Vintage Wrestling Memorabilia

(If you DON'T see an index frame on the left...click RING MEMORABILIA above.)

Welcome To The Glory Days of Professional Wrestling

The French Angel bids you welcome!

Maurice "Neanderthal Man" Tillet - Vintage original wire photo -

Main Event: Ed "Strangler" Lewis vs. Sammy Stein - + Dick Shikat, John Evko, Jack Sherry, George Zarynoff, Wong Bock Cheung, Szabo, Kirchmeyer, Macaluso + others. Original 4 page oversized program/poster from the 71st St. Regiment Armory - 1932. Open it measures 17" x 12". Poster like center with surrounding 3" x 2" portrait photos of 10 of the combatants. Extremely rare. VG-EX with folds. A beautiful display piece when framed as a poster.

Main Event: Herbie Freeman vs. Gino Garibaldi - also Jim McMillen vs. Floyd Marshall and Sandor Szabo vs. Carl Pojello, Earl McCready, Paul Jones Sergei Kalmikoff + others. Original 4 page oversized program/poster from the 71st St. Regiment Armory - 1931. Open it measures 17" x 12". Poster like center with 4 photos measuring 3" x 2 1/2". Extremely rare. VG tape on spine. A beautiful display piece when framed as a poster.

71st St. Regiment Armory, NYC

JIM LONDOS

WORLD CHAMPION

Original Studio Photo by Bert Roberts - Madison Square Garden -

Christos Theofilou [1897–1975] better known as "The Golden Greek" Jim Londos, was one of the most popular stars wrestling offered during the Great Depression years.

Jim Londos was born Christos Theofilou in 1897 in Argos, Greece. as the youngest of thirteen children. At age thirteen he ran away from home and eventually ended up emmigrating to the United States. Working whenever he could, Theofilou took several odd jobs including cabin boy, construction jobs and posing nude for figure drawing classes. He landed a job as a catcher in a carnival acrobatic act. It was during this period that he was exposed to professional wrestling and began training.

Londos’ first matches would be as “The Wrestling Plasterer” Christopher Theophelus, a gimmick that saw him coming to the ring in overalls. After a number of years, he dropped this in favor of wrestling under the name Jim Londos and being a no nonsense wrestler.

To compensate for his initial lack of technical wrestling ability, which to his credit improved vastly over the years, Londos was well known for his good looks and his well muscled physique. He capitalized on this by having himself matched up against the ugliest opponents he could find. This promotional tactic worked very well and Londos became one of the most popular wrestlers in the 1930s and early 40s.

Londos retired in 1946, but resurfaced in 1951 to wrestle Primo Carnera. He spent the remainder of his life working for charitable organizations. His favorite charities dealt with Greek war orphans of the Second World War.

^{Here's one of the earliest Jim Londos studio photos I've seen and its
autographed as a bonus. An 8 x 10 beauty.}

Main Event: Jim Londos vs. Kola Kwariani - also George Calza vs. Dr. Ralph Wilson, Sergei Kalmikoff vs. Joe "Toots" Mondt, Norton B. Jackson vs. Fred Caroni, Stanislaus Zbyszko vs. Vanka Zelezniak. Original 4 page oversized program/poster from the Coney Island Stadium - 1931. Open it measures 17" x 12". Outstanding poster like center with very large lettering with 2 photos measuring 5" x 4". Extremely rare. Excellent cond. An outstanding display piece when opened & framed as a poster. No Longer Available.

A rare original Jim Londos onsite poster. Excellent condition, cardboard, 22 inches x 14 inches. A great display piece!

Madison Square Garden Wrestling Program

November 19, 1934 - Madison Square Garden-New York City

Jim Londos vs. Everett Marshall

To A Finish - No Curfew - No 11 O'Clock Time Limit

Main Event: Jim Londos vs. Everett Marshall, also Gino Garibaldi vs. Carl Pojello, Alphonse Bisignano vs. Frank Bronowicz, Hans Kampfer vs. Pat O'Shocker, Dr. Henry Fields vs. Wee Willie Davis, Sandor Szabo vs. Herman Hickman, and Tor Johnson vs. Tex Morgan. An extremely rare 4 pager from New York's Madison Square Garden. Cardboard, measures 11" x 7".

Chicago Stadium Wrestling Program

World's Heavyweight Championship

Jim LONDOS vs. Everett MARSHALL

February 28, 1935

Main Event: Jim Londos (Greece) vs. Everett Marshall (Colorado) for the World's Heavyweight Championship - One Fall, Ninety Minute Time Limit.

Also: Bobby Bruns vs. Jack Zaravich, Joe Rogacki vs. Hans Bauer, Olaf Oleson vs. Baby Zaharias, Ray Steele vs. Tommy Marvin, and Jim McMillen vs. Mehmet Yousif - NICE 24 page program from the historic Chicago Stadium, features excellent photos and wrestling info, plus some outstanding period advertising. Wonder what happen to that beautiful stadium organ?

Philadelphia Convention Hall Wrestling Program

December 15, 1933

Main Event: Jim Londos vs. Everette Marshall, plus Dick Shikat vs. Paul Jones, Jack Umberto vs. Jim McMillen, Harry Fields vs. Dick Lever and Fred Grubmier vs. GeorgeZaharias. Rare oversized 4 pager from Ray Fabiani in Philly, 12 inches x 9 1/2 inches.

WRESTLING PROGRAM December 15, 1937

JIM LONDOS vs. JOHANNES VAN DER WALT

St. Louis MO

This go was billed as one fall to a finish for the British Empire Heavyweight Wrestling Championship. A crowd of 6,835 saw Londos defeat Van Der Walt in 50 minutes. The pair went 3 hours for a draw in London only one month earlier.

Incredible, as it also features a 21 year old LOU THESZ vs PAT McCLARY.

ALI BABA vs. HARDY KRUSKAMP

RUDY DUSEK vs. YOUNG FRANK GOTCH

Also, it has some great photographs including a full page photo heralding the coming of future champ "Steve Crusher" Casey, who would go on to defeat Thesz for the belt in 1938.

WORLD'S HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

FEBRUARY 27th, 1931

Miami, Florida

JIMMY LONDOS (World's Champion)

vs.

STANISLAUS ZBYSZKO (Former Champion)

Original Letterhead for their Historic Match

No Longer Available.

SAMMY STEIN

Who can forget his famous appearance in
"Mighty Joe Young"

Original Maurice of Hollywood studio photo signed & inscribed & dated by Sammy Stein - 11/10/1937.

ZABOJCA

Found this scary lookin fellow in a program from Arena Gardens in Detroit circa 1938/39. HE WAS TOUTED AS BEING 7 FEET TALL!! Promoter is Eddie Lewis, but is there a connection to Jack Pfefer here?

Original program for the World's Heavyweight Championship - June 5, 1935 - Navin Field, Detroit, Michigan.

JIM LONDOS vs. ORVILLE BROWN - Excellent condition - cardboard - unscored - 4 pages - measures 9.5" x 6.25" - also features a very early Louis Thesz, Ray Steele, Lou Plummer, Bobby Bruns, Jim McMillen...Orville Brown stuff is rare and desirable.

Official Program For World's Heavyweight Championship - Fenway Park, Boston - July 18, 1934

ED DON GEORGE vs. JIM LONDOS - Excellent condition - cardboard - unscored - 4 pages - measures 10" x 7" - also features Nick Lutze vs. Henri DeGlane, Hans Steinke vs. Boris Demetroff, Everett Marshall vs. Fred Carbone. Panther Joe Malcewicz vs. Ernie Dusek and others

Original Full Ticket - JIM LONDOS vs. RAY STEELE - YANKEE STADIUM, June 29, 1931 - Wrestling Championship Of The World

No Longer Available.

Here's Another Full Ticket, I Just Picked Up!

RAY STEELE

WORLD CHAMPION

Peter Sauer was born in 1900 and raised in Norka, a German colony in Russia, before immigrating to Lincoln, Nebraska in 1906 where he used the name Ray Steele throughout his career in the States.

Sauer as Steele worked a catch wrestling style in his early career and gained some notoriety in 1936 when he faced heavyweight boxing contender Kingfish Levinsky in a mixed match, which Sauer won in 35 seconds. Sauer's biggest accomplishment in the sport was winning the National Wrestling Association's World Heavyweight Championship from Bronko Nagurski in St. Louis, Missouri on March 7, 1940. Steele would hold the belt for over a year before losing it back to Bronko Nagurski on March 11. 1941 in Houston, Texas. Sauer served as a mentor to many young stars, including Lou Thesz before his death of a heart attack in September 1949.

Original 8 x 10 studio photo (bert KC) inscribed and autographed by Ray Steele in 1934.

Two Original vintage studio photographs of Ray Steele by BERT of KC (circa 1933)

JOE STECHER

"THE SCISSORS KING"

WORLD CHAMPION

Born April 5, 1894 in Dodge, Nebraska, Joseph James Stecher, was a natural athlete who declined a Phillies major league baseball contract to wrestle. He perfected the scissors body lock to work with an arm bar to gain the fall or constrict his opponent into submission. When Frank Gotch retired, Joe pinned Charles Cutler (who had won an elimination tournament) in 17 minutes on July 5, 1915, to take the World Title (just 3 years after his first match).

Original Vintage Underwood & Underwood Photograph

A rare Original program for April 6th, 1931 at the Convention Hall in Camden, New Jersey.

JOE STECHER vs. GLEN WADE

In addition to the 2 out of 3 falls Stecher-Wade main event, Pinky Gardner took on Clevio Massimo in the semi-final bout.Very good condition, spine split, clean, unscored.

July 1925 edition of THE NATIONAL WRESTLING NEWS

16 pages of nationwide wrestling news and commentary. Oversized - measures 12" x 9". Contains photos and articles.

Very scarce - a low survivor rate as they were produced on a lightweight paper.

Extremely Rare Original Pinback Button - measures 1 3/4 inches in diameter - circa early 1920's - Mfd. by The Lodge Supply Co. Omaha, Neb. - JOE STECHER CHAMPION WRESTLER

NO LONGER AVAILABLE!

HENRI DeGLANE

WORLD'S CHAMPION

Original on-site poster for the World's Championship. Outstanding cardboard poster, measuring 22" x 14" and featuring a great photo of Champion Henri DeGlane. Beautiful condition! Also features future champion Jim Browning and Greek Champion Bill Demetral. Nuff said!

GUS SONNENBERG

WORLD CHAMPION

On January 4, 1929 before 20,000 fans at the Boston Garden, Sonnenberg faced Ed Lewis in a return match. Gus shocked the wrestling world by defeating the "Strangler" to win the world's heavyweight championship.

A rare signed photograph of Gus Sonnenberg in wrestling pose, 8 x 10, inscribed to Bob Burroughs, black fountain pen ink.

A nice Boxing-Wrestling crossover piece. This is Jim Londos with a headlock on Mickey Walker and Tony Canzoneri acting as referee. Champions all!

Original Ticket - ED "STRANGLER" LEWIS vs. "SCISSORS" JOE STECHER - World's Championship Wrestling Match - New Coliseum Arena, St. Louis, Mo. - February 20, 1928. - won by Strangler Lewis

Original program for the World's Heavyweight Championship - June 25, 1934 - Madison Square Garden Bowl, Long Island, New York. This was the historic title unification bout.

No Longer Available.

JIM LONDOS vs. JIM BROWNING

Excellent condition - cardboard - unscored - 4 pages - also features Dick Shikat, Ernie Dusek, Everett Marshall, Abie Coleman, Joe Savoldi, Sandor Szabo, Dr. Karl Sarpolis and George Bothner will referee the main event!

ED "STRANGLER" LEWIS

WORLD CHAMPION

Original Vintage Studio Photograph of Ed "Strangler" Lewis (Robert Friedrick) by Hartsook of SF-LA

Below is a nice wrestling posed image of a young Lewis. Its cardboard and appears to be cut from a poster...maybe?

PAUL BOESCH

Jewish Heavyweight Champion from Brooklyn, NY

Original Vintage Studio Photograph

No Longer Available.

Original poster/flyer - circa 1930 - paper, excellent condition, w/ original mailing folds - measures 12 1/2" x 9 1/2". Sammy Stein vs. Tiny Roebuck & Frank Speers vs. Paul Boesch + other bouts & photos on the back. With ticket pass & original mailing envelope.

Original poster/flyer - circa 1930 - paper, excellent condition, w/ original mailing folds - measures 10" x 8". Paul Boesch vs. Herbie Freeman & Charlie Strack vs. Mike Mazurki + Mayes McClain, Dr, Fred Meyers others. With ticket pass & original mailing envelope.

No Longer Available.

DICK DAVISCOURT

A pair of original, vintage signed 8 x 10 studio photographs of Dick Daviscourt, (Nicholas Dewiscourt), circa early 1920's. One of wrestling's early ruffians and villains in a long career that spanned the 1910's to the 1930's. Recruited by Dr. Benjamin F. Roller, Daviscourt born in 1888, emerged as one of the top challengers to Ed "Strangler" Lewis. The two met over 20 times, with Daviscourt being one of the few men ever to hold a pin fall win over Lewis. Daviscourt met and bested the top wrestlers of the day. Men like Toots Mondt, Jim Londos, Wladek Zbyszko, Milo Steinborn and Jim Browning.

BULL MONTANA

Original, vintage signed 8 x 10 studio photo of the incomparable Bull Montana. Signed and inscribed in 1922. Bull was a good friend of Jack Dempsey.

NO LONGER AVAILABLE!

VIC CHRISTIE

Original Signed Photo of the young 1930's contender from California - postcard size - boldly signed in blue fountain pen

YOUSOUF - THE ORIGINAL TERRIBLE TURK

Full ticket from the Yousouf Ishmaelo The {Original} Terrible Turk vs. Evan "Strangler" Lewis bout held in Chicago on June 20, 1898. Excellent condition, corner clipped. The only known example in existence.

In Chicago on June 20, 1898, before a reported crowd of 10,000, Youssuf met Evan "Strangler" Lewis, the one-time American champion. The match was for a purse of $3,500 and the "championship of the world" (again), with the best of three falls to decide the winner. The only move barred was the stranglehold.

Youssuf immediately assumed the offensive and after three minutes was able to get a decisive hold on Lewis. Unfortunately, it was a stranglehold and the match was stopped and the first fall was awarded to Lewis on a foul.

At this point some kind of argument ensued and it was agreed that Lewis could take the winner’s end of the purse as long as referee Tom Hogan was replaced by C.C. Duplessis. Hogan refused to leave and had to be escorted from the ring. "During all this time," the report reads, "there was the wildest excitement."

Anyway, the match was restarted again from scratch, the best of three falls again to decide the winner. Within four minutes Youssuf succeeded in applying – a stranglehold. Reluctantly he quit the hold after being cautioned by the referee, and the fall was again awarded to the American.

The second and third falls were won by Youssuf after six minutes and seven minutes of wrestling respectively, and here I cannot understand the match report since it says that the falls were gained in each case by a "stranglehold" – the very hold that Youssuf had been disqualified for. In any event, Youssuf won, and afterwards Lewis was quoted as saying, "I was licked. The Turk is the better man."

That was Youssuf’s last match in America, or anywhere. Soon after he boarded the SS Bourgogne, and set off back to France. ...From "The Life and Death Of The Terrible Turk" by Graham Noble - 2001

Original Full Ticket - MARIN PLESTINA vs. JACK TAYLOR - Madison Square Garden May 9, 1919

Marin Plestina of Chicago defeated Jack Taylor of Calgary Canada, last night in their wrestling bout at Madison Square Garden, gaining two straight falls. Plestina won the first fall in 1 hour 22 minutes and 33 seconds with a double wrist lock, with the aid of a body roll. The second fall came in 24 minutes 48 seconds, when Plestina applied a head bar lock and arm scissors.

Used as a policeman by the Sandow-Bowser organization for years, Plestina a previous top hat, became an outlaw under the management of Ole (J. C.) Marsh.

Here are 3 nice original photographs of the legitimately tough Marin Plestina.

Below is an original 81/2 x 6 1/2, Apeda Studio photo inscribed and autographed by one of Canada's greatest wrestlers, jack Taylor.

DICK SHIKAT

WORLD CHAMPION

Original 8 X 10 photograph of "Danno's nemisis", and a great wrestler Dick Shikat. Cool pose and its inscribed & signed in red ink!

STEVE "CRUSHER" CASEY

WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT WRESTLING CHAMPION

& CHAMPION OARSMAN FROM SNEEM, Co. KERRY IRELAND

Original Wrestling Promo - March 17, 1936 Embassy Ring, Catford, London, England - also features brother Paddy Casey -

Original Full Ticket - STEVE CASEY vs. MARVIN WESTENBERG - Municipal Stadium - Syracuse, NY - July 26, 1937 -

More Steve Casey stuff!

A rare original Steve "CRUSHER" Casey 4 page publicity sheet.

Fenway Park, Boston Wrestling Program

June 29,1937

Main Event: Ed Don George vs. Steve Crusher Casey, also Rube Wright vs. Danno O'Mahoney, George Dazzler Clark vs. Billy Bartush, Wee Willie Davis vs. Tor Johnson, Marvin Westenberg vs. Jack Marshall, Tom Hanley vs. Jim Wright, Harry Lewis vs. Hans Bauer, & Roy Dunn vs. Ricordo Cortez. Nice 4 pager from historic Fenway. Ya gotta love the Camels ad!!

Original Chicago Stadium advertising poster

Friday, April 8, 1938

Champion Steve ''Crusher" Casey vs. Ed Don George

Former Champion Danno O'Mahoney vs. Everett Marshall

What a card!