Episode 68 – Start a Promotion

F'dan episodju, I discuss the beginnings of the regular St. Louis wrestling promotion in 1921. I also discuss the Mr. McMahon documentary on Netflix.

Aġġornament

Due to illness and medical appointments, we are a little late on releasing the episode this week.

Shooter f'Dinja Maħduma: John Pesek and the 1920s Promotional Wars is available on Amazon in ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

john-contos-card-in-1923

Newspaper article about John Contos’ St. Louis Wrestling Card in 1923 (Public Domain)

Main Content

In December 1921, a group of St. Louis businessmen worked with Ed White’s Chicago wrestling promotion to host a match at the Odeon Theater, which drew 400 fans. From these humble beginnings rose the St. Louis wrestling promotion, a powerhouse in professional wrestling from 1920s to 1982.

John Contos took over the promotion in mid-1922. Contos moved the wrestling cards from the Odeon Theater to St. Louis’ Old Coliseum. Contos also moved the matches from mats on top of a stage to a wrestling ring.

Fil 1924, Contos left St. Louis to manage Dan Kolov. His nephew Tom Packs took over the promotion. Packs developed it into a national powerhouse. The promotion that drew 400 fans to its first card drew 17,000+ fans to St. Louis University Field on May 30, 1925, to watch Joe Stecher take the world title from Stanislaus Zbyszko.

Reviżjoni

I discuss the six-part Netflix series, Mr. McMahon, which dropped at the end of September 2024.

You can leave a comment or ask a question about this or any post on my Facebook page jew Twitter profile.

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