Ron Historyo
Gargantua (Jim Moran).
I was amazed that I found him as far back as 1961. A Yorkshireman ex boxer and it looks like pushed towards wrestling by the Crabtree’s. It’s Jack Taylor Promotion featuring what must have been a very raw Giant on with Shirley. In 1965 used again just as Jim Moran on a bill pulling in the rugby fraternity with Mal Kirk and Don Vines. These guys must have been very green back then.
There is footage of Moran, very tame with Mike Marino and on with Tibor with some anger.
Clearly, he looks to have been a difficult man to develop as a wrestler. My theory is that maybe Riley and Atherton had a crack at doing something with him, shown near the end of 1967 in with Billy Joyce as a masked man of world fame. Well that went well, because he was immediately unmasked. I track him until 1977.
I honestly believe if you stood this guy face to face with Haystacks, you would see them eye to eye. The guys billed six four /six five were probably all six four, but any of them in with Gargantua looked 3 inches smaller. I saw him beat Crabtree at Belle Vue, a crippling single leg Boston, with Shirley unable to continue. It might have been a DQ for not breaking the hold.
If you stood near him, you would understand the term Man Mountain. Huge man.
Today, watching YouTube, the Forearm smash’s were so soft and in slow motion with a foot stamp for sound effects. The suspension hold, you can see the opponent gripping well with the knees. Very easy to spot now.
But a true giant is always a good selling point. I did goggle at his size.
SaxonWolf
I’ve said it before, Ron, Big Jim was a genuine 6ft 7, and probably closer to 6ft 8 in shoes.
When he worked on the door at “Josephine’s” nightclub, in Sheffield, he appeared to tower over my pal, who was 6ft 5.
He did some debt collecting work in Leeds.
If this link works, it should take you to a picture of Big Jim, with Jim Breaks, at the Windmill Club in Leeds.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/BritishWrestlingRemembered/posts/27913829214895056
Anglo Italian
And as I too have mentioned, I was also up close to Gargantua and, with my black felt tipped pen – hi tec and expensive at the time – I secured what I think is my only signed poster. Thank heavens for the autograph to tell me I was there, I remember nothing about the evening but was probably excited to see Mick McMichael. I saw Gargantua several times. My memory would be: not less than 6’8″. Maybe he borrowed McManus’s high heels?
Hack
A good early find there Ron. I can’t see anything earlier. Two shows in the weekend for Leicester fans, lucky them. Certainly looks a bit of a Gargantua – Crabtree link. I saw him in with Steve Logan and Leon Arras, neither offering much to gauge his height or ability. In with more suitable opponents his wrestling ability was shown to be limited, but always an attraction due to his height. Primo Carnera had been over here in 1960, so maybe this was a case of the independents looking for someone with the same appeal. Years ago we destroyed the long held myth that Shirley Crabtree had retired in the 1960s, and Ron finds more examples of him here in 1961 and 1965.
That’s a pretty dire bill Anglo. Only Tibor would have excited me for the same reason McMichael excited Anglo Italian.
Anglo Italian
Dreadful presentation. Two “Northern Stars.” With McManus’s photo bigger than Jim’s, casual punters would have had no chance to know there was a giant on the bill, Gargantua not exactly being an everyday word.
Romany Riley at about 17 stones, all action, probably having to go down to Catweazle.
Never have I been so happy not to remember an evening.
Ron Historyo
On the point about Shirley Crabtree in the 60’s I am fairly sure I can find a bill for every year, and in reality he was at times, part time. He did life Guard work at Blackpool.
There would always have been offers for him to earn a few extra quid.
I will have a look and see what I can come up with.
SaxonWolf
The Crabtree Brothers also ran their own nightclub, or clubs, one of which was called Big Daddies, years before Shirley had the name, so he wouldn’t be wrestling every night as he was “front of house” and made sure any acts who played there were looked after.
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