The old Wallace & Ladmo Show in Phoenix featured Mr. Wallace and Ladmo as the "babies" and Gerald as a "heel", in this long-lasting Phoenix kid show.
Gerald had a monster, a big lumbering thing that was forever attacking Ladmo, while Wallace was oblivious to the same.
There was more to it behind the scenes than most people know.
Wallace, real name Bill Thompson, was a big fen of wrestling and an occasional announcer at the old Phoenix Madison Square Garden. He even did boxer vs. wrestler stints against Kangaroo Karson and one of the Comancheros where he boxed and they wrestled.
Wallace was good friends with Bulldog Don Kent.
Kent was the man behind the mask, playing the monster.
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Sunday, March 27, 2016
Death Of Don Wilson
New Mexico based super fan, convention organizer, wrestling writer and occasional promoter, who also had some dealings in Arizona, Don Wilson, passed away last week.
Geoffrey
Geoffrey was a somewhat minor player in the wrestling game, but did generate a good deal of heat during his stay He was not wrestler, nor a manager in the true sense of the word, but worked for a time as the valet for Gorgeous George.
Dressed in a tuxedo, he would spray the air with air freshener, help the Human Orchid Man off with his robes and help poof up his hair.
The reaction of the fans was predictable.
Whatever happened to Geoffrey remains speculative and efforts to find out for this blog were fruitless. Maybe someone else knows.
For a while, he was a regular in Arizona when George appeared at the Phoenix Madison Square Garden
.
Dressed in a tuxedo, he would spray the air with air freshener, help the Human Orchid Man off with his robes and help poof up his hair.
The reaction of the fans was predictable.
Whatever happened to Geoffrey remains speculative and efforts to find out for this blog were fruitless. Maybe someone else knows.
For a while, he was a regular in Arizona when George appeared at the Phoenix Madison Square Garden
.
Friday, March 25, 2016
Nostalgic Card
June 1973, Phoenix
1. Igor beat Ben Justice-dq
2. Luis Martinez beat Killer Brooks dq
3. Darling Dagmar beat Diamond Lil
4. Jerry Kozak beat Mr Wrestling
5 Sheik double dq Dory Funk Jr.
1. Igor beat Ben Justice-dq
2. Luis Martinez beat Killer Brooks dq
3. Darling Dagmar beat Diamond Lil
4. Jerry Kozak beat Mr Wrestling
5 Sheik double dq Dory Funk Jr.
Thursday, March 24, 2016
The Vanishing Of Marie Vagnone
Not even her trainer, Mildred Burke, knew what happened to her.
In the 1970s, Marie Vagnone was a top draw, winning a version of the world title recognized in the west and gearing for a possible match with Moolah to unify the crown.
Marie had numerous showings in Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma and Flagstaff, facing Texas Red, Jane Sherrill, Rose Evans and others.
She was easily one of the most popular woman wrestlers around as she gained fans, contracts and magazine coverage.
Then, she just vanished, without anyone knowing what became of her.
To this day, no one seems to know.
It is like she dropped into a hole.
If anyone knows of her location and status, this blog would love to know, as would a load of older fans.
At Arizona Wrestling History, we have no idea what became of her.
In the 1970s, Marie Vagnone was a top draw, winning a version of the world title recognized in the west and gearing for a possible match with Moolah to unify the crown.
Marie had numerous showings in Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma and Flagstaff, facing Texas Red, Jane Sherrill, Rose Evans and others.
She was easily one of the most popular woman wrestlers around as she gained fans, contracts and magazine coverage.
Then, she just vanished, without anyone knowing what became of her.
To this day, no one seems to know.
It is like she dropped into a hole.
If anyone knows of her location and status, this blog would love to know, as would a load of older fans.
At Arizona Wrestling History, we have no idea what became of her.
A Comeback & Book Autographing Sessions
Well on his way to being cancer free, author Dale Pierce who also manages as Time Traveler, will be expected to resume both managing and a number of books signings in varied western states in the summer.
To readers of this page, his book on Arizona wrestling trivia and loads of results may be of extreme interest. It may be ordered at http://www.lulu.com/shop/dale-pierce/the-history-of-arizona-wrestling/paperback/product-22356150.html and is being sold at certain shows for varied promotions now.
The book features countless big names as well as regional people who appeared in Arizona from the 1880s onward. Blassie, Gorgeous George, Sheik, Tito Montez, Don Arnold, Thesz, Ellis, Randy Savage, The Lumberjacks, Section 8, Rogers, Hutton, Bobby Jaggers, the Funks, Londos, Ali Pasha, Ken Lucas, Eddie Sullivan, Mike Gordon, Ray Gordon, Mad Dog Vashon, Ricky Romero, Don Fargo, Jerry Graham, Billy Graham, Billy Anderson, Chris Colt, Ron Dupree, Les Thatcher, Karbo, Bob Yuma, Super Argo, Mascaras, Tony Marino, Jack Ringer, Jake Roberts, Iron Mike and many more are all there.
To readers of this page, his book on Arizona wrestling trivia and loads of results may be of extreme interest. It may be ordered at http://www.lulu.com/shop/dale-pierce/the-history-of-arizona-wrestling/paperback/product-22356150.html and is being sold at certain shows for varied promotions now.
The book features countless big names as well as regional people who appeared in Arizona from the 1880s onward. Blassie, Gorgeous George, Sheik, Tito Montez, Don Arnold, Thesz, Ellis, Randy Savage, The Lumberjacks, Section 8, Rogers, Hutton, Bobby Jaggers, the Funks, Londos, Ali Pasha, Ken Lucas, Eddie Sullivan, Mike Gordon, Ray Gordon, Mad Dog Vashon, Ricky Romero, Don Fargo, Jerry Graham, Billy Graham, Billy Anderson, Chris Colt, Ron Dupree, Les Thatcher, Karbo, Bob Yuma, Super Argo, Mascaras, Tony Marino, Jack Ringer, Jake Roberts, Iron Mike and many more are all there.
Big Dogg
Big Dogg, real name William Lawrence Hamilton, has been making a name for himself as a crafty veteran in his Texas home base. One can imagine the heat a "black cowboy" generates there. He has also been seen across the border in Mexico and across country in California. While he has yet to appear in Arizona, odds are he will be stopping there as wrestlers traveling by car used to do long ago when traveling between Texas and California.
One may find many of his matches on You Tube. Check him out there, if you have not yet seen him.
Dogg also made recent showings in Matamoros, Mexico, where he received a big push, first as heel and then as baby, easily making the change when he saved the local fan favorites with a run in. The people who were shouting for his scalp earlier on were treating him as a hero once he made the shift from bad to good.
Dogg was trained at the Shawn Michaels wrestling school in Texas and as such, knows what he is doing out there.
Not everyone loves the man, who is a vocal critic of wrestlers who will not invest in gear, backyarders passing themselves off as pros and people who show no respect for the game. Old school all the way and many long time fans will not see that as a bad thing. His Twitter account, Facebook and web articles have sometimes provoked displeasure from certain small time promoters and wrestlers who do not yield to his way of thinking. So be it, as "protecting the business," and "Kay Fabe" has gone the way of the dinosaur, barring some badly needed hold outs like Dogg. he is a throwback to a dying era and proud of it.
Hopefully, something will come to pass to get him on some Arizona cards.
One may find many of his matches on You Tube. Check him out there, if you have not yet seen him.
Dogg also made recent showings in Matamoros, Mexico, where he received a big push, first as heel and then as baby, easily making the change when he saved the local fan favorites with a run in. The people who were shouting for his scalp earlier on were treating him as a hero once he made the shift from bad to good.
Dogg was trained at the Shawn Michaels wrestling school in Texas and as such, knows what he is doing out there.
Not everyone loves the man, who is a vocal critic of wrestlers who will not invest in gear, backyarders passing themselves off as pros and people who show no respect for the game. Old school all the way and many long time fans will not see that as a bad thing. His Twitter account, Facebook and web articles have sometimes provoked displeasure from certain small time promoters and wrestlers who do not yield to his way of thinking. So be it, as "protecting the business," and "Kay Fabe" has gone the way of the dinosaur, barring some badly needed hold outs like Dogg. he is a throwback to a dying era and proud of it.
Hopefully, something will come to pass to get him on some Arizona cards.
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