I have seen in the galleries that a number of halls held Christmas Eve Shows but did anywhere hold Christmas Day shows, I know quite a few promotions in the USA held Christmas Day shows but have never seen a bill for a similar show in the UK. I was wondering how some of the wrestlers got back home after the Christmas Eve shows as cars were not as common in the 1940s/ 1950s as these shows I came across were in these decades. Did trains run through into Christmas Day?
I wonder if the Christmas Eve shows were well attended?
I am sure someone has some answers out there,
In the days before TV and when there were few car owners there would be some fans prepared to attend. The wrestlers were very committed to agree to fight even on Christmas Day
this is the Bolton one that Ost mentions This was soon to close and it would be 1958 before the Wryton Stadium opened.
I can remember working on Boxing Day 1964 at Newcastle and we got double time which was just as well as there were not all that many in the audience. Ray Plunkett's list shows wrestling in 26th Dec the following year but that would have made it a Sunday and I know that my co-worker Alan Patchett and I were round his house playing the LPs that I had got for Christmas. I also know that I cried off on the New Years Day event in 1966 due to family commitments.
If you want to go way back:
DECEMBER 25, 1907 (WEDNESDAY) Ernst Siegfried challenged Stanislaus Zbyszko.
DECEMBER 26, 1907 (THURSDAY) Pavilion, London, Greater London, England
1 - Stanislaus Zbyszko def. Chambers Zipps
2 - Heinrich Weber def. Vantroff
December 25th, 1937 ;NEWCASTLE;
George Gregory v Red Devil;
Billy Riley v Rex Maxine;
Atherton v Hessle;
Ponton v Garnham
December 25th, 1939 ;BOLTON;
David Armstrong v Hessle;
Wills v Cerino;
Magisti v McNab;
Johnny Nelson v Newbran
Most years had a few shows on the 26th, 24th seemed less common to have shows.
I noticed a few Butlins shows from Boxing Day in the 70s and 80s. Surely a bit cold to be on holiday?
I might be able to come up with a Xmas Day or Xmas Eve Bill POWERLOCK1-From Memory I seem to
think I've got at least one-I'll have a Trawl!-Will need a bit of time though!
In the meanwhile below may not be Xmas Day or Xmas Eve but it IS a 'CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR'
FRANK will like this one as it Features BOBBY BARNES Tagging with a Different Partner?!!
MAIN MASK