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A.C.S. Promotions
Promoters in Blackburn from 1938 after the council lifted their ban on wrestling.
A.D. & R. Promotions
1970s Fareham based promoters who were member of the British Wrestling Alliance
See also British Wrestling Alliance
A.T. Management/A&T Promotions/Kellett and Taylor
Henry William Abbey (Billy Dale)
John George Abbey (Jack Dale Senior)
John George Abbey was born in Lambeth, London, in 1887. He was a boxing and wrestling promoter of the 1930s, father of the men who made Dale Martin Promotions arguably the most successful wrestling company in Britain. He worked in partnership with Syd Burns as B&D Promotions, mostly in the south of England. Whilst returning from a boxing show in dense fog Jack Dale and two companions were killed in a road crash on 24th March, 1936.
Leonard Alfred Abbey (Jack Dale)
Action Promotions
Action Promotions came into existence in 1978 owned by Harold Weller, an independent promoter in Manchester and south east Lancashire and a member of the British Wrestling Alliance. Wrestler Eddie Rose told us, “Harold Weller from the Manchester end of Bury also had a handy gym and encouraged local wrestlers and a squad of good girl wrestlers, notably Terri Kruger from South Africa and a Bury girl called Jodie Lee.” Following the closure of the Kings Hall at Belle Vue Harold promoted shows in Belle Vue’s Cumberland Suite.
See also British Wrestling Alliance
All Star Promotions/Wrestling Enterprises of Birkenhead
Alf Allen
AMY Promotions
Independent wrestlers Les Prest and Sean McNeill presented shows in the clubs of Teeside and Yorkshire in the 1970s. They made use of some well known names that included Mal Kirk and John Cox. The name for the company was derived from the names of both their daughters, Amy.
Read our tribute to Les Prest
Read our tribute to Sean McNeill
Anglia Wrestling Promotions
Harold Angus
Amateur wrestler Harold Angus promoted his first show at Doncaster on 15th December, 1930. Prior to the event he was informed that by going ahead with the show he would lose his amateur status, which he subsequently did.
Read our tribute to Harold Angus
Archer Promotions
In 1964 and 1965 wrestler Bob Anthony promoted wrestling in conjunction with Paul Lincoln.
Read our tribute to Bob Anthony
Read our tribute to Paul Lincoln
Ashton & Hazeltine
Frederick Ashton and Walter Hazeltine were boxing promoters who introduced wrestling to Hartlepool at the Ice Rink on 26th February, 1932.
Jarvis Astaire
Jarvis Astaire was an entrepreneur with significant interest in boxing and wrestling. In 1971 the William Hill organisation bought Hurst Park (and consequently Dale Martin and Viewsport). At the time of the William Hill takeover he was Managing Director of Hurst Park.
See also Dale Martin Promotions
Athena Promotions
1970s York based promoters who were members of the British Wrestling Alliance.
See also British Wrestling Alliance
Atlas Promotions
1970s Coventry based promoters who were members of the British Wrestling Alliance.
See also British Wrestling Alliance
Atlas Promotions
1970s Coventry based promoters who were members of the British Wrestling Alliance.
See also British Wrestling Alliance
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B&B Promotions
Promoters in Derby in 1951. We would like to learn more.
B&D Promotions
Syd Burns and Jack Dale Senior were boxing promoters who branched out into wrestling promotion in southern England up to 1936. They advertised themselves as “England’s Premier Promotions,” with shows at Plymouth, Rochester Casino, Alcazar Edmonton, South London Palace Ipswich, Hastings and Torquay.
B&H Promotions
Following the death of Jack Dale Syd Burns partnered J.Hart as promoters in southern England.
B&T Syndicate
London based group, most likely behind wrestling at The Ring Blackfriars. The B was most likely Victor Berliner, boxing promoter and manager of The Ring. They extended out of the capital putting on shows in other towns, including Hulll in 1933. Shortly afterwards they changed their name to World Syndicate.
Alex Bannerman
1940s promoter at the Music Hall in Aberdeen. Bannerman came into conflict with promoter George DeRelwyskow when the latter joined the BWPA in 1949 and Joint Promotions in 1952. He complained that the BWPA were an attempt to monopolise wrestling and prevent wrestlers working for him. The two promoters ran rival shows in the city until at least 1952.
Bartley Promotions
For a couple of years around 1968 and 1969 Jack Oatley staged shows in conjunction with Count Bartelli under the Bartley Promotions banner. Jack Oatley was an entertainments entrepreneur who had begun promoting wrestling in the 1950s.
Read our tribute to Count Bartelli
BD & H
Pre Second World War promoters in Plymouth. Ron Historyo discovered the B was Syd Burns, H was boxing promoter Bob Heath, whilst D remains a mystery.
Victor Berliner
Mostly known as a boxing manager Victor Berliner was a boxing and wrestling promoter and manager of the Blackfriars Ring. He died on 18th March, 1949.
Norman Berry
Norman Berry dabbled in wrestling both under his own name and as a maskedGreat Bula (not to be confused with Charlie Scott), but he is best known for his influential management positions. We came across him for the first time in 1946 promoting in Ossett in partnership with Norman Morrell.Berry went on to work for Morrell in his publicity department, a partnership that lasted the best part of a decade. It caused quite a shock in 1958 when Norman broke away from Morrell and joined up with Max and Shirley Crabtree to form Twentieth Century Promotions. It wasn’t a happy uncoupling. In May 1959 Norman Morrell and Ted Beresford issued a writ alleging libel against Norman Berry, Max and Shirley Crabtree.
See Twentieth Century Promotions
Bill Best Wrestling Promotions
B.M.B.Promotions
Manager Fred Bretherton promoted shows in Hull from 1943 to 1945 and in the Isle of Man.
Maurice and John (Jack) Bodinetz
Amongst the other boxing promoters who turned to wrestling we can add Jack and Maurice Bodinetz of Shoreditch By 1935 were putting on wrestling shows most days of the week in the south and midlands. In May 1934 they were fined £25 each for selling tickets for wrestling at the Lime Grove Baths which did not bear the Entertainment Tax stamp.
Harold Bownas
Harold Bownas was born in Leeds, where we believe he was a bookmaker. His marriage to a Scottish girl led to a move to Edinburgh where he established himself as one of the country’s top boxing promoters from 1920 until unto the 1950s. He was another of the many boxing promoters who seized the opportunity to capitalise on the opportunities presented by the flourishing wrestling business of the 1930s. Harold Bownas was the promoter, in February, 1932, of a contest between local man Alec Munroe and champion Harold Angus. The match was advertised as a being contested under Catch-As-Catch-Can rules with the Scottish champion meeting the English champion to establish a British champion. Referee H.Harrison declared a draw on points after thirty minutes of wrestling.
Brandane Promotions
We have come across this promotions at one venue only, the Rothesay Pavilion, Isle of Bute in the 1960s. The word Brandane refers to inhabitants of the isles of Bute and Arran. Dale Storm told us the promoter was Danny Flynn who used the Brandane name because the shows were sponsored by the Rothesay Advertising Association.
T. Bretherton
William Isherwood and T Bretherton started promoting at Turton Street Stadium in Bolton shortly after the foundry was converted to a stadium in 1935.
Billy Bridgewater
Billy Bridgewater was manager of the Doncaster Sports Syndicate he was a man with quite a sporting pedigree. Born in Parkgate, Rotherham in 1886, his first love was football, playing professionally for Rotherham Town and Sheffield United, prior to membership of the Football League. Injury enforced retirement, and struck again when he embarked on a short career as a professional boxer. Billy Bridgewater died on 21st March, 1941, aged 74.
British Wrestling Board of Control
British Wrestling Enterprises
British Wrestling Promoters Association
Graham Brook
Heritage member Graham Brook was a wrestling fan who lived the dream, promoting wrestling shows around the north west for more than ten years between 1976 and 1987. Now a valued contributor to Talk Wrestling Graham has many memories to share of the days he promoted shows featuring the likes of Les Kellett, Adrian Street, the Pallos, the Borg Twins, Count Bartelli, Abe Ginsberg, Lord Bertie Topham, Roy and Tony St.Clair and many more. Graham is now a jazz promoter living in Cheshire.
Vic Brookes
Albert Victor Brookes was a wrestling promoter in Lincolnshire prior to the Second World War and at the Drill Hall, Coventry following War until Dale Martin Promotions took over in 1949.
Bull Ring Enterprises
Birmingham based promoter Duke Badger was a well respected promoter, referee and Master of Ceremonies in the 1960s and 1970’s who gave Tony “Banger” Walsh a helping hand into the wrestling business.
Mike Burns
Pre Second World War we have found Mike Burns promoting at the Skating Rink in Whitley Bay, the Promenade Pier, Plymouth and other southern venues.
Syd Burns
Syd Burns promoted with Jack Dale (Abbey) Sr as B&D Promotions until the time of Dale’s death in 1936. They advertised themselves as “England’s Premier Promotions,” with shows at Plymouth, Rochester Casino, Alcazar Edmonton, South London Palace Ipswich, Hastings and Torquay. Following the death of Jack Dale Syd Burns partnered J.Hart as promoters in southern England. He also worked with boxing promoter and one unknown as BD & H Promotions.
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Jack Callaghan Junior (George Callaghan)
Cambrian Promotions
Headed by former wrestler Taffy Jones, who acted as referee on the shows, promoted in North and Mid Wales in the 1960s.
Cape Promotions
See also Wrestling Federation of Great Britain
Centaur Promotions
1970s promotion of wrestler Adrian Street and C.L.Stephens.
Read our tribute to Adrian Street
Centurion Promotions (Tony Cassio)
Wrestler Tony Cassio turned his hand to promoting quality shows mainly in southern England from 1967 onwards.
Read our tribute to Tony Cassio
Centurion Promotions (Tony Scarlo)
Tony Scarlo also promoted using the name Centurion Promotions. He told Wrestling Heritage: “I started promoting after the wrestling strike in 1970, as an alternative to Dale & Martins. We had a contract with Classic cinemas, it was only a monthly contract to start with, with the promise of more if it proved to be successful. We took a number of named wrestlers from Dale & Martin and were heading to be a very big promotion. We were called Centurian Sporting Promotions. We were very successful, until a show we had at Falmouth when only four wrestlers turned up. Being a ducker and diver, able to think in a tight corner, I convinced the public the other four were in a car accident and I had managed to get four local wrestlers. It all went well until our meeting with Eric Rhodes the manager of Classic Cinemas. When Mr Rhodes asked about Falmouth, before I could say anything my partner said that is the nature of our business & if you don’t like go & fxxk yourself. That was the end of our promotions. You could say we finished at Falmouth because of my partners foul mouth ( pardon the pun ).”
Read our tribute to Tony Scarlo
T.A. Chapman
Boxing promoter who introduced wrestling to Burnley with a joint wrestling/boxing show at Burnley Football Ground on 20th June 1931
Douglas Clark
The British heavyweight champion promoted wrestling in Huddersfield and Leeds.
Read our tribute to Douglas Ckark
Joe Coates
Joe Coates was a 1930s boxing promoter in Derbyshire. Interestingly he sometimes staged combined boxing and dancing shows. The orchestra would play in the boxing ring except for an interlude during which two boxing matches took place. In 1939 he staged his first wrestling show at Brook Street Baths in Sutton in Ashfield, and following the war promoted in Sutton and Kirkby in Ashfield. In the 1950s he promoted in association with Joint Promotions. In 1979 he announced he was to cease promoting due to falling attendances.
Combat Promotions
A name used by Max Crabtree, working in conjunction with Relwyskow & Green in Scotland
Combat Sports
Norfolk based wrestler Terry Goodrum was a wrestler who could create emotions like no other. He wrestled under the name Sandor Kovacs amongst others, promoted under the Combat Sports banner in the midlands during the 1970s.
Read our tribute to Terry Goodrum
George Connell
Boxing and wrestling promoter in Belfast from 1949 and in to the early 1950s, and then in conjunction with Joint Promotions.
Continental Promotions
Manchester based 1960s independent promoters who promoted as far south as Devon and Cornwall.
Continentale Promotions
Dropkick Johnny Peters was one of the most popular wrestlers in southern rings for many years, forming a highly successful tag partnership with Dazzler Joe Cornelius. Like many others he left Joint Promotions and began both promoting, as Continentale Promotions. Eventually the hatchet was buried and Continentale Promotions reached an agreement with Joint that enabled them to work co-operatively and use Joint Promotion wrestlers on their shows.
Read our tribute to Johnny Peters
Gordon Corbett
Sam Cowen
Sam Cowen, not to be confused with wrestler Sam Cohen, was one of the promoters at the Ardwick Stadium in the 1930s and during the war, quite possibly owning the hall. “It was very much a family affair,” Sam’s great nephew told us, as Sam co-promoted with Louis Cowen, Maurice Cowen, Joe Cowen, possibly David Cowen too. Another family member Myra Cowen did the catering. In 1939 he was listed as a Committee member of the British Board of Control.
Sam was born on 23rd April, 1892. In the 1939 census he was single and living in Moreton Avenue, Manchester, giving his occupation a boxing and wrestling promoter.
Will Cozzi
Following a short boxing career Will Cozzi was a well established Kent boxing promoter. With the 1931 wrestling boom he made his move and introduced wrestling to Folkestone in October, 1931. He went on to promote wrestling during the 1930s and 1940s around southern England including the Marine Gardens Pavilion, Folkestone, and the Cavalry Theatre, Canterbury.
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Billy Dale
Jack Dale
Jack Dale Sr
Dale Martin Metro
Formed in the late 1960s Dale Martin (Metropolitan) with offices in Bradford and London. Their Directors were a combination of Morrell/Beresford and Dale Martin personnel, that is J G Abbey, W.L.Beresford, M Judd, N Morrell. Managing Director for (South) was J.G.Abbey, and the Managing Director for (North & Midlands) was Norman Morrell. Dale Martin (Metropolitan) existed in parallel with Morrell-Beresford and Dale Martin.The company was wound up on 3rd December, 1973, one year before Wryton, Best, Morrell and Beresford went into liquidation.
See also Joint Promotions
Tony DeMarto
Tony DeMarto was the Italian Thunderbolt and a name that went all the way back to the 1930s. Here was a man who had shared a ring with the likes of Mario Magisti and Tommy Rigby. Walthamstow based Tony retired and went into the catering business and promoting wrestling in London and around Southern England during the 1960s. He was well respected as a fair promoter by all those who worked for him.
Den Promotions
Den Promotions staged shows in and around Sussex in the 1960s, including a weekly event at Selsey Bill holiday camp on the south coast. The company was owned by two wrestlers, Eric Dudley, The Yorkshire Kid and Steve Stephenson, who wrestled as Steve Courage. Den Promotions courted controversy in the early 1960s by promoting female wrestling contests, which were at the time banned by local councils up and down the country. Read our tribute to Eric Dudley, The Yorkshire Kid
Dunscot Promotions
1970s and 1980s Dundee based promoters who were member of the British Wrestling Alliance. We suspect this may have been run by Dundee wrestler Dave Kearnday (Dave Kidney). His daughter, Lady Dawn, featured on their programmes.
See also British Wrestling Alliance
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Gerald Egan
Primarily a boxing promoter Gerald Egan, from Cork, also promoted professional wrestling. He was promoter at the Ulster Hall, Belfast in 1951. In June of the same year at the Tolka Park in Milltown he promoted a match between Jack Doyle and “Two Ton” Tony Galento in front of more than 22,000 fans.
Ellis Promotions
Wrestler Tony Kolokotroni worked the independent rings of southern England in the 1960s. At other times, as Tony Ellis, he worked behind the scenes as a fight arranger on numerous films and acted on tv as a supporting role actor in programmes that included The Avengers and Corination Street. Tony Ellis also staged wrestling shows, mainly in London, featuring big names such as Count Bartelli in aid of charities for those facing difficulties in society.
Empress Promotions
Whenever wrestlers gather together they like to complain about wrestling promoters. Not where Tony Scarlo is concerned. Tony was one of the most highly respected of promoters with a reputation for always treating his workers fairly. Dwight J Ingleburgh spoke highly of Tony as a promoter, “Most of the promoters were good. The London lads were good payers – Tony Scarlo , Len Britton and people like that. They gave you £10 a job, 10 shillings for bed and breakfast (which actually cost 7 shillings and 6 pence), and £10 for the car. That was good because you could get to London and back for £3.10s in petrol. It was a marathon, though, taking 7 or 8 hours from Barnsley.” Tony promoted mainly around London and held a contract for promoting wrestling at the Classic cinema chain. At times he used the name Empress Promotions.
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Percy Felton
In 1934 Percy Felton formed the Chelmsford Boxing and Gymnastics Club. He then turned his attention to professional wrestling and after less successful attempts by various others he took over wrestling at Chelmsford Corn Exchange in 1938 and established it as a regular and successful venue following the war.
George Ford
Cornish boxing promoter who was one of the pioneer wrestling promoters of Cornwall, beginning in 1934. Venues included: Penzance: Town Hall, Chyandour.
John Ford
A reliable Stoke on Trent promoter who staged shows in the smaller halls and clubs of the Potteries during the 1970s. We understand that John went on to organise the Miss Stoke on Trent competition. Eddie Rose said of his time working for John Ford, “He presented good quality shows that gave opportunity and experience to young wrestlers, and also to experienced ring warriors. You always felt you were working for a man who loved wrestling and paid good a wage for an honest shift.”
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G & N Promotions
Promoting at the Seymour Hall, London, in October 1952 and still putting on shows there in 1958. We would like to learn more.
Gamewell Promotions
This Norwich based outfit stretches the very edges of the Wrestling Heritages timescale, coming into existence at the end of the 1970s. We think it deserves a mention because it embodies so much of the heritage we seek to preserve. Initially the company was set up by wrestler Terry Goodrum, Jim Coillson and Trevor Denny, known to many as a referee and MC on All Star shows, Gamewell Promotions used many of wrestlers nurtured by Brian Trevors. Shows were presented in East Anglian holiday camps and small public halls. Amongst those appearing were established stars such as Brian Maxine, Mal Sanders, and Neil Sands as well as youngster such as Ivan Trevors, Sandon Kovacs, Steve Quintain, Jimmy Ocean, Colin Craig, Johnny Silver, Tony Barron, Robin Howard, Andy Bloomfield and Eddie McCracken, and Ricky Knight. Gamewell Promotions continued operating until the early 1990s. With thanks to Heritage member Andrew Bloomfield.
Read our tribute to Terry Goodrum
GHJ Promotions
In the early 1960s George Wright, Harry Strickland and a wrestler known as Sergeant Johnnie Lawlor joined up to promote wrestling at the Marine Pavilion, Fleetwood and the Pontins Holiday Camp in Blackpool. They took their initials and GHJ International Promotions were formed.
Read our tribute to Harry Strickland
George Grant
George Grant was a boxing promoter who promoted at the Mungo Hall in Glasgow and Caird Hall Dundee. In October 1947 he started promoting at the Caird Hall Dundee in opposition to Relwyskow Promotions. In the late 1940s and into he 1950s he continued promoting in Dundee, possibly in co-operation with George DeRekwyskow.
Arthur Green
Jack Green
Bob Gregory
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Hardwick Promotions
In the 1970s coach excursion owner Harry Lightfoot promoted as Hardwick Promotions around county Durham at places like St Johns Chapel, Newton Aycliffe, Spennymoor and Gateshead Tyne and Wear. The Hardwick Promotions Gym was based at Hardwick Hall, Sedgefield.
J.Hart
One half of B&H Promotions, the other half being Jack Dale Sr
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Independent Promoters (or The Opposition)
A collective name for any promoter who operated outside of the Joint Promotions organisation. Also known as Opposition promoters or The Opposition.
Independent Promotions (Tommy Whelan)
Independent Joint Promotions
Ray Fury was well known to television fans in 1969 when they were shocked to hear that he had gone into business with fellow Joint Promotions wrestlers Frank Rimer and Tony Scarlo and would henceforth be cunningly known as Independent Joint Promotions.
Their shows were first rate and created quite a buzz of excitement amongst fans when the company was formed. They used the best talent available on the independent circuit, men like Josef Zaranoff and Farmer Johnny Allan.
Inter-Continental Promotions
There was a lively wrestling scene on the Isle of Man in the late sixties and early seventies.George Barnabus opened a wrestling gymnasium and trained a number of local boys, including Phil Barry, Mike Young and Bill Kennedy amongst others. Needing somewhere to display their talents it was necessary to form Inter-Continental Promotions, who organised tournaments around the island from their Douglas office.
Inter Continental Promotions, (Winchester)
1970s Winchester based promoters who were members of the British Wrestling Alliance.
See also British Wrestling Alliance.
International Promotions (Olympic International Promotions)
International Wrestling Syndicate
A group of promoters in London, Oakeley and Irslinger amongst them, were known as the International Wrestling Syndicate and had grand plans of working together and building an empire across the country. Their aspirations were more to do with profit than collective responsibility. This was the same group that in 1933 informed Douglas Clark that they recognised Oakeley as All-In Style British Heavyweight Champion even though Clark had won the title under Catch as Catch Can rules in 1931. The Syndicate told Clark that in October 1933 they would require him to defend his Catch as Catch Can title against the winner of an elimination tournament. Furthermore, Clark would be required to enter an elimination tournament to fight the All-In champion Oakeley, who they had apparently unilaterally nominated as champion. Needless to say, Clark did not co-operate.
William Isherwood
William Isherwood and T Bretherton started promoting at Turton Street Stadium in Bolton shortly after the foundry was converted to a stadium in 1935.
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Jerry Jeary Promotions
Jerry was a midlands promoter who presented both outright independent shows and others in co-operation with Joint Promotions in Birmingham and around the Black Country. His main venues were Birmingham Indoor Sports Stadium, Dudley Hippodrome, and Erdington Stadium. He was around from many years from around 1947 until the mid 1960’s. There was controversy in 1949 when objections from the Sunday Observance Society led to the cancellation of his Sunday lunchtime shows in Erdington. He owned the lease for Dudley Hippodrome from 1959 until 1964. Jerry’s wrestling programmes were headed with the phrase “Wrestling – the men’s sport that women admire.” Fans of the time have recalled Jerry standing ringside as the wrestlers entered the hall calling out “Wheel em in.”
Nat Joseph
Irish boxing promoter who followed William Bankier in 1939 as promoter at both the Kings Hall and Ulster Hall in Belfast. Whether he took over from Bankier or worked in partnership we don’t know. He was around for no more than a year until Jim Rice took over.
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Peter Keenan
The one time British and European boxing champion went on to promote boxing and wrestling in Scotland. He brought Randolph Turpin to his Scottish wrestling in 1960 and also worked at times in conjunction with George DeRelwyskow particularly known for big name shows in Paisley and Glasgow. In 1964 the Sunday Mirror reported Keenan was making more money from wrestling than he was from his boxing shows.
Les Kellett
Wrestler Les Kellett was the promoter at the Borough Hall in Hartlepool in the 1940s. In the 1970s he promoted in partnership with Eric Taylor.
See A.T Management/Kellett & Taylor
Vic Kendrick
Vic Kendrick was Managing Director of the Midlands Entertainment Agency. In 1964 he took over the lease of Dudley Hippodrome from Jerry Jeary and, as well as bringing the Kinks and Walker Brothers to Dudley, continued to promote wrestling at the venue. The same year he also bought a former cinema in Stafford, the Sandonia, and put on bingo and wrestling.
Sammy King
Sammy King promoted wrestling in the 1940s and continued into the 1960s working in association with Dale Martin Promotions.
Reggie Kray
Heritage members James Morton and Ballymoss enlightened us to Reggie Kray’s involvement in British wrestling.
James told us, “Kray seems to have promoted at York Hall a couple of times. On 26 January The first top of the bill was to be Assirati v Great Karloff but Bert withdrew and instead Ed Martinson appeared and won on a disq in round 5. The other results were Woolf bt Radcliffe; Chic Linton beat Rafael Sanchez. Levecq bt Jack Arkwright. The previous week 19 January there had been a bill in Canning Town (Empress Promotions) when Johnny Drake bt Sanchez, Crusher Kramer bt Blackburn Roberts. Woolf bt Radcliff and Pedro beat Linton. The promoters were described as ‘a group of local businessmen’. “
Ballymoss added: “The most famous promotion staged by Reggie Kray at the York Hall in Bethnel Green was a special charity night attended by several one time world boxing champions and show business celebrities, eager to be seen with the notorious twins. Top of the bill was a contest between Kray associate Bobby Ramsey (once an accomplished boxer but by now past his prime) and wrestler Roy “Chopper” Levecq. Presumably this was a mixture of boxing and wrestling and presumably Levecq may have hailed from one of the famous boxing and wrestling booths that at that time were still frequently seen at fairs around the country.”
Kray himself was not actively involved in putting on the wrestling shows but recruited professionals inside the business, one of whom was Tony Scarlo.
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Mike Landis
Wrestler, referee and promoter Mike Landis staged many wrestling shows in Lancashire, Cheshire and Derbyshire in the 1960s, giving a break to young hopefuls like Colin Joynson. Dwight J Ingleburgh also made his debut for Mike Landis and had no idea why he was billed as Al Sammy,
D and P Lannon
Promoters at the Palace Pier Pavilion, Hastings St Leonards
Lawson-Taylor Promotions
George Lawson was a one time boxer from Hull and John Taylor was a rugby league hooker with Hull Kingston Rovers. Forming a partnership in the mid 1930s Lawson-Taylor were foremost boxing promoters who, in the late 1930s and into the 1940s, promoted wrestling in Hull in partnership with George DeRelwyskow.
Ernest Lees
Promoter at Bedworth in 1952 and a member of the Wrestling Federation of Great Britain.
Bob Lewis
Promoting in St Austell in 1934.
Jim Lewis
Liberty Promotions
Early 1960s promotions we have found in Widnes and Blackpool. No evidence at all but we suspect the man behind the promotion was Dominic Pye.
Paul Lincoln Promotions
Lincoln-Alexander Promotions
Lincolnshire Wrestling Promotions
In the late 1960s, early 70s Bill and Ron Clarke, who wrestled as the Lincolnshire Poachers, put the Eastern England county well and truly on the wrestling map with their Lincolnshire Wrestling Promotions business. Shows were presented regularly around the county in venues that were too small to attract the attention of Joint Promotions. For many fans, however, the lasting memory of Bill is for the part he played as King Kendo, a Kendo Nagasaki lookalike, though many would claim he looked nothing like him.
Read our tribute to Bill Clarke
William Little
Carlisle turf accountant and boxing promoter who presented wrestling programmes at the Market Hall, Carlisle, in association with Relwyskow & Green Promotions.
Lord Lonsdale
In 1932 there was talk of a Board of Control being set up with the patronage of Lord Lonsdale, ignoring the previous years claims it was said that no Board of Control existed. This was true, of course, and was true every time another Board of Control popped up to say it was going to bring about real change.Although Lonsdale was a patron of wrestling we are unaware of any plans materialising.
Dennis Lord
Dennis Lord turned to wrestling promoting in the 1970s after a serious car accident brought an end to his wrestling career. He made good use of the partnerships he had already made to attract some of the biggest independent wrestlers in the business to tournaments throughout Yorkshire and Scotland. Johnny Saint, Lee Sharron, Terry Goodrum, Toma Hanson, Bill Clarke, Pedro the Gypsy, Butcher Goodman, and Klondyke Jake were amongst those appearing regularly on Dennis’s shows. Those shows varied in size from working men’s clubs, modern sports hall, large public and civic halls, and holiday parks.
Danny Lynch
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MacDee Promotions
Scottish promotion owned by George McDonald of Elgin.
Tom Mallinson
Another who fell foul of the Sunday Observance laws was Leeds promoter Tom Mallinson, fined £5 for promoting boxing and wrestling shows on five Sundays in 1936. Malinson was a former professional boxer and manager.
Ron Mann
Penzance boxing and wrestling promoter of the 1930s Ron Mann was a pilot with Imperial Airays. During the second world war he was one of the survivors when the aircraft-carrier Courageous was sunk by a German submarine.
Manx Sports Promotions
1940s and 1950s promoter at multiple venues around the Isle of Man, run by Arthur Almond of Laxey. Almond worked in co-operation with Billy Riley and Jack Atherton. In Isle of Man Grappling Ron Historyo noted that a drawing card for Almond’s shows were the use of his daughter, Valerie, as Master of Ceremonies.
Tom Marshall
Promoted a few shows at Chelmsford Corn Exchange in 1937.
Matsport Promotions
Jack McClelland (Jack Raymond)
Midlands Entertainment Agency
Managing Director was Vic Kendrick. In 1964 he took over the lease of Dudley Hippodrome from Jerry Jeary and, as well as bringing the Kinks and Walker Brothers to Dudley, continued to promote wrestling at the venue. The same year he also bought a former cinema in Stafford, the Sandonia, and put on bingo and wrestling.
John Mortimer
John Mortimer promoted wrestling at the Connaught Drill Hall, Portsmouth. His story is told in Portsmouth Grappling.
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Tom Newton
Tom Newton was an amateur weight-lifter who turned to wrestling and was a mentor of a young Geoff Condliffe, who went on to become Count Bartelli. He was an a Cheshire amateur champion in 1931 and wrestling professionally from 1939 at the latest. He was referee at Hanley from 1945 and a regular referee in many hall from then until the mid 1960s.
He was also an independent promoter, notably at Chester, Whitchurch and Oswestry. Away from wrestling he was a keen gardener, and was a judge in dahlia competitions.#
He was 63 years old in January, 1971 when he was killed in a coach crash near Munich whilst returning from a ski-ing holiday in Austria. His son, Arthur, who was also a referee, was also injured in the crash.
Newtown Promotions
1970s Essex based promoter that was a member of the British Wrestling Alliance. Asthe company was based in Halstead, the home of Neil Sands, we do wonder if he was connected with the promotion.
See also British Wrestling Alliance
Northern International Promotions (Cyril Knowles)
North Western Promotions (O’Shea Enterprises)
Wrestler Shaun O’Shea used the names North Western Promotions and O’Shea enterprises, staging (non BBBC) boxing tournaments as well as his wrestling shows.
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Jack Oatley
Jack Oatley was an entertainments enrepreneur who promoted wrestling in the 1950s and 1960s. Based in Cheshire he worked under license from Joint Promotions for much of the time. He promoted mainly in the north of England and north Wales. For a couple of years around 1968 and 1969 Oatley staged shows in conjunction with Count Bartelli under the Bartley Promotions banner.
O.K. Promotions
Owned by John Owen, OK were 1940s promoters at the St Mungo’s Hall, Glasgow and, from October 1947, Caird Hall, Dundee. In Dundee O.K. Promotions were rivals of G.F.H. Relwyskow and George Grant, who promoted at the same hall.
Olympic Promotions (Harry Williams)
Owned by boxing referee and promoter Harry Williams. Williams was a boxing referee in the 1924 Olympic Games held in Paris. He introduced wrestling to Exeter in 1933 and promoted extensively throughout southern England from Plymouth to Peterborough.
Read more in Exeter Grappling.
Olympic Promotions (Gori Ed Mangotich)
Pro wrestler Gori Ed Mangotich used the name Olympic Promotions when promoting in Tonbridge in 1962 and 1963.
Read our tribute to Gori Ed Mangotich
Olympic International Promotions
Opposition Promoters (The Independents)
A collective name for any promoter who operates outside of the Joint Promotion organisation. Also known as an Independent Promoter or The Independents.
O’Shea Enterprises
Wrestler Shaun O’Shea used the names North Western Promotions and O’Shea Enterprises, staging (non BBBC) boxing tournaments as well as his wrestling shows.
John Owen
Owned by John Owen, OK were 1940s promoters at the St Mungo’s Hall, Glasgow and, from October 1947, Caird Hall, Dundee. In Dundee O.K. Promotions were rivals of G.F.H. Relwyskow and George Grant, who promoted at the same hall.
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Lew Phillips
Premier Northern Wrestling Promotions
Dominic Pye
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Steve Quintain
Promoted regularly on the pier at Lowestoft throughout the 1980s and early 1990s using a combination of local wrestlers and a good smattering of top names including the likes of Rocco, Finlay, Saint etc.
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Jim Rice
Jim Rice was a boxing promoter who briefly took over as the promoter at the Ulster Hall, Belfast around 1940
Tommy Richie
Thomas Richardson was always known as Tommy Richie. He was a Preston boxer who started promoting boxing shows at the Majestic Skating Rink on 10th February, 1930 shortly after it had been converted from a dance hall in 1929. On 13th February, 1931, he introduced All-In wrestling to Preston, just two months after it had arrived in the country. He became a reputable wrestling promoter noted for his detailed and descriptive advertisements. In 1936 he proudly announced his promotions credentials as a British Wrestling Board of Control member. Wrestling ceased with the sudden closure of the Skating Rink in March, 1941.
Don Robinson Promotions (Westling Spectaculars Limited)
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Shelton Promotions
One time boxing promoter Bill Shelton was a colourful character who promoted wrestling at the Sports Stadium, Brighton, Caledonian Road Baths and the Merry Fiddlers public house at Becontree. In 1950 Shelton Promotions were listed as members of the Wrestling Federation of Great Britain.
Charlie Simpson
Started promoting in Redruth, Cornwall in 1947. Historian Ron Historyo told us: “Perhaps Charlie Simpson’s biggest achievement was to bring down Bert Assirati to fight Chick Knight on June 26th 1947.”
Solak Promotions
1960s south western promotion run by wrestler Al Solak.
Southern Promotions
1960s and 1970s Bournemouth based outfit presenting shows, not surprisingly, in the South.
South Midland Promotions
South Midland Promotions staged shows in the midlands during the 1970s, and was run by Bletchley lightweight Roger Tofield. Bills featured established stars such as Reg Yates, Pete Lindberg and Ray Fury alongside newcomers Ron Marino and, of course, Roger himself. The name South Midlands Promotions was revived by Roger’s son, Sean, in 2012. When Sean staged wrestling at their local Towcester Leisure Centre the Master of Ceremonies was an old favourite, Roger Tofield.
Sporting Clubs
In the 1930s so called Sporting Clubs, like the Doncaster or Nottingham Sporting Clubs, presented wrestling under their own banner, usually with a wrestler managing the show on their behalf.
Tom Storr
Tom Storr was a well known boxing promoter from Colne. In October, 1949, he and wrestler Billy Riley began promoting wrestling at Colne’s Municipal Hall. The partnership continued until Tom died in 1952, aged 72.
Jim Stockdale
Josef Szabo
Josef was an Hungarian refugee who was wrestled professionally . He tried his hand at promoting with mixed results. He could go from a full-house one night to an empty one the next and eventually this ebullient, good humoured wrestler decided to call quits on the wrestling scene and concentrate on leisure management.
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Terry Promotions
1970s promoter based in Bexley Heath and a member of the British Wrestling Alliance. The business was run by Bob Terry, who wrestled under the name Bob Stuart.
J.C.Tooth
Promoted wrestling at the White City, Hull, in 1933
Evan Treharne
Triple Promotions
Wrestler Mike Agusta remembers working for Triple Promotions and it’s a Heritage quest to discover the people behind this promotion.
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Unique Wrestling Promotions
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Wlliam Wallis
The one time boxing promoter William Wallis introduced All-In wrestling to Beverley and Hull in 1932. In 1933 Wallis attempted to promote female wrestling at Madeley Street Baths which led to the banning of wrestling in the hall.
WAW (Wrestling Around the World)
Winshaw Promotions
Based in Lewes Winshaw Promotions were run by brothers Johnny and Ricky Winter, withtheir father acting as secretary. They ran shows in and around Sussex using a surprisingly large roster of local talent and drawing in the occasional well known name.
Frank Woodhouse
A professional boxer from Derby between 1918 and 1921, and then a boxing promoter Frank Woodhouse started putting on wrestling shows at the Highfield Boxing Club in 1932, later moving on to the Old Beckett’s Hall and later the Kings Hall where he promoted in association with Joint Promotions.
World Enterprises Ltd
Promoters at Chelmsford Corn Exchange in 1937 and possibly 1939. Historian Ron Historyo believes Atholl Oakeley may have been the man behind the enterprise. Other halls included Southend Skating Rink.
World Syndicate
London based group, formerly known as B&T syndicate and most likely behind wrestling at The Ring Blackfriars. The B was probably Victor Berliner, boxing promoter and manager of The Ring. They extended out of the capital putting on shows in other towns, including Hulll in 1933.
World’s Wrestling Promotions
C. Wykeham Martin and Thomas Hatton, promoting at the Granby Halls in Leicester in from January 1932.
Raymond Wray Promotions
Raymond Wray of Kilburn, London, was a used car salesman who registered his wrestling promotion business on 5th June, 1947.
Wrestlers
The Promoters A-Z lists quite a few wrestlers that also promoted shows, but there were many others that promated on a small scale that are not listed, Bruno Elrington, Earl Black amongst them. Reality was that in the 1960s dozens of wrestlers on the independent circuit had a go at promoting their own shows. Naturally wrestlers demonstrated uncharacteristic coyness when it came to acknowledging themselves as promoters.
Wrestling Federation of Great Britain
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Wrestling Heritage 