These are our shorter Biographical portraits which we would like to extend if you can provide information or memories.
Hassan Ali Bey
One of the most prolific heavyweight performers of the 1950s and 1960s, and a regular of the tv screens in the first ten years or so of televised wrestling. Hassan Ali Bey wrestled, and sometimes defeated, just about every big name heavyweight of the time.
The red fez, spectacles and a white towelling robe were the hallmark of the “Strong man of the East” as he entered the ring. Despite being one of those colourful characters that filled the halls few fans were aware of the background of the man beneath the red fez. Hassan Ali Bey was actually Demera Mashavias, but he took his ring name from his father, who we were told was a member of the British Embassy in Ankara.
Born in Turkey Hassan Ali Bey was educated in Britain. He turned professional wrestler in 1944, making his debut in a tumultuous tussle with Doncaster’s Jack Pye. Based in Manchester for much of his professional life Hassan Ali Bey combined wrestling with successful business interests. In later years the outside interests took over and he was seen less often in the ring, but he continued wrestling until well into the 1960s, and on one occasion at least held the legendary Bert Assirati to a draw.
Michel Allary
Popular French heavyweight who regularly visited the UK in 1957,1958, 1960, and 1962, tackling the likes of Alan Garfield, Mike Marino and Bill Howes. Knocked out by Dazzler Joe Cornelius at the Royal Albert Hall.
Michel Allary died in May, 2015, aged 82.
Albert Allen
From the village of Sprotbrough, near Doncaster he wrestled on some of Harold Angus’s earliest wrestling promotions in 1931. We have found a handful of contests, all in Yorkshire and mostly in Doncaster, between 1931 and 1939.
Jack Allen
When wrestling began to pick up the pieces following the end of the Second World war Jack Allen was there as a popular performer tackling the best in the business, including Billy Riley and Joe Reid. He was a man with some experience and talent; our earliest record of him wrestling being in 1933. He continued as a regular performer until the 1960s and then maintained connections with wrestling into the 1970s when he turned to refereeing and training.
Bert Alliday
Billed from Abergavenny Bert Alliday was one of the fan’s favourites throughout the south of England, working mainly in East Anglia, Wales and the South West.
Bert was one of Brian Trevors’ boys, training alongside Stephen St John, Bill Pye anf John L Hagger. During the summer season he was a favourite on the Anglia Promotion circuit working for wrestler and promoter Brian Travors in the east of England.
This Welsh light-heavyweight of the 1960s and 1970’s independent circuit was billed as the “Welsh Wizard,” due to his agility and skill. Bert Alliday died in July, 2018.
Bruce Allison
All we knew about Bruce Allison was that he was a South Shields lad that worked for the independent promoters of the north in the 1960s. That was until Heritage’s Dave Sutherland brought him to our attention in his wonderful series, Ice Cream, Hot Dogs, Leg Locks and Handbags.” Dave told us that he met Bruce when briefly, very briefly, pursuing his wrestling ambitions. Wrestling was only one of Bruce’s many interests, Dave told us he was also a poet, singer, songwriter, guitarist, raconteur, artist, painter, music promoter and, briefly, co-owner of an art gallery. Bruce was his middle name. Donald Bruce Allison was born on 5th August, 1934. A man of many careers he was at one time a chief engineer in the Merchant Navy. Although he spent much of his adult life in Cheltenham,and latterly Yorkshire, this larger than life character is still remembered and talked about in Tyneside. He died on 20th October, 2002.
Pip Alvison
Newcastle’s Pip Alvison was a distinctive sight in the 1970s independent rings. With the long blond hair, and goatee beard it could only be Pip wrestling either alone or as one half of “The Hippies” tag team with fellow Tynsider Joe Robinson. Pip learned to wrestle in the gymnasium at Hardwick Hall, Sedgefield, and was taught by Jim McCrombie alongside Farmer’s Boy Pete Ross, Joe Robinson and Ian Diamond. Amongst his many clashes with numerous opponents fans probably mostly remember his some memorable bouts with Pete Ross. In retirement Pip moved to the south coast where he managed a night club, but later returned to live in a village near Newcastle.
Scotty Ambrose
A wrestler and a referee, Scotty Ambrose was a northern campaigner from Aberdeen and proclaimed “The World’s Wildest Wrestler.” He was very active in the UK during the pre war years and, albeit less frequently, for a few years following the war. Our final sighting was in 1949. Opponents included Val Cerino, Ted Betley, Carlton Smith, and Jack Alker. Following his active wrestling career Scotty was referee at Madeley Street Baths. He died in 1961.
Yves Amor
Powerful Continental heavyweight visited the UK for the first time in the winter of 1957 and returned again the following year. Worked mainly for Dale Martin Promotions in the south of England but made occasional jaunts to the exotic north of Scunthorpe and Hull. Opponents included Bill Verna, Norman Walsh, Jim Hussey, Geoff Portz and Mike Marino as well as the less formidable Masambula. In his sole television appearance he faced British heavyweight champion Billy Joyce. Returned for further visits to Britain during the winters of 1961, again working mainly for Dale Martin Promotions, though venturing to Leicester to meet Billy Joyce on television for Norman Morrell Promotions..
Tumac Amura
We have contests recorded over a four week period, February and March 1957, with opponents Alf Cadman, Cyril Knowles Tony Mancelli, Terry Ricardo Gordon Kilmartin and Johnny Allan.
Andy Anderson
Scottish lightweight Andy Anderson wrestled from 1945 and met the best in the business, including George Kidd, Alan Colbeck and Mick McManus. He was one of the wrestlers selected for the Scottish lightweight championship knock out tournament at Dundee in December, 1947, which saw George Kidd crowned Scottish champion. Andy beat Jim Teale of Glasgow in the first round of the contest before suffering an injury and retiring in his semi final contest with Tony Lawrence. Two months later Andy made another challenge for George Kidd’s title in Aberdeen on 2nd March, 1948. Andy took the lead in the fourth round when Kidd submitted in a Boston Crab before going on to lose by a seventh round knock out.
Hippie Bob Anderson (Also known as Ian Anderson)
A short lived star of Northern and Midland rings of the 1970s, and even a couple of 1970 televised appearances exposed this tearaway to a wider and appreciative audience.
We were told at the time he had trained in London and spent three years working for Paul Lincoln and Dale Martin. We have not had this confirmed but our earliest records are when Bob hit the rings of Wryton Promotions in 1969. The long, straggly hair, rule bending tactics and just a general disregard for just about anyone and everything made the Hippie a welcome name on any bill. He roughed it with contemporaries like Wonderboy Steve Wright as well as wily veterans like Bill Howes. Even giving away a couple of stones to a hard man like Howes Anderson showed no trepidation. His regular tag partner was Johnny South, but something of an accolade for the hothead to be partnered with Iron Man Steve Logan on occasions.
Tony Andrassi (Also known as Eric Smith)
With his black curly hair and trademark white trunks it could only be welterweight Tony Andrassi, except when he reverted to his family name, Eric Smith of Bradford. Worked mainly for the independent promoters in the 1960s and 1970s with some bouts (as Eric Smith) for Joint Promotions.
George Andrews
Powerful heavyweight active in the 1950s. Wrestled mainly in the south against class performers such as Doug Joyce and Joe D’Orazio, as well as an Earls Court bout against Dirty Dominic Pye.
Jim Andrews
Northern based heavyweight campaigner turned professional shortly after the war and remained active throughout the second half of the 1940s. Opponents included top men such as Charlie Greene, George Gregory, Vic Hessle and Jim Foy.
Frank Angel
Frank Angel was another student of the Ashdown Club alongside Bert Assirati, Atholl Oakeley and Robert Cook. Amateur heavyweight champion in 1928 he turned professional in the first year of the new All-In rules being introduced, 1931. A big, powerful man he stood 6’4″ tall and weighed around 16 stones, An all-round sportsman Angel was also proficient in rugby, swimming and polo.
Johnny Angel (Sheffield)
We include two wrestlers known by the name Johnny Angel. First on the scene was a Sheffield wrestler born John Marsden. Welterweight Johnny worked for independent promoters in the north of England during the 1960s and also worked in Spain. Like many wrestlers he was the landlord of two public houses in later life, the Grapes and the Captive Queen in Sheffield before retiring to Chesterfield and passing away, in January 2007, aged 76.
Johnny Angel (Also known as Johnny Carol, Undertaker Gloom) (Doncaster)
A 1980s wrestler who really knew how to work a crowd, and one who would have made it to the top in the heyday of the postwar revival according to Dwight J Ingleburgh. Johnny Angel was just fourteen years old when he turned professional. Mind you, wrestling was in his blood as he was trained by his father, Crazy Dave Adams. Like many others Johnny had dabbled in boxing before wrestling became the greater attraction. Early bouts were for Cyril Knowles and other independent promoters before moving across to Joint Promotions in 1990. A muscular, aggressive wrestler Johnny was a great villain, sometimes pulling on a mask and adopting various names, probably most memory as one of the Undertakers tag team. During his career he tussled with some of the biggest names in the business, including Jim Breaks, Ray Steele, Barry Douglas and Giant Haystacks. On numerous occasions Johnny played the part of the hero and tagged with Big Daddy to put to right the baddies of the wrestling world. He retired from wrestling in 1996
Mohammed Anwar
We watched this Pakistani welterweight in the northern independent rings of the 1960s against opponents such as Ray Taylor, Hamid Ali Gill and The Zulu. We remember a capable wrestler who lacked the charisma to make him memorable. We just hope that unknowing to us he changed his name and became a superstar! We’d be interested to learn more about him.
El Grande Apache
Chilean heavyweight, or so it was said, that made a short visit to Britain in February and March, 1962, wrestling Seamus Donlevy at the Royal Albert Hall and Josef Zaranoff on television. Other opponents included Billy Joyce, Tibor Szakacs and Joe Cornelius.
Johnny Apollo
Johnny “Greek” Apollo hailed from Athens and wrestled on both sides of the Atlantic as well as Australia. Having wrestled as an amateur in Tripolis Johnny turned professional in 1960. This was after moving to Montreal, where he had been trained in the ways of the professional world by Tony Lanza at the Montreal YMCA. Following early success in Canada he moved on to the United States, then Australia, and eventually Europe. He was always immaculately dressed as he entered the ring in his velvet dressing gown. Johnny was a popular stockily built mid heavyweight performer in British rings in the early 1960s, making his first appearances northern rings and Scotland during the winter of 1962. He set up home in Brixton, London, and appeared in the south of England the following winter, when he also gained national exposure by losing through a knock-out to Bill Howes in a 1963 televised contest. He returned to television screens again during his 1965 visit, facing Welshman Tony Orford. For professional purposes we understand he changed his name from Charialaos Tsimogiannis to Johnny Apollo. We wonder why?
Reviewed 28/12/2022
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Wrestling Heritage 