Vintage Wrestling Films: February 2015

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

June Byers vs Cora Combs 1950's Wrestling From Hollywood ladies women professional wrestling Divas

This is a lower quality transfer from my 16mm film, a high quality transfer is available on Classic Wrestling From Film Vol III

Here is another match from the syndicated series filmed from the Hollywood Legion Stadium. This match features two of the greatest women wrestlers of all time. Cora Combs wrestled across the globe and would hold the Woman’s World Championship. She would be elected to the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2013. Her opponent here was one of the few who could be ranked higher on the all time list. Byers' held the Woman’s World Championship for many years finally losing it when she was no longer able to compete after a car accident. Byers was elected to the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2006.

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Lindy Lawrence vs Jacque LaMonte 1950 Wrestling From Hollywood ladies women professional wrestling Divas

This is a lower quality transfer from my 16mm film, a high quality transfer is available on Classic Wrestling From Film Vol II

Based out of Los Angeles, this syndicated program traveled around the country via Kinescopes in the early days of television. Our host, Gary Goodwin, introduces this week’s main event match between two beautiful ladies; Lindy Lawrence vs Jacque LaMonte. This time the match was filmed in Arizona and is the continuation of a series of grudge matches between these battling beauties. I’m not a huge fan of ladies matches but I can honestly say this one is a good match. Look closely and you'll be able to see La Monte even use a power bomb. Lots of action and fun to watch, it may change your mind too.

Gorgeous George vs Woody Strode Wrestling From Hollywood 1950's TV wrestling match

This is a lower quality transfer from my 16mm film, a high quality transfer is available on one of my DVD's. It is available on Classic Wrestling From Film Vol II.

Based out of Los Angeles, this syndicated program traveled around the country via Kinescopes in the early days of television. Our host, sports talk pioneer, Allin Slate introduces this week’s main event match. Here we get to see wrestling legend Gorgeous George in action with the full ring entrance. George is a pioneer of the flamboyant wrestler and for a while was one of the greatest draws in wrestling. His opponent is UCLA football great, actor, wrestler and humanitarian Woody Strode. Strode made a name for himself on the gridiron at UCLA and the CFL. He then followed with a great career on the mat as well as the Silver Screen. This is a very enjoyable match and a great chance to see a longer match featuring these two. Thanks to information from wrestling historian Yohe, the match itself was filmed at the Wilmington Bowl.

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Classic wrestling available on DVD

I have transferred some of my collection of rare or previously unreleased matches from the Golden Era of Professional Wrestling to DVD. These matches were transferred from 8mm and 16mm films that I own not from WWE or TNA sources. Some haven't been seen since the live matches. There is good news and bad news with this disc. First the bad news. Some of the films are silent. They were originally filmed that way so there is no commentary on those matches. All the matches were transferred from film so you hear the sound of the projector in the background and there is some flickering on the picture from the shutter. I don't think either are too distracting, but they are there and I want you to kow about what you will receive.
Now for the good news. This disc will contain an hour of rare Professional Wrestling action. Many of the matches have never been available before and those that are available are difficult to come across. The DVD will be burned on to a quality disc such as a Verbatim or Taiyo Yuden. The DVD has custom menus and chapters so you can navigate to any match. The DVD will be shipped in a slim case with a cover and match listing insert. Now for the matches that have once again been made available;
1) Vincent Lopez vs. Man Mountain Dean 7/24/1935 - SILENT - This match contains 10 minutes of action from the Finals of the International Wrestling Tournament from Los Angeles. The match was a best 2 out of 3 falls battle to crown a new Heavyweight Champion for Lou Daro's territory. Lopez had the distinction of being trained and managed by the great Ed "Strangler" Lewis.
2) Chief Don Eagle vs Walter Palmer 4/28/1950 - SILENT - This is another best 2 out of 3 falls affair from a slightly later era. This is a match from Fred Kohler's territory and took place at the International Amphitheater in Chicago. Here is almost 20 minutes of great wrestling action which goes the full 3 falls. You will get a chance to see Palmer's step over toe hold (he is the originator of the hold made famous by the Funk family) and Eagle's Indian Deathlock. You'll have to get the disc to see how it ends though.
3) Tarzans of the Mat - SILENT - This film contains 2 and a half minutes of clips showing some of the greatest wrestlers ever. You will get to see action from matches involving "Jumpin" Joe Savoldi vs Man Mountain Dean, Jim Londos vs Jim Browning (this is from the match where the Golden Greek regains his championship from one of the most feared shooters ever) and finally Abe "King Kong" Kashey vs "Rough-House" Riley. They are short clips but still a rare opportunity to view these early masters of the game. It is perhaps the only available footage of King Kong in action.
4) Modern Gladiators - SOUND - This film contains 10 minutes of action from matches involving Vic Hill vs Jack Gacek and Ali Baba vs Red Brannigan. Hill and Gacek put on an excellent technical bout. This is also your best chance to see former NWA Heavyweight Champion Ali Baba in mat action.
5) Madcap Melee - SOUND - This film contains a 10 minutes mat mayhem involving Jose Sevilla vs K.O. Koverley and Jules Strongbow vs Hardy Kruskamp. These are a couple very enjoyable matches and a rare opportunity to see two mainstays of California wrestling in Kruskamp and Strongbow. Both would be famous for their wrestling and promoting for nearly 30 years.
6) Mat Maulers - SOUND - This film contains almost 10 minutes of historically significant footage involving Babe Sharkey vs Don Evans and Dutch Rhode (Rohde) vs Ash Mahoney. Sharkey was a holder of several World Heavyweight titles including being billed as Champion here against another popular wrestler in Evans. The final match contains some very early mat action from the Flying Dutchman. Rhode would go on to great fame and fortune with bleached hair and the name "The Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers. This is action from his early years in the sport but you can see the talent that would go on to win him the NWA and WWWF heavyweight Championships.

If you are interested in a copy they are available for $15.00 each which includes shipping and delivery confirmation.

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Classic Wrestling Vol II Available

Volume 2 of my collection of rare and previously unreleased matches from the Golden Era of Professional Wrestling has made it to DVD. These matches were transferred from 16mm films that I own, not from WWE or TNA sources. Some haven't been seen since the live matches. There is good news and bad news with this disc. First the bad news. Some of the films are silent. They were originally filmed that way so there is no commentary on those matches. Also, while the video is very good quality, it isn't Hi-Def. The transfers are from 16mm film so they show the scratches and wear from the source prints. The films were cleaned and lubricated before transfer but I am only able to work with the prints as I found them. Some are probably the only copies in existence and would have been used by TV stations in the 50's. With all that said, I don't think you will be disappointed with the quality.

Now for the good news. The films were transferred using an Elmo TRV-16 transfer projector allowing for a flickerless transfer and then digitally cleaned. This disc will contain almost an hour and a half of rare Professional Wrestling action. Many of the matches have never been available before and those that have been available are difficult to come across. The DVD will be burned on to a quality disc such as a Verbatim or Taiyo Yuden. The DVD has custom menus and chapters so you can navigate to any match. The DVD will be shipped in a slim case with a cover and match listing insert.

The DVD is currently available on EBAY

My auctions on EBAY

Now for the matches that have once again been made available;

Classic Wrestling From Film II

1) Gorgeous George vs Woody Strode -- Wrestling From Hollywood (Syndicated TV) - Sound – 26:15

Based out of Los Angeles, this syndicated program traveled around the country via Kinescopes in the early days of television. Our host, sports talk pioneer, Allin Slate introduces this week’s main event match from the Hollywood Legion Stadium. Here we get to see wrestling legend Gorgeous George in action with the full ring entrance. George is a pioneer of the flamboyant wrestler and for a while was one of the greatest draws in wrestling. His opponent is USC football great, actor, wrestler and humanitarian, Woody Strode. Strode made a name for himself on the gridiron and followed with a great career on the mat as well as the Silver Screen. This is a very enjoyable match and a great chance to see a longer match featuring these two.

2) Wrestling Thrills - Karol Krauser vs Chief Bamba Tabu (also known as Yaqui Joe), Olga Baranoff vs. Hanka Kavetzka, Four Man battle Royal; Bobby Bruns, John Melas, Prince Emir Jo Jo and Tabu –Silent - 8:56

This is a silent film with matches from the early 40’s from cards put on by the legendary, and much hated, outlaw promoter Jack Pfeffer. Pfeffer blew the lid off wrestling’s secrets in the 30’s and spent the rest of his career battling with other promoters. They are all edited matches with endings for each. The first match shows hardcore wasn’t invented in Memphis, WWF or ECW, they were already swinging chairs in the 40’s. The last match is a chance to see wrestling great Bobby Bruns in action. Bruns would hold World Titles and go on to book the St Louis and Buffalo Territories to great heights.

3) Lindy Lawrence vs Jacque La Monte - Wrestling From Hollywood (Syndicated TV) - Sound – 24:30

This is another match from the syndicated series. This time the match was filmed in Arizona and is the continuation of a series of grudge matches between these battling beauties. I’m not a huge fan of ladies matches but I can honestly say this one is a good match. Look closely and you'll be able to see La Monte even use a power bomb. Lots of action and fun to watch, it may change your mind too.

4) Championship Wrestling From the Hollywood Legion Stadium (Syndicated TV) - Fred Blassie & Warren Bockwinkel vs. Joe Pazandak & Mr. Moto – Sound - 15:31

Incomplete film has about the last 5 min of the match, then commentary by Jules Strongbow and commercials to the end of the show. The commentary by Strongbow hypes the upcoming World Series of Wrestling and a later one recaps the match and the wrestlers involved. The commercials are pretty interesting and seem to be valium and speed under fancy names, just what the 50’s housewife needed.

5) Mat Masters – Don Evans vs. Jim Corbett & Primo Carnera vs. Laverne Baxter – Sound – 9:33

This film features action from the 50’s of the popular Don Evans and Laverne Baxter who was a roughhouser who had been wrestling since the 30’s. You also get the chance to see the former Heavyweight Boxing Champion Primo Carnera. Carnera gained the title with the backing of a descent jab and some “connected” managers.