Charlotte Wrestling Results

*Irish Horan was the matchmaker for the Southeastern Wrestling Association. Joe
Williamson was the business manager of “Horan’s company, the Southeastern Wrestling
Association.” Williamson was the “assistant buisness manager of the Southeastern
Wrestling Association.”

Charlotte, North Carolina: Monday, March 5, 1934
(The Armory) … Leo Alexander b. Charlie “Dropkick” Allen (decision) (no falls) … Frank
Malcewicz b. Joe Campbell (25:34) … Eddie Pope b. Mike Kilonis (20:30) … (promoter:
Irish Horan) … (3,500 fans)
Notes: Horan announced that he planned to bring Jim Londos, Jim Browning and Joe
Banaski to Charlotte. Eddie Pope was from Rocky Mount and Kilonis was called the “goofy
Greek from Boston.” Horan reportedly “refused an offer of $2,500 for Banaski’s services”
in a bout with Pinkie Gardner at Madison Square Garden, and planned to stage the match
locally.

Charlotte, North Carolina: Monday, March 12, 1934
(Armory-Auditorium) … Leo Wallick b. Charlie Allen (35:36) … Al Stecher b. Joe Campbell
(26:42) … Frank Malcewicz b. Eddie Pope (19:13) … (promoter: Irish Horan) … (1,800
fans)
Notes: It was stated that Horan receied confirmation that World Champion Jim Browning
would appear in Charlotte in April. Charlie Fischer, who was “recognized in Missouri and a
number of other western states as the leading contender for the light heavyweight crown
worn by John Banaski,” was going to wrestle the winner of the Banaski-Gardner bout. Al
Stecher was from Joplin, Missouri.

Charlotte, North Carolina: Monday, March 19, 1934
(Armory-Auditorium) … MWA World Light Heavyweight Champion Joe Banaski b. Pinkie
Gardner (1:09:12) … Frank Malcewicz b. Al Stecher (30:22) … Pete Ramos and Pancho
Villa drew (30:00) … Bull Smith b. Johnny Dill (9:10) … (promoter: Irish Horan) …
(referees: Mike Kilonis, Doc Unger) … (4,035 fans)
Notes: Gardner was “once the most popular of all rasslers here.” The weigh-in for the two
main event wrestlers was held at 1:00 on Monday afternoon at the Albert Hotel, supervised
by Dr. Allan B. Choate. “Each grappler must weigh 178 pounds or less to qualify for the
championship bout.” Banaski “is recognized as champion by the Midwest Wrestling
Association,” and his title was on the line against Gardner. The winner would wrestle
Charlie Fischer on April 3. Another report stated that Banaski was “recognized by at least
one wrestling association as the world’s light heavyweight champion.” Jake Wade, the
Charlotte Observer Sports Editor” wrote in his report of this show that “Until Banaski won
he was about as pathetic a figure as you’ll ever see. He didn’t look as though he belonged
in the same ring with the cool and workmanlike Gardner. Banaski looked like anything but
a champion.” The finish of the match bothered a lot of local fans. Smith was from Atlanta
and Dill from Gastonia.

Gastonia, North Carolina: Saturday, March 24, 1934
( ) … Frank Malcewicz b. Mike Kilonis (33:30) … Raeford Hoover b. Johnny Dill … Eddie
Sloan b. Clarence Mitchell … (promoter and refereee: Irish Horan)

Charlotte, North Carolina: Tuesday, April 3, 1934
(Armory-Auditorium) … Charlie Fischer b. Joe Banaski to unify his claim to the World Light
Heavyweight Title with the latter’s claim (60:00) … Nick Bozinis b. Al Stecher (36:34) …
Eddie Malone b. Frank Malcewicz (28:12) … (promoter: Irish Horan) … (3,000 fans, 2,800
paid) … (in attendance: “the usual Charlotte celebrities”)
Notes: Irish Horan reportedly left town after the Banaski-Gardner affair, having gone to
New York to arrange for new talent, specifically heavyweights. Fischer was said to be
“recognized by the Missouri state athletic commission as the light heavyweight champion.”
He was managed by Maxwell Baumann of Kansas City and claimed the middleweight title
as well. Baumann said that “phoney champs” such as “Hugh Nichols” didn’t even belong in
the same ring as Fischer. Horan stated that this was his best show yet. Nick Bozinis had a
wife and three children in Elmira, New York. Banaski was “recognized by Irish Horan and
the Mid-west Wrestling Association as light heavyweight champion, and Charlie Fischer,
recognized by the Missouri state athletic association as light heavyweight champion,”
according to Jake Wade of the Charlotte Observer. Fischer won he match with a
piledriver, and fans believed it was another “frame-up.” He was called the “new world’s light
heavy champion” after the bout, and had been introduced as th e”champion of Missouri in
his class,” as stated in the newspaper report.

*The problems between Irish Horan and the Charlotte Boxing Commission began to
surface prior to the April 3, 1934 show. Horan arranged the show and set out advertising,
but the commission refused to sanction the program. To protect his offering, the promoter
secured a restraining order from the courts preventing the commission from interfering,
signed by Judge Thomas J. Shaw. City Manager J.B. Pridgen was said to be trying to stop
Horan from using the Armory for his wrestling event, and Horan claimed “he had made a
reservation for the Armory through the regular channels.”

*Horan pushed forward and continued to promote his show. In his complaint to the court, it
was stated that the “boxing commission has no leagl supervision over wrestling, despite
the general opinion to the contrary, and that a sanction form the said commisison is not
legally necessary,” according to the Charlotte Observer.

*The newspaper stated that Horan was “fighting this thing through because he stood to
lose money and because he felt, for some reason, the commission had taken an unfair
stand toward him.”

*Charlotte Boxing Commission Chairman Capt. T.A. Childs said “that the reason the
commission refused to sanction the show was because it was unfair to the boxing
promoters who were putting on a show Friday night and had already secured sanction for
their bill.” Horan answered by saying that previously the commission had authorized a
boxing and wrestling show in the same week and wondered why there was a change in
policy. There was some talk in the formation of a wrestling commission, an idea that was
backed by influential individuals, locally.

*There was going to be a hearing on the restraining order obtained by Horan on the
morning of Tuesday, April 3, 1934. However, on Monday, there was a meeting and came
to an agreement, with the Boxing Commission officially sanctioning Horan’s show. Horan’s
lawyer Elbert E. Foster called it a “belated sanction.” Horan believed that he was “morally”
right in the fight with the commission and claimed that they were taking an unfair stance
toward him. Jake Wade of the Observer speculated that th ecommission may have taken
itself “too seriously” in this situation, and noted that the chairman (Childs) was a man of
“extremely amiable disposition.”

*People wondered how all of this controversy was going to affect the Tuesday, April 3
show, and adding to the fact that Banaski’s last appearance created so much controversy.
There were fans who believed his match with Gardner was a “frame-up,” or “Barney.”

*Childs stated that the reason for the reversal was for the “best interest of the game.” He
explained to the newspaper that he was told by the city that the commission would regulate
wrestling. On April 2, the commission members officially agreed to adopt the regulation
allowing only one wrestling or boxing show a week. Horan stated that he could obtain
better talent if he was allowed to run shows weekly.

Charlotte, North Carolina: Wednesday, April 11, 1934
(Armory-Auditorium) … Dorv Roche b. Lou Plummer (25:00) … Sol Slagel b. Sam Carter
(20:00) … Tommy Marvin b. Guiseppe Tonti (20:00) … (promoter: Irish Horan) …
(referee: Jim Belliveau) … (disappointing crowd)
Notes: This was Horan’s debut promoting heavyweights. He had previously only promoted
non-heavies. Carter was called a former Evansville police officer. Sol Slagel was a Jewish
grappler from Topeka. Guiseppe Tonti “has been away from Italy only a few weeks.”
Plummer and Roche wrestled a wild match that “sent ringsiders scurrying to safety and
once required police to pry them apart.” The referee recommended that they both be
suspended and purses withheld. Slagel claimed a win over Joe Savoldi.

*More problems between Horan and the Charlotte Boxing Commission came to light when a
wrestling show was scheduled for the Armory on Friday, April 27, the same day the
Charlotte Athletic Club was planning a boxing show. The Commission Chairman, Childs,
stated that the boxing show had been approved on that date. On April 13, the Charlotte
City Council approved the boxing show at the Armory on Aprl 27. Horan was reportedly
out of town when the council made their decision. Instead of creating a wrestling
commission, the City Council wanted the Boxing Commission to regulate the affairs of
grappling.

*On Saturday, April 14, 1934, Charlotte Mayor Wearn approved the plan to have the
Boxing Commission supervise professional wrestling. A representative of Horan, Joe
Williamson, stated that the move to cancel the wrestling show was “unfair and
discriminatory,” as stated in the Charlotte Observer.

*The Tuesday, April 17, 1934 edition of the Charlotte Observer stated that “Irish Horan,
the rasslin’ promoter, still retains his circus interests.” He was a press agent “for years” in
“Downie’s show,” which was owned by Charlie Sparks.

*Irish Horan was not going to walk away from this situation easily. He continued to plan for
an April 27 show at the Armory, and claimed to have reservations for that date. The City
Council, reportedly, cancelled that reservation and gave the date to the Charlotte Athletic
Club. Through representation, Horan stated that if that decision was not altered, he’d
again go to the courts to get an injunction. Horan still wanted the formation of a wrestling
commission.

*On Tuesday, April 17, 1934, Joe Williamson stated that their wrestling program would go
on even if they had to rent the ball park. Horan was expected back from Norfolk “next
week.” The wrestling bill was not announced as of yet. The scheduling of a wrestling and
boxing show on the same day would set a new precendant locally. It was said that Horan
had a lot of friends in high office, and there was speculation that he could get things
changed, and get his show back into the Armory before it was all said and done.

*On Wednesday, April 18, 1934, the Charlotte City Council met to decide whether or not
to name a wrestling commission, but failed to take action. Horan planned to announce his
April 27 wrestling card soon, which would feature non-heavyweight grapplers. The Boxing
Commission threatened to take appropriate action if the wrestling show went on without
approval.

*By Thursday, April 19, there was speculation that the wrestling show was going to be
called off. Horan was still out of town. Joe Williamson stated that “We are having trouble
getting the wrestlers.”

*On Saturday, April 21, 1934, Williamson announced that the wrestling show was, indeed,
cancelled, and stated that “we will abide by the rulings of the commission.”

*Horan wrote the Observer from Horan and responded to the Boxing Commission’s effort to
stifle his wrestling show. He stated that he was “getting used to that sort of thing now.” The
paper stated that he “probably would be out of Charlotte most of the summer and Mrs.
Horan would carry on his promotion activities while he is away.” He planned to adhere to
the rules of the commission, and run shows every other week as they wanted.

*The Tuesday, April 24, 1934 edition of the Charlotte Observer stated: “Meanwhile, a
letter comes from the National Wrestling Association, stating that advertised championship
wrestling titls here are the bunk … It said the national association recognizes Jim Londos
as heavyweight champion, Leroy McGuirk as light heavyweight champion, Gus Kallio,
middleweight champion, and Jack Reynolds as welterweight champion … A contender, in
order to challenge a champion, must post a $500 forfeit with the secretary of the national
association, declares Col. Harry J. Landry, the president.”

*The Charlotte Athletic Club boxing show on Friday, April 27, 1934 at the Armory, despite
all of the hullaboo, drew a “disappointingly small crowd.” On the show, Al Massey of
Goldsboro and Charlotte beat Frank Touchberry by disqualification in the third round when
he fell to the mat without being hit. Massey was a future professional wrestler.

*Professional wrestling was announced as returning to Charlotte on Monday, May 14,
promoted by the Southeastern Wrestling Association.

*The Tuesday, May 15, 1934 edition of the Charlotte Observer stated, in Jake Wade’s
column, which was written by Fritz Littlejohn while Wade was on vacation. He wrote that
Irish Horan was from Peoria. He was not planning on returning to Charlotte for the Friday
program at the Armory, and was “engaged in publicizing another type of circus, the kind
that does its grunting and groaning under a canvas top.” Horan “authorized” Williamson to
handle his operations for him in the area. Horan came to Charlotte “last year” to begin
promoting wrestling locally. He claimed to be “a former lightweight, or maybe welterweight
champion of the world.” Littlejohn also wrote that Horan “said he had at one time been
matchmaker for the rassling department of Madison Square Garden. He indicated he was
just like that with all the big shots in Gotham promotion circles, and he complained that Mr.
Dan Parker, the eminent sports writer with a penchant for riding both rassling and boxing,
used to pen some vitrolic comment about him.”

*Littlejohn said that he believed what Horan said, “even quizzed him about the big time,
trying to get some inside dope. And everything he said may still be true, but Mr. Parker
declares he never heard of Mr. Horan.” Littlejohn wrote that Parker “further avers a check-
up at rassling headquarters in New York, failed to produce anyone who knew Mr. Horan,
either by sight or reputation.”

Charlotte, North Carolina: Friday, May 18, 1934
(The Armory) … Joe Banaski b. Myron Mynster (1:05:00) … Eddie Malone b. Jack Rogers
(17:00) … Raeford Hoover was scheduled to wrestle Jack Pickelheimer, but he failed to
show, and then the latter’s replacement, Kid Byars of Gastonia, also didn’t appear …
(promoter: Joe Williamson) … (referee: Jim Belliveau) … (small crowd)
Notes: This was the first show in Charlotte in more than six weeks. Williamson was in
charge of the “local affairs” of the Southeastern Wrestling Association. Mynster was called
a “former Ohio State football player.” Another report stated that Mynster was a “former
Iowa football player.” The winner of the Banaski-Mynster match was going to wrestle
Charlie Fischer for the “Mid-West Wrestling Association” Light Heavyweight Title. Malone
was from Bristol, Virginia and Pickleheimer from Atlanta. Raeford “Race-Horse” Hoover
was from Charlotte and Rogers was from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Mynster was from
Omaha. All through the show, fans mocked Banaski and booed him.

*Lukie Tenner was planning to run a wrestling show on Monday, May 28, but it was
cancelled because it conflicted with a boxing program.

*On Monday, June 18, 1934, the Charlotte Boxing Commission approved the license of Joe
Williamson to promote a wrestling show on Monday, July 9, and didn’t approve the permits
of Jim Crockett and Bill Lewis. Williamson was known as an “independent wrestling
promoter.” His show was later pushed back to July 16.

*In the days leading up to July 16, Williamson planned to feature Leo Alexander vs. Al
Stecher, Frank Malcewicz vs. Eddie Malone, and a preliminary bout, but on July 10, he
informed the Charlotte Boxing Commission that he was going to have to cancel his
scheduled program. He “had been unable to line up a card.”

*On the evening of Monday, July 16, 1934, the Charlotte Boxing Commission approved the
permit of Jim Crockett and Bill Lewis to debut their brand of wrestling locally on August 10.

Charlotte, North Carolina: Monday, August 13, 1934
(Armory-Auditorium) … Herman Hickman b. Stanley Sitowski (2/3) … Jim Henry b. Lee
Collins (13:22) … Marshall Blackstock b. Harry Lewis (19:52) … (promoters: Jim Crockett,
Bill Lewis) … (referee: Jim Belliveau) … (800-1,400 fans)
Notes: The main event was originally slated to be Bill Middlekauff versus Stanley Sitowski.
Middlekauff was “once an All-Southern fullback at the University of Florida (class of ’27),”
Fritz Littlejohn of the Charlotte Observer believed. Sitowski was from Buffalo. Blackstock
was from Nashville. Middlekauff was replaced by Herman Hickman when all of his bookings
were cancelled “because of his mother’s illness.” The newspaper stated that Hickman “last
played football at Tennessee in 1932, and last season he was one of the best and best-
paid linesmen in the National professional league, playing with the Brooklyn Dodgers.”
Hickman wrestled in Johnson City, Tennessee on Tuesday, beat Jim Hesslyn on
Wednesday in Greensboro, and was in Raleigh on Thursday. Blackstock was called a “rip-
snorting part-Indian blond from Red Bank, Tenn.” This show was originally booked for the
outdoor Robbie’s Field on Friday, August 10, 1934 with Hickman and Sitowski in the main
event, Harry Lewis and Marshall Blackstock in another bout, and Lee Collins facing
Hesslyn in the prelim. However, because of bad weather, the event was postponed until
Monday, and held at the Armory. Hesslyn was replaced by Jim Henry. Crockett wanted to
schedule his next show on August 20, but was unable due to a boxing program in Charlotte.

Charlotte, North Carolina: Monday, September 10, 1934
(Armory-Auditorium) … Jim “Goon” Henry b. Bill Middlekauff (2/3) … Marshall Blackstock b.
Jack McArthur (12:06) … Stanislaus Sitowski b. Jim Hesslyn (dec., 30:00) … (promoter:
Jim Crockett) … (referees: Jim Belliveau, Jess Willard) … (in attendance: Bill Lewis,
Boxing Commissioner T.A. Childs) … (2,500+ fans)
Notes: Bill Lewis was called “Crockett’s partner,” and announced this show, plus the
bringing in of Willard, from Richmond on Saturday, September 1. Jack Steele “used to
wrestle here for Irish Horan,” and “is now working under Jack Pfefer’s banner out of New
York.” The paper said that “Mr. Max (The Singer) Martin” used the alias “Jack Steele.” The
facility was on North Cecil street. The Charlotte Observer (9/8/34) said that “Mr. Bill Lewis,
of Richmond, Va., formerly of Charlotte, and now Mr. Crocketts partner in crime.”
Blackstock was an Indian, “well known in chicken-raising circles in Red Bank, Tenn.,” and
McArthur was a “prominent football player at St. Mary’s.” Sitowski and Hesslyn were coming
to Charlotte from Bristol and Blackstock had previously been visiting family in Atlanta.
Lewis arrived in town with Oscar Holmberg, a “heavyweight recruited from the Fordham U.
grid squad, who will be shown here sooner or later.” Willard was arriving via car with his
wife and son, from New England.

Charlotte, North Carolina: Monday, September 24, 1934
(The Armory) … Jim Henry b. Ivan Vacturoff (2/3) (Vacturoff was hit with a flying bottle,
which was said to be intended for Henry) … Willie “Bill” Middlekauff b. Jack McArthur (18:
00) (flying tackles) … Oscar Holmburg b. Dick Lever (dec., 30:00) … (promoter: Jim
Crockett) … (referee: Jim Belliveau) … (3,000 fans)
Note: After the show, Henry was fined $10 for failing to listen to the referee.

Charlotte, North Carolina: Monday, October 8, 1934
(The Armory) … Jim “Goon” Henry vs. George Widchecki … Jim Hesslyn vs. Ivan Vacturoff
… Jack McArthur vs. Buck Olsen … (promoter: Jim Crockett)
Note: Widchecki was said to be 6’3” and weighing 215 pounds and was coming to
Charlotte from Boston.

Charlotte, North Carolina: Friday, October 26, 1934
(The Armory) … Dick Shikat b. Jim “Goon” Henry (1-0) (time-limit expired before another
fall was scored) (match went longer than 1:30:00) … Jack McArthur b. Jack Dillon (21:58)
… Oscar Holmburg b. Buck Olsen (26:36) … (promoter: Jim Crockett) … (referee: Jim
Belliveau) … (4,500 fans)
Notes: The Sunday, October 21, 1934 edition of the Charlotte Observer has a photo of
Dick Shikat, Bill Lewis and Toots Mondt, at a contract signing bringing Shikat to the city for
a bout. Mondt was Shikat’s manager. The paper said that “Shikat was born and reared in
Germany. He is a huge physical specimen, with broad shoulders, thick waist and slender
legs. He fought in the German navy during the World War and was decorated with the Iron
Cross for gallantry in action at Jutland. The Teuton weighs around 225 and stands six feet
tall. He has remarkable stamina and speed for one his size. He came to this country after
a series of conquests abroad and entered a tourny in which he was finaly crowned
champion.” Olsen was said to be a “former Canadian champ.” Shikat arrived in Charlotte
on Monday, October 22, then went to Columbia, South Carolina for a date. He was
accompanied by Ralph Mondt, Toots’s brother. The paper said that Toots was an
“associate of Jack Curley and the pair are probably the leading wrestling promoters in the
country.” In an article by Jake Wade in the Observer, Shikat said that he believed that
Hans Steinke, Jim Browning, Ed Don George, and Everette Marshall could give Jim Londos
a run for his money, and said that he’d wrestled the Greek champion three times, winning
once, which qualified him to judge Jim’s ability. He said that Londos was extremely fast,
and hard to slam, falling onto his feet every time. Shikat had made a “small fortune in
wrestling,” according to the article, never drank alcohol and smoked an occasional cigar.
He only eats one big meal a day, after his match, settling on fruit juice and soup before.
Shikat said that he didn’t like the rough stuff in the ring, commenting on the tactics of Jim
Henry. On Friday in Richmond, he beat Harry Fields, and wanted to wrestle Jim Londos
prior to Christmas. Shikat protested the usage of a local referee, wanting Benny Bornick
from Washington D.C. to officiate. Bortnick was said to be a “licensed National Wrestling
Association official.” The local commission denied the request, saying that the NWA didn’t
license any referees, and that because it was affiliated with the Association, any referee
they used would be okay. It was said that Shikat was worried that he wouldn’t be protected
in the match, and that he had an important bout in New York at Madison Square Garden
on Monday, and didn’t want anything to happen to him. The winner of the Shikat-Everette
Marshall bout in New York was going to wrestle Londos in November. Promoters Crockett
and Lewis anticipated the largest crowd to ever see a wrestling event in Charlotte.

*Al Massey was going to fight Hardrock Hardin in a 10-round semifinal under the Salvatore
Ruggirello-Dewey Kimrey show in Charlotte on November 3.

Charlotte, North Carolina: Thursday, November 1, 1934
(The Armory) … George Widchecki b. Andy Mantell (2-0) … Leo Alexander b. Dobie
Osborne (DQ) (33:02) … Jack McArthur b. Chris Davros (13:40) … (promoter: Jim
Crockett) … (referee: Jim Belliveau) … (2,000 fans)
Notes: In the November 1, 1934 edition of the Charlotte Observer, there was a photo of
Chris Davros. He was called a “Colorado Greek.” It was reported that the audience lacked
enthusiasm for the show. The newspaper said that Widchecki “sometimes wrestles under
the name of Young Joe Stecher, depending on what town he is in.”

*The Wednesday, November 21, 1934 edition of the Charlotte Observer stated that Jim
Crockett was a partner in a circus with Pete Moore. Recently, wrestler Jack McArthur went
down to take a look at their animals, and began to form a bond with an elephant named
Rosie. At one point, the elephant wrapped her trunk around McArthur and picked him off
the ground, a moment that Moore caught with his camera. A photo of the incident was
included with the article. Crockett’s circus was in “winter quarters in Bristol, Tenn.”

*In Jake Wade‘s column, “Sports Parade” on Thursday, November 22, 1934 in the
Observer, he wrote: “Leo Wallick and Joe Banaski, who grappled here often when Irish
Horan was promoting, wrestled in New York two successive weeks … Banaski won the first
engagement, Wallick the second.”

Charlotte, North Carolina: Friday, November 23, 1934
(The Armory) … Jim Henry b. Marshall Blackstock (2/3) (Blackstock was reportedly out cold
for ten minutes after the bout) … Oscar Holmberg b. Cowboy Luttrall (dec., 30:00) … Jack
McArthur b. Dobie Osborne (22:50) … (promoter: Jim Crockett) … (referee: Jim
Belliveau) … (1,500 fans)
Note: Blackstock reportedly injured his knee during his last appearance in Charlotte.

Charlotte, North Carolina: Monday, December 10, 1934
(The Armory) … Mayes McLain b. Jim Henry (2-0) (first fall by DQ) … George Widchecki b.
Marshall Blackstock (DQ) (Blackstock fought with referee Belliveau after the bout, starting
a near riot) (36:24) … Cowboy Luttrall b. Nick Condos (14:19) … (promoter: Jim Crockett)
… (referee: Jim Belliveau) … (large crowd)
Notes: The Charlotte Observer stated that Mayes McLain “will employ the football tactics
he used while making gridiron history with Iowa a few years back. McLain was All-America
fullback and later played pro football with Stapleton and Portsmouth in the National
League.” Another report stated that McLain played pro football with the Green Bay
Packers and the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was half Cherokee and Half Scotch. After the
show, McLain was said to be the best wrestler to have appeared in Charlotte, probably,
other than Shikat. Nick Condos was a protégé of Jim Londos. He used a Japanese
leglock and the “unconscious hold, a hold that has been barred in many states.” Crockett
expected a crowd nearing 5,000 for this show. Crockett and Lewis planned to bring in “a
new set of gladiators” after the holidays. Marshall was W.L. (Young) Stribling’s sparring
partner.

*In a column by Jake Wade in the December 16, 1934 edition of the Charlotte Observer,
he noted that wrestling was doing well under the promotion of Jim Crockett and that boxing,
locally, had gone “completely floppo.”

Charlotte, North Carolina: Monday, December 17, 1934
(The Armory) … Mayes McLain b. Cowboy Luttrall (2/3) (third fall by DQ) … Jim Hesslyn b.
Jack McArthur (dec., 45:00) … Bill Middlekauff b. Tiny Ruff (14:59) … (promoter: Jim
Crockett) … (referee: Jim Belliveau) … (small crowd) … (benefit to retain athletic teams at
Central High, which will be getting 40 per cent of the gate)
Notes: During the short intermissions in the show, Central High School band and
Stanhope Lineberry’s 105th Engineers Band would play. The gate was expected to reach
$1,000, but a disappointing crowd contributed only $155 for the sports fund. It was one of
the smallest audiences during Crockett’s tenure in Charlotte. Fritz Littlejohn, in his
Observer report, stated that “there were only two things to distinguish the whole business.
One was the tossing of a few fire crackers and the resultant ejection of the culprit by the
gendarmes. The other was the fact that the procedure was viewed from a ringside seat by
the loveliest lady it has been this reporter’s pleasure to observe – at a rassling show or
anywhere else.”

*Jim Crockett donated $5 to the Granny Sapp’s Christmas fund. Grandma Sapp was
called Charlotte’s first baseball fan,” and was 67 years old. The paper said that “She was
recently found to be in rather dire straits and facing a bleak Christmas,” so they started a
collection. Crockett said that he never had the pleasure of meeting Granny, and that he
wanted to do his part to make her happy. Additionally, Crockett indicated that he wanted
to go to New York to get contracts signed to bring top wrestlers to Charlotte, among them
being Joe Savoldi. He lived in Bristol.

Research by Tim Hornbaker
December 23, 2007

Charlotte Wrestling Results - 1934