*In 1917, Joe Coffey worked with Jack Herman in promoting wrestling in Chicago.

Chicago, Illinois:  Thursday, February 22, 1917
( ) … Wladek Zbyszko b. Jess Westergaard (2-0)




Chicago, Illinois:  Tuesday, May 1, 1917
(The Coliseum) … Frank Gotch b. Leo Pardello (6:00) … Lou Talaber b. Jim Barry (9:25)
… Ben Reuben b. Santos (3:02) … Scholberg b. Evers (7:10) … Earl Caddock and Ernest
Kartje wrestled an exhibition (5:00) … Tom Rolowitz b. Al Pierson (4:45) … Marty Cutler b.
Jack Dribbs (dec., 5:00) … Andrews b. Toney (8:46) … (10,000 fans)
Notes:  The Chicago Daily Tribune called Gotch the “retired heavyweight champion.”
Gotch “handled Leo Pardello like a baby.” Caddock “gave an interesting exhibition with his
former trainer Ernest Kartje.” While Caddock was in the ring, both Ed “Strangler” Lewis and
John Olin were introduced to the crowd.  This show was an “athletic and theatrical program
of Lodge No. 4” of the Elks.

Chicago, Illinois:  Wednesday, May 2, 1917
(Chicago Coliseum) … Ed “Strangler” Lewis b. John Olin to capture the World Heavyweight
Title (2-hours, 37-minutes) (Olin was unable to continue, claiming an injured shoulder) …
Paul Martinson b. Paul Schulz (2-0) … Ben Reuben b. Billy Schober (48:30) … (referee:  
Frank Gotch) … (7,000 fans)
Notes:  The newspaper stated that Billy Sandow “has guided Lewis in his last two years of
success without a defeat or a fall against him.” Olin wanted a rematch with Lewis after his
loss.  He claimed he received a “raw deal” from Gotch, the referee.





Chicago, Illinois:  Thursday, November 15, 1917
(Haymarket Theater) … Earl Caddock vs. Dr. B.F. Roller (finish match) … Ben Reuben vs.
Young Beall … Koutalianos vs. Londas
Note:  Caddock was hospitalized prior to this affair in Rochester, Minnesota, and was
forced to cancel his appearance.

*An article in the Chicago Daily Tribune on Friday, November 23, 1917 stated that ex-
wrestler Charles Postl wanted to “help the Camp Grant boys secure wrestling bouts” and
wanted to promote an event on November 30 featuring himself, Tony Ball and Ernest
Kartje.  Postl “now conducts a physical training establishment.”



Research by Tim Hornbaker
September 10, 2010
Chicago Wrestling Results - 1917