Hollywood Wrestling Results

According to the January 8, 1939 edition of the Los Angeles Times, “Dopey and Sleepy, the
Arkansas Scufflers” were defending “their world’s team championship against the two
notorious bad men, Tarzan Orth and Tiger Tsakoff.” The paper reported that “While Dopey
and Sleepy have been acclaimed team champs by the public their battle against Orth and
Tsakoff will be the first sanctioned by the National Wrestling Association. The Legion will
present the winners of the match with a gold belt.” According to the report, Dopey and
Sleepy defeated all teams in a “coast to coast tour,” and were accompanied to the ring by
Pappy and Sis. Orth was “co-claimant of the light-heavyweight title with Danny McShain.
Recently, Orth defeated McShain in an overweight contest.” The show also marked the
debut of Jesse James, who the year before won the “New York State light heavyweight
championship.” James was managed by George Parnassus, the well known manager of
numerous boxers.

The January 9, 1939 edition of the Los Angeles Times reported that “Dopey and Sleepy
have defeated all opposition from coast to coast, but the National Wrestling Association has
never taken cognizance of it as a division. The Legion will present the winning team with a
gold belt emblematic of the title.” The paper stated that “this is the first time that team
grappling has been recognized as a separate class.”

Hollywood, California: Monday, January 9, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … Paul Orth and Tiger Tsakoff b. The Arkansas Scufflers
(Dopey and Sleepy) to capture the “world’s team championship in wrestling.” (2/3) … Jesse
James b. Monte LaDue (2-0) … Billy Raburn b. Bobby Wagner (22:46) … Jimmy Lott b.
Pete Belbascro (11:21) … Danny Savich b. Buddy Knox (8:57) … (promoter: Charley
MacDonald)

Hollywood, California: Monday, January 16, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … Danny McShain b. Jackie Nichols (2/3) (Nichols couldn’t
continue for the third fall) … Jesse James b. Billy Raburn (2-0) … Sleepy the Arkansas
Hillbilly b. Paul “Tarzan” Orth (2/3) … Pappy b. The Red Devil (3:54) (Pappy was the
manager of Dopey and Sleepy) … Marshall Carter b. Eddie Rogers (9:16) … (promoter:
Charley MacDonald)

Hollywood, California: Monday, January 23, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … World Tag Team Champions Paul Orth and Tiger Tsakoff b.
The Arkansas Scufflers (Pappy and Sleepy) (2/3) … Jesse James b. Jimmy Lott (2-0) …
Monty LaDue b. Dopey (13:44) … Marshall Carter b. Bobby Wagner (12:22) … Frankie
Schroll b. Nick Bozinis (11:16) … (promoter: Charley MacDonald)
Note: Pappy was the father of Dopey and Sleepy.

Hollywood, California: Monday, January 30, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … Jesse James b. NWA World Light Heavyweight Champion
Danny McShain (2/3) (non-title match) … Marshall Carter and Jackie Nichols drew (1-1) (45:
00) … Klem Kusek b. Sugi Hayamaka (17:05) … Paul Murdock b. Red Devil (9:31) …
Charley Carr b. Nick Bozinis (14:02) … (promoter: Charley MacDonald)

Hollywood, California: Monday, February 6, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … Jesse James b. NWA World Light Heavyweight Champion
Danny McShain (2/3) (non-title match) … Paul Orth b. Jackie Nichols (2-0) … Jimmy Lott b.
Tiger Tsakoff (18:44) … Danny Savich b. Bobby Wagner (12:21) … (promoter: Charley
MacDonald) … (referee: Pat O’Brien)
Notes: The Los Angeles Times claimed that Orth was the “uncrowned” light heavyweight
champion. Marshall Carter reportedly “shoots 36 holes of golf every day.”

Hollywood, California: Monday, February 13, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … Paul Orth b. Red Berry (the two wrestlers and the referee
collided in the ring, and the official raised the wrong man’s arm in victory after the match) (a
“near riot” occurred when the decision was announced) … Sleepy b. Danny Savich (2/3) …
Jimmy Lott b. Joe Smallinski (17:59) … Sheik Mar Allah b. Zibby Zbyszko (12:23) … Pappy
b. The Red Devil (6:39) (Pappy was a substitute for Abe Goldberg) … (promoter: Charley
MacDonald) … (referee: Mickey McMasters)
Note: No show next week because the owners rented the Stadium to Paramount Studios to
film a boxing movie.

Hollywood, California: Monday, February 27, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … Jesse James b. Paul Orth (2/3) … Red Berry b. Jimmy Lott
(2-0) … Marshall Carter b. Monte LaDue (17:51) … Charley Carr b. Whiskers Adams (14:
37) … Eddie Rogers b. Klem Kusek (12:27) … (promoter: Charley MacDonald)

Hollywood, California: Monday, March 6, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … Jesse James b. Danny McShain to capture a claim to the
World Light Heavyweight Title (McShain won the first fall in 19:44, James won the second in
20:47, James won the third by DQ in 9:24) … Red Berry b. Jackie Nichols (2/3) … Charley
Carr b. Frank Schroll (15:47) … Sailor Trout b. Bobby Wagner (15:22) … Sheik Mar Allah
b. Sugi Hayamaki (17:58) … (promoter: Charley MacDonald) … (referee: Popeye O’Brien)
Note: The National Wrestling Association ruled that McShain’s title remained intact
because the championship couldn’t change hands by disqualification.

***James was recognized by the California Athletic Commission as a claimant to the “World”
Light Heavyweight Title – thus, the title was split after this match into two different strands.
James’s title claim will be called the “California” Light Heavyweight Title.

Hollywood, California: Monday, March 13, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … Red Berry b. Paul “Tarzan” Orth (1-0) (match stopped by
police after the competitors ended up brawling in the aisle) … Marshall Carter b. Jimmy Lott
(2-0) … Sailor Trout b. Monte LaDue (2-0) (DQ in the first fall) … Andy Tremaine b. Sheik
Mar Allah (14:29) … Eddie Rogers b. Zibby Zbyszko (18:06) … (promoter: Charley
MacDonald)

Hollywood, California: Monday, March 20, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … “California” Light Heavyweight Champion Jesse James b.
Marshall Carter (2-0) … Red Berry b. Paul Orth (12:55) (this match was billed as a
“barroom brawl rematch.” The newspaper stated that it was a “private match in an after
show.” Fans were allowed to leave prior to this match’s initiation, but were permitted to stay
if they wanted to. The match was a continuation of Berry and Orth’s affair the week before,
counting Berry’s single fall in that bout. When Berry won a single fall here, he won the
match) … Dick Trout b. Jackie Nichols (20:51) … Danny Savich b. Bob Wagner (10:26) …
Charley Carr b. Kenny Ackles (12:34) … (promoter: Charley MacDonald)

Hollywood, California: Monday, March 27, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … Danny McShain b. Sailor Dick Trout (2/3) … Clara
Mortensen b. Mildred White (9:47) … Ken Ackles b. Klem Kusek (6:11) … Danny Savich b.
Monte LaDue (15:36) … Charley Carr b. Phil Romano (11:41) … Frankie Schroll b. Verne
Clark (12:07) … (promoter: Charley MacDonald)

Hollywood, California: Monday, April 3, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … Red Berry b. “California” Light Heavyweight Champion
Jesse James (2/3) (James’s first loss in Hollywood) (non-title match) … Marshall Carter and
Danny Savich drew (45:00) (1-1) … Sammy Kohn b. Dopey (7:09) … Tarso Ito b. Charley
Carr (10:41) … Karl Gray b. Henry Ackles (2:36) … (promoter: Charley MacDonald)
Note: Gray was managed by Joe Marsh and touted as a coming champion. He was a
Lithuanian from Milwaukee.

*The Monday, April 3, 1939 Van Nuys News reported that Col. Harry J. Landry, the
President of the National Wrestling Association ruled that McShain was still the champion
following his controversial match with Jesse James on March 6 in Hollywood. California,
however, recognized James as the new titleholder, and the latter was holding the NWA belt.

Hollywood, California: Monday, April 10, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … Marshall Carter and Dick Trout b. Pappy and Sleepy (2-0)
… Karl Gray b. Danny Savich (2-0) … Sammy Kohen b. Sheik Mar Allah (2-0) … Eddie
Rogers b. Dopey (2-0) … (promoter: Charley MacDonald)
Note: Carter was a former wrestling coach at the University of Missouri.

*Indicating the confusion over the status of the NWA World Light Heavyweight Title, the
Thursday, April 20, 1939 Van Nuys News stated that Danny McShain was a “former world
champion.”

Hollywood, California: Monday, April 24, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … Red Berry b. NWA World Light Heavyweight Champion
Danny McShain (2/3) (Berry earned a future match with Jesse James for the “California”
Light Heavyweight Title) (NWA title not on the line) … Karl Gray b. Marshall Carter (1-0)
(decision) … Eddie Rogers b. Charley Carr (5:26) … Emir Badui b. Charley Carr (13:17) …
Frankie Wolfe b. Sgt. Bob Kenaston (Wolfe was a substitute for Danny Savich) … Sailor
Trout b. Sammy Kohn … (promoter: Charley MacDonald) … (5,000 fans)

*The April 24, 1939 edition of the Los Angeles Times reported that the Light Heavyweight
Championship had been “clouded” ever since McShain lost a match to Jesse James by
disqualfication. The National Wrestling Association ruled that the title could not change
hands by DQ.

Hollywood, California: Monday, May 1, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … “California” Light Heavyweight Champion Jesse James b.
Red Berry (2/3) … Sailor Trout b. Danny Savich (2-0) (second fall in 21 seconds) … Jimmy
Lott b. Jim Spencer (9:21) … Frank Wolfe b. Sammy Kohn (12:39) … Vern Clark b. Emir
Badui (12:07) … (promoter: Charley MacDonald) … (4,000 fans)

Hollywood, California: Monday, May 8, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … Karl Gray b. Dick Trout (2-0) … Frankenstein Wolf b. Jimmy
Lott (2/3) … Taro Ito b. Otis Clingman (10:11) … Jim Spencer b. Frankie Schroll (9:58) …
Sammy Kohen b. Verne Clark (12:56) … (promoter: Charley MacDonald)

Hollywood, California: Monday, May 15, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … Karl Gray b. “California” Light Heavyweight Champion Jesse
James (2/3) (non title match) (Gray weighed 185 pounds, ten pounds heavier than the title
limit) … Otis Clingman and Frankie Wolfe b. Red Berry and Jim Spencer (2/3) … Verne
Clark b. Taro Ito (10:41) … Jimmy Lott b. Steve Strelich (12:17) … Phil Romano b. Harry
Cooper (9:19) … (promoter: Charley MacDonald)

*On Thursday, May 18, 1939, the Van Nuys News billed Danny McShain as an “ex-title
holder,” despite the fact that he was still recognized by the NWA as World Champion.

Hollywood, California: Monday, May 22, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … Leroy McGuirk b. NWA World Light Heavyweight Champion
Danny McShain (2/3) (non-title match, both men weighed 185 pounds, then pounds heavier
than the title limit) … Red Berry b. Frank Wolfe (2/3) … Otis Clingman b. Sammy Kohen (10:
29) … Jimmy Lott b. Speedy LaRance (19:04) … Verne Clark b. Harry Cooper (14:37) …
Phil Romano b. Jim Spencer (9:51) … (promoter: Charley MacDonald) … (4,000 fans)

*The May 22, 1939 edition of the Los Angeles Times reported that Jesse James was the
recognized California Light Heavyweight Champion and also “sanctioned” as champion by
the “International Wrestling Association.” Danny McShain was the NWA World Light
Heavyweight Champion and Johnny Swenski was the “new” NWA World Junior Heavyweight
Champion.

Hollywood, California: Monday, May 29, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … “California” Light Heavyweight Champion Jesse James b.
Karl Gray (2/3) … Red Berry and Leroy McGuirk drew (45:00) (1-1) … Speedy LaRance b.
Bob Kenaston (DQ) … Otis Clingman b. Pete Belcastro (9:31) … Phil Romano b. John
Strelich (7:36) … (promoter: Charley MacDonald)
Note: Bob Keneston was “recently” dethroned as the 190-pound championship by John
Swenski. Karl Gray reportedly had the physique of Jack Dempsey. The paper said that
“Jack James” successfully defended his title against Gray.

Hollywood, California: Monday, June 5, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … Leroy McGuirk b. Red Berry in the semi-finals of the junior
heavyweight tournament to determine a challenger for champion John Swenski … Dude
Chick b. Bob Keneston (tournament match) … Frankenstein Wolf vs. Speedy LaRance …
Otis Clingman vs. Phil Romano … Pete Belcastro vs. Taro Ito … (promoter: Charley
MacDonald)

Hollywood, California: Monday, June 12, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … Karl Gray b. Jesse James to capture the “California” Light
Heavyweight Title (2-0) (Gray was managed by Joe Marsh) … Leroy McGuirk b. Dude Chick
in the finals of an elimination tournament to earn a match with NWA World Junior Champion
John Swenski (2/3) … Speedy LaRance b. Toots Estes … Taro Ito b. Bobby Wagner … Phil
Romano b. Monte LaDue … (promoter: Charley MacDonald) … (in attendance: John
Swenski)
Note: The June 13, 1939 Los Angeles Times reported that Gray had successfully
defended his light heavyweight title here, but this is where Gray actually won the title.

Hollywood, California: Monday, June 19, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … Leroy McGuirk b. Johnny Swenski to capture the NWA
World Junior Heavyweight Title (2/3) (Swenski won the first fall in 6:30, McGuirk won the
second in 16:26 and the third in 6:26) … Bob Keneston b. Jackie Nichols by decision (1-0)
(30:00) … Monte LaDue b. Ernie Peterson (12:56) … Toots Estes b. Taro Ito (16:01) …
Don Hill b. Zibby Zbyszko (8:19) … (promoter: Charley MacDonald)
Note: According to the June 19, 1939 Los Angeles Times, Swenski captured the junior title
(190 pounds limit) from Bob Keneston “three months” earlier in Tulsa.

Hollywood, California: Monday, June 26, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … Karl Gray vs. Bob Keneston … Jesse James vs. Johnny
Swenski … (promoter: Charley MacDonald) … (in attendance: Leroy McGuirk)

*According to the June 26, 1939 Los Angeles Times, Danny McShain was still the NWA
World Light Heavyweight Champion. Karl Gray won the local Light Heavyweight Title from
Jesse James “two weeks ago.”

*According to the Monday, July 3, 1939 Van Nuys News, Ed “Strangler” Lewis was “now”
associated with professional wrestling at the Legion Stadium. There was no show that
evening.

Hollywood, California: Monday, July 10, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … Ed Payson b. Tarzan White (2/3) … World Junior
Heavyweight Champion Leroy McGuirk b. Karl Gray (2-0) … Jackie Nichols b. Mr. X (13:29)
… Dude Chick b. Tony Morelli (14:47) … Casey Columbo b. Speedy LaRance (10:34) …
(promoter: Charley MacDonald)
Note: Tarzan White’s 60-day suspension by the California Athletic Commission was
effective after the show.

Hollywood, California: Monday, July 17, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … Mike Mazurki b. Ed Payson (2/3) … The Black Panther b.
Hans Schultz (11:04) (Panther was a substitute for Tarzan White) … John Swenski b. Dude
Chick (2/3) (Chick was unable to continue in the third fall) … Dave Levin b. Danny Savich
(10:09) … Jackie Nichols b. Sammy Kohen … (promoter: Charley MacDonald) …
(matchmaker: Ed Lewis)
Notes: Ed “Strangler” Lewis went into the ring to announce that Tarzan White failed to
appear. He stated that the California State Athletic Commission refused to lift his
suspension, and asked the crowd to write the Governor in an attempt to shatter “this
monopoly of a chosen few.” It was reported that Lewis’s claim that White was suspended for
breaking from Jack Daro’s troupe to jump to the Hollywood Legion group.

Modesto, California: Tuesday, July 18, 1939
(D.A.V. Arena) … NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion Leroy McGuirk b. Red Berry
(2-0) … Bob Kruse b. Jim Spencer (2/3) (Kruse was a substitute for Tony Morelli) …
Cyclone Mackey b. Zibby Zbyszko (27:57)

*Sometime in July 1939, Red Berry beat Karl Gray in a controversial match and claimed the
“California” World Light Heavyweight Title. The August 6, 1939 Los Angeles Times stated
that the title switched hands “two weeks ago.” The paper stated that Gray was the
defending champion between July 22-24, and then on July 24, Gray missed a match at the
Hollywood Legion Stadium, while Berry was called the “newly crowned” light heavyweight
championship claimant. The switch did not take place in Hollywood.

Hollywood, California: Monday, July 24, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … World Junior Heavyweight Champion Leroy McGuirk b.
Johnny Swenski (2-0) … World Light Heavyweight Champion (claimant) Red Berry b. Jackie
Nichols (Berry was billed as the recently crowned champion) … The Black Panther b. Mike
Mazurki (Mazurki was unable to continue) … Marshall Carter b. Don Hull (Hull was a
substitute for Karl Gray) (2-0) … Tony Morelli b. Jim Spencer (11:37) … (promoter:
Charley MacDonald)

Hollywood, California: Monday, July 31, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … Ed Payson b. The Black Panther (2/3) … Marshall Carter b.
Dick Trout (2/3) … Mike Mazurki b. Hans Schultz (13:02) … Pete Mehringer b. Jim Spencer
(12:16) … Bob Kruse b. Casey Columbo (12:16) … Sammy Kohen b. Zibby Zbyszko (11:26)
… (promoter: Charley MacDonald)
Note: Mehringer was billed as a former football player for the Los Angeles Bulldogs.

Hollywood, California: Monday, August 7, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … Karl Gray b. Red Berry to regain the World Light
Heavyweight Title (referee disqualified Berry in the first and only fall for unnecessary
roughness) (21:26) (Gray claimed to have suffered an arm injury, which was a dislocation
to his left shoulder, and was unable to continue) … Ali Baba b. Mike Mazurki (2/3) … World
Junior Heavyweight Champion Leroy McGuirk b. Al Baffert (2-0) … Jackie Nichols b. Yukon
Jake (DQ) (17:36) … Otis Clingman b. Bob Wagner (10:24) … Big Boy Villarto b. Vern
Clark (6:36) … (promoter: Charley MacDonald)

Huntington Park, California: Friday, August 11, 1939
(Huntington Park Stadium) … World Junior Heavyweight Champion Leroy McGuirk vs. Red
Berry (special referee: Max Baer) (Baer punched Berry)

Hollywood, California: Monday, August 14, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … Ed Payson b. NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion
Leroy McGuirk (2/3) (junior title not on the line) (this match was initially billed as being for
the disputed state heavyweight title, but the California State Athletic Commission refused to
simply acknowledge the winner as the champion) … Ali Baba b. Wee Willie Davis (Black
Panther) (1-0) (Davis was unable to continue) … Otis Clingman and Dick Trout drew (the
crowd reportedly applauded for five minutes after this match in “appreciation”) … Big Boy
Villarto b. Jim Spencer (4:22) … Hans Schultz b. Bud Levin (6:40) … Shirley Rosebaum b.
Don Hill (7:20) … (promoter: Charley MacDonald) … (matchmaker: Ed “Strangler” Lewis)
… (referee: Pat O’Brien)
Notes: Leroy McGuirk reportedly wanted to wrestle heavyweights, and made numerous
challenges to Jim Londos; Payson claimed he had a claim to the state heavyweight
championship because he beat Black Panther, who had defeated Hans Steinke, who had
won it from Tarzan White.

Hollywood, California: Monday, August 21, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … Ali Baba b. Ed Payson (2/3) … Red Berry b. Otis Clingman
(1-0) (45:00) … El Pulpo b. Hans Schultz (7:19) … Dick Trout b. Jackie Nichols (11:20) …
Pete Mehringer b. Bob Montgomery (DQ) (22:12) … Toots Estes b. Mr. X (11:58) …
(promoter: Charley MacDonald) … (referee: Pat “Popeye” O’Brien)
Note: The California Commission wanted the winner of the Payson-Baba affair to post a
forfeit in an attempt to arrange a title showdown between claimants.

Hollywood, California: Monday, August 28, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … Red Berry b. Karl Gray to regain the World Light
Heavyweight Title (2/3) (Gray won the first fall in 10:14, Berry won the second in 9:33, Berry
won the second in 7:05) … Leroy McGuirk b. El Pulpo (2/3) (the Los Angeles Times called
him “one-eyed” Leroy McGuirk) … Dude Chick b. Dave Levin (the Los Angeles Times said
this match was a “bloody, gory bout.”) (12:07) … Sailor Trout b. Yukon Jake (7:41) …
Speedy LaRance and Bob Montgomery drew … Toots Estes b. Sammy Kohn (12:16) …
(promoter: Charley MacDonald)

Hollywood, California: Monday, September 4, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … World Junior Heavyweight Champion Leroy McGuirk b. Red
Berry (2/3) (Berry reportedly won the California Light Heavyweight Title “last week”) … Ed
Payson b. Mike Mazurki (2/3) (Payson was an ex-Ohio State athlete) … Dude Chick b. Bob
Montgomery (16:21) … The Black Panther (Wee Willie Davis) b. Bud Leving (6:41) … Tony
Morelli b. Billy Vanable (7:22) … Otis Clingman and Toots Estes drew (20:00) …
(promoter: Charley MacDonald)

Hollywood, California: Monday, September 11, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … Mike Mazurki b. Wee Willie Davis (2/3) … Marshall Carter b.
Dick Trout (2-0) (abdominal stretch) … El Pulpo b. Speedy LaRance (23:06) … Yukon Jake
Jackson b. Mr. X (13:16) … Rusty Westcoatt b. Stanley Mayslack (9:41) … Toots Estes b.
Ernie Peterson (11:26) … (promoter: Charley MacDonald)

Hollywood, California: Monday, September 18, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … “California” Light Heavyweight Champion Red Berry b.
Marshall Carter (2/3) … Jesse James b. Otis Clingman … El Pulpo b. Alvin Britt (DQ) (9:21)
… Yukon Jake Jackson b. Dick Trout (10:26) … Dude Chick b. Speedy LaRance (13:16) …
Sgt. Bob Keneston and Bob Montgomery drew … (promoter: Charley MacDonald)

Hollywood, California: Monday, September 25, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … Jesse James b. Red Berry to capture the “California” Light
Heavyweight Title (2/3) … Mike Mazurki b. Ed Payson (2-0) … Yukon Jake Jackson b. Toots
Estes (12:56) … Pete Peterson b. Rudy LaDitzi (DQ) (13:41) … Taro Ito b. Bob
Montgomery (6:08) … Alvin Britt and Rusty Westcoatt drew … (promoter: Charley
MacDonald)

Hollywood, California: Monday, October 2, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … Yukon Jake Jackson b. Red Berry (2/3) … Marshall Carter
and Otis Clingman drew (1-1) (45:00) … Ed Payson b. Tony Felice (Felice was a substitute
for Alvin Britt) (4:35) … Rudy LaDitzi b. Rusty Westcoatt … Casey Columbo and Pete
Peterson drew … El Pulpo b. Bob Keneston … (promoter: Charley MacDonald) …
(referee: Pat O’Brien)

Hollywood, California: Monday, October 9, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … Rudy LaDitzi b. Mike Mazurki (2/3) … Ed Payson b. Rusty
Westcoatt (2/3) … Pete Peterson b. Bob Kenaston (17:32) … Casey Columbo b. Bob
Montgomery (14:52) … Bill Venable b. Taro Ito (7:04) … (promoter: Charley MacDonald)
… (referee: Pat O’Brien)

Hollywood, California: Monday, October 16, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … “California” Light Heavyweight Champion Jesse James b.
Yukon Jake Jackson (2/3) (third fall by DQ) (a fan got involved in the match) … Bob
Keneston and Red Lyons b. Alvin Britt and Tony Morelli (2/3) … Bill Venable b. Marshall
Carter (12:14) … Zim Zimovich b. Duke Pettigrove (7:31) … Otis Clingman b. Ernie
Peterson (11:47) … (matchmaker: Ed “Strangler” Lewis) … (referee: Pat O’Brien)

Hollywood, California: Monday, October 23, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … Rudy LaDitzi b. Ed Payson (2/3) (third fall by DQ) … Billy
Venable b. Otis Clingman by decision (1-0) (45:00) … Tony Morelli b. Bob Montgomery (16:
21) … Red Lyons vs. Pete Peterson … (matchmaker: Ed “Strangler” Lewis) … (referee:
Jack Allen)

Hollywood, California: Monday, October 30, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … “California” Light Heavyweight Champion Jesse James b.
Billy Venable (2/3) … Yukon Jake Jackson b. Sammy Kohen (2-0) … Pete Peterson b. Dave
Levin (14:59) … Bob Keneston and Tony Morelli drew (1-1) (45:00) … Taro Ito b. Bob
Montgomery (4:26) … Speedy LaRance and Zim Zimovich drew (20:00) … (matchmaker”
Ed “Strangler” Lewis)

Hollywood, California: Monday, November 6, 1939
(Hollwood Legion Stadium) … Rudy LaDitzi vs. Ed Payson … Tony Morelli vs. Johnny
Swenski … Otis Clingman vs. Bob Gregory (Gregory’s Legion debut) (Gregory was billed as
the Junior and Light Heavyweight Champion of Europe) … Ted Christy vs. Pete Peterson …
Big Boy Villarto vs. Speedy LaRance … (matchmaker: Ed “Strangler” Lewis) … (referee:
Ed “Strangler” Lewis)

*Hugh Nichols took over the promotion in Hollywood on November 9, 1939.

Hollywood, California: Monday, November 13, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … Jesse James b. Yukon Jake Jackson (2/3) … Bob Gregory
b. Billy Venable (2-0) … Red Lyons b. El Pulpo (2-0) … Johnny Swenski b. Zim Zimovich …
Silent Rattan b. Ernie Peterson (5:29)

Hollywood, California: Monday, November 20, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … Johnny Swenski b. Bob Gregory when the latter was unable
to continue (Gregory suffered a foot injury) … Women’s Champion Clara Mortenson b.
Gladys Nolan (6:54) … Dude Chick b. Tony Morelli by decision (1-0) (45:00) … Silent
Rattan b. Leo Mortenson (9:56) … Taro Ito b. Speedy LaRance (7:33) (jiu-jitsu match)
Note: Leo Mortenson was Clara’s brother.

Hollywood, California: Monday, November 27, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … “California” Light Heavyweight Champion Jesse James b.
Johnny Swenski (2/3) … Dude Chick and Karl Gray drew (45:00) (1-1) … Yukon Jake b.
Billy Venable (2-0) … Silent Rattan b. Sammy Kohen (14:23) … Bob Gregory b. Zim
Zimovich (9:21)
Note: Gray was still managed by Joe Marsh. He was reportedly back from medical
treatment in the “east” for his shoulder injury.

Hollywood, California: Monday, December 4, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … Bob Gregory b. Johnny Swenski (2/3) … Karl Gray and
Silent Rattan drew (1-1) … Dude Chick b. Hans Schultz (10:28) … Red Lyons b. Bob
Montgomery (15:04) … Speedy LaRance b. Taro Ito (15:34)

Hollywood, California: Monday, December 11, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … Bob Gregory b. Jesse James to capture the “California”
Light Heavyweight Title (2/3) (Gregory won the first fall in 16:21, James won the second in 9:
47, Gregory won the third in 10:16) … Karl Gray b. Red Lyons (DQ) (19:29) … Silent
Rattan b. Billy Venable (11:26) … Sammy Kohen vs. Ernie Peterson … Karl Gray vs. Yukon
Jake … Dude Chick vs. Speedy LaRance … (referee: Pat O’Brien)
Note: The “California” Light Heavyweight Championship was also called the “Pacific Coast”
Light Heavyweight Title.

*According to the December 17, 1939 edition of the Los Angeles Times, Danny McShain
was the 175-pound champion and recognized by the National Wrestling Association. Bob
Gregory was recognized as the light heavyweight champion in California, New York, and
Pennsylvania.

Hollywood, California: Monday, December 18, 1939
(Hollywood Legion Stadium) … “California” Light Heavyweight Champion Bob Gregory b.
NWA World Light Heavyweight Champion Danny McShain (NWA title not on the line) …
Jesse James b. Karl Gray (27:36) … Silent Rattan b. Duke Pettigrove (7:31) … Sugi
Hayamaka b. Sammy Kohen (10:24) … Red Lyons b. Zim Zimovich (7:37) … Dude Chick b.
Bob Montgomery (10:04) … Taro Ito b. Billy Venable (1:26)
Notes: According to the December 18, 1939 Los Angeles Times, the Gregory-McShain
bout was only for the “California sanctioned world’s light heavyweight championship.” “The
National Wrestling Association recognizes McShain as titleholder while California sanctions
Gregory.” The NWA would not sanction the match because the bout was only one fall, and
“the NWA requires two falls finish for championships.” The paper said “Only California and
two other states permit one fall bouts for titles. The other two states are New York and
Pennsylvania.” The final show of 1939 at the Hollywood Legion Stadium.

*The December 18, 1939 Los Angeles Times also said: “The 175-pound title was first split
between McShain and James. In a title bout, McShain was disqualified for the third fall and
the title went to James.”

Research by Tim Hornbaker
March 6, 2007

Hollywood Results - 1939