Newspaper Clippings And Memorabilia

Bruiser vs. Karras

From a UPI shot, you can see the goose egg on his head from the pool cue.

 

Indianapolis Clippings 1963/64,featuring the end of the Barnett Era and the Start of the WWA

This card marks Bruiser's last appearance for Barnett 1/28. Dick went on to get booked in LA. Reportedly this was over Barnett's booking fee of 10%.

This show also marked Moose Cholak's debut in Indianapolis, down from working the doldrums of Jack Pfefer's Chicago.

Wilbur worked for Barnett until no showing a 2/4/64 card.

This ad announces Bruiser and Wilbur being stripped of the AWA title and the tournament organized to replace them.No attempt was made to kayfabe.

Ad announcing the first WWA Indianapolis card, again with kayfabe thrown to the wind.

These three clippings show the AWA and WWA going head to head on 9/11/64 with poor results for both groups reported.

WWA announces their 9/18/64 card which would run against Barnett.

The 9/18/64 WWA card was canceled, with Barnett running his last card on that date.

This group shows the cards for the last two Barnett shows.The WWA advertised it's 1st TV card on 9/26/64.

 

 

Chain Gang Shooting Articles From the Racine Paper Plus Some Milwaukee Clippings

 

The First Expo Center Event, June 2nd 1972

Program from the event.

Lineup sheet.Click to enlarge, then turn it over, and Paul Christy's autograph is still on it.Try it!

Newspaper ad from the show that started the 72-74 wrestling boom in Indiana.

And the results are......

This ad has Clem Turner vs. Johnny Kace, which did not happen that night.

This was the follow up rematch which jam packed the place.

Writeup about the "traffic jam" caused by the rematch, partly due to the CIB's incompetence. CIB does not stand for Crooked Idiot Bastards, does it?

Sammy on a pre bout promo with Clem Turner, who did not appear.

The old WFBM camera crew. WFBM is now WRTV after being purchase by McGraw-Hill in 72.

Sam and his darn tougue!!

Inside the WFBM mobile truck. Everything is so streamline these days.

Sam and floor director, who's name escapes me.

Sam and local talk show host Jim Gerard, who worked for WFBM.Old timers still refer to wrestling as "Channel 4 wrestling" though.

I think I'm one of those kids. I can't tell because of the hair, I had some back then.Was this geared to kids?hmmmmmmmm

The Grauates, Mark Manson,Angelo Poffo and Kenny Dillinger. Wonder where Lanny Poffo got the Genius idea from?

Art Thomas and Wilbur Snyder

Ang and WIlbur must have worked each other hundreds of times.

"A kick to the heart!"

One of my favorite managers, Murderous Mark Manson.I loved it when stabbed guys with the "book of knowledge". You don't have that subtlety today.

Mark doing an interview as the bout progressed.

Wilbur snatched Manson in an Abdominal Stretch on the ring apron and was counted out. Oops!

Bobby Heenan as his man Raschke is on his way to regaining the WWA belt from Billy Red Cloud.He won it the next night over Art Thomas,too.

There's the slam bang main event, Bruiser and Crusher vs. the Blackjacks, with Dick and Reg actually working a hold for the first fall.

WFBM-TV logo from the 50's/60's.

 

 

Bruiser vs. the Sheik 8/31/74 Olympia Stadium Detroit

Bruiser vs Sheik!!

Sheik enters the ring with the US belt.

Sheik using said belt for a weapon.

Bruiser retaliates!

Sheik comes back!

Bruiser brings the wily arab to his knees!

Sheik absorbs the punishment and dishes more of his own!

By this time,both men are bleeding only a few minutes into the "war".

Both men battling for advantage.

The dread camel clutch!

Bruiser escapes and both men end up out of the ring.

Bruiser rams Sheik into the ring post.

Sheik grabs a ringside chair to use against his foe.

Bruiser retaliates with a chair of his own!Notice Dick stepping on Sheik's foot!Lucky he didn't break an ankle with those pointy toes.

The action so wild even the ref is injured.

Window card for this "Match of the Century".

Program from the Olympia show.

Writeup on the night's showdown.

The lineup with winners marked.

Sheik's tv coverage from that period.

 

 

Two tickets from Windsor TV wrestling 10/13/60

 

 

Ok, let's play an edition of "How Would You Book This?" You've got the NWA champ, the AWA champ, the WWA champion, along with the WWA tag team champions, etc. The date was January 15th, 1966.Now, looking at this card ,how would YOU book this thing? Discuss it over here.

 

Toward the end of 1963, Bruiser and Snyder had been Barnett and Estes tag team champions, regaining them from Alaskan York and Cyclone Negro on 12/10/63.The following week, Snyder received a shot at AWA champ Karl Gotch, which he won when Gotch was unable to continue, and Wilbur refused the strap. Dick was inconspicuous by his absence. On the January 1st, 1964 show, Wilbur and Dick retained their AWA tag belts over the Miller brothers. Their last show together for the AWA office was on January 28th, with Dick taking on the Alaskan, and Snyder taking on Cyclone Negro, unmasking him in the process. Wilbur was booked for the following week, 2/4/64, but didn't appear, Rudy Kay taking his place. Estes announced in March that since Snyder and Bruiser had gone into the promotional end of the game, they were stripped of the tag belts, and a 9 team tourney was staged 3/17/64, which was won by the Gallaghers. In a bit of good booking, Bruiser and Snyder booked themselves against the Millers in a continuation of their previous bout.

First Indianapolis WWA Shows 1964

 Results of the 4/25/64 show are here. 

1.Clip announcing Bruiser and Snyder going into business, stripping them of the AWA tag belts.

2.First Southside Armory show in Indianapolis for the WWA.

3.Newspaper writeup for the 1st show.

4.May 9th rematch for the Millers.

5.May 9th writeup.

6.Results for May 9th.

7.Pic from the local paper showing Bruiser/Snyder with Kroger grocery chain rep.Kroger helped sponsor this card.

8. Pic of Dick with Blassie's WWA belt from the Indianapolis Times.

9.Program from the show openly showing L(ouise) Afflis as promoter.

10. Lineup Sheet From the 5/29/64 show with Kroger ads.

11.Ultra rare flyer from the show.

12.Newspaper ad for the 5/29/64 show.

13.Results list a disappointing 5,000 turnout for this event, the night before the Indianapolis 500, which may have hurt attendance.

14.Announcement for next show at the Southside Armory.

Finally, the results from 4/25/64!
   

Second WTTV Wrestling Broadcast 1956

(From the pages of Wrestling Life 1/57)

Art Roberts, announcer for the first TV wrestling broadcasts from WTTV channel 4.

Scene from the balcony of the Tyndall Armory in November 1956.

Wrestling Life writeup about the new local show.

WTTV Logo.

Top see the old Bluff Road WTTV Channel 4 building today, click here.

Copyright 2009 by Chris Parsons

06/19/2010 10:48 PM