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Whilst it wouldn’t be unreasonable to expect a wrestler to try and scare an opponent Cowboy Jack Cassidy had a tendency to scare the living daylights out of the fans. As the Master of Ceremonies announced his name the cowboy jacketed, white stetson wearing heavyweight would, without warning, draw two revolvers from his holster and fire them into the air. Ron Historyo remembers the occasions well, “The guns were awesome, so loud and smoke too, a real shock the first time.” These proceedings were usually followed by a pretty rough bout in which the heavyweight rule bender would enrage fans with his dastardly deeds.
A true pro, Jack Cassidy lived the part, and could often be seen around the town of that night’s show dressed in full cowboy attire drumming up business. We have read reports of him even riding around town on horseback, though we have it on good authority that Jack was less than confident in the company of his four legged partner.
Jack, whose home was more Manchester than the Calgary from which he was billed, was a protégé of Jim Hussey. His birth name was Jack Thompson (later changed to Cassidy) and in 1968 the People newspaper rather uncharitably revealed this cowboy didn’t live on a ranch but in a council house in Didsbury, Manchester. Dwight J Ingleberg, a frequent opponent, recalled, “I remember going to his house in Manchester. It was a council house. When I was walking down one street, still looking for his house, I saw a wrestling ring packed up on a trailer and shackled to a lamp post with a chain and lock.”
We have been unable to pinpoint just when Jack turned professional but our best guess would be mid 1950s, by which time he would be in his thirties. We have found him working for Joint Promotions in 1958 against wrestlers that included Alan Garfield, Ray Hunter and Josef Zaranoff. In the twenty years that followed he was a prolific worker, occasionally active into the 1980s. He worked almost always on the independent circuit which gave him greater freedom, but with the very occasional incursion into Joint Promotions territory.
Many a young wrestler owes his career to Jack who was one of the top promoters in Manchester and the north. Most of his shows were in northern clubs with his prime venue being the Houldsworth Hall in Manchester. Eddie Rose considers Jack was “The Godfather” of Manchester wrestling, “Cassidy was a prolific promoter on the North West club scene: I once did three shows on the same night for him, all within about 20 minutes of my home.”
Jack Cassidy was known for being a supporter of good causes and put on many shows for charity or dedicated to individuals in need. One newspaper reported that he had raised over £100,000 for charitable causes, and this was a good ten years before his charitable work ceased.
Ron Historyo discovered that Jack promoted the last ever wrestling show at Belle Vue in Manchester. It was 1984, long after the Kings Hall had closed, and was held in the Cumberland Suite in aid of Manchester Children’s Hospital.
Cowboy Jack’s niece also has fond memories, “Uncle Jimmy was married to my Auntie Frances (nee Bristow) who sadly died of Cancer. I remember seeing Jimmy shopping in Leo’s supermarket on Gorton Precinct and him bending down to let me look at his ‘Cauliflower ears’ which were bloody big.”
Jack and his first wife, Frances, bestowed upon the wrestling world a quartet of wrestling daughters – Hellcat Haggerty, Lolita Loren, Patti McGoohan and Karina.
After more than twenty years in the business Jack went into pub management and took charge of the Gorton Brook Hotel in Gorton, Manchester.
At Jack’s funeral the Cowboy’s theme song was played, the ‘Lone Ranger’ tune, with everyone clapping along. One final comment from another colleague, Paul Mitchell, “Cassidy hated the Joint set up, I never quite knew why but I believe he was too much the loose cannon, I went round city the centre pubs with him and boy did he know some interesting characters, Good old Jack treated us well and paid good money. The Openshaw cowboy who wasn’t keen on horses.”
Page added 14/01/2024
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