Ron Historyo
A real challenge with Adrian Street.
It’s pretty clear he went into Dale Martins in 1961, but had started in mid 1957 as a very young guy. His initial ring name was to be Kid Tarzan Jonathan, but my challenge is, Find me a bill with that name on it. Adrian gets a run out with Lincoln/Alexander early in 61 and they settle for Kid Jonathan. I think that’s him alright and what a bill to have. Later that year I pick him up with Joint at Hinckley.
Like any wrestler he paid his dues. A couple of snips from matches with McManus and Pallo.
That Finsbury bill also has Bobby Barnes on it and in 1962 I show a match at Ashford where they come up against one another.
Maybe 1967 as The Hells Angels can be beaten, but that’s what I can find. Not as early as some tag combinations for sure.
I show Adrian at the end of his UK stint in 1981. He’s over 40 years old when he goes to America.
For me The Hells Angels was his best Incarnation and that window ideal for me to enjoy watching him.
But what of those missing years that most pro’s seem to skim over.
I might be shot down on this one as I kind of expect Adrian to be in the South, but I have two close together Jack Taylor bills that have part of the name we are looking for.
What do you think. Is this young Adrian Street.???
Just looked at those Young Tarzan bills and I have huge doubts now as both opponents look to be heavyweights.
Hack
What a great collection Ron bookending Adrian’s career. Yes it would be great to find a Kid Tarzan Jonathan but I think the chances are slim. BUt then you’ve risen to greater challenges.
Anglo Italian
I wouldn’t have thought the 16 or 17 year old would have been travelling so far afield at that time. You’d be looking for chaperones on the bill, too.
Hack
If Anglo Italian is talking about Coalville and Boston he has a point. All except Edwards are locals who regularly worked for Taylor so my guess would be that Tarzan was one of them.
Ron Historyo
Never had it been so hard to find a bill representing the first three and a half years of a wrestlers career. There are halls that advertised only the main bout, the undercard, you took your chance on. It’s possible Adrian was on a small handful of venues very regular but just went under the radar.
Another comment is that once Lincoln grabbed him for that show in January 1961, Joints got a nudge to reel him in quickly. During 61 he was mentioned in some reports as a bit special. Similar, I guess to the almost immediate spotting of Dynamite Kid in the 70’s.
The challenge is there, not one bill with Kid Tarzan Jonathan. Elusive
The Ost
This is all the info I have on the early show. I don’t know if there’s any further detail or ephemera in Adrian’s books about it.
August 8th, 1957 – London, England
[Addington Hotel]
Kid Tarzan Jonathan (aka Adrian Street, debut) vs Geoff Moran
Tony Scarlo vs Tony Pirelli
Promoter: Johnny Childs
I suspect, if this show did take place, the whole venture was short lived.
I noticed in Coalville, on March 6, 1958 Ray has an “Al Tarzan” listed on the bill. Perhaps you can find that one Ron.
Earliest Kid Jonathan I have after 1957 is this one:
March 10th, 1960 – Leyton, England
Bula v Streiger;
Kidd v Ken Joyce;
Capelli v Hughes;
Kid Johnathan (Adrian Street) v P.Kelly
Next one I have is this:
June 7th, 1960 – Hastings, England
Kumali bt Avi Averoff;
Trood 1-1 Hughes;
Ron Harrison bt Mustafa Bey-DISQ
Kid Johnathan (Adrian Street) stpd Young Sullivan
Then your Finsbury Park bill above.
Ron Historyo
Thanks Osty, Al Tarzo makes sense, familiar name.
I have given up on the Jack Taylor bills.
Couple of good contributions in there, he was so scarce.
Don’t believe he could have been wrestling anything like nightly on the evidence.
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