Wrestling Heritage welcomes memories, further information and corrections.
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GALASHIELS Town Hall
GALASHIELS Volunteer Hall
GILLINGHAM Padgett Hall
GIRVAN Picture House
GLASGOW Caley Stadium
GLASGOW Govan Town Hall
GLASGOW Govan Summertown Hall
GLASGOW Kelvin Hall
GLASGOW Queens Theatre
GLASGOW Springburn Public Hall
GLASGOW St Mungo Halls
GLENGARNOCK New Inn
GLOSSOP Victoria Hall
GLOUCESTER Baths Hall
GLOUCESTER Hatherley Manor Hotel
GLOUCESTER Leisure Centre
GLOUCESTER Public Hall
GOOLE Drill Hall
GOOLE Market Hall
GOOLE Plaza
GOOLE Terrotorial Sports Club
GOOLE Tower Cinema
GRANTHAM Barracks
GRANTHAM BMARC Social Hall
GRANTHAM Drill Hall
GRANTHAM London Road Cricket Ground
GRANTHAM Westgate Hall
GRAVESEND Co-Op Hall
GRAVESEND Fort Gardens
GRAVESEND Woodville Hall
GRAYS Civic Centre
GREAT YARMOUTH Hippodrome
GREAT YARMOUTH Marina Open Air Theatre
Suffolkpunch24: “When I started watching the wrestling. They had two venues In Great Yarmouth. One was The Hippodrome,the other was the Skating Rink next to the Wellington Pier. The latter was outside. Even though the shows ran from June to early September,there were still downpours of rain! It must have been cold as it was the first time that I saw Mick McManus wearing a leotard. He took on and was defeated by Tony St. Clair. Other memorable bouts there that I saw were Mighty John Quinn against Wayne Bridges,that was a double count out. The Mississippi Mauler against Dalibar Singh,Big Jim Harris won that one. Marty Jones against Fit Finley,Marty won by a countout and Giant Haystacks against Steve McHoy, Steve won by disqualification.”
GREAT YARMOUTH Vauxhall Caravan Centre
GREENOCK Town Hall
GRETNA Prize Cinema
GRIMSBY Drill Hall
GRIMSBY Gaiety Dance Hall
GUILDFORD Civic Hall
GUILDFORD Plaza Ballroom
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HADDINGTON Corn Exchange
HADLEIGH Kingsway Theatre
HALESOWEN Picture House
HALIFAX Civic Theatre
HALIFAX Drill Hall
HALIFAX Victoria Hall
HAMILTON Douglas Park
HAMILTON Town Hall
HANLEY Ideal Skating Rink
Raven: “Many years ago, it must have been in the 40s, the Ideal Skating Rink was the predecessor of the Victoria Hall as the main wrestling venue in Stoke-on-Trent. During a bitterly contested feud between The Red Mask and the Blue Mask which had gone on for ages without spectator intererest flagging, it was decided that that would wrestle every consecutive night until there was a clear cut winner.It started on a Monday night and ended on the Friday with the Red Mask winning and the Blue Mask unmasking and revealing himself as Bob Silcock.”
HANLEY Theatre Royal
HANLEY Victoria Hall
Tony Heath: “I for one can always remember the fierce rivalry with Bobby Ryan who proudly held on to his European belt whilst Marty held on to his British Light Heavywejght belt back in the early 80’s; and Stan Rylands MC trying to bring order to the house when the crowd were heckling Marty!!! For myself like many local fans, we were fiercely partisan, Saturday Nights at the Vic were the nights that were the pinnacle of the week; the highlight; fuelled by copious amounts of Bass and Worthington E; we really loved our Wrestling; it was always well reported in our local paper Evening Sentinel; not a week went by that you couldn’t read about our local hero Geoff; known to many as Count Bartelli; in fact he was a giant to me; he was also a keen local cyclist for Crewe Clarion Cycling club, and I could always remember him encouraging me to ‘dig in’ and ‘try harder’ in my cycle sport, even though I was based in a Cycling Club 15 miles away from his base camp!!!!”
Eddie Rose: A great venue. I worked there a couple of times for Wrytons, once with Pete Lindberg versus the Royals in a tag match. Over the years there were some marvellous bouts featured at this hall and I would have loved to have seen them.
Peter Bettany: I was there on Feb 5th when Bartelli partnered Nagasaki against Tibor Szakacs & Henri Pierlot (substituting for Dennis Mitchell). If I recall correctly, Kendo continually refused to tag and enter the ring leaving Bartelli to do the lion’s share of the wrestling. Bartelli & Kendo won the bout by 2 falls to 1. I was also there on May 7th for the return match. The bout was scheduled for 8 rounds but was extended to 10. The match ended in a draw. Bartelli gaining a submission and Kendo a fall. On the same bill, Bill Robinson defeated John Lees by 2 subs to 1.
HARROGATE Royal Hall
HARTLEPOOL Borough Hall
HARTLEPOOL Engineers Club
HARTLEPOOL Festival Hall
HARTLEPOOL Ice Rink
HASLINGDEN Town Hall
HASTINGS Football Ground
Anglo Italian: “Nagasaki v Kincaid for me was the open-air treat at Hastings Football Ground, with a pre-tv Haystacks and the original Wild Man of Borneo on the undercard.”
HASTINGS Olympia Dance Hall
HASTINGS Pier Pavilion
HASTINGS White Rock Pavilion
Anglo Italian: “A plush Dress Circle, and an on-stage ring providing The Big Drop audience-side. Nicely uniformed usherettes and stylish bars making for an up-market evening out. I never did work out over all those years whether the dressing rooms were connected round the back. Mick McManus always came out of the left hand side so that was obviously the better option. My most abiding White Rock Pavilion memory will always be Pat Roach versus Kendo Nagasaki. Roach holding Nagasaki in the body slam position whilst standing astride the middle ropes with The Big Drop directly and dangerously beneath them The spectacle lasted for over five minutes, you could just see that the pair had got themselves literally into a corner and couldn’t find a safe and believable way out. It was soooooooo exciting. Another touch of glamour was Prince McBride playing the whirlitzer before the first bout and during the interval.”
HASTINGS ST LEONARDS New Palace Pier Pavilion
HAVERHILL Town Hall
HAWICK Town Hall
HEDNESFORD Hednesford Hills Stadium
HELENSBURGH Town Hall
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD Pavilion
HEMSBY Pontins
HEREFORD Kemble Theatre
HERNE BAY Kings Hall
HERNE BAY Pier Pavilion
HERTFORD Castle Hall
HERTFORD Corn Exchange
HIGH WYCOMBE Town Hall
HINCKLEY Leisure Centre
HINCKLEY St Georges Hall
HINDLEY Monaco Ballroom
HODDESDEN Broxbourne Civic Hall
HOPTON ON SEA Holiday Camp
HORNCHURCH Sports Centre
HORNSEA Floral Hall
HORSHAM Capitol Theatre
HOVE King Alfred Sports Centre
HOVE Town Hall
HOYLAND Sports Centre
HUDDERSFIELD Cambridge Road Baths
HUDDERSFIELD Drill Hall
HUDDERSFIELD Empress Ballroom
HUDDERSFIELD Parochial Hall, Fitzwilliam St
HUDDERSFIELD Sports Centre
HUDDERSFIELD St Patricks Hall
HUDDERSFIELD Theatre Royal
HUDDERSFIELD Town Hall
HUDDERSFIELD Victoria Hall
HULL Alexandra Theatre
HULL Assembly Rooms, Jarrratt St
HULL Madeley Street Baths
HULL Dance Hall, White City
HULL Langham Hall
HULL T&T Rink, White City
HULL Tiffanys
HULL Wenlock Barracks
HULL White City Stadium
HUNTLY Town Hall
HYDE Town Hall
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ILFRACOMBE Top of the Town
ILFRACOMBE Alexandra Theatre
ILKLEY Kings Hall
INVERGORDON Town Hall
INVERNESS Bught Park
INVERNESS Empire Theatre
INVERNESS Rose Streer Hall
Djmask: “After the Empire Theatre closed wrestling eventually migrated to the Rose Street Hall which is where I saw my first live wrestling in the mid 1970’s. Wrestlers that I remember seeing their were ‘The Borg’ Twins in a fanatastic tag match, Wild Man of Borneo, Ace Allcard, Alan Miquet (who in hindsight I suspect reappeared later as Kung Fu), Orig Williams, The Outlaw (or was it Dr Death I can’t remember) and a local wrestler called Jim Hannah who I can find no mention of on the site, but my favourite was Les Kellett. Generally there was always either a supporting bout of Ladies Wrestling or a Tag contest with Midget wrestlers.”
INVERNESS Town Hall
INVERURIE Railway Hall
INVERURIE Town Hall
IRVINE Drill Hall
IRVINE Magnum Centre
IPSWICH Sports Ground
IPSWICH Pavilion Sports Arena
IPSWICH St Matthew Baths
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JAYWICK Metro Club
JEDBURGH Town Hall
K
KEIGHLEY Baths Hall
KEIGHLEY Drill Hall
KEIGHLEY Municipal Hall
KEIGHLEY Victoria Leisure Centre
KELSO Town Hall
KENDAL Market Hall
KENDAL South Lakeland Leisure Centre
KENDAL Town Hall
KETTERING Drill Hall
KETTERING Windmill Club
Simon Nelson: “My Mum and step Father managed the Windmill Club in Kettering in the early 70s which was a venue used for top wrestling in it’s day. I was around 9 years old, but I use to come home from school to see my mum making tea and sandwiches to some of the top stars such as Mike McManus, Jackie Pallo, who were both lovely men, Mike Marino and many more.”
KIDDERMINSTER Aggborough Sports Ground
KIDDERMINSTER Baths Hall
KIDDERMINSTER Town Hall
KILMARNOCK Grand Hall
KINGS LYNN Corn Exchange
KINGS LYNN Theatre Royal
KIRKBY IN ASHFIELD Festival Hall
KIRKBY IN ASHFIELD Public Hall
KIRKCALDY Adam Smith Hall
KIRKCALDY Ice Rink
KIRKCALDY Stark’s Park
KIRKCALDY Town Hall
KIRKLAND Memorial Hall
KNUTSFORD Civic Hall
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LANCASTER Baths
LANCHESTER (Co Durham) Newhouses Farm
LARGS Barrfields Pavilion
LAXEY, ISLE OF MAN Laxey Glen Gardens
LEAMINGTON SPA Avon Hall
LEAMINGTON SPA Cinema
LEAMINGTON SPA Royal Spa Centre
David Mantell: “Home of Big Daddy & Young David vs Mick McManus & Steve Logan and Klondyke Kate’s British Ladies title win on BB” over Nicky Monroe after Mitzi retired.”
LEDBURY The Park
LEEDS Armley Baths
LEEDS Armley Leisure Centre
LEEDS Belle Isle WMC
LEEDS Big Top, Woodhouse Moor
LEEDS Brunswick Stadium
LEEDS Canning St WMC
LEEDS Carlton WMC
LEEDS Cookridge Street Baths
LEEDS East Hunslet Labour Club
LEEDS Fairfield Recreational Club
LEEDS Garforth WMC
LEEDS Greyhound Track, Elland Rd
LEEDS Morley Town Hall
LEEDS National Sporting Club
LEEDS Raynville Social Club
LEEDS Rothwell Leisure Centre
LEEDS Swillington Miners Welfare Club
LEEDS Rothwell Sports Club
LEEDS Town Hall
LEICESTER Cossington St Baths
LEICESTER De Montfort Hall
LEICESTER Granby Halls
LEICESTER Spence Street Baths
LEIGH Co-Op Hall
LEISTON Sports Centre
LEOMINSTER Clifton Theatre
LEWES Town Hall
LEYLAND Church Road Fairground
LICHFIELD Leisure Centre
LINCOLN Corporation Bus Garage
LINCOLN Drill Hall
LINCOLN Elton Scott’s Yard
LINCOLN Market Hall
LINCOLN Robinson’s Field
LINCOLN Rollerdrome
LISBURN New Top Hat
LIVERPOOL Curzon Cinema
LIVERPOOL The Stadium
Frank Thomas: “Friday nights and the place packed to the rafters, I went there from 1972-1978, the excitement of seeing Billy two rivers, who turned out to be a major disappointment, Hans streiger(everybody’s favourite “German” and wasMax Crabtree took over, giant haystacks, Steve Logan mk1 Mike Marino etc.. and of course my all time favourite the great Albert “rocky” wall, a man you’d love on your side when the going got tough! It all started with my aunt, who brought me up from the age of 6, deciding she would like to have a home telephone installed. I went with her into Liverpool city centre, to the old g.p.o. (general post office) pre British telecom. At the top of the street was a magnificent building, which I grew to love, LIVERPOOL STADIUM. I remembered that my dad and friends of his sometimes attended the wrestling on Friday nights, and as today was Thursday, wrestling would be taking place the next night and I was determined to be there. My dad agreed to take me along. This was 1972, Billy Best was the promoter, and I can remember the bill. Barry Douglas v Judo Pete Roberts, Albert “Rocky” Wall, (who would go on to be my all time favourite) v Gwyn Davies, Les Kellett v Abe Ginsberg and a tag contest featuring The Saints, Roy & Tony StClair, and the Skinheads, Roy Paul & a gentleman well known and respected to Wrestling Heritage members, Eddie Rose. This started a love affair with wrestling, wrestlers and Liverpool Stadium which lasts to this day. Liverpool Stadium fell to the town planners in 1987, and was described by one colourful Liverpool sports figure as ‘The biggest sporting crime of the 20th century,’ a sentiment with which I enthusiastically concur.”
Bill Q: “My Grandad used to take me to The Liverpool Stadium every Friday night in the late 60’s early 70’s. I would collect autographs, pictures and posters etc. Got to know a few of the wrestlers on the circuit, and became Shirley Crabtree’s ‘errand boy’. He would get me to go over to the concession stand and get him two steak and kidney pies and a cup of tea every time he was on. A lot of great memories came flooding back when I stumbled across this site.”
Eddie Rose: “Bill Best and later Brian Dixon and Liverpool Stadium was great (except for the Scousers in the audience) and I never got a good reception there. Tag bouts against the Barons, and Terry ONeill/Roy Paul with Pete Lindberg and later on, bouts against Count Bartelli had me marked as a villain to all the lovely, fair-minded fans!”
The 1978 Kid: “It was watching Brian Dixon’s shows (under the Wrestling Enterprises of Birkenhead banner) at Liverpool Stadium that got me hooked on wrestling. They were far more exciting than what could be shown on ITV. It was great seeing the continued careers of TV classics like Adrian Street, John Cortez and Tony Borg, watching the growth of young wrestlers like Dave Finlay and Chic Cullen and seeing one TV star after another joining the ranks of the Stadium wrestlers: Kung Fu, John Quinn, Tony St Clair etc…”
Masked Mummy: “I went to my first show in July 68 and have a list of every show till it closed Billy Best was the promoter in 68 The mc back then never used to get in the ring but stood by his table outside the ring It was only when Wrytons took over that stopped. I would say Wrytons took over in April 72 I got rid of my programmes years ago but Billy used the Mat Review while Wrytons had their own. Maxs 1st show at Lpool was 30/5/75 but the bills had been put together by Wrytons upto 20/6/75. When Max took the matchmaking over this was the show that both Haystacks & Shirley worked on. Brian’s 1st show was on17/6/77 & his last on 16/3/84 which had no shows from Quinn Bridges Mason & Tina Starr. Dixons first show 17/6/77 Haggetty 1-0 Mcgrath Haggetty subbed for Cortez Mitzi 2-1 Lolita Loren Kincaid bt Streiger disq Pallos/Mcgrath 2-1 Haggetty/Barron/Cortez The second show 1/7/77 was opened bu Palance v Waldo Palance won the bout which meant he subbed for Abe v Mummy Abe was switched to top the bill v Kellet which replaced the Starr v Cassidy match Conneely v Gilmour & Mitzi v Patti McGoohan made up the rest of the bill. Max ran his last show on 11/1/85 Hope this is of interest to you.”
Paul Mitchell: “The stadium was special superb to work in. In defence of the fag end of Wrytons shows, Martin was finding it hard to bring up wrestlers south of Stoke for various transitional reasons with joint. However Eric Wilson could wrestle some of Max’s exotically named replacements couldn’t but at least on paper is bill matter looked good. That’s one of the many reasons I admired Mike Marino top guy who would venture north.I take Franks point about samey bills but both Eric and Maurice Hunter were regular sub’s at Belle Vue and the stadium.”
Ron Historyo: “Best sold out in 1972 but seems to have bought back in and on 31st May 1974 the new advertising was Best Wryton. Reasons given at the time to the press were. Attendances had fallen from 3000-4000 to 700 and they were running at a loss. It was cited that there no longer was a Jack Pye , Ricky Starr or Billy two Rivers to pull em in. Dixon took over from Max Crabtree on 17th June 1977 from what I can see. The previous week 10th June was a Crabtree bill with Big Daddy. IMax came in in May 1975 but on behalf of Joint and it looks like the name Best Wryton was retained”
LIVERPOOL White City Stadium
LIVERPOOL Woodcutters Club
LLANELLY Regal Cinema
LLANELLY Ritz Ballroom
LLANRWST Corn Exchange
LOCHGELLY DeLuxe Cinema
LONDON, ACTON Town Hall
Ballymoss: “I only visited Acton Town Hall once and that was to witness Lord Bertie Topham, probably in the early 1960’s. It was an independent promotion and the only reason my father and I decided to attend was the presence of Lord Bertie.We were not disappointed in seeing a “heel” of the calibre of Alan Garfield overcome adversity and prevail,much to the annoyance of the majority of attendees. I have no idea why but I believe Lord Bertie only wrestled for the independents and hence no TV coverage. Sad, because together with his faithful valet Ponsonby, he would have been an instant hit with viewers.”
LONDON, BARKING Assembly Hall
LONDON, BATTERSEA Town Hall
LONDON, BAYSWATER Porchester Hall
LONDON, BECKENHAM Baths
LONDON, BERMONDEY Baths
LONDON, BETHNAL GREEN York Hall
LONDON, BEXLEY Bexley Heath Drill Hall
LONDON, BLACKFRIARS The Ring
LONDON, BRIXTON Astoria Cinema
LONDON, BRUCE GROVE Cinema
LONDON, BURNT OAK Essoldo Cinema
LONDON, BURNT OAK Savoy Cinema
LONDON, CAMBERWELL Baths Hall
Ballymoss: “Camberwell Baths in South London, now a leisure centre, was a typical Victorian structure, and was the location, for often curious Dale Martin promotions. This was because it appeared to provide employment, for wrestlers, and this was more than 50 years ago, who were even then well entrenched in the veteran stage.
I can recall names such as Bob Archer O’Brien, Jack Cunningham, Don Mendoza and Tony Mancelli, appearing in usually the first or fourth (last) of the staged contests. Charlie Fisher, who commenced his career in 1936, was a regular and a local “hero”, equally adept as a “blue eye” or heel. Ernie “Kiwi” Kingston, all 6ft 5ins of him, even billed in the headline main bout, tribute to his longevity no doubt, as he started wrestling in pre-war days, very skilful, but lacking in charisma. However, despite using names hardly guaranteed to attract “punters”, Camberwell was usually pretty full, and men of the calibre of “Dazzler” For Cornelius and Steve Logan, did put in an appearance.
Sometimes bouts went “off script” notably when Danny Lynch, after being disqualified, roughed up an exhausted Tony Mancelli, a confrontation which could be heard continuing in the dressing room. Even more so when the unpleasant Peter Rann gave the bare footed South African Jack Cunningham a very torrid time. No doubt thinking of better ways of spending a Saturday evening, Rann predictably went over the top against the hapless Cunningham. The superb Bobby Palmer acted as the regular MC with another local, Joe D’Orazio, equally proficient as referee. Still despite it’s lack of glamour Camberwell Baths had a good hearted and friendly atmosphere, and provided employment for senior wrestlers. One of my favourite “heels”, yet another local, “Sailor” Tug Holton was often on the bill, but very sadly I never saw him win. He sometimes lost 2-0 and was even defeated by Don Mendoza!”
LONDON, CAMDEN Bedford Theatre
LONDON, CAMDEN Palace Dance Hall
LONDON, CATFORD The Embassy
LONDON, CATFORD Town Hall
LONDON, CHARLTON The Stadium
LONDON, CHELSEA Palace Theatre
LONDON, CHELSEA Town Hall
LONDON, CHINGFORD Classic Cinema
LONDON, CLAPHAM Winter Gardens
LONDON, CROYDON Civic Hall
LONDON, CROYDON Eldon Fab Club
LONDON, CROYDON Fairfield Halls
Gareth Ratcliffe: “I remember visiting The Fairfield Halls in Croydon on a Tuesday night in the 1960S and 70S.There were many famous wrestling faces fighting ther then, McManus, Kellett, Kwango were regulars. In fact Johnny Kwango lived close by in Croydon,at that time. The place was always packed. A good time for Wrestling.”
Graham Brook: “The Fairfield Halls was a particularly exciting event as it meant having to take another train ride out of the centre of London and I used to get there quite early and have a bite to eat in the cafe there. There was both a hall and a theatre in the complex and I recall visiting on one holiday with my friend Geoff (still my best friend fifty years after our first meeting). I was enjoying a Welsh rarebit and noticed Richard Todd, who was appearing at the theatre in a touring murder mystery, sitting at the next table. I went over and said, “Excuse me, didn’t you used to be Richard Todd?” He looked at me benignly and said, “I like to think I still am.” The wrestling was superb with, if I recall correctly, Tibor Szakacs chopping his way to victory over “Sir” Alan Garfield, Jackie Pallo Jnr besting Alan Sarjeant and drawn verdicts for Brian Maxine versus Steve Logan and for Hells Angels over The Black Diamonds.”
Rasit Huseyin: “A wonderful venue for wrestling, after the Royal Albert Hall the best hall I visited. Had a nice cafe and restaraunt, and I particularly used to love the beef or chicken curry they always served up. As for the wrestling, the first time I went there was in late 1975, the bouts were Bobby Barnes beating Mick McMichael, Steve Logan drawing with Bert Royal, Brian Maxine beating Clive Myers, Mick McManus beating Catweazle, and Steve Veidor beating Bob Kirkwood. Other memorable bouts were a match between Marty Jones and Rollerball Rocco in 1981, a bout with violence in the X-certificate class, won by Jones. The bouts between the two were often tough, but this bout was just plain brutal, both men were bleeding at the end of the bout. Other bouts I remember were in 1987 when Fuji Yamada defeated Rocco for his World Heavy Middleweight title, in the summer of that year, Mike Flash Jordan temporarily ending Johnny Saint’s reign as World Lightweight champion, in a match full of fast and skillful wrestling. In 1988 I was there to see the fallout between Rocco and Nagasaki, and also in January 1989 a riotous contest between Nagasaki and Rocco which continued outside the ring and into the upper stalls of the hall, the match was abandoned and Nagasaki was banned from the Fairfield Halls for over a year for assaulting a member of their staff. In the summer of 1989 Danny Collins defeated Fit Finlay for his British Heavy-Middleweight title in sensational contest, despite blood pouring from a head wound, Collins battled on to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. In 1990, Marty Jones joined forces with Rollerball Rocco to take on Nagasaki and Blondie Barratt, this was Nagasaki’s first bout after a years ban from the venue. Nagasaki and Barratt won a dramatic bout, by one fall and a disqualification to Jones and Rocco’s one fall, when Rocco was disqualified for throwing a chair which inadvertantly hit the referee. To be honest, the list of great bouts I’ve seen at Croydon endless, mind you I’ve had a few not so happy moments there, in 1978 i was sick as a dog after eating three quarters of a box of Maltesers, when nobody else wanted to eat any. In the spring of 1984, which was a very warm one in London, some idiot switched on the heaters in the hall, it was like white heat and I saw a few people dropping like flies, and I almost passed out myself. A year later, during the intermission I fell head over heels down the staircase and landed on my backside, with everyone laughing at me! Thankfully I escaped unscathed and could see the funny side of it all these years later. And finally, in February 1990, the bout in which Fit Finlay defeated Tony St Clair for the British Heavyweight Title, the bout had finished at 11.00 pm. I had gone there by train after the car was out of action, and I had to sprint like a lunatic to East Croydon station to catch the last train to London, which I only just managed to do. My last appearance there was in the spring of 1996, by then I was disillusioned by the way wrestling was going, not to mention from 1992 onwards I watched the Fairfield Halls getting emptier and emptier by every passing show. On that last bill I attended the hall was barely hall full, which was a depressing sight. However, the good memories outweighed the bad, and I will cherish them forever.”
Mark: “It’s so sad to see now that it has been reduced to an ocassional Sunday afternoon show, when back in the late seventies (when I was a regular), it was packed each fortnight to capacity. In fact, when you entered the hall, the poster for the following show would already be up, and if Big Daddy was advertised, you had to buy your ticket in advance during the interval, otherwise you would not be guaranteed a seat.”
Duncan: “Oh the irony Mark. If Big Daddy had not been advertised they would probably be still packing them in now!”
LONDON, CROYDON Lido
LONDON, DAGENHAM Roundhouse
Alan Haines: “I recall going along to the Roundhouse, Dagenham in the early 60’s to watch wrestling which I remember was promoted by Paul Lincoln. I remember seeing Docker Don Steadman, Judo Al Hayes, Dr Death, Mike Marino, Jon Cortez, Quasimodo and Tiny Tim Callaghan. The place had such a low ceiling, when stood in the raised ring there was little room for much aerial action. I reckon it was about 9ft from ring to ceiling but perhaps my memory distorts this. My interest in The Roundhouse now is that I am writing an article about the Roundhouse as a diverse entertainment venue. When wrestling finished there it became a huge venue for many of the top bands in the country e.g. Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton etc. It also hosted bingo. Now, can you believe it, it’s a Church?”
LONDON, DEPTFORD Arena
LONDON, DEPTFORD Laurie Grove Baths
Ballymoss: “Paul Lincoln occasionally staged promotions at the Victorian Laurie Grove Baths, which now forms part of the campus at Goldsmith’s University. In the 1960’s Deptford was far from gentrified and a very tough working class district indeed. The wrestling at Laurie Grove was administered with typical Paul Lincoln panache and on my visit “Docker” Don Stedman was top of the bill and pitted against a European “blue eye”. Much to my amazement Don still played the “heel” but received backing from around 80% of the crowd. Resplendent in his Union Jack dressing gown Don Stedman easily prevailed and it was sad his career went downhill after Lincoln signed up with Joint Promotions. Also on the bill was Society Boy, who not surprisingly quickly earned the contempt of the mainly working class audience, and was dispatched by I believe, Bob Kirkwood. However, what made the evening was my first sighting of Jon Cortez, like Don Stedman, a local boy. He was absolutely brilliant- a wrestler who was just sheer class.”
LONDON, EALING Longhfield Hall (Ealing Public Baths)
LONDON, EAST HAM Baths
LONDON, EAST HAM Granada Cinema
Tom H: “In the early 1960’s I went to the East Ham Granada to see pop artists perform and these included, Roy Orbison and Dusty Springfield. In the late 1960’s I went to see the stars of wrestling. Paul Lincoln was the promoter and some of the wrestlers he booked in his independence days were on the bills, these included Judo Al Hayes, Ray Hunter, Eddie Capelli and Prince Kumali.
On one occasion Paul Lincoln wrestled himself, donning the mask and as Doctor Death drew with Tibor Szakacs. But to pull in the crowds at least one of the following wrestlers were on most, if not all of the bills, Mick McManus, Steve Logan, Jackie Pallo and Les Kellett.
Les Kellett and Mick McManus were both disqualified when Kellet trapped McManus in a corner and began hitting him with the corner mans plastic bucket. Pallo lost to Kellett when Kellett pulled Pallo’s socks down, Pallo stooped to pull them up and Kellett whipped his legs away and pinned him. Pallo also took on Jumping Jim Hussey, a match I think shouldn’t have happened because of the weight difference, Hussey was disqualified.
I think the wrestling had a touch of the circus about it and this was the case with the American midgets tag team, I can remember the names of two of the wrestlers, Little Beaver and Sky Low Low. Referee Max Ward put Little Beaver over his knee and spanked him, it was all good fun and the midgets could wrestle.
One evening the final bout was a tag team between Doug and Ken Joyce and Johnny Kwango and Lindy Caulder. A spectator went to the front of the stage and threw a bottle in the direction of the Joyce Brothers. The wrestlers and referee left the ring and the stage curtain came down, the police came in and the match.” abandoned.”
LONDON, EAST HAM Winter Hall
LONDON, EDMONTON Alcazar
LONDON, EDMONTON Granada
LONDON, EDMONTON Pickett’s Lock Centre
Rasit Huseyin: “The Picketts Lock Leisure Centre was quite a nice venue which also had a good swimming pool there as well, but it was situated in the middle of nowhere. If you came by train it was a long walk from Angel Road station, which was the nearest railway station to it. There also was a bus service there which stopped right outside it, but the W8 bus service was poor and and infrequent most didn’t bother. Most of the shows there were promoted by Dale Martin, although All Star did a couple of shows there as well. The last bouts I went to there was for Dale Martin in January 1988, the bill featured King Ben beating Richie Brooks by a technical knockout, Big Daddy and Greg Valentine beating Giant Haystacks and Drew MacDonald, John Elijah beating Jamaica George and Kid McCoy beating Cyanide Sid Cooper for for the British Lightweight title. All Star’s last show I saw there was in 1992, Kondyke Kate beating Julie Starr, Rob Brookside and Steve Regal drawing with “Double Trouble” Brick Crawford and Carl Wallace, The British Bushhwacker Frank Casey beat Japan’s “Mr Fuji” by disqualification, and Fit Finlay beat Chic Cullen. The venue is alas no more, it was pulled down in 2002 and in the land adjacent to it a new sports centre was built as well as a multi screen cinema, and is now known as the Lea Valley Leisure Complex I think. The empty land which was left behind was left after it’s demise was converted into a car park, which a pretty big car park even when the old Picketts Lock Centre was around. There also is a sewage farm around the corner from the venue, boy did it stink when you arrived on the approach to the venue!”
LONDON, EDMONTON Summer Theatre
LONDON, ELTHAM Eltham Baths
LONDON, FELTHAM Playhouse
LONDON, FINSBURY PARK Majestic Ballroom
LONDON, FINSBURY PARK Top Rank
LONDON, GOLDERS GREEN Odeon
LONDON, GREENFORD Granada
LONDON, HACKNEY Devonshire Hall
LONDON, HACKNEY Empire Theatre
LONDON, EAST HAM Winter Hall
LONDON, EDMONTON Alcazar
LONDON, EDMONTON Granada
LONDON, EDMONTON Pickett’s Lock Centre
Rasit Huseyin: “The Picketts Lock Leisure Centre was quite a nice venue which also had a good swimming pool there as well, but it was situated in the middle of nowhere. If you came by train it was a long walk from Angel Road station, which was the nearest railway station to it. There also was a bus service there which stopped right outside it, but the W8 bus service was poor and and infrequent most didn’t bother. Most of the shows there were promoted by Dale Martin, although All Star did a couple of shows there as well. The last bouts I went to there was for Dale Martin in January 1988, the bill featured King Ben beating Richie Brooks by a technical knockout, Big Daddy and Greg Valentine beating Giant Haystacks and Drew MacDonald, John Elijah beating Jamaica George and Kid McCoy beating Cyanide Sid Cooper for for the British Lightweight title. All Star’s last show I saw there was in 1992, Kondyke Kate beating Julie Starr, Rob Brookside and Steve Regal drawing with “Double Trouble” Brick Crawford and Carl Wallace, The British Bushhwacker Frank Casey beat Japan’s “Mr Fuji” by disqualification, and Fit Finlay beat Chic Cullen. The venue is alas no more, it was pulled down in 2002 and in the land adjacent to it a new sports centre was built as well as a multi screen cinema, and is now known as the Lea Valley Leisure Complex I think. The empty land which was left behind was left after it’s demise was converted into a car park, which a pretty big car park even when the old Picketts Lock Centre was around. There also is a sewage farm around the corner from the venue, boy did it stink when you arrived on the approach to the venue!”
LONDON, EDMONTON Summer Theatre
LONDON, ELTHAM Eltham Baths
LONDON, FELTHAM Playhouse
LONDON, FINSBURY PARK Majestic Ballroom
LONDON, FINSBURY PARK Top Rank
LONDON, GOLDERS GREEN Odeon
LONDON, GREENFORD Granada
LONDON, HACKNEY Devonshire Hall
LONDON, HACKNEY Empire Theatre
Ballymoss: “After the demise of the Metropolitan Theatre in Edgware Road, Paul Lincoln shrewdly developed the Granada Tooting and the Hackney Empire, as his two principal venues in London. At Hackney, which proved an excellent venue for wrestling, despite a paucity of wrestlers, Lincoln promoted with his customary aplomb. He regularly appeared as his alter ego Dr Death from Hollywood, and of course triumphed against all comers, often prevailing in a “King of the Ring” competition. “Judo” Al Hayes, Ray Hunter, Mike Marino, Jim Moser, Dennis Dean, Ed Wensor, together with the up and coming Dave Larsen, Bob Kirkwood and Society Boy (Brian Craig Ratcliffe) were the mainstay of the customary “blue eye” contingent. And there were no shortage of “heels” assisting the good Doctor. They were led by “Docker” Don Stedman, Wild Angus, the turbulent “Sir” Alan Garfield, Ski Hi Lee, Professor Adi Wasser, Quasimodo, the Wild Man of Borneo, Haystacks or sometimes Tiger Ed Bright, Crusher Verdu and the Canadian duo “Gori” Ed Mangotitch and “Flash” Lee Edwards, were all notable “heels”.
My favourites were Garfield and Stedman, although I must mention Lee Edwards, who could always antagonise the crowd with his famous strut, in or out of the ring. Among the lighter brigade Jon Cortez and Zoltan Boscik, reigned supreme. Both were brilliant stylists and far superior to any of their rivals.
With Max Ward and Billy Barber acting as first-class referees, Hackney Empire provided superb entertainment, just veering away from the over the top American version but with panache and presence superior to rival promoters.
One “scenario” that did test my youthful naïve credulity was the long running “feud” between Docker Don and Rebel Ray. Don was disqualified by Max Ward for his dubious tactics when leading 1-0 and the duly challenged Ray for his British Empire title. The only problem was this outcome was exactly the same I witnessed at the Granada Brixton a few weeks earlier. Also to my mind the immensely strong 18 stone Don would surely make mincemeat of “Rebel” Ray is there was any justice!
Back in the 1960’s the Hackney Empire was abundant with atmosphere, and although possessed a slightly faded glamour, was a terrific well attended location.Happily it is still functioning with comedy shows, and a very popular annual pantomime- so perhaps it has not changed that much since the great days of wrestling!”
Alan Fisher: “I too regularly went to east London’s Hackney Empire, where Paul Lincoln Promotions presented a regular card, very often featuring Paul Lincoln himself in his Dr Death Persona. The following week’s bill would always be announced and the biggest cheer would always come if the masked man’s opponent was announced as the man you remembered in your last issue on the anniversary of his sad death, Judo Al Hayes.
If they weren’t fighting each other the Doc would be facing wrestlers like ‘Rebel’ Ray Hunter, Mike Marino or Bob Kirkwood while Al would take on any bad guy on the roster! I used to go with a friend who also happened to run the Al Hayes fan club and quite often we’d get to the venue early and meet Al in his favourite parking spot. He had to be careful because Hackney was quite a run-down area and he always turned up in his red convertible sports car and we – being two real marks – would offer to clean it for him! Al was a really nice guy and in return for the polish he’d let us go backstage. The wrestling took place on the theatre stage. I felt really privileged, although whenever we were in the back the wrestlers would keep to their ring persona – the days of being open were still many years away – and the Doc would never let us see his face. I never did see it until years later when photos of him as Paul Lincoln surfaced.
Al would often win the Southern Area Heavyweight Championship and what first made me wonder what was actually happening in the back was when Al had just won the belt at Hackney and was scheduled to appear later that week at Leyton Baths. Few fans would travel to more than the one arena in a week so I was shocked when there was no mention of his title win and the previous holder, whose name escapes me, was also on the bill and still announced as champion! I once asked Al how that happened and he just smiled and changed the subject! Something told me to let it go if I wanted to continue to have our backstage jaunts.
But the bottom line was that we really enjoyed every minute of our Hackney Empire trips…”
LONDON, HAMMERSMITH Commodore
Ballymoss: “The Commodore Hammersmith was a magnificent building which opened as a cinema in September 1929 with a seating capacity of around 3000. As television gradually lured people away from the cinema, other entertainment was instigated such as pop concerts, and in the early 1960’s Dale Martin promoted wrestling.
Because of television coverage, wrestling was probably at the height of it’s general popularity, and to fill a location such as the Commodore, the bill had to contain major names the public knew. And there were few bigger than Mick McManus and his tag partner “Iron Man” Steve Logan. This is what attracted my father and myself, the opportunity to see this iconic pair live in action. They were pitted against Eddie Capelli and Spencer Churchill- a shrewd move by the promoter, which was rewarded by a near capacity turn-out. Of course. much to the annoyance of the crowd, and two public warnings, McManus and Logan, not surprisingly triumphed. The only other bout of the evening I can remember was Johnny Kwango head butting his way to victory over a “foreign heel”, whose name I am unable to remember.
The Commodore closed as a cinema in 1963 and stumbled on as a bingo hall until 1981 when it was sadly demolished to emerge as a office block-Quantas House.
For a short time the Commodore highlighted the amazing popularity of wrestling during the early to mid 1960’s. To attract near capacity crowds was no mean feat, but for a while no doubt a lucrative one too.”
LONDON, HAMMERSMITH Lime Grove Baths
Ballymoss: “The first wrestling venue i attended solely, or with a couple of friends, was Lime Grove in West London’s Shepherds Bush in the borough of Hammersmith. Previously my wrestling visits had been with my father and uncle. Situated opposite the then functioning BBC Lime Grove studios, Lime Grove was unique in that it was the only London promotion staged by Norman Morrell- Why? I have no idea.
The baths opened in November 1907 and were typically austere in the fashion of the day with hard seats and the air of sheer melancholy.In fact I had actually learnt to swim at Lime Grove, at the tender age of ten, being told to enter the water and swim. No health and safety in those days!
Wrestling was staged every Tuesday, and even in the early 1960’s, the bills and programmes looked dated, far removed from the slick gloss of a Paul Lincoln promotion. But the wrestling was first class. The MC was usually Ernest Lofthouse and another Ernest- Baldwin was the referee. They sometimes switched roles and their dour Northern accents only added to the rigid atmosphere.
The brilliant wrestling was a different matter as they often pitted North V South and we had the opportunity to witness such greats as Albert Wall, Geoff Portz, Les Kellett, Gwyn Davies, Alan Colbeck and many more ,even occasionally Billy Joyce and Ernie Riley.
I can remember such titans as Dennis Mitchell tackling the peerless “Sir” Alan Garfield and Danny Lynch, before moving South, testing the water against Masambula.
The most memorable contests were George Gordienko, the best wrestler I ever saw live, against Geoff Portz and Jackie Pallo v Alan Colbeck, later to become his tag partner.
Sadly the necessity of serious study and the discovery of the opposite sex, combined to curtail my attendance around 1966.But those Lime Grove years were really magical.”
LONDON, HAMMERSMITH Palace Theatre
LONDON, HAMMERSMITH No 2
LONDON, HAMMERSMITH The Stadium
LONDON, HARINGEY Beresford Arena
LONDON, HARINGEY Harringay Arena
LONDON, HARINGEY Majestic, Finsbury Park
LONDON, HAYES Essoldo Theatre
LONDON, HAYES Savoy
LONDON, HENDON Magnet Billiards and Social Club
LONDON, HOLBORN Stadium
LONDON, HORNEY Town Hall
LONDON, HOUNSLOW Dominion
LONDON, ILFORD Baths
Tom Hawes: “Ilford Baths were opened in 1931 and were situated in the Romford road away from the town centre. Inside the hall the ring was in the centre. The wrestlers had to walk half the length of the hall to get to the ring, plenty of time for the audience to cheer or jeer them before they got into the ring. Each time I walked into the hall I would see the posters attached to the ring ropes, one on side of the ring, announcing the next weeks promotion. It was something to talk about before the wrestling began. I first went to the baths just after Christmas 1960, On the bill were Eddie Capelli, ken Joyce and Joe Murphy. Frank Price was the promoter using the name Premier Promotions, and was part of the British Wrestling Federation. Under this banner I saw names like, Doctor Death Black Butcher Johnson, The Great Bula, Big Bruno Elrington and Shirley Crabtree. At the end of 1961 Frank switched to Joint Promotions. Looking back sometimes I wish that Frank had stayed with the British Wrestling Federation a bit longer, I missed some of the wrestlers I had seen. The swimming baths remained until 2008 before closing, the building needed renovating but the cost was too much. The baths have now been demolished.”
Bernard Hughes: “I took my first wife to Ilford baths in about 1962-3 time to show her the great George Kidd. He did not turn up and I remember was replaced by Leon Fortuna who at the time was a young boy_ No contest!. She was not amused at wasting an evening! I don’t remember much about the evening, who else was on the bill etc. But I do remember that the atmosphere was not a patch on Newcastle.”
LONDON, ILFORD Town Hall
LONDON, ISLINGTON Essoldo Cinema, Caledonian Road
LONDON, ISLINGTON Collins Music Hall
LONDON, ISLINGTON Town Hall
LONDON, KENNINGTON Granada
LONDON, KENSINGTON Empress Stadium, Earls Court
LONDON, KENSINGTON Olympia
LONDON, KENSINGTON Royal Albert Hall
Graham Brook: “When I was a student in Leicester (1972-75) I used to hitch hike from Leicester to London for the Royal Albert Hall shows then hitch a lift back again through the night. The bouts were no more exciting there than elsewhere but the place did have a certain atmosphere all its own. I recall on one show finding that I was sitting next to jazzman Ray Ellington whom I remembered from my boyhood for (along with Max Geldray) providing the musical intermissions on radio’s Goon shows (with Milligan, Secombe and Sellers). “
LONDON, KILBURN Vale Hall
LONDON, KINGSTON Coronation Ballroom
LONDON, KINGSTON Granada
LONDON, LEWISHAM Concert Hall
LONDON, LEWISHAM Town Hall
LONDON, LEYTON Baths
LONDON, MARYLEBONE London Sports Club (Lanes), Baker St.
LONDON, MERTON Civic Hall
LONDON, MILE END Arena
LONDON, PADDINGTON Baths
LONDON, PADDINGTON Essoldo
LONDON, PADDINGTON Porchester Hall
LONDON, PADDINGTON Seymour Hall
LONDON, PECKHAM Gaumont
LONDON, POPLAR Baths
LONDON, SHOREDITCH Naaz Cinema
LONDON, SHOREDITCH Town Hall
LONDON, SOUTHALL Dominion
Ballymoss: “It may surprise some students of social history that even over fifty years ago, Southall in Middlesex already had a sizeable Asian population, probably because of its proximity to Heathrow, and a number of industries eager to provide work. Dale Martin staged wrestling at the Dominion cinema and shrewdly, often headlined Asian wrestlers to attract local support. The one wrestler they constantly promoted was Syed Said Shah usually billed, I believe correctly, as the champion of Pakistan. He was a highly competent technical wrestler but somewhat lacking in charisma. This handicap, however, did not stop him defeating such text book heels as Johnnie Yearsley, Roy “Bull”Davis and Danny Lynch. One regular informed me Syed never lost at Southall and I recall seeing him defeat the Masked Zebra Kid (George Bollas] on a disqualification and on points the “Catalona Comet” the very useful George Drake. Although I never saw the bout, I was told that Syed was triumphant over Tibor Szakacs. The wrestling was held on a stage at the Dominion Cinema, which probably contributed to a distinct lack of atmosphere. Therefore I never became a regular and despite enthusiastic local support, it eventually faded away. The referee was usually Stan Stone and the MC the velvet voiced George Lawson -Peeke. George was noted to be a regular at the bar, and by the final contest, could be a trifle tipsy, but always still the consummate professional!!”
LONDON, STEPNEY Pavilion
LONDON, STRAND Lyceum Ballroom
LONDON, STREATHAM Baths Hall
LONDON, STREATHAM Sports Arena
LONDON, TOOTING Granada
LONDON, TOTTENHAM Assembly Hall
LONDON, TOTTENHAM Baths
LONDON, TOTTENHAM Bruce Grove Cinema
LONDON, TOTTENHAM Municipal Hall
LONDON, TOWER HAMLETS Naz Cinema, Brick Lane
LONDON, TUFNELL PARK Palais de Danse
LONDON, TUFNELL PARK Stanley Hall
LONDON, WALTHAMSTOW Assembly Hall
LONDON, WALTHAMSTOW Baths
LONDON, WALTHAMSTOW Dominion Theatre
LONDON, WALTHAMSTOW Greyhound Stadium
LONDON, WALTHAMSTOW Town Hall
LONDON, WALWORTH Manor Place Baths
LONDON, WATFORD Town Hall
LONDON, WEMBLEY Arena
Graham Brook: “The most exciting show I ever saw on a visit to London was in the eighties (I forget the year) when WWE transmitted Summerslam live from Wembley Stadium. The bout everyone remembers (which started in daylight and finished by floodlight) was Davey “Boy” Smith’s victory over Bret Hart but my favourite bout featured the two narcissists Rick Martel and Shawn Michaels (being seconded by Sensational Sherri).”
LONDON, WEMBLEY Town Hall
Mark: “Mostly I used to attend The Brent Town Hall Wembley every Monday fornightly from around 1972 until 1987. My first bout was between Regendrah Singh and Ken Joyce and the very last bout i ever saw live was Pete Roberts v Caswell Martin. I always enjoyed Brent Town Hall as it had a real special atmosphere to it. All the Wrestlers that i spoke to and asked for an Autograph were always very nice to me and its somthing that i will always cherrish. I also saw some shows at Battersea Town Hall, Boreham Wood, and The Royal Albert Hall. I suppose the wildest night of Wrestling was at the Collosium in Spartanburg, South Carolina back in 1986. Magnum T.A. Tully Blanchard, Wahoo Macdaniel, Arn Anderson ect were all on the bill. It was total mayhem from start to finish. My favourite Wrestlers that i always enjoyed at Wembley were Wayne Bridges, Mick Mcmanus, Tony ” Banger ” Walsh, ” Rollerball Rocco, Terry Rudge, Marty Jones and Tony St Clare and many more. They were all heroes to me and still to this day, I have so many fond memories of the Wrestling.”
LONDON, WEST HAM Baths Hall
Tom H. “I was hoping that someone had been a regular at London’s West Ham Baths and described some of the events. I recall seeing the wrestling advertised and top wrestlers wrestled there. The baths were at Stratford it was quite a run on the bus for me and I was already watching regular wrestling closer to home. However I did make a one off trip, the promoter was Sammy King in conjunction with Dale Martin, that was on the posters. When I entered the baths I was surprised to see how shabby it looked, I didn’t mind this I just associated the name Dale Martin with halls with smarter interiors. I remember two of the bouts that evening, A bloody bout between Johnny Czeslaw, it was Czeslaws blood, and “Iron Man” Steve Logan, Logan was disqualified and The Zebra Kid won by ko against Arion Manousakis.”
Sadly the necessity of serious study and the discovery of the opposite sex, combined to curtail my attendance around 1966.But those Lime Grove years were really magical.”
David Pickles: “My first ever live wrestling was in 1963 at the old West Ham baths in east London. I was mesmerised as a young 8 year old seeing giants like The Zebra Kid (George Bollas), Bruno Elrington, Spencer Churchill and Johnny Yearsley covered in sweat and taking all the insults from a packed house of rowdy cockneys. We used to sit in the upstairs balcony (1/9d for me, 3/6d for my mum). A local shopkeeper who was always reckoned to be “rich” used to sit at ringside (7/6d – a small fortune in those days).Some wonderful memories, not least throwing an empty Kia Ora carton at Mick Mcmanus and then running like fury! In the intervening years I travelled far and wide to watch pro wrestling, the Royal Albert Hall being the most noteworthy and glamorous of venues, but nothing can take away the memories of those nights in the spit and sawdust arena namely West Ham baths.”
LONDON, WESTMINSTER Victoria Palace
LONDON, WHITE CITY White City
LONDON, WIMBLEDON Palais
LONDON, WIMBLEDON Town Hall
LONDON, WOOD GREEN Central Cinema
LONDON, WOOLWICH Granada
LOSSIEMOUTH Town Hall
LOUGHBOROUGH Town Hall (formerly Corn Exchange)
LOUTH Town Hall
LOWESTOFT Kensington Ballroom
LUTON Cresta Ballroom
LUTON Drill Hall
Dennis Ollerenshaw: “I worked there putting out chairs putting them back tearing tickets showing people to seats hard work Ten Bob a night….But able to watch some greats Pallo McMannus etc great memories.”
Wrestling Heritage 