Years ago I came across this clip from at newsreel in my native Denmark. It is dated January 1, 1939 but that is probably not very precise.
As these wrestlers were almost certainly not local, can anyone here help me identify them and maybe learn a bit more about who they were? I'm very keen to learn about local wrestling history and this could very well be the first documented matches to ever take place on Danish soil.
Thank you very much in advance for any assistance or ideas where I might also be able to find further information.
Full clip: https://www.dr.dk/bonanza/serie/667/ugerevy/8880/fribrydning
I love the bottom line announcing that ambulances would be in attendance!
And I happen to think it was fine to call Masambula a Doctor - he was a witchdoctor, after all.
Great poster Kristian. These are genuine, looks like a British promoter took a group of lads over to Scandinavia. Don Robinson took a group to Sweden, but this soesn't look like one of his shows.
Max Raeger was a regular reader of this forum at one time, don't know if he still is, so he might be able to shed some light on this tour. All of them except Steve Burton and Ian Douglas are in the A-Z (click Wrestling Heritage/Wrestlers in the menu bar).
Danny Lynch's photo on the poster, but not mentioned. Could he be one of the above?
Geoff Kay is billed from Scotland and Massambula as doctor. Not sure Max Raeger was from Canada but he has a match on You Tube
I don't think England had any Swedish wrestlers pre war. They used to bill Anaconda and Alf Lagren as Swedish champs sometimes , but it was just advertising. Great 70's poster Kristian , love it.
I think we have the faces of most of the British Roster so these guys just don't seem to fit .
I had wondered a bit about 1939 as I thought the wrestling and physiques were a little more advanced than I expected , but again just an opinion and others may disagree. It's not easy to go through the entire Heritage A-Z for those faces.
I really enjoyed the film. There was professional wrestling in Sweden at this time, it's hard to say if these are British wrestlers or not.
I've had a look around and can't find much information on wrestling in Denmark. Do you know where the match was filmed Kristien?
As Kristian states the show is in Denmark , but I note a very small audience.
Looks like it might be in a gymnasium to me.
Unfortunately , I just don't know the wrestlers.
Maybe that could be because they were not on the English Rosters but I just don't know.
I have done another still from the video just in case it helps.
Is there something that convinces you that these are photos from the UK?
I have my doubts with the style of the corner post and the way the referee is dressed.
Do I see a German eagle emblem in the background of the first photo?
Cannot help but very fine photos