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The most glamorous of wrestling promoters and probably the only one with qualifications in shorthand and typing. In the case of Kathleen Look it was a case of beauty, brains and power. Her name was often associated with that of Atholl Oakeley, who she described as her Technical Adviser. Oakeley initially employed her and brought her into the wrestling business to become promoter at Manchester’s Belle Vue in 1934. Whatever the long term business relationship between the two Kathleen seemed to come into her own and work more independently from Oakeley. Ron Historyo: “It may well be accurate to call her a breath of fresh air. More creativity, panache and strategic planning were evident. As far as matchmaking at Belle Vue goes Doug Clark was matched four times with Jack Sherry. I don’t think Clark would have accepted Oakeley organising this. Miss Look after gaining some experience would have been capable of bringing over international stars on contracts.“
As Britain’s first female promoter Kathleen certainly caught the attention of Britain’s national press. In July, 1935, they reported that Kathleen was promoting in London, Manchester and Liverpool. More towns and cities around the country followed. A newspaper article in 1936 stated that Kathleen Look promoted four wrestling shows each week.
Her Belle Vue Promotions featured international stars and regular championship contests, with the biggest names of them all, including world champion Jack Sherry, The Angel Maurice Tillett, Douglas Clark and Karl Pojello. .In 1934 Kathleen Look promoted a titanic struggle at Belle Vue, a British heavyweight championship match between two claimants, Douglas Clark and Bulldog Bill Garnon. Billed as challenger by Kathleen Look it was Clark that emerged victor by two falls to nil.
Kathleen stopped promoting in 1939. In the 1939 Census she stated her occupation as Private Secretary to a Sportswear Company, This was not a complete break with Belle Vue as she returned to work for the company in 1941, at the request of the new Managing Director, Eric Spence, whom she married in 1942.
When she was widowed in 1947 she was appointed Personnel Manageress for Billy Butlin. In June 1949 she was appointed publicity manager for Butlin’s hotel in Bermuda. She returned to England to care for her sick mother. A sad conclusion to the story as in 1952 Kathleen Look was jailed for twelve month for embezzling more than £2,000 from her employer, a doctor in Hampstead, whilst working as a bookkeeper.
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