Episode 69 – Happy Halloween

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https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/ezswfi6nskgzp6hb/Episode_69arvtq.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode, we discuss Martin “Farmer” Burns training James J. Jeffries for his bout with Jack Johnson on July 4, 1910. Update Dan and I talk about my new project and how an earlier writer unfairly portrayed Joe Stecher’s world title run from 1925 to 1928. Shooter in a Worked World is available

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Killer Dill (1947)

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On August 2, 1947, Max M. King Productions released Killer Dill (1947), a crime film that professional wrestler Mike Mazurki plays “Little Joe”, a henchman playing both sides of a gang feud.   Stuart Erwin stars as Johnny “Killer” Dill, a lingerie designer and salesperson, who people mistake for a gangster. After accidentally involving himself in a gang war, his

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Londos Wrestles at Odeon Theater

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Jim Londos developed into professional wrestling’s biggest box office star during the 1930s. Londos wrestled main events against Ed “Strangler” Lewis and Jim Browning at baseball stadiums. These matches drew crowds of more than 30,000 fans for the first time since the second Gotch vs. Hackenschmidt in 1911. When Londos wrestled in Greece, Londos drew crowds estimated to be at

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Episode 68 – Start a Promotion

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https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/w8xx4379qy8ai3ti/Episode_68be7jw.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode, I discuss the beginnings of the regular St. Louis wrestling promotion in 1921. I also discuss the Mr. McMahon documentary on Netflix. Update Due to illness and medical appointments, we are a little late on releasing the episode this week. Shooter in a Worked World: John Pesek and the 1920s Promotional

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Mike Romano Dies in the Ring

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Professional wrestlers dying in the ring is rare but occasionally happens. In 1936, 5,000 wrestling fans in Washington, D.C. inadvertently booed a dead man at the end of the Mike Romano vs. “Irish” Jack Donovan match at Griffith Stadium on Thursday, June 25, 1936. The 40-year-old Romano was putting Donovan over in a worked match. Newspapers inaccurately reported Romano as

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Episode 67 – In the News

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https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/san6f9gun6iekev6/Episode_678y2ti.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode, Dan and I get caught up on all the news that is unfit to print. We save the history topic for the end of this episode. Time Stamps WWE News – 7:00 AEW News – 17:15 Divided Championship Period between 1925 and 1928 – 41:10 Shooter in a Worked World has

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Episode 64 – St. Louis’ First Pro Wrestler

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https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/spdmc7h6u67pu7gw/Episode_645yst8.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode, I discuss the professional wrestling and refereeing career of St. Louis’ first professional wrestler, George Baptiste. Update With this episode, we will now be a weekly podcast. We may do review episodes occasionally. Dan will also be returning to the show in two weeks. Shooter in a Worked World: John Pesek

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Shooter in a Worked World Available

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John “The Nebraska Tigerman” Pesek started wrestling professionally in 1915, but Pesek was more suited to the 1885 professional wrestling ring. By 1915, wrestlers worked their matches. Skilled lightweight wrestler Clarence Ecklund trained Pesek in catch-as-catch-can wrestling. Pesek developed into a skilled hooker or submission wrestler. Pesek never liked working and wrestled contests in his early career. Eventually, Pesek did

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Episode 63 – Divided Championship

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https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/n8uwavgcmk7ne2vs/Episode_6375896.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode, we discuss 1925-1928, when both Ed “Strangler” Lewis and Joe Stecher claimed the World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship. Update Caleb, Trey and I discuss Dan’s suggestion that we go to a weekly podcast. Shooter in a Worked World: John Pesek and the 1920s Promotional Wars is available on Amazon. I also recommend

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