Following on from this weeks newsletter here are a few items of interest for the fans of the big man. Firstly Shirley may be the only British wrestler to appear on the cover of both the TV Times & the Radio Times way back when there were only 3 tv channels and 2 television magazines.
Both from 1980
Below a huge article about the Crabtree brothers again from the Tv Times circa 1980/81.
Below taken from either The Sunday People or News Of The World circa 1978/79.
Great additions alanapally
The following is an article from 1957, it feature's a 27 year old Shirley's forthcoming contest against "The Ghoul" in his hometown of Halifax. Now unfortunately the article is a bit blurred so i've typed it's contents below it .
The article reads as follows
Can Shirley Crabtree match his wits and strength in the professional wrestling ring against a wrestler of the experience and cunning of the famed “Ghoul” and hope to come out on top? That is the question fans in the West Riding are asking as they await the main bout at the Victoria Hall, Halifax on March 3.
The 27 year old Crabtree faces the biggest test of his wrestling career to date and has been training for the last three weeks in preparation. Training is nothing new to him however, for the 56in chest, 21in neck and 19 ½in biceps are the result of weight and strength training that have been his interest in life.
At one time he played with Sidal Junior R.L. team but it was not on the Rugby field that he was to find fame. He preferred the individual struggle of the wrestling ring, and made his debut against the former Bradford Northern forward Sandy Orford, then Welsh Heavyweight champion at the St. James’ Hall Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in 1952.
Since then he has met and defeated (among others) Bill Verna, Alan Garfield, Norman Walsh and that terror of the ring Jack Pye. He also met the mighty Felix Miquet at the Palais-des-Sports in Paris and came away with a draw to his credit- a remarkable achievement against such a man. For Miquet has vanquished many of the top flight of the wrestling world. Berlin and Hamburg have also been the scenes of triumphs for the young Halifax wrestler.
Few people know these facts about the blond giant they frequently see around town, and it’s slightly ironical that his wrestling prowess is probably better known in Paris than it is in his home town. Without doubt this contest with the redoubtable American star. The Ghoul, represents a decisive stage in his career, for although to lose to such an opponent would only be what many others have suffered , a victory would open tremendous opportunities n the wrestling world. He would then be well placed for accepting the offer of that fine Canadian wrestler, Chief Thunderbird, to go on a tour of North America.
Shirley Crabtree has long sought a contest with The Mighty Togo, but to get on the same bill on March 3 is as near he has been to his wish. The number one hurdle for Crabtree is The Ghoul and for six hours a day he is hard at it in preparation for the contest and says he will be fighting fit when the bell goes. He will not be short of support when he steps into the centre of the ring and among what will be the biggest crowd ever in Halifax for a wrestling audience will be his mother watching Shirley for the first time ever.
A find on Ebay!
Switching on the illuminations at Skegness
A wee bit more of Big Shirls, this time from his appearance on "This Is Your life" in 1979.
Brother Brian this time.
I remember watching this film in the late 1970s. It was rated an "X" at the cinema so was shown on ITV after the 10 o'clock news. The film was based on a book of roughly the same title and was set during an apocalyptic period caused by man. It starred Nigel Davenport, and also a pre Miss Brahms Wendy Richards. It was quite the shocker when i first saw it but had no where near the same impact when i viewed it for a second time in the late 1990s on a minor SKY channel. There are a few cruel scenes in it along with some scenes that appear laughable these days such as Hells Angel style bikers with Horned Helmets marauding about. Probably the best part of the film is the theme tune sung by Roger Whittaker.
A really good read, vintage stuff. Thank you.
Thank you! Nothing much new, but always great to read what we know in fresh articles.
Thanks for sharing, this is great stuff, as always.
Taken from "Ringsport" and repeated a least twice.
"The Wrestler" 1962
Shirley on the receiving end.
Below taken from the Harvey Smith autobiography.
A wee bit more. I placed this feature in a Max Crabtree thread but it adds to information already discussed here too.