Wrestling Banned

Much has been written and discussed about London County Council's ban of wrestling due to its poor reputation in the 1930s. Whilst there were undoubtedly poor practices of outlandish gimmicks, oversized giants with little skill and poor promotional practices (sounds like the 1980s) we have never subscribed to this monochrome view. Indeed it was a commentary that was purveyed by post war promoters who saw it advantageous to draw a distinction with the past and present theirs as a new and improved product.

Things were more nuanced, of course. Amongst the lumbering giants, midgets, blood and tossed about referees were men of the calibre of Douglas Clark, George Clark, Billy Riley, Harold Angus, Bert Assirati, Mitchell Gill, Francis Gregory and many more genuinely skilled wrestlers.

Today is the anniversary of the day London County Council chose to ban wrestling in the halls they controlled.

Many may be surprised to learn it wasn't in the 1930s at all. The decision was taken in 1944 and took effect in 1945.

With a nation still in the throes of war the Council found time to debate and bar an entertainment that had benefited the war effort through countless fund raising events and helped to maintain a normality of wartime life. The Council accepted the Public Control Committee recommendation, “In our view all-in wrestling cannot be regarded as true wrestling in any sense. We do not consider that it contains any element of sport, and we regard it as a degrading and unhealthy form of entertainment.” The decision was to come into effect on 1st January, 1945.

It seems odd that if the council had been getting so incensed by wrestling they left it until then to take action. After all, quite a few towns had banned wrestling in the early 1930s, only to lift the ban a few years later when promoters persuaded them, rightly or wrongly, that they had cleaned up the business.