Los Angeles, California: Wednesday, March 8, 1961 (Olympic Auditorium) … World Heavyweight Champion Edouard Carpentier b. Hans Herman (2-0) … Mike Sharpe b. Lord Blears … Samson Berg and Nick Bockwinkel drew … Fred Blassie b. Sandor Szabo … Negro Guzman b. Ted Christy … Enrique Romero b. Pat Fraley … Mike Lane and Gene LeBell drew … (promoter: Cal Eaton) … (10,400 fans) Los Angeles, California: Wednesday, May 31, 1961 (Olympic Auditorium) … Mr. Moto, Mike Sharpe and The Zebra Kid b. The Torres Brothers (Alberto and Ramon Torres) and Reggie Parks (non-TV main event) … The Torres Brothers (Alberto and Ramon Torres) b. Freddie and Pat Fraley (TV main event) … Billy Varga b. Vic Christy … Mr. Moto b. George Drake … Samson Berg b. Don Duffy … The Zebra Kid b. Prince Meritana … Kayo Murphy and Gene LeBell drew … (promoter: Cal Eaton) … (4,123 fans) Los Angeles, California: Wednesday, June 7, 1961 (Olympic Auditorium) … Ramon Torres b. Mr. Moto (2/3) … Mike Sharpe b. Samson Berg … Stan Holek b. George Drake … Alberto Torres b. Don Duffy … The Zebra Kid b. Mike Lane … Tony Rosserio and Pedro Sanchez drew … Fred Blassie b. Pedro Sanchez, Tony Rosserio and The Great John L … Freddie Blassie and Reggie Parks drew … (promoter: Cal Eaton) … (3,327 fans) Notes: In a report in the Los Angeles Examiner, Blassie was going to face five opponents in “special five minute matches.” His segment was not going to be televised. *An article in the Saturday, June 10, 1961 edition of the Los Angeles Examiner stated that Mike LeBell was the “current Olympic box office chief.” He was planning to run boxing shows at the Pasadena Arena on Friday evenings starting the third week in July. Mickey Davies, the assistant matchmaker at the Olympic, was going to be LeBell’s matchmaker in Pasadena. He told the reporter that he was not going to get any financial help from his mother Aileen Eaton. LeBell was 31 years of age. Los Angeles, California: Monday, June 12, 1961 (Sports Arena) … Fred Blassie b. Edouard Carpentier to capture the WWA World Heavyweight Title (2/3) (Carpentier won the first fall 20:24, Blassie won the second by countout (10:20, Blassie won the third when Carpenter was unable to continue and the referee stopped the bout) … Lou Thesz b. “Cowboy” Dick Hutton (22:31) … “Count” Billy Varga b. Red Berry … Big Daddy Lipscomb b. Hans Hermann … Ricki Starr b. Don Duffy … Gene LaBell b. The Zebra Kid … The Torres Brothers (Alberto and Ramon Torres) wrestled Mr. Moto and Mike Sharpe to a draw … Stan Holek and Reggie Parks drew … Lord Blears and Sam Steamboat drew … (promoter: Cal Eaton) … (referee: Mike Ruby) … (13,200 fans) … (gate: $40,160.97) … Notes: The show was billed as “L.A.’s Greatest Wrestling Event,” and “Sanctioned by W. W.A.” In a report by Sam Schnitzer of the Los Angeles Examiner, said that the Eatons had a luncheon at their Tremaine Avenue “mansion,” promoting their Sports Arena show on Monday, June 5. Among those in attendance were wrestlers (Carpentier, Blassie, LeBell, Thesz, Varga), Olympic matchmaker Jules Strongbow, California State Athletic Commissioner Jim Smith, sports writers and other officials. Carpentier was going to defend his “Worldwide Wrestling Associates title” against Blassie. TV celebrity Tom Duggan was said to be Varga’s manager. Blassie was 35 years old, born in St. Louis, but living in Atlanta. He claimed to have not been beaten in 5 years. Thesz said he earned $1.5 million in 15 years of wrestling, and was a resident of La Jolla. Between 13-15,000 fans, paying more than $50,000, were expected for the show. Bob Hunter from The Examiner wrote that Carpentier was the nephew of Georges Carpentier and making $100,000 a year. He mentioned that Blassie tried to be a boxer, but lost to Tony Galento in 1943 at Knoxville, and that Lou Daro used to make $15-25,000 weekly at the Olympic before a “scandal hit the ‘sport,’ and it dropped to the peanut class.” In another report by Schnitzer, it was said that Carpentier beat Thesz for the championhip in Chicago in 1959, and that he hadn’t lost a match in “seven years.” Blassie’s win was considered a “surprise,” according to Schnitzer. Carpentier was unable to continue due to a “badly sprained knee,” but the cynical sportswriter predicted they’d have a rematch soon. This was said to be “a record crowd for indoor wrestling in this state.” Melvin Durslag of the Examiner said the show was a “howling success.” *A report in the Wednesday, June 14, 1961 edition of the Los Angeles Examiner stated that Edouard Carpentier suffered a torn muscle in his right knee and would be out for three weeks. Los Angeles, California: Wednesday, June 14, 1961 (Olympic Auditorium) … Mike Sharpe and The Zebra Kid b. Dick Hutton and Reggie Parks (2/3) … Stan Holek and Sam Steamboat drew … Mr. Moto b. Mike Lane … Ramon Torres b. Don Duffy … Alberto Torres b. Kayo Murphy … (promoter: Cal Eaton) … (3,116 fans) Note: Mike Sharpe and The Zebra Kid were reportedly risking their “West Coast tag team title” in this match. Los Angeles, California: Wednesday, August 2, 1961 (Olympic Auditorium) … Fred Blassie vs. Dick Hutton … Argentine Bogni vs. Edouard Carpentier (Carpentier had recovered from a knee injury suffered at the hands of Blassie) Los Angeles CA: September 5, 1961 (KTLA Studio) ... Bobo Brazil beat John L. Sullivan ... Mr. Universe beat Matt Burns ... Ray (Thunder) Stern beat George Drake ... Red Bastien beat Don Duffy ... Ray Stevens beat Sonny Pasqua ... (promoter: Johnny Doyle) Note: Admission was free. Los Angeles CA: September 6, 1961 (Olympic, att. 8,794) ... Fred Blassie beat Shohei Baba ... Ricki Starr & Edouard Carpentier beat Clyde Steeves (as The Preacher) & Art Michalik ... Haystack Muldoon beat Kayo Murphy ... Fritz Von Goering drew Ramon Torres ... Sam Steamboat drew Alberto Torres Los Angeles CA: September 12, 1961 (KTLA Studio) ... Ray (Thunder) Stern beat John Cretoria ... Roy Shire beat Don Duffy ... Mr. Universe beat Red Shoes Dugan ... Red Bastien beat Dick Stepp ... Ray Stevens beat Don Savage ... (promoter: Johnny Doyle) Los Angeles CA: September 13, 1961 (Olympic, att. 6,133) ... Fred Blassie beat Haystack Muldoon (2-1) ... Alberto Torres & Ramon Torres drew Mike Sharpe & Fritz Von Goering ... Ricki Starr beat Kayo Murphy ... Leo Garibaldi beat Sam Steamboat Los Angeles CA: September 19, 1961 (KTLA Studio) ... Ray (Thunder) Stern beat Chico Gracia (2-1) ... Guy Brunetti beat Don Duffy ... Red Bastien beat Sonny Pasqua ... Ray Stevens beat Dick Cheny ... Cowboy Bob Ellis beat George Drake ... (promoter: Johnny Doyle) Note: It was noted that Ellis was a former Philadelphia Eagle lineman Los Angeles CA: September 20, 1961 (Olympic, att. 5,733) ... Fred Blassie & Mr. Moto beat Sandor Szabo & Primo Carnera (2-1) ... Alberto Torres beat Mike Sharpe ... Ricki Starr beat Al Steele ... Fritz Von Goering beat Juan Hernandez ... Leo Garibaldi drew Ramon Torres Los Angeles CA: September 26, 1961 (KTLA Studio) ... Dick the Bruiser beat Sonny Pascua (2-0) ... Ray Stevens beat Tommy Hunt ... Ray Stern beat Don Duffy ... Mitsu Arakawa beat Vic Cheney (sub for Don Savage) ... Red Bastien beat George Drake ... (promoter: Johnny Doyle) Los Angeles CA: September 27, 1961 (Olympic) ... Ramon Torres & Alberto Torres & Leo Garibaldi drew Mr. Moto & The Brute & Fritz Von Goering (nc) ... Lou Thesz beat Mike Sharpe (2-1) ... Art Thomas beat Al Marshall ... Yukon Jackson drew Vic Christy Los Angeles CA: October 3, 1961 (KTLA Studio) ... Cowboy Bob Ellis beat Chico Gracia (2-0) ... Red Bastien beat George Drake ... Ray Stevens beat Sonny Pascua ... Ray (Thunder) Stern beat Juan Humberto ... Dick the Bruiser beat Don Duffy ... (promoter: Johnny Doyle) Los Angeles CA: October 4, 1961 (Olympic, att. 4,721) ... Antonino Rocca beat Art Michalik ... Mr. Moto beat Pedro Sanchez ... Fritz Von Goering drew The Brute ... Leo Garibaldi beat Al Marshall ... Nikita Mulkovich beat Vic Christy ... Art Thomas beat Kayo Murphy Los Angeles CA: October 6, 1961 (Olympic Auditorium) ... Fred Blassie beat Ricki Starr (1-1, cnc) ... Antonino Rocca beat Yukon Jackson ... Art Thomas beat The Brute ... Lou Thesz beat Mike Sharpe ... Leo Garibaldi drew Nikita Mulkovich ... Alberto Torres & Ramon Torres drew Fritz Von Goering & Mr. Moto ... Gene LeBell beat Yoshino Sato ... Shohei Baba beat Yukio Suzuki ... (promoter: Cal Eaton) ... (referee: Mike Ruby) ... (12,138 fans) ... (gate: $32,530) Los Angeles CA: October 7, 1961 (Sports Arena) ... Ray Stevens beat Ray (Thunder) Stern (2-0) ... Dick the Bruiser drew Cowboy Bob Ellis (dcor) ... Wladek Kowalski beat Red Bastien ... Verne Gagne beat Eric Pedersen ... Pepper Gomez beat Roy Shire ... Bobo Brazil beat Don Leo Jonathan ... Wilbur Snyder beat Hajii Baba ... Mitsu Arakawa & Kinji Shibuya beat Guy Brunetti & Joe Brunetti … (promoter: Johnny Doyle) ... (4,000 fans) Los Angeles CA: October 10, 1961 (KTLA Studio) ... Red Bastien beat Johnny Venus ... Kinji Shibuya & Mitsu Arakawa beat Lou Palacio & Chico Mendoza ... Ben Sharpe beat Tom Hunt ... Sonny Pasqua beat Hajii Baba Los Angeles CA: October 11, 1961 (Olympic) ... Art Thomas & Leo Garibaldi beat Fritz Von Goering & The Brute (2-1) ... Nikita Mulkovich beat Yoshino Sato ... Art Thomas beat Yukon Jackson ... Ricki Starr beat Kayo Murphy ... Ramon Torres drew Art Michalik Los Angeles CA: October 17, 1961 (KTLA Studio) ... Ray Stevens beat George Drake ... Bobo Brazil beat Johnny Venus ... Ray (Thunder) Stern beat John L. Sullivan ... Mitsu Arakawa beat Don Duffy Los Angeles CA: October 18, 1961 (Olympic) ... Fred Blassie & Mr. Moto drew Ramon Torres & Alberto Torres (nc) ... Nikita Mulkovich beat Art Michalik ... Leo Garibaldi drew Fritz Von Goering ... Ricki Starr beat Logger Jackson ... John Smith beat Ricky Rommel Los Angeles CA: October 24, 1961 (KTLA-TV studio bouts) ... Ray Stevens beat Don Moore ... Bobo Brazil beat Don Duffy ... Pepper Gomez beat Hajii Baba ... Kinji Shibuya beat Wilson Kohlbrecker ... (Handicap) Haystack Calhoun beat Jack Terry & John L. Sullivan Los Angeles CA: October 25, 1961 (Olympic, att. 3,973) ... Art Thomas & Leo Garibaldi beat Nikita Mulkovich & John Smith ... Crusher Kowalski beat Ricky Rommel ... Ramon Torres beat Fritz Von Goering (dq) ... The Brute drew Alberto Torres ... bouts were aired over KCOP-TV Los Angeles CA: October 27, 1961 (Olympic, att. 8,660, $16,100) ... Fred Blassie beat Antonino Rocca (2-1, dq) ... Referee: Cecil Payne ... Art Thomas beat Crusher Kowalski ... Ricki Starr beat John Smith ... (Midgets) Little Beaver & Irish Jackie beat Fuzzy Cupid & Billy Burke ... Leo Garibaldi drew Mr. Moto ... Alberto Torres vs Nikita Mulkovich ... Lou Thesz vs The Brute Los Angeles CA: October 28, 1961 (Sports Arena, att. 3,500) ... Ray Stevens beat Bobo Brazil (1-0) ... Mitsu Arakawa & Kinji Shibuya beat Red Bastien & Ray (Thunder) Stern ... Pepper Gomez beat Logger Jackson ... Cowboy Bob Ellis beat Hajii Baba ... (Handicap) Haystack Calhoun beat Jack Terry & John L. Sullivan ... Joe Brunetti & Guy Brunetti beat Roy Shire & George Drake Los Angeles CA: October 31, 1961 (KTLA Studio) ... Ray Stevens vs Igor Kovaks ... Red Bastien vs Kenny Ackles ... Joe Brunetti vs Johnny Venus ... Sonny Pascua vs George Drake Los Angeles, California: Wednesday, November 29, 1961 (Olympic Auditorium) … World Heavyweight Champion Fred Blassie and Sandor Szabo were both knocked out in the third fall and drew (1-1) … “Cowboy” Dick Hutton and Billy Varga dew (45:00) (television main event) … “Seaman” Art Thomas b. The Brute (2-0) … Jesse Ortega b. Al Marshall and Pedro Sanchez … Mr. Moto b. Aldo “Argentina” Bogni … (promoter: Cal Eaton) … (5,300 fans) *On Tuesday, December 19, 1961, KTLA (channel 5) presented “Wrestling” for 90- minutes beginning at 8:30 p.m. Los Angeles, California: Tuesday, December 19, 1961 (KTLA Studios) … The Alaskan b. Johnny Venus (2-0) … Ray Stevens b. Ken Ackles … Pepper Gomez b. Karl Von Brock … (promoter: Johnny Doyle) *On Wednesday, December 20, 1961, KCOP (channel 13) presented “Wrestling – (Live).” *On Tuesday, December 26, 1961, KTLA (channel 5) presented “Wrestling” for 90- minutes beginning at 8:30 p.m. *On Wednesday, December 27, 1961, KCOP (channel 13) presented “Wrestling – (Live).” Research by Tim Hornbaker, J Michael Kenyon October 28, 2010 |
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