WRYTON and it's Early Days

Having just established that in 1944 Wryton took over The Parr Hall Warrington from Jack Cullen , I decided to have a look at how many venues they had round about this time.

Back in 1942 Jack Cullen promoted Wrestling at the Ideal Skating Rink in Hanley. He was in Hanley first and Wryton began to promote at the VIctoria Hall also in 1942.

On the face of it nothing unusual until I found in the press that they had a clause in Jack Pyes contract that he must not do any shows within 5 miles of Hanley. This came about , I think because he did a show for Cullen.

By the middle of 1943 , from what I can see , Jack Cullen and the Rink had finished.

Thus far I lean towards Hanley and Warrington as Wrytons first venues.

I am going to have a crack at their first ten.

Victoria Hall Hanley 1942

Parr hall Warrington 1944

Runcorn Baths 1945

New Brighton Tower 1946

Hartlepool Borough Hall 1946

Chester Drill Hall 1946

Bloxwich Baths 1946

Willenhall Baths 1946

Gosta Green Brum Stadium 1946

Witton Albion Ground 1946 (Northwich summer venture)

Evident that the growth came as soon as the war ended.

I am unsure but don't think Wryton did anywhere in Manchester this early. Levenshulme Rink a little later for sure.

Crewe also later I think (another Cullen venue), and Rugby Co-Op Hall 1949 again best guess.

May have done Southport Grosvenor Sports centre from 1947 but no branding on the bills. They were the custodian when it closed in 1950.

Hyde Town hall as early as 1942 is another possibility.

I am speculating here and not laying down a firm history and with a joint effort , it may be that we can tighten this up.

I know we have a member Bkendo1 researching Wryton , maybe Paul knows more or maybe he is looking more at WHO were Wryton.

27 comments

27 Comments

Hack

Jun 29

What an enlightening thread this has turned into. Tremendous research by Ron taking us places we've never been before. Certainly no need for bkendo to apologise. It's anecdotes and half forgotten memories that provide the clues to move research on. True, we've not uncovered the mystery of the name but that's a small price to pay for the journey that's been made.

RON HISTORYO....Time Cop,

Jun 29

Replying to

A couple of sources on the internet claim that Arthur Wight promoted his first show at Hyde Town Hall in the war. This is not unreasonable and seeing as I have found Wryton at Hanley in 1942 first ever show 3rd August on a Monday night with another show on the Saturday the 8th. You would expect to find Hyde before this.

And that is what I have found.

At both Venues Billy Riley helped out as The Dark Owl.

Jack Atherton helps out at Hanley on the Saturday show.

Both men are on the inaugural show at Hyde.

Shows were done at Hyde on 16th , 23rd, 29th June and 7th July 1942 where the capacity was not much more than 300.

Hanley was not far from where Arthur Wright's father had come from. I suspect there would have still been connections. His wife was from Crewe.

Hanley was the perfect challenge to fill the venue , and get the profits coming in.

Below the other 3 Hyde shows , then I don't think Wright bothered after that. He had a bigger challenge at hanley.

There are other common wrestlers to both such as Tom Newton , Chick Rolf and Hall

It's a bit wild I know , but in the background I will keep the theory that Wryton may have been a thanks to Riley and Atherton , maybe they got a fee as match makers.

If you have doubts about the Hyde shows being Wright then look at the four prices.

1/6, 2/6 , 3/ and 4/ The exact same structure.

I think these Hyde Shows were the first ever Wryton Shows and the Hanley ones were the first to use the name Wryton.