RAH-GOODBYE OAKELEY-HELLO DALE MARTINS!

And maybe this experience of some kind of buyout formed a template for DM's takeover of PL thirteen years later - in which Hayes and McManus were also centrally involved.

This is a real soap opera over decades.

Chissà indeed!

There's definitely more to this arrangement, hopefully we can understand it better over time. I've been looking at Ron's Bedford gallery and I noticed several guys Oakeley used in 1953 (Hayes, Gonzales, Ffeiner) are being booked by Dale Martin at this venue (and most likely others).

I think you will find that the original "Orchid Man" was French boxer Georges Carpentier. Put away in under four rounds by the original Jack Dempsey in 1921. Just saying.

Gay just means lively, as we all know. And Gay Paree is what the British used to call it.

As for the Orchid Man, I want to say this: Robert Duranton was the original Orchid Man, distributing flowers before his bout, helped by valet Firmain. However, the dates don't match. Bobby Duranton was still doing his thing in the sixties. Maybe both he and Claude nabbed the gimmick from an even earlier Orchid Man?

Hi Peter, I may be wrong, but that's the way I read it.

Anyone else got thoughts on this?

I think that "Gay city" may be connected to that, Peter.

Claude Montorcy "new Orchid Man". What does that mean?

Splendid Main Mask. We'd already established September 1953 was the changeover but you have provided the evidence.

And an equal splendid to Anglo Italian for noticing the nod to Atholl Oakeley. I wonder if Oakeley already had the booking of the hall and this was part of the deal.

Now here's a question for you two smarty pants.

Here's the November 1953 programme and poor old Atholl has already been obliterated. So, what about the previous month. That was the 22nd October. Any mention of Atholl Oakeley? Get up that ladder to the attic Main Mask.

Thank you Main Mask!

Yes, really a landmark bill.

My eye is drawn to "Dale Martin Promotions in Association with Atholl Oakeley."

So some kind of deal was clearly struck, but by Christmas, Oakeley's name had been obliterated.

Tough job for dependable Ernie to top the bill in front of a crowd used to Oakely's giants and hyperbole.

Not only they blessed out Oakeley from the rasslin stage, DM also had British Championships of their own. Here's some credible evidences.

And The 1ST BOUTS Page!..With a Cracking Clash between JACK DEMPSEY

and RENE BEN CHEMOUL!!

MAIN MASK