While researching I have come across dozens of cinema's that converted to Wrestling Stadiums in the late 1950's and early 1960's. Maybe a bit of a new one is a Methodist Chapel built in 1964 and converted into a Studio Hall mainly for music in 1957. The Beatles were to play there. Eventually bulldozed early this century.
Just before this ITV had started wrestling on TV and a boom was coming. The hall was up for grabs and anyone could hire it. For Sure Wryton did some shows. They did regular shows right through to end of 1959 and I believe 750 was a typical attendance.
Take note of Danny Flynn working for Wryton here. Later he was to become significant.
Not sure who Liberty promotions were. Maybe Dominic Pye was promoting himself here.
Also suspecting that at This point Wryton pulled the plug.
Conroy had been there at most shows refereeing so for sure Wryton and not Best.
1960 saw Jack Oatley do some shows , strange because the Roster looks pure Wryton. Oatley was later to be in partnership with Bartelli as Bartley promotions , but not this early.
Oatley I think we must assume had been contracted to run these shows for Wryton.
I think the February 1970 bill is too early for Dixon. The others could be, or they might be Orig Williams.
With the absence of Bartelli by 1970 it looks as though Bartley had gone.
The bills below , I feel sure that some are Dixon but are they all.
No promoter on the bill. Any ideas anyone.
We have to laugh at wrestling these days Bernard , there was a time when we believed most of it. The greatest deception ever for me.
I don't know if Dick ever saw that bill, from 15th June at Widnes, but if he did I bet that he had a good laugh.
Another name I noticed was the opponent of Dominic on 2nd November, 1964, bill, Alexander Alexinis.
I don't know if it was the same bloke, but might have been and tempted here by Dominic on his recent American trip. Alex Alexenis came to Britain in the Second World War, serving in the Air Corps and based in Warrington. He was Alex Alexinis from Long Island. He wrestled in Britain in 1944 and 1945 , often alongside fellow American Mike Jones.
Alex was reported in the Daily Mirror for having fought a 450lb Canadian black bear. Apparently the bear grabbed Alex and threw him out of the ring in under one minute. Match over.
On his return to the USA Alex continued to work in Canada and the United States using various names but mostly Al Smith, finally retiring in the early 1970s. Unknown Star Alex Alexinis died in April, 1986.
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You missed the best bit Hack. I have been in the ring with the future World Flyweight champion!
I bet it was news to Dicky too.
I no longer have access to the American newspaper database that led me to this conclusion SaxonWolf, but I was obviously underwhelmed. Maybe I'm too harsh or maybe as beauty is in the eye of the beholder maybe a sensation is in the eyes of the man selling the tickets.
Either way, I did like Dominic. To watch wrestle, that is, not someone to bump into on a dark night.
@Hack , when you say "...Dominic did go to America, but I don't think there's any evidence of him being a sensation..."
I guess it depends on what you mean by "a sensation", he appears to have won all his singles bouts, and one of his three tag bouts. He was only 27 years old, so I doubt he was going to be pushed ahead of too many established, top-of-the-bill, Wrestlers.
Sadly the Queens hall Widnes was demolished some years ago.However,there was an annexe of some sort at the rear known as the Queens Hall Studio which survived which was still in use up until the start of the pandemic having Comedy nights and some bands were playing there.Not sure if any wrestling has taken place.
You missed the best bit Hack. I have been in the ring with the future World Flyweight champion!
There is a change in 1968, nothing to do with Joint Promotions.
Cape are there in March, 1968 and gone by October. That may be because Cape were no longer active. I've not been able to find precisely when Danny Flynn was killed but think it was around this time. I believe Fred stopped promoting shortly afterwards. They moved out of Preston in 1968 or 69,and were out of Scotland, so the reason could have been as simple as that.
In October Oatley was back. This time not involved with Wryton but now an outright independent promoting with Bartelli who had just come across. The 1968 and 1969 bills are outright independent shows.
December doesn't state the promoter but could still be Bartley. It was a few months soon for Brian Dixon, who started in October 1970.
January, 1969 we have Dempsey with Alex Bowen. Alex was usually known as Alec Burton. Like Danny he too met a premature death in a road accident on his way home from a wrestling commitment.
1968 and 1969 are independents at their best; a mix of experienced ex Joint men (Dempsey, Bartelli, Allan, Taylor, Sullivan, O'Neill); rising stars (Marquette, Conneely, Martin, Hunter, Palin), established quality independents (Ingleburgh, Martin, Burton, Palance, Blackfoot, Bell, lindbergh, Wilson).
Sure enough in 1968 Bartley promotions took over , a strange arrangement with Bartelli and Oatley and not really a Wryton look about it.
Strange to see Bartelli working with Dwight seeing as Dwight never worked for Joint , then this must have been about as near as he got. The December bill above does not carry the Bartley branding, the price had gone up as well , but with Bartelli there one assumes he promoted. From here though I think it changed again.
Having just posted the above I had a look to see what the A-Z had about Red Naylor. This is the last sentence which again suggests Liberty Promotions was Dominic Pye;
Barbara Sandwell told us, "I worked with him at Imperial Chemical Industries, Thornton Cleveleys in Lancashire. One morning shift we worked together and imagine my surprise when that evening he wrestled on Dominic Pye's bill at Blackpool Central Club."
Another great find Ron. This place looks like it has lots to offer. Wryton in 1957 making good use of local wrestlers, not handing out much petrol money on these shows. Maybe you overlooked, or just left it for me, Brian Trautmann on your earliest 1957 Wryton show. A rare Joint Promotion appearance for the man who went on to become Lord Bertie Topham. Dominic did go to America, but I don't think there's any evidence of him being a sensation. Back in Britain he did buy a Cadilac, though, and used to drive up and down Blackpool Prom.
Jack Oatley was a Widnes man and did work in association with Joint. I would have thought these 1960 shows were Oatley making use of Joint wrestlers via Wryton. They are all Joint wrestlers and champions of the time.
Then you get to the good stuff. Cape Promotions move in. Les Thornton as Wild Pierlot. Not seen that before. But then Wild Pierlot, a French Hercules, is a far more credible main eventer than Les Thornton from Salford. What about Abdul demonstrating the lifting of a horse. Now if Danny and Fred couldn't pull em in with that, what would?
I can't see this Nick Dallas being Mick Dallas. I've seen him on other early 1960s bills, always with heavies like Streiger, Cassidy, and Ingleburgh.
When I saw Johnny Saint on Cape bills he was always from London, far more exotic than Failsworth. But here in Widness they go one better, now he's Anglo French. Dennis Tracey was on the first show I went to. Saw him a few more times. A good welterweight.
Martin Robson was on my first show too. On these bills he's both Scottish lightweight and light heavyweight champion. At Preston he was Heavyweight champion. He wasn't Scottish either.
The Hunchback was probably Danny Flynn. And No, he wasn't. Red Naylor and Red the Fireball were one and the same, Fred Naylor of Cleveleys.
June 1964 and we have a car from Stockton with Blue Angel Jim Stockdale, Dicky Swales and Billy Red Cloud, who was Julian Gurgris.
Mitzumoto who cropped up the other day, an early Al Marquette. And that masked man Chango.
The Undertaker wasn't masked. He had a good gimmick with a full sized coffin but once the wrestling started it was all pretty ordinary. And the wonderful Angus. I could go on forever Ron. I'm in my element.
Oh, nearly forgot.
Liberty Promotions.
I don't know the answer Ron, but suspect your guess is spot on.
Look what I found.
Liberty Promotions in Blackpool. Photo of Dominic. And he doesn't even seem to be wrestling.
By 1962 you will see Fred Woolley and Danny Flynn on here and almost certainly promoting. For some reason offering no branding on their advert until late 1963. That was a massive year of wrestling boom. Johnny Saint of course worked with Danny Flynn erecting the ring and learning the trade. There he is above.
Over the last year or more I have shared many bills from Max Crabtree's and Jack Taylor's inventive promoting and advertising , but some of the Cape Promotions is right up there with them. So pleased to add these to my collection. For about five years Cape did shows at the Queens Hall.
Look at these crackers from 1964 , so good for newspaper bills. Some of the North East lads even came down showing how much the Indy's co-operated with each other. Ezra and the Zulu were one and the same. Dominic , Cassidy and Bertie were good value.
More with the Cape Branding and by 1966 the girls were starting their revolution. These were the pioneers. Klondyke Jake has written for a trial for Widnes Rugby League Club , what a yarn.
I was the M.C. for a poorly attended show here in the late 1970s promoted by Stuart "Big Boy" MIller. I only have hazy memories of the show but recall that Mitzi Mueller wrestled "Hellcat" Haggetty, Pedro the Gypsy wrestled Butcher Goodman and Abe Ginsberg was also on the card. Al Miquet provided the ring and acted as referee.