St. Louis Wrestling Results

*On Tuesday, January 8, 1929, Jim Browning trained at the National Gymnasium in St.
Louis with Frank Nelson and Lloyd Carter.

St. Louis, Missouri: Friday, January 11, 1929
(New Coliseum) … Richard Shikat b. Jim Browning (52:00) … Joe “Toots” Mondt and
John Pesek drew (60:00) … Stanley Stasiak b. Tom Lurich ... Nick Lutze b. Pat McKay …
(promoter: Tom Packs) … (referees: Joe Sanderson, Harry Sharpe, Fred Voepel, Harry
Willis) … (announcer: Joseph G. “Biz” Kenney) … (timekeeper: Earl Brady) ... (4,000
fans)
Notes: Mondt weighed 216 to Pesek's 194. Originally booked as "Adolph" Lurich against
Brian O'Rourke.

*During this time-frame, St. Louis promoter Tom Packs was wrangling to bring new World
Champion Gus Sonnenberg into the city for a match.

*Packs received a telegram from Sonnenberg’s managers telling him that Gus would not
defend his championship against one of four wrestlers Packs had decided as title
contenders. In turn, Packs cancelled his January 24, 1929 wrestling program. Packs
said that he would allow Sonnenberg to appear in a match against a secondary
contender, and bill the bout as an “exhibition” to show the local fans his wrestling skill.

*Sonnenberg and his managers agreed for an appearance in St. Louis on January 29,
1929, wrestling an exibhition against Frank Jorgenson, an unknown Swedish wrestler.

*On Tuesday, January 22, 1929, Jim Londos deparated from LaHavre on the Ile de
France, sailing for the United States.

*On Sunday, January 27, 1929, Nick Lutze trained the National Gymnasium with Frank
Nelson and George McDowell of St. Louis University. Pat McGill, stablemate of Ed
“Strangler” Lewis, trained with Vic Sprone and George Peters. Dick Daviscourt and Joe
“Toots” Mondt also did some training in preparation for matches.

St. Louis, Missouri: Tuesday, January 29, 1929
(New Coliseum) … World Heavyweight Champion Gus Sonnenberg b. Frank Jorgenson
(3:55) (special exhibition match) … Joe “Toots” Mondt b. Dick Daviscourt (29:34) (double
knee lock) … Nick Lutze b. Pat McGill (42:24) … Roy Steele b. Tom Draak (21:10) …
(promoter: Tom Packs) … (referees: Leroy Addington, Joe Sanderson, Harry S. Sharpe,
Fred Voepel) … (announcer: Joseph G. “Biz” Kenney) … (timekeeper: Earl Brady) …
(7,000 fans)
Notes: McGill was said to be under the management of Billy Sandow. Jorgenson was
from Sweden. Film of Sonnenberg's title win over Ed Lewis was shown in St. Louis at a
local theater.

*A bill was passed on February 1, 1929 to license professional wrestling promoters by the
Board of Aldermen in St. Louis.

*On Tuesday, February 5, 1929, Ed “Strangler” Lewis arrived in St. Louis to prepare for
his match with Nick Lutze.

*On Wednesday, February 6, 1929, Lewis worked out at the National Gymnasium with
Jack Washburn, Lloyd Carter and George Tragos.

*Nick Lutze suffered an injured left knee during a match in New Orleans on Monday,
February 4, 1929. Tom Packs, as a result, pushed back his wrestling show until
February 13, Wednesday night. In the meantime, Lewis returned to his home in Kansas
City to train with members of “his own stable,” preparing to return on Tuesday. Lewis
would train with Joe Stangel and Pat McGill.

St. Louis, Missouri: Wednesday, February 13, 1929
(New Coliseum) … Ed “Strangler” Lewis b. Nick Lutze (1:10:46) (during the match, Lutze
kicked Lewis’s manager Billy Sandow after breaking from an arm lock. Sandow was then
punched by a ringside fan) (police attempted to remove Sandow from the ringside area,
but Lewis refused to continue unless Sandow could stay) (Sandow suffered a bad bruise
under his left eye) (Lewis was heavily booed by fans) (Lutze submitted to a double knee
lock, withstanding the pain of the hold for more than a minute before giving up) (Lutze
was carried to the dressing room) … Jim McMillan b. Jack Washburn (10:50) … George
McDowell b. Ad Herman … Pat McKay b. Hans Bauer (22:57) … Brothers Alex and Tom
Barlow wrestled an boys exhibition … (promoter: Tom Packs) … (referees: Leroy
Addington, Joe Sanderson, Harry S. Sharpe, Fred Voepel) … (announcer: Joseph G.
“Biz” Kenney) … (timekeeper: Earl Brady)

*On Saturday, February 16, 1929, Joe “Toots” Mondt worked out at the National
Gymnasium with George Tragos, Lloyd Carter and Vito Rinaldi.

*On February 18, 1929, a special banquet was given in honor of Jim Londos at the Hotel
Jefferson by a Greek-American fraternal organization known as Ahepa. Londos had just
returned from a tour of Europe.

St. Louis, Missouri: Thursday, February 21, 1929
(New Coliseum) … Jim Londos b. Joe “Toots” Mondt (1:08:17) … Jim McMillan b. Jack
McCarthy (7:45) … Kola Doroshenko Kwariani b. Pat McKay (10:13) … Goerge McDowell
b. Harry “Speedy” Schaeffer (14:40) … (promoter: Tom Packs) … (referees: Leroy
Addington, Joe Sanderson, Harry S. Sharpe, Fred Voepel) … (announcer: Joseph G.
“Biz” Kenney) … (timekeeper: Earl Brady)

St. Louis, Missouri: Tuesday, March 5, 1929
(New Coliseum) … Jim Londos b. Jim Clinstock (1:03:11) … Joe “Toots” Mondt and
Richard Shikat drew (60:00) … Nick Lutze b. Gilberto Martinez Larrea (2-0) (Lutze won
the first fall in 16:07 and the second in 50-seconds) … George McDowell b. Tommy
Marvin (DQ) (18:38) … (promoter: Tom Packs) … (referees: Leroy Addington, Joe
Sanderson, Harry S. Sharpe, Fred Voepel) … (announcer: Joseph G. “Biz” Kenney) …
(timekeeper: Earl Brady)

*Londos reported suffered three broken ribs in the match with Clinstock and another
dislocated. He was confined to a suite at the Maryland Hotel in St. Louis, and would miss
a number of wrestling matches, which Packs claimed equalled $20,000. He would miss
bouts in Little Rock, Houston, Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, and Memphis.

*On Wednesday, March 20, 1929, Nick Lutze trained at the National Gymnasium with
George McDowell. Ed Lewis also trained in the gymnasium with George Tragos, Tommy
Marvin, and Lloyd Carter.

St. Louis, Missouri: Friday, March 22, 1929
(New Coliseum) … Ed “Strangler” Lewis b. Nick Lutze (1:05:51) … Jim Clinstock b. Moose
Norbeck (10:51) … Jim McMillan b. Firpo Wilcox … George McDowell vs. George Tragos
… (promoter: Tom Packs) … (referees: Leroy Addington, Joe Sanderson, Harry S.
Sharpe, Fred Voepel) … (announcer: Joseph G. “Biz” Kenney) … (timekeeper: Earl
Brady) ... (5,500 fans)
Notes: McDowell had wins over Billy Scharbert, Tommy Marvin, and Cyclone Robinson in
local matches. McDowell trained with Lutze before the show. He was said to have
attended St. Louis University and was from Perryville, Missouri. Wilcox stood 6'2 1/2" and
weighed 220 pounds.

St. Louis, Missouri: Wednesday, April 10, 1929
(New Coliseum) … Jim Clinstock b. Joe “Toots” Mondt (14:20) … Paul Jones and Ray
Steele drew (60:00) ... George McDowell b. Eddie Cline ... Kola Kwariani b. Francis
Lemarine ... (promoter: Tom Packs) ... (referees: Fred Voepel, Leroy Addington, Joe
Sanderson) ... (timekeeper: Earl Brady) ... (announcer: Joseph G. "Biz" Kenney)
Notes: Kwariani was billed as "Kola Doroshenko Kwariani." Lemarnie was from Belgium.
McDowell was a law student at St. Louis University. Cline was from Columbus, Ohio.
Mondt was said to use a "figure four" or "double kneelock." Clinstock stood nearly 6'3"
tall. Steele was billed as "Roy Steele."

St. Louis, Missouri: Wednesday, April 17, 1929
(New Coliseum) ... Jim Clinstock b. Paul Jones (16:44) ... Roy Steele b. Hans Bauer (11:
31) ... Jim McMillan and Charles Strack drew (45:00) ... George McDowell b. Ad Herman
(13:23) ... (promoter: Tom Packs) ... (referees: Harry S. Sharpe, Fred Voepel, Leroy
Addington, Joe Sanderson) ... (timekeeper: Earl E. Brady) ... (announcer: Joseph G.
"Biz" Kenney) ... (3,500 fans)
Notes: Tommy Marvin was originally matched against McDowell, but had to pull out after
suffering an injury while training at the National Gymnasium. He suffered torn ligaments
while training with Clinstock. Strack was a "four-time winner of National AAU heavyweight
championship laurels and Olympic title winner of 1924." Strack also played football at
Colgate University for three years, and was captain in 1926. Bauer was a substitute for
Kola Kwariani, who missed a train connection from Tulsa.

St. Louis, Missouri: Tuesday, April 30, 1929
(New Coliseum) ... Jim Londos b. Jim Clinstock (1:36:00) (submission) ... Roy Steele b.
George Mackovitch (26:00) ... Charley Strack b. Joe Rogaski (25:00) ... Vito Rinaldi b.
Tommy Marvin (24:00) ... (promoter: Tom Packs) ... (referees: Harry S. Sharpe, Fred
Voepel, Leroy Addington, Joe Sanderson) ... (timekeeper: Earl Brady) ... (announcer:
Joseph G. "Biz" Kenney)
Notes: Rinaldi was a "local Italian heavyweight" and a protege of Lloyd Carter. He had
been wrestling less than a year and "won about fifteen contests." Another report stated
that Rinaldi had won 12 matches in a row. Rinaldi would soon be known as Gino
Garibaldi. Clinstock was said to have had "the upper hand most of the way" in his match
against Londos, according to the St. Louis Daily Globe Democrat. Londos looked "small"
compared to Clinstock. This was said to be Londos' revenge for their earlier bout in
which he suffered broken ribs.

*Clinstock's injury during the Londos match forced Tom Packs to postpone his scheduled
show that was slated for the first week of May 1929. Packs wanted to book Clinstock
against Kola Kwariani or Stanley Stasiak. Clinstock suffered torn ligaments in his right
shoulder after falling from the ring.

St. Louis, Missouri: Monday, May 20, 1929
(New Coliseum) ... Jim Clinstock b. Charley Strack (31:00) ... Rudy Dusek b. Vito Rinaldi
... Roy Steele and Jack Taylor drew (45:00) ... Lloyd Carter b. Joe Martin (14:00) ...
(promoter: Tom Packs) ... (referees: Harry S. Sharpe, Fred Voepel)
Notes: George Hagen gained "wide attention" last October when he broke the right leg of
George Calza with a toehold in Brooklyn. Rudy Dusek was the Southern Heavyweight
Champion. Joe Martin was a St. Louis wrestler. Rinaldi was a substitute for Jim McMillen,
who failed to arrive because of a train delay.

*In mid-May 1929, Missouri State Senator Manvel Davis of Kansas City introduced a bill
placing professional wrestling under the rule of the Missouri State Athletic Commission.
The idea quickly found traction and soon signed into law.

St. Louis, Missouri: Thursday, June 6, 1929
(New Coliseum) ... Jim Clinstock b. Jack Taylor (14:00) ... Jim McMillen b. Rudy Dusek
(DQ) (11:37) ... George McDowell b. "Speedy" Schaeffer (10:00) ... Roy Steele b. Paul
Martinson (17:47) ... (promoter: Tom Packs) ... (referees: Harry S. Sharpe, Fred Voepel,
Joe Sanderson, Leroy Addington) ... (timekeeper: Earl Brady) ... (announcer: Joseph
"Biz" Kenney)
Notes: Season finale. Jack Taylor was said to have been a wrestler for "approximately
ten years," and had nearly 200 wins. He beat Dan Koloff, Tommy Draak, Allen Eustace,
Charles Hansen, and George Kotsonaros. He was a "former Canadian titleholder."
Taylor stood around 6' and weighed 215 pounds. Clinstock trained at the National
Gymnasium with Lloyd Carter, Tommy Marvin, and Vito Rinaldi. This was the end of
Packs' sixth season in St. Louis. Taylor trained with Ad Herman and "Tiny Tim" Dennis.
Schaeffer was "making his debut among the 175-pounders." Dusek used roughhouse
tactics to earn the DQ.

St. Louis, Missouri: June 26, 1929
(Outdoor Battery Arena) ... Dick Shikat b. Jim Clinstock (27:47) ... Rudy Dusek b. Jack
Washburn (25:55) ... Joe "Toots" Mondt and Charles Strack drew (45:00) ... George
McDowell b. Young Richards (Richardson) (11:00) ... (promoter: Tom Packs) ...
(referees: Harry S. Sharpe, Joe Sanderson, Fred Voepel, Leroy Addington) ...
(timekeeper: Earl Brady) ... (announcer: Joseph G. "Biz" Kenney)
Notes: Young Richards was from East St. Louis and Washburn from Los Angeles.
Strack was from Nyack, NY.

*On July 6, 1929, the members of the newly instituted Missouri State Athletic Commission
held its first meeting "to formulate rules to govern the mat sport similar to those under
which fistic programs are conducted," according to the St. Louis Globe Democrat
(7/7/29). Seneca C. Taylor was the member responsible for the St. Louis region and he
asked veteran referee Harry S. Sharpe to provide his assistance in "drawing up a code
for regulating wrestling matches." Members also reached out to "wrestling boards" in
Chicago and New York for assistance. The two other members of the commission were
Harry Davis of Kansas City and Chester L. Brewer (University of Missouri Athletic
Director). Ben Harrison was the full-time secretary of the new commission, and was
based out of Springfield.

St. Louis, Missouri: July 26, 1929
(Outdoor Battery Arena) ... Dick Shikat b. Joe Komar (35:00) ... Kola Kwariani b. Hans
Bauer (14:00) ... Frank Brunowicz and Jim McMillen drew (45:00) ... George Lapullo b.
Ray McCabe ... (promoter: Tom Packs) ... (referees: Fred Voepel, Harry Sharpe, Joe
Sanderson) ... (timekeeper: Melvin Price) ... (announcer: Joseph G. "Biz" Kenney)
Notes: The timekeeper Melvin Price was the future Congressman and longtime friend of
Sam Muchnick. The venue was at Grand Boulevard and Caroline Street. McCabe was
from Hannibal, Missouri. He held victories over Lloyd Carter and Jack Reed. Komar was
said to be "roly-poly" and weighed 230 pounds. Bauer was a substitute for Jim Clinstock
Lapullo was a substitute for Tony DeVeechi. Brunowicz was also spelled, "Brunowiecz."

*On July 27, 1929, a wrestling code in Missouri was adopted by the Missouri State
Athletic Commission. The "code" was submitted by longtime referee Harry S. Sharpe.
Among the rules: All matches would be catch-as-catch-can style and limited to three
falls. A wrestler's shoulders had to be pressed to the mat "for not less than three
seconds" to win a fall. A wrestler would be given 20 seconds to return to the ring. The
new regulations would be effective August 27. Over the course of the next months, a
number of things happened, including the issuing of licenses to promoters. Tom Packs
was issued license "No. 1" by the commission. Jack C. Tippets of St. Louis was given a
boxing license to promote. As of August 24, 89 boxers had been licensed.

St. Louis, Missouri: September 11, 1929
(Outdoor Battery Arena) ... World Heavyweight Champion Dick Shikat ... (promoter: Tom
Packs)
Notes: Final outdoor show of the season. Packs had recently toured the east, attending
the big Shikat-Londos match in Philadelphia. Brunowicz had wins over Stack, Gardini,
Taylor, and Eustace. It doesn't appear this show was held.

St. Louis, Missouri: Tuesday, October 1, 1929
(New Coliseum) ... World Heavyweight Champion Dick Shikat b. Frank Brunowicz ... Paul
Jones and Jim McMillen drew ... Tony DeVeechi b. Jack Washburn (16:51) ... George
McDowell b. Billy Scharbert (11:26) (Scharbert suffered a shoulder injury) ... (promoter:
Tom Packs) ... (referees: Harry S. Sharpe, Joe Sanderson) ... (timekeeper: Earl Brady)
... (announcer: Joseph G. "Biz" Kenney)
Notes: Indoor season opener. Packs, around this time, was having problems securing
talent. The St. Louis Globe-Democrat (9/29/29) talked about how Shikat had developed
as a wrestler under the guidance of "Toots" Mondt. The paper stated that Mondt was
"one of the most intelligent wrestlers the game has known," and he "knows all the
mysteries of the mat." The newspaper noted that one of Fisher's achievements was
holding Gus Kallio to a draw. Missouri SAC member Seneca Taylor was ringside, along
with Judge Robert Hall.

*Indicating his willingness to meet Dick Shikat for the World Title, Ed "Strangler" Lewis
posted $250 with the Missouri State Athletic Commission on October 15, 1929. Billy
Sandow sent the challenge to Harry S. Davis of Kansas City, a commission member.
Marin Plestina also had a standing challenge out for Shikat. No action was immediately
made to order the matches. Notably, as state athletic commissions appeared across the
country, independent wrestlers (and those of a rival clique) were using the commissions
to gain leverage against their adversaries. By issuing challenges and displaying a
willingness to post a forfeit, a wrestler could conceivably pressure a champion of a
different syndicate into the ring through a commission, which threatened suspension if
the champion didn't defend against the wrestler. Gus Sonnenberg was suspended in
New York and Pennsylvania for not wrestling worthy contenders...aka...wrestlers of the
Jack Curley syndicate, which was at odds with Sonnenberg's group run by Paul Bowser.

St. Louis, Missouri: Thursday, October 17, 1929
(New Coliseum) ... Jim McMillen b. Paul Jones (54:10) ... Hans Steinke b. Arthur Boganz
... Glen Wade b. Joe Shimkus ... George McDowell b. Ray McCabe ... (promoter: Tom
Packs) ... (referees: Harry Sharpe, Fred Voepel) ... (timekeeper: Earl Brady) ...
(announcer: Joseph G. "Biz" Kenney) ... (3,000 fans)
Notes: Boganz was said to be from Atlantic City. McDowell weighed 174 pounds. Jack
Dempsey was introduced from the ring.

St. Louis, Missouri: Friday, November 8, 1929
(New Coliseum) ... George Hagen vs. Jim Londos ... Frank Brunowicz vs. Jim McMillen ...
other matches
Notes: This show was cancelled after Hagen suffered injuries in a match against Dick
Shikat in New York on Wednesday. A show was planned for Tuesday, November 19.

St. Louis, Missouri: Tuesday, November 19, 1929
(New Coliseum) ... Jim Londos b. Alexis Linow (26:57) ... Matros Kirilenko b. Frank
Brunowicz (DQ) (33:44) ... George Calza and Jim McMillen drew (45:00) ... Billy Scharbert
and Young Richards drew ... (promoter: Tom Packs) ... (referees: Harry S. Sharpe, Fred
Voepel) ... (timekeeper: Earl Brady) ... (announcer: Joseph G. "Biz" Kenney)
Notes: Calza last wrestled in St. Louis in 1927 and returned to Italy shortly thereafter. He
returned "a little more than a year ago," and suffered a broken leg in a Brooklyn match
against George Hagen in October 1928. Scharbert and Richards were middleweights.

Research by Tim Hornbaker, Steve Yohe
February 16, 2011

St. Louis Wrestling Results - 1929