions in January, 1962.
Share your memories of Quasimodo.
Posted that Quasimodo match to several peoples' FB walls after the recent Notre Dame fire.
I know Quasimodo appeared on TV midweek but I am sure l saw him on a Saturday afternoon too in the late 1960s early 1970s
Poster from France,interesting to see George Kidd mid card
I did see one on EBay some time back. A lot of use that is now.
Yes HACK-I DO know of this Book and HAVE tried in the past to obtain a Copy- Primarily for my
DOCTOR DEATH Files-but to no avail! Do you know Anyone who has it who might be tempted to
sell to me at a very good price?
MAIN MASK
This is it Adrian
This is what it says on Heritage:
Wrestling, The Truth About The Grappling Game
Author: David Marchbanks
Publisher: Corgi Books
Date of Publication: 1966
We can't be too harsh about this book (and wouldn't want to be) because we bought it in July, 1966 and must have read it twenty times in the years that followed. Which leads us to think that we were just too dismissive of "The Padded Ring" because David Marchbanks' book is remarkably similar to the one that preceded it by four years. Marchbanks provides a well detailed 1930s historical context for his documentation of the post war revival, and unlike Van den Bergh finds space for earlier stars Hackenschmidt, Assirati and Black Butcher Johnson. Like "The Padded Ring" there are pen portraits of the stars of the day, but with the added interest of Doctor Death! The detailed account of the feud between Dr Death and The White Angel was mesmerising fifty plus years ago. Despite the obvious similarities we would conclude that this is a far better book than "The Padded Ring," as it gives a fuller outline of wrestling in the 1960s, with chapters devoted to tag wrestling, women and a glimpse into the future. Almost fifty years after publication we'd still declare it a winner, and well worth three and sixpence.
David W:
Like most books, this one, published in the 1960s, is of its time - and optimistic times they were. If you can remember Beatlemania and George Best’s heyday at Man U, this is the wrestling tome for you.
Not that Marchbanks is starry-eyed about the game. If you thought that the Americans only learned to spin a wrestling yarn in the McMahon era, read how Jan Blears, a lad from a council estate in Britain, metamorphosed across the Atlantic into “Lord Blears, who is prevented for tax reasons from bringing his vast personal fortune into the USA.” He could, however, bring his valet – yes, Blears was doing that well before Steven Regal. The history and politics of the sport is covered too. We learn of some all-time greats: Assirati, Hackenschmidt, Gama (who could probably have defeated Big Daddy in an eating contest as well as in the ring) and others. And of the rise of Joint Promotions on the British scene. In the final chapter, it’s even suggested that a wrestler, not a boxer, might be the combat sport exponent to inspire Britain. At the time, it wasn’t a ridiculous idea.
Of course, we know with hindsight that it wasn’t to be. A few years down the line was Big Daddy, and his brother Max who got British wrestling in a stranglehold that not even George Kidd could have escaped from.
No HACK-don't think I've read that one!-Is it the Book that devotes a whole Chapter to
DOCTOR DEATH?
MAIN MASK
Yes-they are Fab-SAXONWOLF!-i've got tons of Stuff in my Archives-just managed to dig out some
rare GHOUL Photos for Bernard-check out THAT Thread!-Also the Programmes/Reviews from the
'50's-early '60's are really helpful with lots of back-up Info on the Bills under the Wrestler's Name and
lots of Photos of (today) lesser known Workers! If there's anything YOU are particularly interested in
let me know-Glad to help if I can!
MAIN MASK
Thanx SAXONWOLF!-I remembered I'd got an Article in my Archives called 'The Real Quasimodo
Story'-so I dug it out and condensed it into the last Post!!
I don't usually reveal my Sources-mainly HP-DADDIES and HEINZ-Ha,Ha!-but seriously-from
Wrestling World Magazine Xmas 1961 by Phil Moody!
MAIN MASK
Update on QUASI-apparently he was South American by Birth-almost certainly Argentinian! Turning to
Wrestling after a bad thigh injury halted his Boxing Career for 3 years-he did O.K.-earned enough to
make a living from it! Then during one of his Bouts an event happened that was to change his whole
Career!!-An over-excited Fan threw a bottle in to the Ring which struck CASTILLA on the back of his
head! The Ring became a Blood Bath and the Fight was stopped! This injury was Severe but he
failed to get proper medical attention at all and a wound which should have healed instead GREW
into a horrible hump the size of an apple!! The muscles in his neck also became affected causing
him to carry his head in a thrust-forward position-the whole result being rather grotesque!!
His first Bout back from Injury saw him get hurtful comments and jeers of 'Hunchneck'! The French
Promoter MAURICE DURAND happened to be Backstage! Right away he signed up CASTILLA-had
him shave his head and whisked him off to France! Thus QUASIMODO was 'born' and went on to
hit the Big Time on the Continent!
MAIN MASK
Great Thread reactivated by HACK-and cool video from RON-good quality B/W!
I saw the Original QUASIMODO Live a few times-can still hear the cacophony of his hand bells-
heard long before he came into view!-He favoured attacks to the head and particularly the neck-
-a 'softening-up' process prior to (usually) his finishing move-the Swinging Pendulum Piledriver-not
fully executed in the Video.I remember he used to use his knees-so causing his Adversary to connect
with bone several times during the 'swinging' part' prior to driving his head into the canvas!!
By 'poetic justice'-he himself fell victim to 2 Piledrivers in RON'S Video!
I also recall that attacking his 'Neck Hump' was Obligatory and Mandatory for his Opponents!
Quasimodo's fights against DOCTOR DEATH must have been great to watch-BOTH specialising
in debilitating 'neck nerve holds!
MAIN MASK
Yes copying Quasimodo like that...I bet the original really got the hump.
Great post yes Graham. But Buddy Ward as Quasimodo. Danny Flynn was another. There was only one Quasimodo. I'm the first to stand up for the independents, but passing others off as Quasimodo just wasn't on.
And a great post from Graham, as usual full of funny anecdotes. Many thanks.
Great post Ron. I enjoyed watching Quasi again. He was certainly no deformed monster. Good gimmick.. Good wrestler.
Quasimodo was indeed on the late night mid week TV show. I was there and it was a Wryton promotion booked and MC'd by Martin Conroy from Bolton's Wryton Stadium. The show was recorded on the Wednesday evening, the first two bouts being televised later that night. The three bouts after the interval were recorded for the Saturday afternoon slot. Quasimodo faced Colin Joynson who seemed to spend most of the bout attacking the "egg" growth which he possessed. Quasimodo won by knockout, tossing him out of the ring.
I also saw him live one Saturday night at The Kings Hall, Belle Vue, where he lost by disqualification to Les Thornton (Henri Pierlot).
He made quite an impression on me so, when I started promoting, I fancied putting on a Quasimodo of my own so contacted Buddy Ward who I had been informed occasionally donned a Quasimodo outfit. The conversation was going well, he was free on the date I asked, until I said, "And can you do your Quasimodo for me?" He also presented striptease shows and it seems we were talking at cross purposes. He thought the date I offered was for a strip show and when he realised that I wanted him instead to wrestle as Quasimodo he lost all interest. He said, "I don't do that any more," and hung up. I saw no point in ringing him back.
Around the time I saw Quasimodo (the original) wrestling Joynson in Bolton, Conroy was putting him on all over his halls against Adrian Street. When Street began promoting he looked for all sorts of ways of saving money including wrestling twice on the show, once as himself and once as Quasimodo. Although he made a good entrance limping to the ring with an uneasy gait and almost bent double, once the bell sounded he forgot after those first few moments and this crippled hunchback was soon skipping around the ring doing moves almost identical to those performed by Adrian Street earlier on the card.
Finally, perhaps I could share a joke about Victor Hugo's hunchbacked creation. It seems that he returned from his work as a bellringer at Notre Dame to find his wife Esmerelda in the kitchen with a wok in her hand. Excitedly he cried, "Esmerelda, Esmerelda, are you cooking a Chinese meal?" "No," she cried in frustration, "I'm trying to iron your bloody shirt!"
Was Quasimodo on the late night mid week TV show? I know I have seen him, so it was either at a live show when I was a lad, or on TV?
Well done Ron, I enjoyed the video it's the first time I've seen Quasimodo wrestling and enjoyed it.Also what a good physique Quasi had.
The new forum also has some great advantages such as being able to add a video.
Here he is. Quasimodo
I am just delighted that by sharing a bill on this Forum we get to gain even greater niche knowledge.
I had no idea of the significance of that bill.
When it comes to the Indy's nobody can match Hack.
I have only seen him on Youtube.......quite an attraction.