Whipper, Pat, Bunny 1943

Three of the longest serving of the MLW regulars pictured in 1943. Including just their pro service under Corcoran and Tunney, the three had over 100 years combined.

• Al 'Bunny' Dunlop wrestled from about 1932 and then refereed through to 1971 - 39 years
• Whipper Watson wrestled 1940-1971 and around occasionally to late 1970s - 31+ years
• Pat Flanagan wrestled 1942 to 1968 and referred to about 1978 - 36 years

This show, just over 75 years ago this May,  was for the 'Fresh Air Fund' which helps kids get out of the city in the summer and enjoy some country life, still going strong today.

Pedro Martinez took on Ed 'Strangler' Lewis. He didn't 'murder the Strangler' but went down to a headlock then body press in losing the bout. Martinez was a regular here before he branched out and promoted Buffalo. The whole Toronto crew were frequent visitors to Buffalo.

May 13 1943 Maple Leaf Gardens 

The Red Shadow pinned Whipper Watson 39:09

Ed 'Strangler' Lewis pinned Pedro Martinez 8:27 

Fank Sexton defeated Jack Claybourne  15:02

Al 'Bunny' Dunlop beat Jack Wentworth 16:53

Pat Flanagan pinned Jan Gotch 16:16 

Referee: Ernie Powers

Waldo Von Erich: Holland Marsh's gift to the wrestling fraternity

Over the course of his career Wally Sieber aka Waldo Von Erich used about 10 different names before making it big as 'Waldo Von Erich' wrestling brother of Fritz. His early career is mostly unknown or forgotten but he was a big 'star' on Red Garner's Toronto area circuit from 1950 through 1957. He learned the ropes alongside other Garner regulars who went on to bigger things including early training partner Jacques Dubois (Dave McKigney), Mike Scicluna (later Valentino/Baron Scicluna), Ron Doner, and Ron 'Bull' Johnson.

1951

He appeared on a Garner Weston Arena card in November 1950 described as a crowd pleaser from Stuttgart, Germany. He shows up on more Weston arena cards through 1951 including the ad at right vs Gori 'Ed' Mangotich. Gori was a Toronto native and big star overseas who worked on Garner cards for many years.

 In July 1951 they played up his 'debut as a pro wrestler' in his hometown. At 200lbs in the Arena in the town of Bradford (within the Holland Marsh) billed as Baron Von Sieber- hometown boy he spent the next 6-7 years wrestling for the Richmond Hill, ON based Central Canadian Wrestling Association (CCWA).

Right from the start they played to his family heritage with the Baron part, but in write-ups often just 'Wally Sieber -Holland Marsh's gift to the wrestling fraternity.'

He held the CCWA's Canadian heavyweight  title for a time and hone his craft on the competitive and fast paced circuit before the big league came calling.

1954

In 1954 he was named as one of Canada's most promising wrestlers by Barry Lloyd Penhale in 'Wrestling As You Like It' magazine. He was named alongside Frank 'Scotty' Thompson, Ferenz (Jimmy) Sziksay, Bill Curry (Kasaboski star), Stan Holek (aka Stan Lisowski/Nielson), Tony Baillargeon, Sandy Scott, and Maurice 'Mad Dog' Vachon

In September 1957 he appeared on a Tunney associated card in Bradford (likely promoted by Tommy Nelson) in what was called his 'debut for the MLW troupe.' Now the 'German Oak' he faced tough Tiger Tasker and a month later walked the ramp at Maple Leaf Gardens to take on Dick Hutton. This was during Hutton's $1000 challenge and Seiber would fall, as many others had, to Hutton's abdominal stretch.

An added note to that 1957 Bradford card was that Fritz Von Erich was teamed with Dick Hutton vs The Fabulous Kangeroos. Fritz was a top heel here and he and Wally appeared on many of the same cards over the next year.

Even at MLG his name continued to change, sometimes Baron Von Sieber, other times Waldo Von Sieber then sometimes just Wally or even Walter. The 'Von Erich' brotherhood would happen away from Toronto and when Wally returned in November 1964 as Waldo Von Erich, Fritz was long gone from here. The Von Erich 'brothers' never teamed in this area though Waldo remained Fritz's 'brother' in the stories in the mags up to the late 1970's and beyond.

'This wrestling reporter can go all the way back to around 1955 when I first met Wally Sieber, it was the summer time, and the place was ''Sunny Side Beach'' we were both in our late teens, I recognized Wally as soon as saw him, he was tall, very muscular, and he may have had blond hair. 

Wally was with a buddy, and they were both having a great time by the huge swimming pool that was the hallmark of the beach area, we chatted for a while, and he told me that he appreciated when he was recognized out side of a wrestling ring, he was looking forward to his future as a wrestler  

Over the ensuing years we met on several more occasions, we met at a summer dance hall in Jacksons point, at a wrestling event in Detroit's Cobo Hall, as well an event at Buffalo's War Memorial Auditorium. As well Wally and The Fabulous Kangaroos Al Costello and Roy Saint Clair, and myself had a great dinning experience in a Lebanese restaurant in Detroit.

And there was the time when Wally literally got his hands on me, this happened in a dressing room at M.L.G. it was if memory serves me correct around 1964. I had popped in to see who was there, in the hopes of getting some dressing room candids. This can be tricky, as with anyone if you don't ask first it can result in a nasty incident, however Wally was in the room at the time and we got to talking about injuries from wrestling, as well as other sports.

There was a large adjustment table in the room, some of the other wrestlers who were there used the bench for abdominal crunches to warm up ahead of their up coming match. I mentioned to Wally that I had been in discomfort from a very stiff neck at the time. He offered to adjust my neck on the bench, so with some trepidation I got on the bench on my back and without the benefit of any pre-adjustment  loosening up, he applied what was best described as a full nelson on me, followed by a quite forceful backwards pull. I motioned to him that 'I give up' and he released me and told me I should feel better after a while.

While all this had been going on, little did I know that the boss himself, Frank Tunney, had come into the room while I was on the bench. Being some what embarrassed at the time I said hello to Tunney, who gave me a quizzical look. I got to be man handled by a 245lb. brute of a wrestler, and live to talk about it. '
-Roger

Waldo earned his first major title bout locally in 1964 against WWWF champ Bruno Sammartino. He faced Bruno twice in 1965 and again in 1976 at MLG. 

In 1965 Waldo teamed with Gene Kiniski. Big Gene had previously teamed with Fritz here in 1957 creating a monster tag that caused havoc all over the area. The new tag of Waldo and Gene feuded with Whipper Watson and Johnny Valentine.

He took an extended absence through the early 1970's as he traveled the world before returning to appear both at MLG and the outer circuit alongside the WWA/McKigney stars. The 'Lake circuit' that included Cleveland, Buffalo, and Detroit, had a busy schedule for our local guys.

He stayed a regular here though Mar 4 1979 when he wrestled his last bout at the Gardens against Johnny Yachetti (The Beast)

I also met Waldo some years back and he was a very nice and gracious guy, not at all like his wrestling persona. The pic below by Roger taken in the Buffalo dressing room reflects that.

Photos- and thanks! - to Roger Baker

For more on the CCWA do a search at right or click on tags including Red Garner, CCWA, etc

Pensive in Buffalo 

Raphael Halpern: The Wrestling Rabbi

  It's December 1961 and top villain Bulldog Brower is destroying everything in his path- literally. Both wrestlers and whatever happens to be in his way at the time. Promoter Frank Tunney was feeding Brower a steady diet of matmen and Brower was disposing of them all, Whipper, Yukon Eric, Kiniski, Stasiak, and on.

  Coming into the area was the 'Wrestling Rabbi' Raphael Halpern. This was no gimmick, Halpern, originally from Austria was an ordained Rabbi with a full background in amateur wrestling and ran several bodybuilding clubs at the time he first appeared at Maple Leaf Gardens.

  He ran up numerous wins before Tunney decided to feed him to the Bulldog in March 1962. Brower had lost his first bout 2 weeks prior to Bill 'Brute' Soloweyko (later aka Klondike Bill) by dq and after beating the Brute in a re-match was again frothing at the mouth for the highly touted challenge by Halpern. The Rabbi was said to be un-defeated not only here, but in his entire pro career.

  The bout sees Halpern using an array of high flying moves and his speed keeps Brower on his toes and unable to mount his usual destructive offense. The bout went on late due to a long tag bout between Whipper and The Brute vs the Tolos Brothers and was called in the 11th minute due to curfew. The crowd roared its applause when ref Joe Gollob raised Halpern's arm as the winner by decision.

  Bulldog celebrated his 2nd loss in 27 bouts at MLG by 'kicking a bald headed man when the crowd surged about the ramp as he (Brower) departed the ring.'

  While he was in town Halpern appeared at several synagogues for lectures and was photographed giving Toronto mayor Nathan Phillips a prayer book brought over from Israel.

  The re-match with Brower a week later saw Brower get the win when Halpern hit the floor and couldn't return. Halpern continued to appear both in Toronto and in Hamilton and on Mar 22 1962 the MLG card was held with some proceeds going to about 120 organizations under a banner of 'The Israeli Group.'

  Halpern beats Brower by dq in the main event but loses the re-match the following week by count-out again.  That was the last bout here for Halpern who soon returned to Israel and was said to

popularize the pro sport there before retiring in 1973. He passed on in 2011 at the age of 87

Very interesting guy, google him for more info

Thanks to Roger Baker

-AC