READING WRESTLING

"...Caswell Martin was brilliant. Could have had it all. Heaven knows what his real name was..."

I was actually going to ask this on another thread, was he related to George Burgess? Brothers? Facially, both very similar looking.

I know we joked about wrestlers having a "wrestling name" to fool the tax man, in the past, but this could have been the real reason of course.

Were Wrestlers ever paid in anything other than cash?

Caswell Martin was brilliant. Could have had it all. Heaven knows what his real name was.

But he worked the German tourneys and elsewhere and had several lives, not always wanting to be identified.

All sorts of reasons, maybe the tax? Hence my Garfield idea about the cars, but only an idea. Let's face it, if you're the taxman, in 1960 or 197Caswell, how could you keep up with these guys?

Thing is, Garfield was so big, he replaced Assirati. Headlined all over the country. But unknown. He was unknown to most on here when I said he was my fave wrestler in 2004. And I only saw him in his twilight years ... but he was still mesmerising.

And yes Ron, the hisory of what was going on 60 years ago in the dressing rooms is slipping away from us. The Lincoln rise, trade unions, strikes, threats --- all within a relatively small pool of wrestlers. Most seemed to be forgiven instantly. But there must have been bad blood at the time.

I have Garfield, the employee, fioirmly in mind as someone who didn't care, he hadhis Bentleys.

But who knows.

Now, probably only Tony Skarlo.

Finally a variety from the Town Hall

Maybe Garfield was never forgiven for going and working for Lincoln before his second tour.

Not so with Capelli , but Garfield probably did what suited him and at that time Dale Martins were last.....Payback

Not sure what the Caswell Martin syndrome is, and not sure why Alan Garfield wouldn't want to be seen on TV?, if you look at how many shows he headlined over the years, there must have been hundreds (thousands?) of people who saw his face on a weekly basis?

Mmmm. True, he was clearly very well known

Should really have had more tv exposure than McManus and Pallo combined.

Given that it was ALLLLLLLL a work in spite of what we like to (pretend to) believe, the most rational and boring theory is that Garfield wanted it like this. They were all up to all sorts of shenanigans, Garfiled perhaps selling motors illegally? Some didn't want to be seen.

The Caswell Martin syndrome before his time?

Actually Anglo, just a thought, but when Wrestling first appeared on TV, it was (of course) presented as a real sporting contest, were there any "villains" on TV in the late 50's and early 60's?, would Alan Garfield have come across as "too pantomime" at that point?

I am clutching at straws I guess, because I just don't see why the promoters wouldn't have pushed him heavily on TV in the early days, with him being a prominent name, usually at the top of bill, who should have been well known to anyone who went to watch a live show.

You're right that we don't really know, Saxonwolf, but it's the only story we have and has to be the history at this point. It's rather fun, so no harm going with it in my opinion.

Great find, Ron, for Paul Lincoln in 1960. Joined at the hip to Geo Kidd at that time.

Kidd was a monkey, seemed to run with the fox and hunt with the hounds. Was never blackballed and commanded all the work (and Scottish venues) he wanted.

The more I know, the less I understand.

Fast forward to 1960 , through the 50's Dale Martins had no opposition in Reading , but the Olympia Ballroom was snatched for a few shows.

Now we have talked about a relationship with Dales and Devereux before.

But had not some of these guys left Joint by 1960.

And even more controversial I am claiming a "find". Has anyone ever seen Paul Lincoln billed under his own name in 1960 or beyond.

I did a thread on his debut and anytime in the late 1950's we thought there was an odd sighting , but we did not know if it was Lincoln. Ost , I think managed a few shows in January 1960 for Doctor Death and if you look here in January 18th I am showing you a bill that I believe could be the only physical bill where we see Paul Lincoln as himself.

So comments welcome on what Deveraux were doing and Paul Lincoln as himself this late. Is this history.

For me, at least, this only goes to deepen the Garfield mystery. A main eventer for many years who just never made it into the TV era properly. Do we really believe it was because he somehow upset Kent Walton?

For me, that's brill, Ron. Cheers!

I see Marino and Gafield at it in Reading even 15 years before Old David saw them.

Otherwise, someone was watching Garfield's Reading opponents with great care as there are no repeats and big names like Dara Singh and Georges Gordienko.

Between January and June 1960 we can see Garfield's billing switch from Sydney to London. Must have been when he started his backchat with his London accent.

Always scope to ponder a new name, though: Jimmy Munlack opposing Steve Logan? Odd name. Must have been real!

Talking of Garfield, let's remember our much loved and departed forum maestro Old David who once recalled seeing Garfield v Marino in Kent on a Tuesday.

The next day he found himself in Reading and went blind to the wrestling, not knowing who was on. Wasn't it only Garfield v Marino again! Skeptical, Old David expected to see the same bout rehashed, but saw a completely different contest. He was very impressed.

Thanks John , it's food for thought as we cannot add to the galleries.

I cannot possibly get all I have found onto a Forum Post but we could pretend it's Christmas for Anglo.

Have a look at Garfield in Reading.

Great research Ron. I think I could revert to being a kid again, if I woke up on Christmas morning and there was a Christmas stocking with a half a dozen (or more) of those old bills stuffed in it!

In 50 and 51 it looks like an attempt was made to accommodate a bigger crowd.

Twice Assirati was used as a crowd puller. Did it work , who knows but the tradition seemed to go missing.

And talking of the champ (Assirati) , yes he did Open Air , The Ballroom and was used quite a lot at the Town Hall. His opponents look to be not too difficult to me.

I seem to recall the highlight of Peter Szakacs’s career was winning an eight-man Reading tourney and being presented with the trophy by Mary Rand. So I guess that would have been around 1966 when she was hot property.

It seems that for the first four years the Town Hall was not always available. I know that crowds were about 1000 and I don't think the Olympia Dance Hall was any bigger so I am struggling to see any other reason that some shows were done here.

These sit side by side with Town Hall bills.

It's the 1960's now and a fourth tear up but still before their cup final day explosion.

Jackie is now "Mr TV" but still they are propping the card up.

A year or more ago we debated the 1950's matches between McManus and Pallo and we even had a list.

I contributed their earliest ever meeting (known) as a December 1952 bout at Bedford. However despite having this bill Jackie Pallo was a substitute.

I have found a bill at Reading that I think is the earliest where they are "billed" together. I think so far the only 1953 example.

Examples of their meetings are becoming more and more and I found another two at reading in the 1950's

Note they are always undercard.

Just for good measure I also throw in a McManus v Logan match , very early in 1952.

These meetings were not so frequent.

Well Ron, as far as evidence goes I'm with you. There was definitely a reluctance to stage wrestling in Reading. But there are suggestions wrestling took place before then. Ray Plunkett has his first bill on 6th March, 1935. Where he got that from I've no idea and can find no evidence.

The Reading Standard of 2nd October 1936 (p.14) does say that Bert Howarth is going to stage all-in wrestling at Palm Lodge on 6th October, 1936. Main event Van Dutz v Ray St Bernard, with Fred Unwin v Stan Stone in support.

The Reading Standard of 6th November , 1936 (p.18) said it was unlikely there would be more wrestling at the Palm Lodge, but the Corn Exchange was a possible venue.

On 1st January the newspaper reported: "And a bit 'fishy' was the attempt to popularise all-in wrestling. At least we had one sample of it, and that was that. You are left to decide whether Reading disliked wrestling or wrestling disliked Reading."