low
Fighting Titan
Posts: 459
|
Post by low on Aug 5, 2015 21:54:48 GMT -5
As many of you know, I’ve put out a few editions of Legends of Memphis over the years (along with many bootlegs). When starting most of it, there still wasn’t the information that there is today. Now we have tons of wrestling message boards dedicated to the history of wrestling and Memphis historians, like Tim Dils and Mark James, putting out various books and contributions. A few months back, I saw Tim Dalton put out his fantastic WWWF bootleg set, complete with an awesome, detailed booklet. I think that’s what I always wanted to do with Legends of Memphis. Now with tons of information right at my fingertips, there’s no excuse as to why I can’t do this project. Over the past few months, I’ve been (slowly) doing the research on it, but since I saw Pete Fusco and Chad Olsen getting onboard with their JCP and AWA year by year sets, I thought it was time to go “Full Force” (as the immortal Jumpin Jeff Farmer would say).
Instead of doing a full year, I’m going to try and break it down into six month intervals. I’m starting off with 1977, since this was the year “Memphis rasslin” was really born as Jerry Jarrett broke away from Nick Gulas and established himself as THE promoter of “Memphis rasslin”.
I’ve went through each Monday night card and if a guy was on a Monday night card, then more than likely they’ll get a card (yes, it’s a huge undertaking). Starting on March 20, 1977, here is the lineup through the end of June:
Mr Wrestling II Porkchop Cash Rocky Johnson Plowboy Frazier Bob Armstrong Jerry Lawler Abdullah the Butcher Jim (JJ) Dillon Dutch Mantel David Schultz Robert Fuller Ron Fuller Kurt von Steiger Karl von Steiger Tommy Rich Bill Dundee Tommy Gilbert Gorgeous George Jr Bicentennial Kings (Dennis Condrey and Phil Hickerson with manager Rock Hunter) Rick and Robert Gibson Jerry Bryant Dr Frank Private Buddy Diamond The Mummy Mike Stark Ken Dillinger The Gladiator Bob Orton Jr Paul Orndorff Jack Brisco Harley Race Mike Graham Kevin Sullivan Dusty Rhodes Norvell Austin Executioners Pat McGinnis Black Panther Jim Dalton Dr X Jim Garvin Jake Smith Jr (Jake Roberts) Igor Sylvester Ritter Leroy Brown Ratamayus Bobby Bold Eagle Wrestling Pro Exterminators Mickey Poole
|
|
|
Post by Pete on Aug 5, 2015 22:00:38 GMT -5
This is turning into an embarrassment of riches for LOW bootleggers. And the cool thing is, even if there's too many guys to use in a fed, these can work as great historical documents.
Baseball writers Bill James & Rob Neyer were inspired to write a book devoted entirely to pitchers' repertoires after discussing an old-timer and both guys realized they didn't know what pitches he actually threw. That's sort of how I view the projects we're all undergoing--anyone can go onto Wikipedia and see a list of titles held or go to wrestlingdata and see where they worked...but what did they DO in the ring? What was their place on the card? How competitive were their matches? We have Youtube now that can answer some of these questions, but Youtube videos and channels come and go and can be time-consuming to parse through. I think it'd be great to distill all this info into card+booklet form.
|
|
low
Fighting Titan
Posts: 459
|
Post by low on Aug 5, 2015 22:15:43 GMT -5
This is turning into an embarrassment of riches for LOW bootleggers. And the cool thing is, even if there's too many guys to use in a fed, these can work as great historical documents. Baseball writers Bill James & Rob Neyer were inspired to write a book devoted entirely to pitchers' repertoires after discussing an old-timer and both guys realized they didn't know what pitches he actually threw. That's sort of how I view the projects we're all undergoing--anyone can go onto Wikipedia and see a list of titles held or go to wrestlingdata and see where they worked...but what did they DO in the ring? What was their place on the card? How competitive were their matches? We have Youtube now that can answer some of these questions, but Youtube videos and channels come and go and can be time-consuming to parse through. I think it'd be great to distill all this info into card+booklet form. My favorite part is going back to re watch old matches. I love learning more of the history of wrestling. My only worry is there isn't alot of old footage for some of these guys. I'm hoping to pull some resources from other sites to see if they can help. Hopfully guys like Mark James and Tim Dils will have a bit of info on some of them.
|
|
|
Post by pikemojo on Aug 5, 2015 23:27:19 GMT -5
This is turning into an embarrassment of riches for LOW bootleggers. And the cool thing is, even if there's too many guys to use in a fed, these can work as great historical documents. Baseball writers Bill James & Rob Neyer were inspired to write a book devoted entirely to pitchers' repertoires after discussing an old-timer and both guys realized they didn't know what pitches he actually threw. That's sort of how I view the projects we're all undergoing--anyone can go onto Wikipedia and see a list of titles held or go to wrestlingdata and see where they worked...but what did they DO in the ring? What was their place on the card? How competitive were their matches? We have Youtube now that can answer some of these questions, but Youtube videos and channels come and go and can be time-consuming to parse through. I think it'd be great to distill all this info into card+booklet form. Much of what you are talking about is why I created my wrestling articles website. YouTube is great for the stuff you guys are doing. Once you go back to the '50s and earlier, it gets tough to find matches on these guys and gals. I've scouring the internet for info on Ted DiBiase's mom, Helen Hild, for example - in hopes that we may one day get her in LOW. I have found plenty of times where she is listed as having won or lost a match but very few actual moves she did. Anyways, sorry for highjacking the thread. This sounds awesome, low. I look forward to seeing your results!
|
|
|
Post by pikemojo on Aug 5, 2015 23:29:11 GMT -5
This is turning into an embarrassment of riches for LOW bootleggers. And the cool thing is, even if there's too many guys to use in a fed, these can work as great historical documents. Baseball writers Bill James & Rob Neyer were inspired to write a book devoted entirely to pitchers' repertoires after discussing an old-timer and both guys realized they didn't know what pitches he actually threw. That's sort of how I view the projects we're all undergoing--anyone can go onto Wikipedia and see a list of titles held or go to wrestlingdata and see where they worked...but what did they DO in the ring? What was their place on the card? How competitive were their matches? We have Youtube now that can answer some of these questions, but Youtube videos and channels come and go and can be time-consuming to parse through. I think it'd be great to distill all this info into card+booklet form. My favorite part is going back to re watch old matches. I love learning more of the history of wrestling. My only worry is there isn't alot of old footage for some of these guys. I'm hoping to pull some resources from other sites to see if they can help. Hopfully guys like Mark James and Tim Dils will have a bit of info on some of them. Let me know if you'd like my help searching for historical articles on any of these guys. I'll take any excuse to search for more articles for my site.
|
|
|
Post by natureboi on Aug 6, 2015 5:31:26 GMT -5
Two words: thank you!
|
|
|
Post by tystates on Aug 6, 2015 7:15:45 GMT -5
Do you have the DVDVR Best of Memphis dvd set?
|
|
low
Fighting Titan
Posts: 459
|
Post by low on Aug 6, 2015 9:49:28 GMT -5
Ok, OT, but heard one of the best lines in wrestling today while watching some Rick Gibson matches.
First, if you only saw Jimmy Hart in the WWF or WCW, I STRONGLY encourage you to watch Hart's work in Memphis.
As many know, Gibson's mother was deaf and mute (Robert Gibson was famous for signing during interviews). The Gibsons were scheduled to face Nightmare and Speed, but Robert was unable to make the match, so Rick agreed to a handicap tag title match.
Before the match, Hart was spouting off at Lance Russell and Dave Brown and asked Brown if Gibson's mother was deaf and mute. Brown nodded yes and Hart yelled to his guys, "I want you to break his fingers where he can't talk to his mother!"
Just classic
|
|
|
Post by TTX on Aug 6, 2015 10:32:33 GMT -5
So looking forward to it. Still watching whatever Memphis I can on YouTube.
I remember that Hart line.
|
|
low
Fighting Titan
Posts: 459
|
Post by low on Aug 13, 2015 18:01:00 GMT -5
Here's some early pre ink art work
|
|