Hi John ; The Devonshire Hall, Hackney was widely known as the Devonshire Club, because it operated on Thursday, and Sunday nights, to operate on a Sunday night, the sabbath, they made the customers become members of the club, hence The Devonshire Club. It was famous as a pro boxing club, before wrestling promoter J.Bodinetz introduced "All-In" wrestling around 1935, Bert Assirati worked there in 1938 when he opposed 24st Ray St Bernard. He also promoted at Catford, Southend, Mile End Arena, and Gillingham, all his programmes all looked the same from the same printers. your programme is from the year 1939, can you show the inside wrestling bill. Best for now Mike Hallinan (I love the "All-In" period).

Hi Ron ; Mike 0`Sullivan means the son of Sullivan, my Mother is an 0`Sullivan from West Cork, her Father was John (Cumba) 0`Sullivan, Cumba is the clan name, and Mum is the last of the 0`Cumba Sullivans. If he was in the British army, and was named Bombardier Sullivan, he might be part of a Bomber Command, and you could trace him by his army record, and if he was stationed in the North East, that would mean he was married while in the army, and stationed in the North East, and you might find his marriage on the FreeBMD .........not that I am trying to tell you how to suck eggs ha, ha, ha.......it is elementary Dear Watson ha, ha, ha...... Sullivan wrestling Douglas Clark for the British, and Empire Titles, and then wrestling Assirati for the same titles weeks later, reminds me of Bill Garnon he did the same thing.........first Clark, then a week later Assirati, both of them losing to Clark, and Assirati...........shame Clark and Assirati didn`t clash........... St Georges is the Elephant and Castle, in South London where wrestling took place in 1937 etc.. Late Kings Hall, St Georges Market, London Road SE

Hi ; Thanks for reply, I think we have to try and find out when he was born, and when he died, and what age he was when he died, looks like a job for the expert Ron, who can locate anyone`s family history. I don`t think Mike wrestled as a pro in Ireland, I think he came to London, and mixed with boxers, and wrestlers, and then got into the "All-In" business. Mike Howley was a good Irish wrestler, who was living, and wrestling in London, he got the Casey brothers jobs at the hotel he was working at, and got them into the wrestling business, he may have also got Mike into the business as well. Best for now Mike.........

Hi Angelo ; For five years Ian was a personal bodyguard to a Muli-Millionaire Chinese gangster, who was a very big gambler, he would win, and lose £50,000 pounds in ome night, at an illegal gambling den in Soho, sometimes after a big win, disagreements would break out, and fighting would erupt, with rival factions attacking each other with knives, and swords, Ian had some dangerous times getting his man out of the den in one piece, and with his winnings..........Mike.....

Sad to read Big Ian has passed away, for many years a well known doorman around Chinatown, and Soho, he was persauded to get into the TV wrestling scene, and was advised to go along to the United Amatuer wrestling club in South London, and work on some moves, pick up some experience pulling around with the guys who have been wrestling for years. He worked for Dale Martin, on a lot of their shows, and also worked at All-Ireland strongman Butty Sugrue`s Night Club in Kilburn High Road, when he put on wresdtling there, I was one of the doormen working at the club, and was surprised to see Ian arrive. He wrestled Shirley Crabtree, and was taking a hammering, when he hit Shirley with a number of hard low blows, and got disqualified. He worked at the Candy Box a late night drinking club off of Regent street for people who worked in the entertainment business, along with former pro boxer/wrestler Basil Couloulis, and former heavyweight boxer big Andy Pompey. Me and my Brother Dave first met him when he worked at the Turkish Baths in Old Jermyn street, where he would give massages to rich business men, we were training for boxing at the time. He was offered a lot of film work, the Time Bandits, the most remembered, he suddenly walks out of the water with a largeboat on top of his head. He lived with his Mother at Sidcup, Kent, and every morning when he finished at the Candy Box he would cross the road and go into a cafe that was just opening, and order six very large sandwiches, double, double deckers...and then drive home to bed. He always came to the wrestlers reunion, and the dinners that Bill Bridges used to host. He had many nicknames....Guy was one, after Guy the Giorilla at London Zoo, Kojak was another........he was also used as muscle when Billy Hill (London`s most famous gangster) was going to meetings, as was Shirley Crabtree, and Mal Kirk....... He had a great sense of humour, was good company, and was known by everyone......... REST IN PEACE MY FRIEND...........Mike Hallinan.

Please find enclosed photo of Gustl Kaiser taken in 1935 at Nuremberg, Germany.

I have just found the photo I mentioned of Leon Pinetzski at the German Tournament, standing behind him is Gustl Kaiser the world famous wrestler, and promoter, all the wrestlers taking part had to stand and give the Nazi salute at the start of proceedings. Karl Reginsky always used to give the Nazi salute after entering the ring, wearing his dressing gown with a swastika on the back, to drive home the fact that he was the villain, which was a great publicity stunt which worked very well. Best for now Mike.....

And now the inside pages of the above programme......... Best Mike....

Great Adrian........are the matches the same on your programme, I have a lot of these programmes with the promoters distinct markings......must get some out to compare, how the other half live.......ha, ha, ha....... Best Mike...

PART 2

Sherry Vs Krauser - Jack Atherton Vs Guy Falla - Garnon Vs Roy Steele -George Clark Vs Anaconda - Jim Burnett Vs Van Dutz.

Leon Pinetzski wrestled for Relwyskow Snr on Friday 10th December 1937 at Olympia, Bradford. He was billed as King Kong, and the Ape Man. Best Mike.......................

Hi Adrian ; Once again you pull it out of the bag, your programme seems to be a very special one, the one I have has no write up inside, just the four matches.....I must try and find it. Best Mike....................

Thanks Ron...................for those who have never seen Assirati at his best please find enclosed photo taken from the October 1937 Health & Strength magazine, when he was 29yrs young, and challenging the World. Best Mike.....

Leon Pinetzski (Part 3)

Leon Pinetzski (Part 2) I think I have run out of space........so I will try to add the other photos mentioned. Best for now Mike.....

In my haste to answer your mystery wrestler I named him as Leon Pinetzki, known as the ape man, which is correct, Assirati beat his Brother Harry at the Berlin Tournament in 1952, as well as the giant Kurt Zehe. I have a lot of German Tournament photos around 1936 showing Leon and other German wrestlers doing the Nazi salute. I hope that clarifies my info,

Hi Adrian ; Great poster, Harringay was a 7,000 seater, used for large exhibitions etc.....the Golden Arrow was Lou Revelle bodybuilder/gym owner/magazine publisher/author/ and wrestler. The match took place on April fool`s day 1950, and Assirati demanded a large fee, plus a large percentage of the gate, as he did not trust Oakley (he called him a fraud and a conman) he put his friend Angelo Papini who was supposed to work on the bill, on the main entrance to count how many people came in, and then to accompany the cashier to the office where the takings were counted, and the total amount announced. Assirati had beaten Cadier about six times in tournaments on the continent before this match. Cadier was Oakleys golden boy, good looking, muscular, and a former Olympic champion, he wanted Assirati to put him over, make him look good, so he could use him on future Harringay tournaments. But as Assirati didn`t like Oakley he decided to give Cadier a good beating by slapping him from one side of the ring to the other, to show the local London crowd that he was not in his class. After the match Oakley was furious with Assirati and they never worked together again. The story was told to me by Angelo Papini when I interviewed him at his house. I have now moved to Kings Lynn, Norfolk so come and see me when your free. Best for now Mike..................