The story of the Ramp!

Best of mapleleafwrestling.com -Originally posted 2015

It's one of the most memorable parts of Maple Leaf Wrestling no matter when you attended cards at MLG. The Ramp. An elevated walkway to the ring that was originally put in to protect the heels, specifically Nanjo Singh, from the wrath of the fans. In 1948 when it was first used, the weekly cards were often brought to rioting by the heels of the day. Whipper Watson was in his prime and the star of the show. That made any of his opponents public enemy #1. In particular the dreaded Nanjo Singh.

Nanjo and Whip had been feuding for years by 1948. Nanjo may have been the inspiration for The Sheik years later. A lot of biting, eye gouging, and foreign objects. It wasn't all an act either. Frank Tunney later noted that the only way he could get Singh to calm down was to threaten to call the cops. That's the only thing that scared him. He later went to prison (1958) for the murder of his wife in Philadelphia.

Whenever the fans got so enraged that they tried to attack Nanjo, he escaped under the ring. He stayed there until they could clear a track to the dressing rooms, usually with police and other wrestlers to form a protective line. The fans were used to this escape by then. Wild Bill Longson had used it on many occasions in the 1940s mostly versus Whipper. The fans loved Watson feverishly. Even with the escape under the ring Nanjo still had to fight his way to the hallway that led to the dressing rooms, with fans attacking, throwing drinks, chairs, and anything else they could find. They earned new tricks too, including lighting papers on fire and throwing them under the ring to ‘smoke him (Singh) out – like a porcupine.'

By 1948 Tunney had tried different measures to keep Nanjo both in the ring - and away from fans. The wire fence match, an early precursor to the cage match was used to varying degrees of success.

In May 1948 during one of those bouts Singh was battering Watson into the ring post when a female fan jumped up and attacked Singh over the fence. The police rushed in to restrain her and Singh tossed Watson high and up out of the ring to crash down on the floor. Referee Cliff Worthy counted Whipper out while Nanjo strutted and taunted the fans from the ring. As they were carrying Whipper out on a stretcher Nanjo pointed and screamed 'That's your champion.' The fans were enraged again. There were 11,000 in attendance and about 1,600 at ringside. Joe Perlove remarked in the Star the next day that while there were 1,600 at ringside '3000 tried to get at him.' As the police and other wrestlers tried to shield him he somehow made it safely to the back.

Nanjo will need it more than any of the others...

Anytime the fans got out of hand in those days Tunney got flak from the Ontario Athletic Commission. That may have led to his decision to create a safer passage for Nanjo next time the two met. Right from the start it was called the ramp. An 'elevated ramp from rink-side gate to ring apron which will be erected for the occasion. Nanjo will need it more than any of the others and it is questionable if even that will help him escape the wrath of the customers.'

That first bout with the ramp in place went the same way. Whipper had dropkicked Singh off the apron to the floor where he was counted out. The fans gathered around him and Nanjo awoke in a hurry and jumped back in the ring to attack both Whipper and his manager Phil Lawson. Whipper took the upper hand while the fans crowded around the ring. Then Nanjo went through the ropes and 'stepped out on that blankety-blank ramp and walked over the heads of the frothing populace.'

Perlove opined that Tunney should have cared more about the fans that were unable to get their frustrations satisfied due to the easy exit by Singh on the ramp. Tunney was said to be quiet about the outcome until notified that Nanjo had split his head for 11 stitches upon whence he elicited a wide grin.

At any rate it was a success, It had protected Singh from the fans and as time went on there were other advantages to having the ramp there. Wrestlers could use the structure as part of the story-line (see slams, suplex's, etc) and more importantly it created an entrance that the whole arena could see, no matter where you were seated in the vast MLG.

It was built out of wood, basically a solid structure with a few steps built on at the front to enable the wrestlers to step up and walk to the ring where the end of the ramp met the height of the canvas. It was a solid piece. They don't make stuff like that anymore. It was initially kept in the basement of Maple Leaf Gardens where they kept the ring until Wrestling nights. While the ring was set up downstairs to enable training the ramp appears to have been stacked in a corner. A bunch of pieces put together by the rink staff and only put together on Thursday nights.

Was it the same ramp we saw in the 1970's and early 1980's? Basically, but it did change and evolve a bit over time. The early days saw the steps very close to the hall. So the wrestler came out and was already up the stairs before most of the fans saw them. By the mid to late 1970's the ramp was a bit further out from the hall. The wrestler would take a few steps out behind the curtain before hitting the stairs. The actual ramp shrunk substantially over the years; but so did the ring.* While originally built as a short term solution to an age old problem the ramp ended up being a mainstay of the weekly cards and stayed in place through the WWF days until they deemed it un-necessary.

In my era there was a lot of action on the ramp. It made for some memorable moments. Likewise back in the 1950's.* The fan favorites could soak in the cheers on their way out while the heels could taunt the crowd and turn up the jeers while they lingered on the ramp. While it served as an additional area to wrestle and brawl it also worked as an easier way to go over the ropes without hitting the floor an additional 4 feet below.

*In those days the ring was huge, with an apron so wide that they could walk around the outside easily. In tags the second referee could find a spot there to stay out of the way.
   
Whipper Watson slammed Lou Thesz on the ramp in 1956 and beat the count back to the ring to claim the NWA title. Whipper used the ramp to his advantage many times since he had first walked it in 1948 and others used it as an additional tool to enrage the fans. In the 1960's Bulldog Brower (just barely!) unable to  lift the actual ramp oftentimes just pulled up the stairs and heaved them around. In a 1962 bout against NWA champ Buddy Rogers he pinned the champ with his feet up on the ropes, claimed the championship belt, and was celebrating with his new title on the ramp before the result was overturned.

 'This wrestling photographer was very familiar with the Gardens ramp, since I had on many occasions climbed the steps leading to the ramp. Standing on the ramp offered me opportunity to get many dramatic photos of the wrestlers both on the ramp, as well as in the ring.

My favorite entrance to the ring side floor was climbing the steps to the ramp, take a calculated jump down to the concrete floor with my cameras, and then I was able to roam the ring side, always looking for that great wrestling shot.

However my luck ran out one night many years ago. One of wrestling's greatest villains Dick The Bull Dog Brower  was wrestling on this night, his opponent had managed to inflict a head cut on Brower who was in a very vile mood.  I sensed an opportunity to get a close up bloody shot of Brower on the ramp so 

Moments before attacking Roger! 

I climbed the steps, and found myself just a few feet from this very violent man, I took my picture and then he came rushing at me, without hesitation I leaped off the ramp, at this moment burdened down with a bulky twin lens camera, also a 135mm camera, and a strobe flash with a large power pack.

I hit the concrete floor off balance with my equipment all over me, it was a very nasty and painful fall that I took. It took me a minute or two to get back on my feet. Thankfully Brower went back to the ring. I landed on the floor which was a corridor between the dressing rooms on the south side, and the north side of the gardens, while I struggled to get to my feet a wrestler that I'd done a prior story on was standing feet from were I fell and he had a grin on his face, that bugged me, but It's all part of the game.'

I hit the concrete floor off balance with my equipment all over me, it was a very nasty and painful fall that I took. It took me a minute or two to get back on my feet. Thankfully Brower went back to the ring. I landed on the floor which was a corridor between the dressing rooms on the south side, and the north side of the gardens, while I struggled to get to my feet a wrestler that I'd done a prior story on was standing feet from were I fell and he had a grin on his face, that bugged me, but It's all part of the game.'

-Roger

Near title changes and actual title change celebrations, while starting in the ring, inevitably ended up on the ramp with the belts held high and the center of the spotlight. In the 1970's The Sheik owned the ramp. He would race out and attack his opponent, often before they had a chance to get in the ring. Some bouts took place entirely outside the ring in those days. 

A card in Oct 1977 was notable as there was no ramp. They had just completed some cards at the EX while MLG was under renos. That may have been the only time it was absent, perhaps lost in the cleanup and renovations. 

The Fans, and the heroes...

In 1980 Ray Stevens was attacked by a fan as he was leaving the ring following a tag bout with he and Jimmy Snuka against Flair and Dewey Robertson. After the fan had climbed up on the ramp Stevens kicked and knocked him off  leaving him unconscious on the floor. Once Stevens and Snuka had departed they put the fan back up on the ramp where he was put on a stretcher and examined by Gardens trainers.

In the late 1970's early 1980's Ric Flair was a master at using the ramp to his advantage. With his extravagant robes for maximum visual effect he would stop to soak in the crowd and turn to face the fans around MLG. During bouts he could escape to the relative safety of it, and from his first appearances in Toronto, he also took the fight to the ramp.

During Flair and Harley Race's brawls over the NWA Title they battled back and forth exchanging suplexes and piledrivers on the hard wooden structure. Fans all over the arena were able to see unobstructed by the ropes and was much better than the two fighting outside the ring on the far side to where you were seated. Race with his falling head butt out on the ramp with Flair moving aside just in time. The refs start counting. It seemed they hit 30 - 40 before they came back to the ring.

 At ringside in that era  you were able to get up close and personal at certain times. The ushers were fairly vigilant but it depended on who was working. Oftentimes they were as into it as the fans so you were able to crowd the ramp as the action spilled out. Other times they kept you in the seats which were about 7-8 feet away from the ramp, separated by a metal rail. It also helped for photographs without having the ring ropes in your way. They also used the ramp a bit around the circuit at different times.
   
When Jack Tunney switched to WWF in 1984 Hulk Hogan was a big hit on the ramp. It was made for him at that time with the cupped ear thing he did. When he was here in 1981 vs Andre The Giant he had used the ramp to give a good arm flip-off to the fans. Hated heel back then. 

In later years far removed from MLG and the NWA days in Toronto, many wrestlers including Flair and Hogan, when asked about wrestling in Toronto inevitably say - that Ramp! Nowadays nearly every wrestling (and other sports, concerts etc) show has a ramp of some kind somewhere.

And the 2$ question is what happened to it after the Gardens became a Loblaws? Did it actually become the dock at Jack Tunney's lakeside. Was it used to build a shed at Ed Tunney's house? Did it become firewood? Or was it just tossed out in the many dumpsters of garbage removed from the site. If you know please share it!

For those who asked yes there were other ramps at times. At London Gardens, and they also used it at the Kitchener Aud. 

-AC

Photos by AC & mapleleafwrestling.com collection
Circa 1950 main pic out of the MLG book 1981
Brower by Roger Baker- and Thanks to Roger!

Below; the ramp through the years

Early TV Wrestling in Ontario Part 1

Best of mapleleafwrestling.com: Excerpt from 'From Nanjo to the Sheik...'

As early as 1940 it was being discussed in Toronto papers of how Television would impact the country's game - hockey. In New York they were televising boxing and other sports to movies theaters. Conn Smythe, owner of the Maple Leafs and MLG had been invited to take in a Football game at a theater in New York and while not duly impressed remarked 'It was like the old flickers, but remember the handicap of making these impressions outdoors and on a cloudy day.'

In 1947 the President of RCA suggested that Television may soon be received in Toronto and Hamilton from across the border in Buffalo, NY. As the 'TV receiver' was available in the U.S. for 200-300$, it was reasonable to expect the Canadian price to be 395-435$. At that point there was said to be 45,000 TV's in use in NY and another 35,000 in the rest of the U.S. with a projected 160,000 over the next year.

 An article claimed that of all sports, boxing probably televises best, because the camera can focus on the ring and remain in fixed position. Basketball and Football came next. Baseball was said to present a problem because of the players spread out, No mention of wrestling and already, promoters in boxing were blaming TV for low attendance at bouts.

Football too was blaming short attendances on TV while other sports blamed what was on at the same time as their event. A boxing promoter claimed to have been going broke as his weekly show took place at the same time Milton Berle was on TV.

Conn Smythe was quoted in Nov 1948 as saying 'Sure, I'll go for television if the television people pay me the equivalent of a capacity house each time they televise.' 

At the same time Frank Tunney felt television in the homes would hurt him grievously on rainy, snowy, or cold nights. 'I know it would hurt my business on such nights, Tunney said, his fingernails starting to bleed just at the thought.' 'Otherwise I couldn't say just how it would affect boxing and wrestling.'

By 1949 TV's were on sale in Toronto by General Electric with the sales byline of 'see and hear your favorite programs daily, hockey, fights, wrestling, and news.' You had to order now or face wait times of up to 6 months to see 'Wrestling matches from Buffalo,' and 'Boxing matches from Madison Square Garden.' You also needed $599 - installation extra, plus each household needed a license. The CBC was said to be moving with 'extreme caution.'

By 1950 those lucky enough to own a TV in the Toronto area could look forward to 2 channels. WHAM from Rochester, and WBEN in Buffalo airing from about 12 noon to 12am. Wham had wrestling variously on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights at different stages showing the Dumont wrestling from Chicago. WBEN had 'Wrestling at the Aud' which featured many of the local Toronto stars. Ontario fans could catch announcer Chuck Healy and Sports Director Ralph Hubbell calling the action and interviewing wrestlers during the preliminary bouts on Friday evenings from Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo.

Roger Baker:

'We had a TV at home from the time that I was twelve, and I was glued every Saturday night to that little box to see all of the great stars that appeared in Chicago. These shows were shown on The Dumont Network and featured stars such as Verne Gagne, Hans Schmidt, Yukon Eric, Killer Kowalski, Bob Orton, Wilbur Snyder, The Mighty Atlas, and many others that entertained the faithful viewers weekly. These events were televised live from The Marigold Arena. As well I watched TV broadcasts of top flight wrestling from Buffalo N.Y. These matches took place in Buffalo's War Memorial Auditorium, and this show ran for years. The play by play announcer for many years was Chuck Healy, a very popular Buffalo sports announcer.’

Closed circuit broadcasts were being shown here in theaters of select boxing cards from NYC. It was said to be in the test stage though they were adding about 100 theaters to the network which could open a card to 200,000 people. It was still viewed as small time compared to what was coming. Other ways of getting the public to buy included 'Phonevision' where you would order by phone and pay at the end of the month, and 'telemeter' by dropping coins into a box attached to your TV.

In early 1950 Tunney was quoted as saying to be 'weighing the options of TV after success in the US.'  He also pointed out though that pal Paul Bowser of Boston had put his shows on TV for 23 weeks-and almost starved to death. Many of his regular ticket-holders cancelling their ticket holds. It was opined that Tunney would do well to allow the New York lead. To build up the wrestlers by televising shows and then when matched at MSG, to cut the TV off. 

In a 1951 'Canadian Sports Parade' column it imagined the effect of TV on Canada's sports. Wrestling, due to its attraction in the U.S. had its success assured. They asked that Frank Tunney and the other Canadian promoters follow the national trend. 'Tunney could come up with a whole galaxy of Canadian wrestlers suitably titled. Imagine such drawing cards as the 'Brampton Benumber,' the 'Terrible Torontonian.' or the 'Ottawa Ostrich', and perhaps the Kitchener Kook.'

Conn Smythe was still resisting TV at MLG saying 'I think the radio broadcast is good enough.' The NHL owners chief complaint was the same as Tunney's., that the fans would not brave winter weather to come to the arenas. The fight among the NHL and the emerging technology would continue to debate until 1952 when the CBC first started to televise hockey.

In fact the first try was from Maple Leaf Gardens when they televised a Memorial Cup game in closed circuit to executives from the network and advertisers in order to prepare for the coming NHL season. The first game from Montreal on Oct 11 1952 was followed by the first game from MLG, called by Foster Hewitt.

Hewitt had once called the wrestling over the radio from MLG starting with that first card on Nov 19 1931. He would pick up the card for the main event and sometimes second to last bout from high up in the gondola and broadcast live after the late news on CKCL. Coverage was sporadic but would continue even after TV took hold. Foster's son Bill would also call wrestling occasionally on Foster's station CKFH in the early-mid 1950's picking up around halfway through the card at 930pm. Prior to MLG being built there had previously been radio broadcasts from the cards held at Mutual St Arena.

In May 1952 it was announced Canada would begin its TV programming production in September with 3 hrs or less daily. Ad rates set at $1600 hourly for Toronto, Montreal at $500 as there were few TV's in Quebec. They would be connected with the 4 U.S. networks but would focus on Canadian production and development of shows in Toronto and Montreal.

On Sept 8 1952 CBC would open CBLT transmitting on channel 9 with an opening ceremony lasting three hours. Montreal's CBC station CBFT would start on the previous Saturday. Quebec got started first in the homegrown wrestling side also. In the fall of 1952, they presented wrestling every Tuesday night live from the Verdun Auditorium. Right away TV was the talk of the Toronto sports columns. Tunney's Wrestling shows were regarded as 'a likely feature.'

Here by mid-1952 you could get 5 channels including CBLT which only ran a few hours a day. The price had come down to about $300 (still huge in today’s equivalent) and in the ads for sales, Wrestling was getting billing after Hockey, Baseball, and Boxing. Wrestling could now be found not only on WHAM and WBEN, but also WICU out of Erie, PA showing live bouts from Pittsburgh.

In early 1953 CBLT started showing wrestling at 1030 on Friday nights and again on Saturday in the same time slot as WHAM. Along with the others you could also get a show on WHEN out of Syracuse at 11pm on Saturday. 

The CBLT show initially consisted of film from other spots. One 1953 item said much of the Toronto TV wrestling came from the 'Grapefruit Belt' of the Southern U.S. The first broadcast appears to be Feb 23 1953. In a recap of the Dec 10 1953 card, Joe Perlove noted that the Yvon Robert vs Mr Kato bout had been the 'feature TV match.' 

It didn't take long for wrestling to become one of the most popular programs on CBLT, with Holiday Ranch, and Playbill rounding out the top 3. More channels would come aboard including CKSO Sudbury, Canada's first privately owned TV station. And in 1954 they started airing a Wrestling show after the news at 10pm Saturdays.

CBLT/CBC here and in Montreal and later in Ottawa were broadcasting from the live card and would not turn to in-studio wrestling until later in the decade.

By the close of 1954 viewers now had access to 20 channels depending on where in the province you were. And there was quite a bit of wrestling to choose from. Eleven stations had wrestling as part of their programming.

CBOT first tried live coverage on July 13 1954 at the Auditorium in Ottawa. Producer Pierre Normandin headed a 15 member mobile unit crew for a card featuring a main event of Killer Kowalski vs Bobby Managoff. The broadcast of all three main bouts did not go beyond the building and was said to be a trial run in anticipation pf live telecasts from ringside in the near future

In 1955 more channels appeared with more wrestling including WKTV Utica, WEWS Cleveland, as well as WCNY Watertown with 'Texas Wrestling.' WGN added Wrestling in 1956 from the studio in Buffalo. It was said to be the first to originate from a studio in Western New York - and Ontario. The Buffalo show would become a favorite in the Toronto area right into the 1960's.

When I spoke to Barry Lloyd Penhale some years back he said he hosted the first Studio Wrestling show in Canada. A 1957 article included a look at Penhale, now on CKGN North Bay. The author says 'he (Penhale) staged the first studio live wrestling events to be seen in Canada -or anywhere else with two exceptions.' CKGN in North Bay had decided to produce their own local shows instead of showing old movies in the evening; one of those was Live Studio Wrestling. The Penhale show featured the stars of Northland Wrestling headed by Larry Kasaboski and often featured stars from MLG who would make the trip up North.

By 1957 in addition to the U.S. channels, there was CKVR Barrie, CHEX Peterboro, CKWS Kingston, CKCO Kitchener, CFCL Timmins, CKNY Wingham, and CHCH Hamilton all running wrestling. Some, being CBC affiliated, would have been a twin of the CBLT show. Some would show tape from Winnipeg.

Kingston's CKWS ran Texas Wrestling while CHCH (later to host the homegrown show for many years) and CKCO ran wrestling from Chicago and the 'Wrestling from Ringside' show out of Ohio. If you had tuned into CHCH on Apr 12 1957 at 11:30pm you could have caught Verne Gagne & Bobby Bruns vs Al Williams & Rudy Kay, and also Lou Thesz vs Bronco Nagurski. (The Gagne/Bruns tag is on youtube with the announcer introducing Vern GAG-NEE).

Just a few years in and wrestling had taken hold on TV here. The stars of MLG including The Fabulous Kanagaroo's, the Kalmikoff's, Yukon Eric, Lord Layton, and Whipper Watson were now 'TV stars' and in high demand across the country. 

The Whipper-Gene Kiniski feud in 1957, along with many of the Toronto area wrestlers would travel through Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Vancouver due to the coverage from TV wrestling. They had moved away from the 'live' aspect by then, a letter in the Star from a fan in Nov 1957 asked to have 'live wrestling returned.'

The CBLT show was still film of the Thursday MLG shows at least till mid-1960. A tidbit in May noted the CBC were moving the Saturday night CBLT show to Friday to allow CBC to meet the late movie competition of other channels, but that the show will continue to run on Saturdays 'on the network.' 

CBOT in Ottawa was also on the air with wrestling in 1960 while CFTO and CHCH would take over the weekly Maple Leaf show with Lord Layton as announcer.  

Roger Baker:

'Wrestling was taped by the CBC at a studio on Yonge St. near Dupont. You had to be there early to get in to watch the taping. The announcer's name was Fred Sgambati. I saw him interviewing Ivan Kalmikoff and the Russian kept repeating that there are people in the know that agree that he and his partner Karol Kalmikoff are superior wrestlers. Sgambati insisted that Kalmikoff reveal the name of the wrestling expert. Kalmikoff blurted out, 'his name is Earle Yetter' who at that time was active in as a wrestling photo journalist working out of Buffalo NY.'

Lord Layton would take over announcing duties in 1961 and go on to host the Toronto ‘Ringside’ show into the 1970’s. Pat Flanagan would also host both on the CBLT & CFTO shows right through the 1960s. 

In 1977 at the conclusion of the Sheik era the TV show was renamed Maple Leaf Wrestling. That name would become synonymous with the brand as they moved into the 1980’s, now with former star Billy Red Lyons hosting.  

-AC  2018 (included in 'From Nanjo to The Sheik..') Thanks to Roger!

A Chat with Roger Baker: Sweet Daddy Siki

Best of mapleleafwrestling.com

This time Sweet Daddy Siki, Toronto debut March 1962...

Siki facing Al Costello Maple Leaf Gardens 1967

AC - Do you remember seeing Siki for the first time, what were your thoughts, and had you seen him in action before on TV or in other cities before he settled here

Roger - If I recall the first time that I saw Siki was very soon after he first appeared here in Toronto. I had never seen a black wrestler who had bleached blond hair before, and I must say that he was certainly an originator in that regard. Siki was able to immediately generate attention to his appearance as well as his persona, what with his skill with a mic in hand, and his unique hair style.

3 legends! Jet Star, Sweet Daddy Siki, Roger Baker 2015

You took lots of photos of Siki in action, did you ever get to interact with him back then, show him any photos, he seems very reserved in 'real' life, was he always that way - in comparison to his ring persona

I remember so well the first time that I had a chance to interact with Siki, was with a friend at the time, we were on the QEW. driving to Hamilton to take in a wrestling show at the Hamilton Forum. We were halfway along the highway to our destination, when suddenly we spot S.D. driving right along side of us, we waved and shouted at him, and he waved back. We drove along side each other for perhaps a half mile, and we told him that our main purpose for our trip to the Forum was to see him in action, he had a big grin on his face and waved goodbye as the traffic was building behind us. 

Jet Star & Siki check out Roger's photos

I got to know Siki very well after our first encounter on the highway, we became very good friends I had the opportunity to spend a lot of quality time with Mr. SDS as we traveled together to a few of his mat appearances, and I had the chance to meet his charming wife on two occasions. My wife and myself had them both up to our apt. way back, shortly after he arrived on the Toronto scene, the occasion was for an interview, and a photo shoot. 

Recently, about 8 yrs ago (2008) wrestler Jet Star and myself visited Siki at the Duke of York tavern. He has performed at this venue for years, performing karaoke Saturdays for his legion of fans who enjoy to listen as well as participate with Siki. The purpose of our visit was to see S.D.S. perform, as well I had assembled a very extensive collection of photos of Siki that I had taken so many years earlier. It was a great pleasure for me to be able to leave those photos with Siki. 

Can remember an opportunity that just presented itself one Saturday afternoon back around 1964-65, I was going to cover an upcoming heavyweight fight at MLG that featured George Chuvalo in a ten round fight with then ranked Ernie 'The Octopus' Terrell. It occurred in a tavern in downtown Toronto, Terrell was doing some sparing upstairs above the tavern, there was a heavy bag, mats, and skipping ropes along with other boxing gear, when I saw this as an opportunity to get two well known boxing and wrestling greats together. I phoned Siki at home and explained who was training at this gym and can you make it over so that we could have an introduction between the two take place. Regi Siki was on the scene in about twenty minutes, and it proved to be a very enjoyable experience for all of us. We both had many pleasant interactions during the sixties.
 

Siki holds court

You saw all of the major stars of the 1950's 1960's, where does Siki fit in when you look back at Toronto wrestling history

SDS was a very unique wrestler in that even though he was at the prime of his mat career, he stood out as an original ring performer with his blond hair, magnificent capes, mic skills, and a very powerfully built body. His shoulder muscles resembled two over sized grapefruits.  

During his heyday he wrestled all of the top wrestlers that were appearing in Toronto's MLG. He faced some very tough wrestlers, to mention a few; Yukon Eric, Whipper Watson, Bulldog Brower, Lou Thesz, and Bruno Sammartino. Siki told me during our get together at the Duke Of York, that he once wrestled the mighty Lou Thesz to a ninety minute draw in Texas some time during the late fifties. Siki had it all, personality, great mat skills, outstanding physique, and the ability to mix it with the best of them during his era.
 
Any bouts that stand out for you , at MLG or in one of the smaller arenas around the area

The one bout that I saw Siki in that still remains in clear detail in my mind took place in the town of Sutton On. during the summer months. Sutton is very close to Lake Simcoe and cottage country so the scheduled wrestling card was sure to draw a large crowd, being that there were so many people in the area at this time. The main event that promoter Tommy Nelson had on was a tag team match, it pitted Ilio DiPaolo and John Paul Henning vs Dick Bulldog Brower and Sweet Daddy Siki. 

Roger & Star visiting with Siki 2008

This match was to take place in Sutton Arena, it was a very warm night and it was an older venue without air conditioning. The match started out as expected for about two or three minutes, then all hell broke loose, Brower and Siki got into a private personal beef, I saw Siki nail Brower on the jaw with a very stiff punch, Brower went bonkers and tried to tear Siki apart, the other two wrestlers saw what was unfolding and left the ring altogether. 

Meanwhile Brower was so crazed at this point that he tried to pull down one of the arena's supporting beams to use as a weapon to use against his own partner Siki, when he could not accomplish this, he ran out to the back of the arena, he reappeared a moment later brandishing a large steel wheel barrow over head, his intent was obvious, he wanted to badly hurt and injure his own partner Siki. 

Siki was able to back peddle out of the enraged Brower's range, and Brower who was so intent on maiming Siki started to slow down, no doubt he was tiring, this was triggered by a personal beef between the two. When visiting with Siki at the tavern where he has appeared for years, I mentioned that match to him, wanting to know what was the trigger to set that type of violence up, Siki's only memory of the incident was the wheel barrow.

Originally published January 2016
............
Thanks so much Roger

Photos by AC & Roger Baker
There is lots of great footage of Siki at Toronto Classic Wrestling on YouTube

-AC

Baker & Bruno: Two champs in Toronto

Roger Baker's photos from the classic days of Toronto wrestling are all around this site but this time the tables are turned! Thanks to Mike Mastrandrea for sharing this great photo of Roger with Bruno Sammartino in Toronto 2010.

The occasion was a reunion dinner with Bruno as the main attraction. Almost 50 years prior Roger had been at ringside snapping pictures of Bruno. That was 1962 and the Italian Strongman was fast gaining fans from MLG to the smaller arenas on the circuit. In July-August of that year Bruno had faced World champion Buddy Rogers in a 3 card series at Maple Leaf Gardens, and it became an integral part of the Toronto history.

Bruno returned in 1964 with his WWWF title and defended here over 25 times through 1976 with Roger taking photos at many of those bouts. In the main photo you can note Bruno is holding some of those photos that Roger brought him and he was chuffed at seeing Roger again. Who wouldn't! 

Bruno vs Waldo 1964, vs Johnny Powers 1965, vs Rogers 1962

All photos at MLG by Roger Baker

After Bruno's initial run he went on to hold the WWWF title through the balance of the 60s while Roger continued as a roving photographer for the big magazines of the day. Bruno sure got his share of magazine covers and so did Roger with photos taken in and around Toronto like the one below in October 1968. In addition to his fine photography skills Roger also wrote some great articles full of history and facts around our favorite Toronto stars. If a mag covered Toronto it was likely Roger's story, seek them out you will enjoy them!

This site wouldn't be the same with Roger and we can say the same about Bruno as far as the Toronto history goes. Thanks to both of these champs for their contributions to the sport we love. 👏

The city's Italian populace has found a major hero in Bruno Sammartino and have been flocking to cheer their countryman. Bruno is a hero in the same mould as the great Rocca is to the Puerto Ricans in New York. Veteran mat officials are together in their view that Bruno Sammartino, if he continues to improve, will be the next World Champ.

Toronto Daily Star 1962

Roger Baker is our treasure and it's been great learning from him as he has a very sharp memory, filled with lots of missing info from the classic eras,.. it's also been an honor to showcase his photos and memories, to give some insight into Toronto’s wrestling past.

AC 2022 

 -AC

Some clips from the 3rd Rogers-Bruno bout at the Toronto Classic Wrestling YouTube channel

Special thanks to Mike Mastrandrea, his fine photography can be found online

Classic Photo: Little Beaver

The little people wrestlers were very popular across Ontario, often headlining cards in the smaller arenas during the boom. They were stars at Maple Leaf Gardens as well, a hit with fans of all ages. On this occasion Little Beaver is handing out promo photos to some of his younger fans at the Sutton Arena, summer of 1963. Little Beaver debuted in Toronto in May 1955 and appeared to 1987. The Star's Jim Proudfoot once called him 'the best performer in the business' and 'tremendous.'

-AC 

Thanks to Roger for the photo and from our conversations over the years...

...On another occasion I was sitting in a dugout at the old Maple Leaf Ballpark. Little Beaver was also in the dugout and we got to talking about the vagaries of running a wrestling business. Beaver went on to relate the following to me. 'When I began to promote as well as wrestle all I got was complaints, bad working conditions, not enough pay, and on and on so now I don't promote anymore. I wrestle, collect my pay, enjoy life,, and most importantly sleep well again at night.'..... -Roger

The Fascinating New Hobby of TV Picture-Taking

 Roger Baker sent me this photo of his TV in 1957. He is watching Chicago Wrestling on the Dumont Network (here on CHCH) and villain Hans Schmidt is telling the fans what he is going to do to his next opponent. Now Roger was a globetrotting photog in the 1960s, heading out to all corners to cover wrestling with his trusty camera and notepad in hand. But this photo is from before that, when young Roger was just a rabid Toronto wrestling fan. 

Main pic: Roger's TV in 1957

The photo resonated with me as I once did that too and guessing other fans did as well. Things are a bit more advanced now!

As far as TV wrestling, Roger in his day, much like us in ours, spent a lot of time watching. We had a ton of wrestling on TV in the late 70s early 80s. Usually 4-5 different feds all day on a Saturday. In the 1950s there was almost as many options as TV's were starting to occupy many Canadian households. 

By the time Roger took that pic of his TV in 1957, in addition to the U.S. channels that were available here; locals CKVR Barrie, CHEX Peterboro, CKWS Kingston, CKCO Kitchener, CFCL Timmins, CKNY Wingham, and CHCH Hamilton were all running wrestling. 

Some, being CBC affiliated, twinned the Toronto CBLT show. Others showed tape from Winnipeg. In Kingston CKWS ran Texas Wrestling while Hamilton's CHCH (later to host the homegrown show for many years) and CKCO ran wrestling from Chicago and the 'Wrestling from Ringside' show out of Ohio

So back to Roger's photo of his TV. A while later I am looking through an early 60s issue of Wrestling Revue and there's a story titled 'The Fascinating New Hobby of TV Picture-Taking.' 

Each week, more and more people are discovering the pleasures of a new and fascinating hobby that is sweeping the country-the taking of photographs directly off the television screen. For wrestling fans, who are instinctive picture collectors, the new hobby provides even richer rewards. Just think of it, without leaving your own living room, and in a comparatively short space of time, you can own a collection of not only thrilling action pictures but delightful candid shots of your favorite mat stars. And since the chances of two people making exactly the same exposures are practically nil, every picture you take will be exclusive.'

And sure enough there's Hans Schmidt again! This time dressed smartly while discussing the latest holds and such. Also Eddie Graham & Ray Morgan, Buddy Rogers, and George Harris. On the top a Dickie Steinborn-Herb Larson bout. Taking photos of the TV, Roger ahead of the curve with that idea...

-AC

Quick Bits: George Richards

George Richards 'Mr. Big & Tall' was famous for his clothing shops which catered to athletes and big men including many of the Toronto wrestlers. He dressed the ever sharp Whipper Watson, Pat Flanagan, Athol Layton, and Frank Tunney, among others.

    

Before opening his chain of stores Richards was a pro wrestler here in the 1930's-40's. Born in 1914 he had taken up wrestling to help support his family after his father died. When Maple Leaf Gardens opened in Nov 1931 the teenage Richards was selling programs at the arena he would later wrestle in. 

Main pic: Training for boxing 1936 with Ed Kellar

He went pro in the early 1930's and in addition to the local scene he traveled a bit working around New York and Ohio (as Benny Stein) alongside fellow Toronto stalwart Jerry Monahan. Here he was mostly a prelim type guy wrestling on the openers. One listing in NJ has him (if he is that Benny Stein) wrestling Gino Garibaldi.

 In 1936 he tried his hand at boxing and entered into the Jack Dempsey White Hope tournament under the tutelage of Ed Kellar who had competed in the 1930 British Empire games in Hamilton.

During World War II he enlisted in the Air Force and helped to train troops on the ships going from Halifax to London. On the return trip he'd be in charge of German prisoners of war coming to Canada.

After the war he opened his first store and noticed he was seeing a lot of his athletic colleagues so started catering to men taller than 6'1 (sized 38-60) and to stout men 200-450lbs (sizes 42-66), It was an instant hit for football players and the wrestlers who were now able to get quality suits in their sizes.

Athol Layton who was 6'6 265 wore a size 52 tall and appreciated the bright colors, shirts in pink, lilac, and chartreuse. He was one of the snappiest dressers among any athlete, both on TV as a commentator and at the many charity functions he appeared at. .

It wasn't exclusive to athletes, some of the city's more famous 'stout' men were customers including former police chief Harold Adamson (6.2 210lbs) and Sam Shopsowitz of Shopsys -the hot dog king (5'10 270lbs). Shopsowitz once said about Richards suits 'The fact that I'm fat doesn't mean that I don't like to follow fashion trends. I object to elephant pants but I like patch pockets on my suits,' indeed!

1968

In 1954 after the Toronto Tag Trophy (sponsored by Calvert Distillery dubbed the Calvert trophy) was destroyed by the Mills Brothers,  Richards donated a new trophy to be awarded to the Tag champs - the George Richards Trophy which was awarded through the balance of the 1950's.

By 1980 under the banner George Richards Kingsize Clothes  it had grown to 16 locations around the country and while George still remained active his son Michael was running the day to day operations. The Grafton-Fraser company who had bought 50% share in 1977 purchased the balance of the company in 1981

George was still leading exercise classes for seniors into his mid 80's and at 87 (2002) was still working out 4 times a week. He passed on in November 2010 at the age of 96. 

Note: some info from the book I Know that Name!: The People Behind Canada's Best-known Brand Names from ...By Mark Kearney, Randy Ray

Thanks also to Renata G 

-AC

1957 with Whipper and Pat 

Tiger Tommy Nelson

It was the ship that launched a thousand careers. Well, at least several, including the man who would become Toronto's greatest name- Bill Potts aka Whipper Watson. He wasn't the only one. The others that accompanied the soon to be re-named Whipper on that ship to the U.K. in 1936 would also make an impact on the Toronto and Ontario wrestling scenes in the coming years.

It was June 1936 and a group of wrestlers from the amateur and semi pro ranks would embark on a tour of the United Kingdom. Along with young Bill Potts, there was Ken Tasker, Al Korman, and Tom Nelson. Whipper, of course would return in 1940 and go on to a 30 year career. Tasker (aka Tiger) and Korman (aka Krusher) would continue their wrestling careers and then go on to be long time referees. Tommy Nelson's in-ring career would end sooner but he would also be a part of the office for many years to come.

Main pic: vs Billy Kohnke (mat) Sept 1938

Tommy was born in 1900 making him an elder statesman among the younger wrestlers he traveled with. He had formerly worked as a bus driver for the Danforth Bus Company. In 1928 he was involved in an accident at Midland and Danforth Rd when a CNR Train hit his bus, injuring him and the only passenger on board at the time. The bus was completely destroyed with fire after the train hit it, and ended his driving career.

There isn't notable mention of his earliest wrestling years but he likely came up in the same way that most did in those days. Learning their craft at the many clubs and related amateur contests that were plentiful in small halls and gyms around Toronto. He would hang up the boots in the early 1940's and work with Tunney in a promotional capacity through the 1960's running shows in the outlying towns around the city.

London, England 1938

Nelson would wrestle in England as Bear-Cat Tom Nelson and Battling Tom Nelson. A Poster from Centenary Hall for a bout vs Hein Stack in Oct 1937 lists Nelson as 'from USA, extremely popular here as wrestler and referee.' A later ad in December of 1937 has him as 'from Canada and ex Olympic games, the return of an old and tried favorite, back by public demand, and glad to be back.'

There is no record of Olympic involvement or active at any games, Olympic background a frequent boast to push wrestlers in those days - though many wrestlers participated in events qualifying for them.

Other names alongside Nelson in those years Ben(gal) Engbloom, the popular in Toronto amateur Finn, as well as Herb Parks. Parks was said to be a fine wrestler in his day and he and his brother Bill (Dinty) were early stars for Larry Kasaboski's Ontario based Northland group. The Parks brothers later owned Sunset Park in North Bay until Herb disappeared on a hunting trip in 1956 and was later found drowned. Sunset Park was the inspiration for the naming of the Sunset Flip.

Nelson made it through other parts of Europe through 1939. On a physicians statement in Toronto on Feb 20 1940 it lists his past bouts and includes stops in Belfast (where he won a title bout), Edinburgh, Vienna, Budapest, Paris, London, Manchester, and finally home to Toronto. 

The Belfast title bout in March 1939 was vs Mike de Mitre for the Light Heavyweight Championship of Europe. Nelson wins and the local media plays it up with Tommy listed as a local wrestler. They don't mention it again though but the win stands. He goes on to more dates through Europe where they played up the title win or added it to his credentials (see Physicians report below)

His debut at MLG came on Jan 12 1940 vs Pete Baltran. The write up lists Nelson as hailing from Ireland and having had won the European light-heavyweight championship back in 1939. In his recap of the bouts Joe Perlove called Nelson an 'undersized grappler from Ireland' in his draw with Baltran.

1938

It's not clear when Nelson joined the office in an official capacity but appears to have been involved as one of Tunney's insiders by the late 1940's. Nelson worked as an associate promoter in the same way that Sammy Sobol and others had through the years. Running the outside towns and reporting (bringing the $$$) back to the Toronto office.

He publicly ran Stoufville, Aurora, Barrie, Collingwood, Sutton, and Bradford. And for a time in bigger centers such as Galt (Cambridge) and Kitchener until Johnny Powers bought Tunney (and Nelson?) out around 1965.

In 1955 Nelson was announced as taking over for Roy McMahon as matchmaker for CCWA (Red Garner's group) in Aurora on Aug 29 and then promoting in Stoufville, this time with Tunney stars instead of Garner's team. Garner and Tunney had a small turf war in the area (that's for another story) and listing Nelson as part of Red's group was likely a ploy to keep Red's fans.

The only mention of a Toronto-proper show under Nelson was a 1958 show held at Scarboro Arena  on Oct 4 to benefit the Scarboro Hospital Building Fund using Tunney's stars. There is a small mention later of Nelson being on the Board of the Scarboro Police Youth Club.

In some towns Nelson was referred to as Matchmaker for the Queensbury Club, the Toronto office's official name.

Above pic from 1958 with about 200 years of Toronto wrestling in there. Wrestlers Refs Promoters

l. to r. top: *unknown, Pat Flanagan, Joe Gollob, Dara Singh, Frank Tunney, Lou Pistocia

l. to r. bottom: Sam Gotter, Al 'Krusher' Korman, Tommy Nelson

From a 1958 piece on Nelson in the Galt Evening Reporter  ' I was wrestling on a pro card in Manchester, England in 1938. I was thrown out of the ring and cracked my spine on the exposed iron part of a ringside theater-type seat.'

The result was five painful months in an English hospital with the not-too-heartening news that he would never walk again. But just two years later Nelson was not only walking but was back on the pro grapple beat. It was 1940 now and he was booked into Detroit. Gus Sonnenberg was his opponent and when big Gus attempted a flying tackle both gladiators went sprawling among the ringsiders. Nelson, on the bottom, found another empty iron frame with his tender spine. Another long siege in hospital followed. But this time it was the end. There definitely would be no further wrestling.

After a series of spinal operations they found that he shrank somewhat from the effects of the spinal knife job. In a later 1962 piece in the Barrie Examiner, it repeats the story and says his height was pared by a couple of inches as well as his weight. It says he fought at 220lbs (don't think so but he was now down to 150lbs) and from later photos looks to have stayed in good shape into his senior years.

Roger Baker attended some of Nelson's shows in the early 1960's.

'Tommy Nelson was a very nice guy who was worried for his incoming wrestlers on a particularly snowy evening in Kitchener but still kept his smile amid the pressure of the evening...At another show in Sutton one of the wrestlers threw his opponent via a slingshot into one of the corner posts with such force that the ring ropes popped out of the turnbuckles. Tommy came to the ring dressed in a suit, and again under pressure got those ropes back up, and the balance of the card was able to go ahead. A part time wrestling promoter must be able to handle a litany of potential problems!' -Roger

-AC

Thanks to Roger Baker, Brian L, & Nicholas Campbell 
If you can add anything to Mr Nelson's story please contact me

The Referees of Maple Leaf

A look at the referees in Ontario over the years. The regular refs and those that were appointed as a 'special referee' mostly for big bouts or in heated feuds. Often a special referee was inserted to create a new feud or to cause an unjust or incomplete ending to a bout. 

 

The Ontario Athletic Commission licensed the Referees just as they did the wrestlers, usually about 6 at a time. The OAC once treated Wrestling mostly the same as they did Boxing or other sports despite such mandates for a wrestling referee to 'be both knowledgeable about the rules and be able to deal competently with the two opponents' - not exactly an accurate description of a typical wrestling ref, especially as the years wore on.

Main pic: Al 'Bunny' Dunlop lifts Bobo Brazil's hand MLG 1970

NOTES

-Special referees are noted by SR and the dates beside their names denoting when they were active. 

-The from-to dates could probably be updated on some, compiled early on

-The referees weren't regularly noted in the recaps or results so the info is what is readily available and will not be complete, or be entirely accurate. I also wanted to get to Kasaboski's referees....AC

________________________________________________________________

*Note links are being re-ordered, some are currently inactive

Phil Lawson: Notably known as Whipper Watson's trainer and manager up until his death in 1943, Lawson was a veteran of the Toronto mat scene by the time he started refereeing in the 1930's. He frequently reffed Amateur Wrestling and boxing also and looks to have stopped on the pro side around the time he was guiding Whipper to the top in the early 1940's.

Jack Forbes: When Forbes died in 1953 his obit said he had refereed 'over 7,000 bouts for promoters Ivan Mickailoff, Jack Corcoran, and Frank Tunney.' Starting in 1928 it's quite possible that number is accurate. He had been a noted amateur star and then a professional. Was wrestling in Toronto as a light heavyweight as early as 1916 and was called the Canadian Champ in 1920. In a 1944 article it said he had started wrestling in his native Scotland on the carnival circuit. Reffed at a couple of bouts in Oshawa in late 1929 and started to work the Arena Gardens cards. In the early 1930's he was working on both the Arena Gardens/Mutual St Arena cards (Mickailoff) and the MLG cards (Corcoran). He was the referee for the very first card held at MLG Nov 19 1931 and was ref for many of the big bouts through the 1930's.

Cliff Worthy: He was a regular on the local amateur circuit wrestling in the heavyweight division alongside lightweights Jim Allen, Ben(gal) Engbloom, and Ted McKinley. Tournaments were held in Toronto in the early 1930's run by Phil Lawson and Worthy was often listed as 'Canadian Champ.' Refereed wrestling as early as 1934 and continued up until the mid 1960's. He also refereed boxing in the early 1930's in and around Toronto.

Alex Sinclair: Refereed Boxing in the 1920's alongside Lou Marsh, and wrestling in the 1930s.

Ed 'Strangler' Lewis: SR 1949-1950. Former star appointed special referee for several bouts in 1949 including British Empire Title bouts between Whipper Watson and Fred Atkins as well as Whipper vs Yvon Robert. Also a bout with Whipper vs Masked Marvel in which Watson was to retire if he lost. Marvel had to unmask when he lost revealing Lew Reynheer. In 1950 appointed special referee for a bout in the Whipper Watson-Nanjo Singh feud and again for a Whipper - Yvon Robert bout.

Tommy McClure: 1930s McClure was a notable local sportsman and boxing referee who later became an announcer at many events from boat racing to horse shows to stock cars. He was a friend and peer of Lou Marsh and ran a theatrical agency for many years in Toronto.

Jack Sharkey takes a swing at Nanjo Singh Maple Leaf Gardens May 1945

Jack Sharkey: SR 1943-1972. Former Boxing champ refereed some bouts early 1940's including a World title bout between Whipper Watson and Bill Longson in 1944. In 1949 Sharkey jumped into the ring at the end of a bout between Whipper Watson and Yvon Robert in which another Boxing great Jack Dempsey was officiating. The papers said he was just a 'spectator on his way home from deer hunting.' In 1950 he was appointed special referee for Yukon Eric vs Primo Carnera bout and again for a Whipper/Pat Flanagan vs Larry Moquin/Yvon Robert tag bout. In 1956 he was appointed special referee for an NWA Title bout between Lou Thesz and Whipper Watson. This bout ended with Sharkey declaring Whipper the winner by dq after Thesz hit him with a low blow. He also declared Whipper the new Champ. Sam Muchnick NWA President was on hand and declared NO!. In the re-match 2 weeks later (special ref Jack Dempsey) Whipper wins the coveted title from Thesz. 1972 appointed special referee for The Sheik vs Carlos Rocha bout.

Duke Willis: Former Hamilton Tiger Cat started refereeing in Hamilton and later came into Toronto. Appointed by the Ontario Athletic Commission for a Bill Longson vs Dan O'Mahoney bout in Jan 1940 and worked some big bouts over the next few years.

Al Korman: 1950s Wrestler turned referee known as 'Krusher/Crusher Korman.' As per Roger: 'Korman made a few appearances (as a ref) as I recall. He also managed a large hotel, and I remember seeing him walk the floor where the entertainment was in full swing. If they needed a bouncer, they sure had Korman to rely on.' Once referred to a 'Cement Mixer' due to his stature, he also once worked for the Toronto Star and was a light heavyweight champion in his amateur days. 

Frank Tunney: SR 1945. Yes the king of Toronto Wrestling once (at least) stepped in as a referee. Tunney was one of the small group of promoters who weren't former wrestlers and though he did have a bit of an athletic background he doesn't appear to have ever wrestled. In 1945 a Boxing-Wrestling card for the Service was held at the Coliseum in Toronto and Tunney worked as a referee. If he did it any other time I haven't found it yet. Not sure if his brother John ever did either. His nephew Jack refereed a few times himself (on the circuit shows) but not at MLG as far as I know.

Bert Maxwell: Main ref from the mid to late 1940's into the early 1960's. He was also a former amateur wrestler known as the 'West Hill Terror' and later earned the nickname 'The Little Flower of Uxbridge.' He took a fair amount of (tongue in cheek) abuse in the papers, Joe Perlove called him 'Mert Baxwell' while Jim Proudfoot called him 'the epitome of incompetence and ineptitude personified.' Maxwell occasionally still wrestled on the undercards through the 1950's mostly in the smaller towns. Refereed many big bouts including Dick Hutton's NWA Title win over Lou Thesz in Nov 1957. He held the position of Head Gateman at MLG for over 25 years and was a first day employee of the Gardens (1931).

As per Roger: 'I do believe that Bert Maxwell got the little flower of Uxbridge name because he was a horticulturist, if memory serves me I read that bit of info in one of the MLG. programs that Frank Ayerst wrote his wrestling tidbits in.' 

Ernie Powers: Another former star who took to referring in the early 1940's to the early 1950's. He was the main ref in the mid 1940's across the circuit.

Al 'Bunny' Dunlop: The former star and known strongman first donned the officials attire in the early 1940's while still wrestling. He remained a fixture as a ref on the scene through the 50's and 60's and right up to 1972. While he stopped as a regular wrestler in the mid 1940's he still occasionally wrestled including a couple of bouts vs Whipper Watson in the late 1950's. A mini feud would develop due to his ref actions during Whipper bouts. It was short lived as Dunlop was fairly long in the tooth by then though he did step in again in 1960 to take on Dave McKigney's wrestling bear Terrible Ted. There are many stories of Dunlop's strength. MLW Photog and Writer Roger Baker remarked about Bunny ... "I believe that Dunlop worked for the Parks Dept, I once saw him park a large commercial vehicle in front of a diner that I was visiting, he was larger than I ever thought, and his forearms resembled a pair of ham hocks.

Henry Armstrong: Former champion Boxer for a 1959 bout Gene Kiniski/Fritz Von Erich vs Yukon Eric/Bobo Brazil. 'Hammerin Henry'

Sam Gotter: Another amateur wrestling standout from the 1930's and '40's and a long serving ref from the early '50's into the early 1960's. Roger Baker sends along 'Sammy Gotter had a full time job with The LCBO.'
INFO needed

Jack Dempsey: SR 1937-1956. The former Boxing champ was appointed special referee for many bouts including a 1949 British Empire Title bout between Whipper Watson and Fred Atkins. Also in 1949 for a Whipper vs The Mask bout in which Whipper 'unmasked' The Mask to reveal Lew Reynheer. 1950 appointed special referee for a Whipper Watson vs Yukon Eric bout and a Yukon Eric vs Nanjo Singh/Strangler Wagner handicap bout. Also a Whipper vs Hans Hermann bout and Whipper vs Nanjo Singh. In 1951 appointed special referee for a Whipper Watson vs Zebra Kid bout. Dempsey would help Whipper remove the mask after the bout to reveal George Bollas. 1955 appointed special referee for a Timothy Geohagen vs The Great Togo bout. 1956 appointed special referee for NWA Title bout between Lou Thesz and Whipper Watson. Whipper wins the title in front of a hometown crowd after Dempsey counts out Thesz who lay injured on the ramp.

Lou Pistocia: Wrestler turned referee worked many bouts in the 1950's, really short stocky type. He later acted and appeared on the Wayne and Shuster show, The Littlest Hobo, and SCTV among others.

Tuffy Truesdale: SR 1949. appointed special referee for several bouts in 1949 including a couple of '10 x 8-minute-rounds' bouts between Fred Atkins and Whipper Watson (one went for the full 80 minutes) Also Ray Villmer vs Fred Atkins and a Whipper Watson vs 'Wee' Willie Davis bout. Truesdale was well known for his Alligator Wrestling feats, appearing in Ontario from the late 40's to the early 1960's, and was probably a decent special referee considering his ability to contain the reptiles.

Ted Thomas: SR 1949. Buffalo area referee appointed special referee for a Fred Atkins/Wee Willie Davis vs Whipper Billy Watson/Pat Flanagan bout.

Max Baer: SR 1949. Former Boxing champ appointed special referee for a British Empire Title bout between Whipper Watson and Yvon Robert.

Bobby Manganoff: SR 1950. The former star appointed special referee for an NWA Title bout between Lou Thesz and Yukon Eric.

Jimmy Orlando: SR1950 Orlando was a former NHL player (Detroit) notable for a stick swinging incident in 1942 against the Maple Leafs and a fight with the US government over draft status. He was appointed for the big Watson-Yvon Robert bout and had previously refereed in Ottawa under the OAC. Earned the wrath of the fans who called him the 'Detroit Slasher' in siding with Robert but Whipper won the bout.

John Katan: The former star and Hamilton promoter refereed occasionally at MLG in the early 1950's.

Gordon Maxwell: -1930s

Cliff Chilcott: - 1930s

Timothy Geohagen: SR 1955. Wrestling star appointed special referee (along with Pat Flanagan) for a Whipper Watson/Tex McKenzie vs The Mills Brothers tag bout.

Luther Lindsay: SR 1955. Star appointed special referee for a couple of Mills Brothers vs Kalmikoff Brothers tag bouts as well as a Whipper Watson/Paul Baillergeon vs Mills Brothers bout.

Mike Mazurki: SR 1953. appointed special referee for a Whipper/Hombre Montana vs Mills Brothers bout.

Pat Flanagan orders Lou Thesz to break vs John Paul Henning MLG June 1963

Pat Flanagan: The former star became a regular referee at MLG in the early 1960's and continued until 1978. He was also a 'special referee' at various points in the 1950's and refereed (and commentated) on TV and all over the circuit. Another of Tunney's 'inner circle' who wore many hats in the office.

'Lord' Athol Layton: SR 1955-1976. Layton who had started as a heel was by the 1960s a beloved and honorable type. He was also a pretty big guy and was just right to bring in to maintain order in a heated feud. In 1955 appointed special referee for a Whipper Watson/Yukon Eric vs Karl Von Schober/Fritz Von Erich bout. In 1961 for a Whipper Watson vs Black Terror (Laverne Baxter) bout. In 1962 for a Bulldog Brower vs Jim Hady bout. In 1964 for a Johnny Valentine vs Professor Hiro bout. In 1966 for a Tiger Jeet Singh/Fred Atkins vs Whipper Watson/Bulldog Brower bout. In 1970 for a bout between The Sheik and Whipper Watson. In 1975 for an Abdullah The Butcher vs Mighty Igor bout and finally in 1976 for an Andre The Giant vs Angelo Mosca bout.

Bobby Bruns: SR 1964. The former star was appointed special referee for a Johnny Valentine vs Mighty Hercules bout

Yvon Robert: SR 1964. The former star was appointed special referee for a Professor Hiro vs Johnny Valentine bout.

Kenneth 'Tiger' Tasker: Tasker had famously accompanied a young (soon to be) Whipper Watson and others to England in 1936. At the end of his pro career he started refereeing in the early 1960's and continued into the mid 1970's. He was a frequent ref during The Sheik's run in the 70's and worked many big bouts including 1962 Bruno/Buddy Rogers and 1963 Thesz over Buddy Rogers for the World title.

Gene Kiniski: SR 1970. appointed as special referee for a bout between The Sheik and Lord Athol Layton in February and again in March 1970. Likely by design but in the first bout he remained distracted by Abdullah Farouk and counted out Layton after missing a loaded fist shot by The Sheik, Kiniski's long time arch-rival Whipper Watson would come to Layton's aid and level Kiniski before going after Sheik.

Mighty Igor: SR 1970. appointed as special referee for The Sheik vs Bobo Brazil bout.

Joe Gollob: The former boxer (sometimes listed as Gollub) became one of the longer serving referees at MLG working bouts from the early 1950's to the late '60s. He was often paired with another ref as the tag bouts in the 1950's were served with 2 officials. For many bouts he was paired with Billy Stack and the two made an impressive duo in maintaining order in the big ring at MLG.

Because of his pugilistic background he was able to take a lot of bumps and become involved (always on the losing end) with both wrestlers, fans, even other referees! Notable beat-downs including being on the end of a right hook from both Jersey Joe Walcott and Joe Louis when they were co-refs. He even played the 'heel referee' at times and worked the outside towns as well as the main stage in Toronto. He was refereeing as late as 1968 and was in the middle of lots of big bouts including the Whipper/Gorgeous George bout in 1959 when George lost his hair.

Roger's favorite ref Joe Gollob

  'Joe Gollub was my favourite Ref., he had both the size and strength for the mat action that he would handle as the third man in the ring. Joe befriended me in the early sixties, and as a result many great opportunities to get interesting wrestling pictures became available to me. We often made plans to meet on the road and travel out of Toronto to the smaller towns were Joe was to handle the officiating duties.

 

Joe was a very active man, he used to work at The Globe And Mail in dispatch, as well at one period of time during our friendship he managed a tavern on Dundas St. East in Toronto. He promoted me as the taverns photographer at large, and encouraged me to take pictures of the patrons for the purpose of making a sale to those who would want a picture of their visit to the tavern."Joe was a great story teller, and he would often regale me with wrestling stories that he knew I would enjoy to hear.

I will relate one human interest story that he and I both enjoyed together, this was probably around 1961, Joe and myself drove to the town of Uxbridge, which is North East of Toronto. There was wrestling card that evening that was to take place in the local arena. Joe was to handle the officiating duties that night. The main event was Hans Schmidt v.s. Billy Red Lyons, Schmidt was at his most violent self, and was kicking Lyons, as well as pounding on him with his fists, suddenly at the point were the match was out of control, 'The Little Flower of Uxbridge' Bert Maxwell climbed up and into the ring and ordered Schmidt to cease and desist, Maxwell was out of shape, however he could raise his voice at Schmidt and the nasty villain finally backed off, the local crowd went wild, and cheered Maxwell for well over five minutes.

At the time of this event Bert Maxwell had not been a wrestling referee for some time, of course Hans Schmidt recognized Maxwell and that's why he was not roughed up. Afterwards during our drive back home, Joe remarked to me, 'do you know what that meant to Maxwell, being back in a wrestling ring, being the savior referee in front of his home town wrestling fans, I emphatically nodded in the affirmative.'

Billy Stack (l) & Joe Gollob (r)with Sweet Daddy Siki & Bulldog Brower Maple Leaf Gardens 1962

Billy Stack: Wrestler turned referee Stack was present at many of the cards in the 1950's and '60's both on his own and paired with Joe Gollob for the tags. He also continued to wrestle while refereeing and was a big favorite with the fans. 

'Farmer Boy' Frank Townsend:  SR 1961 appointed special referee for a Bulldog Brower vs Gene Kiniski bout

Haystack Calhoun: SR 1973-1975. In 1973 appointed as a special referee for a Sheik vs Chief Strongbow bout. 1975 appointed as a second referee for a Sheik vs Abdullah the Butcher bout

Ernie Ladd: SR 1974. appointed as special referee for The Sheik vs Edouard Carpentier. Ladd ended up chasing Abdullah Farouk back to the dressing room while Sheik beat on Carpentier. When Ladd returned he had to count Carpentier out and then received a beating himself from Sheik.

Merv Unger: He was a 'special ref' for the AWA in the 1970's, and worked at MLG a bit during the AWA affiliation. He also promoted wrestling in Winnipeg.

Sam Steamboat: SR 1962. appointed special referee for a Whipper Watson/Billy Red Lyons vs Chris & John Tolos bout.

Terry Yorkston counting two! two more! Indian Strap match MLG April 1982

Terry Yorkston: Started as a ref in the late 1970's while still wrestling on the undercards and circuit shows. One of the main refs in the early 1980's. In the later years a bit of the buffoon type ref persona, slow counts and counting to 5 occasionally, all part of the act. He stayed on after the WWF came in and was working into the late 1980's till he had some back issues in 1988 and was out shortly after.

Tony & Adrien Baillargeon: SR 1956. appointed special referees for a Whipper Watson/Wilbur Snyder vs The Lisowski Brothers tag bout.

Andre The Giant: SR 1976. appointed special referee for a Sheik vs Gene Kiniski bout. Andre would have a impact on the bout grabbing The Sheik's pencil out of his hand and at one point Andre picks up the interfering Abdullah Farouk and carries him down the ramp and deposits him in the hallway. While Andre is away The Sheik works behind reg referee Tiger Tasker's back and manages to pin Kiniski for the apparent win. Tasker raises Sheik's hand but Andre returns to the ring and disqualifies Sheik and awards the bout to Kiniski.

Fred Atkins: Former star began refereeing in the early 1970's and one of the main officials for the last part of MLW into the early 1980's. He was a no nonsense type ref, just as in his true persona, and had a couple of run-ins along the way. In an incident with Chris Tolos in the late 70's, Tolos had supposedly spit at Atkins who offered to put him to an early retirement. Worked many big bouts including the Race/Funk NWA title change in 1977. Ended up being one of Tunney's longest serving of the inner circle with his career here going back to 1949. Refereed his final bout around early 1984 and passed on in 1988 at the age of 77.

Ilio DiPaolo: SR 1954-1960. Along with Pat Flanagan, was appointed special referee for bouts between The Duseks and the Mills Brothers and again for a Duseks vs Yukon Eric & Mighty Ursus bout. 1960 appointed special referee for a Whipper Billy Watson/Billy Red Lyons vs Murder Inc (Tiny Mills/Krusher Kowalski) bout.

Wilf Jennings: Circuit 1970s & ? Former wrestler Wilf  'The Wolf' or The Sudbury Wolf, Jennings was a regular referee on McKigney's Big Bear circuit in the early/mid 70s. He also worked for Tunney as a photographer and I assume refereed a time or two on the circuit. If you know....

'Wee' Willie Davis: SR 1956-1957. 1956 appointed special referee for a NWA Title bout between champ Whipper Watson and Mr Moto and another between NWA champ Dick Hutton and Yukon Eric. 1957 appointed special referee for a Whipper vs Gene Kiniski bout.

Wilbur Snyder: SR 1958. appointed special referee for a NWA Title bout between champ Dick Hutton and Lou Thesz.

The Fabulous Kangaroos (Al Costello/Roy Heffernan): SR 1958. appointed special referee for a NWA Title bout between champ Dick Hutton and Whipper Watson. They were good guys at that time and kept the peace. 

Rocky Marciano: SR 1956. Former Boxing champ appointed special referee for a Whipper Watson vs Gene Kiniski bout.

Mike Valentino: SR 1960. appointed as special referee for a Whipper Billy Watson/Ilio DiPaolo vs Mike Gallagher/Doc Gallagher bout. Prior to becoming 'Baron Mikel Scicluna' Valentino was a regular on the Toronto and area scene from 1957 to 1965, in the early days billed as Mike Scicluna.

Chris Tolos: SR 1976 . appointed special referee for a Sheik vs Bobo Brazil bout. This was the bout where Sheik won his belt back from Bobo having lost it (a very rare occurrence!) on the previous card.

Gino Marella/Gorilla Monsoon: SR 1961-1978. A good answer to the question of who wrestled AND refereed in Toronto under TWO different names? In 1961 appointed as special referee for a bout in the very heated feud between Bulldog Brower and Whipper Watson. Under his real name Marella appeared in Toronto regularly from 1960 to 1963. In 1978 back as Gorilla he was appointed special referee for a Dusty Rhodes vs Superstar Graham bout. A few cards after the Rhodes/Graham bout Monsoon would pull a heel turn, but only here in Toronto. During a tag bout with Andre The Giant against Pat Patterson and Ray Stevens, the two big men collide and set up a mini run for Monsoon as a hated heel- which culminated in a title shot vs then WWWF champ Bob Backlund.

Tommy Young: The Mid Atlantic mainstay refereed here at the onset (and a few times in the dying days) of the Mid Atlantic era that ended when Jack Tunney went with WWF in 1984.

Wayne Cashman: AKA Wayne Cassibo he worked some big bouts at MLG in the late 70s including Backlund-Bockwinkel. A regular ref on Dave McKigney's Ontario circuit as well.

Blackjack Mulligan: SR 1980. appointed special referee for an Angelo Mosca vs Bobby Duncum bout. Blackjack and Duncum had been feuding and had met the previous night in Buffalo

Tony Parisi: SR 1981. appointed special referee for a US Title bout between Roddy Piper and Ric Flair. Parisi also refereed around the circuit occasionally but don't believe he worked any other bouts at MLG.

Sonny Fargo: Fargo worked some bouts in the final years of the Mid Atlantic crossover including the Mosca-Tyler and Mosca-Slaughter bouts in 1982.

Wilf Long cartoon Toronto 1957

'Jersey' Joe Walcott: SR 1956-1962. Former champion Boxer appointed special referee for many bouts including a Whipper Watson/Yukon Eric vs Gene Kiniski/Fritz Von Erich tag bout. In 1957 appointed special referee for a Buddy Rogers vs Whipper Watson bout and Whipper vs Kiniski. 1958 appointed special referee for a Whipper Watson/Yukon Eric vs Gene Kiniski/Fritz Von Erich bout. 1962 appointed special referee for 2 separate NWA Title bouts between Buddy Rogers and Bulldog Brower.

Salvatore Bellomo: SR 1983. appointed special referee for a Jimmy Snuka vs Ray Stevens bout.

Sandy Scott: SR 1983. appointed special referee for a NWA Title bout between Ric Flair and Roddy Piper. Sandy and brother Scott had also been regulars on the smaller circuit here from the late 1940's to early 1950's.

Johnny Weaver: SR 1983. appointed special referee for a NWA Title bout between Harley Race and Ric Flair. At the second Night Of Champions card at the EX Weaver ended up slugging Flair at the end of the bout after he disqualified the Nature Boy who was a fan favorite here.

Joe Louis: SR 1955-56. Former champion Boxer appointed special referee for several tag bouts over the Canadian Open Tag Titles including a Whipper Watson/Yvon Robert vs Mills Brothers bout. 

John Laing: Worked late 1970's into the early 1980's before going to Florida, was an associate of Dewey Robertson, said to have come out of Deweys gym.

Bill Alphonso: Reffed here early in his career 1981-82 and worked some big bouts including NWA Title bouts between Harley Race and Ric Flair as well as an AWA Title bout between Nick Bockwinkel and Angelo Mosca. He went on to success in the ECW later on.

Ongoing....

-AC 

Thanks to Roger Baker

Main photo by Roger Baker and Gollob & Stack, Flanagan

Nostalgia mapleleafwrestling.com collection