St. Louis, Missouri:  January 9, 1948
(Kiel Auditorium) … Steve Casey b. Otto Kuss (25:15) … Juan Hernandez and Frankie
Talaber b. Jack Conley and Finice Hall … George Gordienko and Joe Pazandak drew …
The Great Mephisto b. Bill Zimovich (DQ) … (promoter:  Sam Muchnick) … (6,188 fans)

St. Louis, Missouri:  January 23, 1948
(Kiel Auditorium) … Steve Casey b. Joe Pazandak (39:05) … George Gordienko b. Mike
Browning … Pierre LaBelle and Whitey Wahlberg b. Jack Conley and Finice Hall … Paul
Kisselbach and Johnny Marrs drew … (promoter:  Sam Muchnick) … (4,232 fans)

St. Louis, Missouri:  February 20, 1948
(Kiel Auditorium) … World Heavyweight Champion Frank Sexton b. Steve Casey (44:30) …
Mike Browning and Abe Kashey b. Babe Kasaboski and Frankie Talaber … George
Gordienko b. Jack Conley … Fred Blassie b. Zefko “Lucky” Simunovich … (promoter:  Sam
Muchnick) … (6,579 fans)

St. Louis, Missouri:  March 5, 1948
(Kiel Auditorium) … Sandor Szabo b. Steve Casey (34:03) … Jack Conley and Abe Kashey
b. Fred Blassie and Frankie Talaber … Tug Carlson b. Olaf Olson … Finice Hall b. Juan
Hernandez … (promoter:  Sam Muchnick) … (5,480 fans)

St. Louis, Missouri:  Friday, March 19, 1948
(Kiel Auditorium) … Abe Kashey b. Frankie Talaber (30:14) … Sandor Szabo b. Fred Bozic
(DQ) … Tug Carlson and Babe Kasaboski b. Jack Conley and Finice Hall … Steve Casey b.
George “Red” O’Malley … (promoter:  Sam Muchnick) … (5,243 fans)

St. Louis, Missouri:  Friday, April 2, 1948
(Kiel Auditorium) … Frankie Talaber b. Abe Kashey (reverse decision) (16:02) … Jack
Conley and Finice Hall b. Fred Blassie and George O’Malley … Tug Carlson b. Mike
Browning … Abie Coleman b. Bill Zimovich … (promoter:  Sam Muchnick) … (5,656 fans)

St. Louis, Missouri:  April 16, 1948
(Kiel Auditorium) … Bronko Nagurski b. Abe Kashey … Jack Conley and Finice Hall b. Abie
Coleman and Bob Cummings … Tug Carlson and Otto Kuss drew … Bill Zimovich b. Mike
Ryan … (promoter:  Sam Muchnick) … (5,434 fans in attendance)

St. Louis, Missouri:  May 13, 1948
(Kiel Auditorium) … Tony Galento b. Jack Conley (16:24) … Dizzy Davis and Abe Kashey b.
Tug Carlson and George Gordienko … Otto Kuss b. Abie Coleman … Fred Blassie and
Finice Hall drew … Johnny Randa b. Tom Felice … (promoter:  Sam Muchnick) … (5,231
fans)

St. Louis, Missouri:  Friday, May 28, 1948
(Kiel Auditorium) … Sandor Szabo b. Abe Kashey … Fred Blassie and Frankie Talaber b.
Jack Conley and Bill Zimovich … George Gordienko b. Finice Hall … Lucky Simunovich b.
Danny Plechas (DQ) … (promoter:  Sam Muchnick) … (referee:  Wally Karbo) … (3,235
fans) … (season closer)


*Sam Muchnick worked out of the Claridge Hotel and his corporation was Sam Muchnick
Sports Attractions.

*In June 1948, the Tom Packs organization was receiving no press by the St. Louis Post-
Dispatch.  The Globe Democrat may have been different.

St. Louis, Missouri:  Friday, June 4, 1948
(Kiel Auditorium) … (promoter:  Tom Packs) … (sponsored by:  Thomas N. Packs
Enterprises) (address:  280-284 Arcade Bldg., St. Louis 1, MO)



*A consortium of wrestlers and promoters (Martin and Lou Thesz, Bill Longson, Bobby
Managoff, Frank Tunney, and Eddie Quinn) purchased Thomas N. Packs Enterprises and
control of the National Wrestling Association World Title from Tom Packs.  Martin Thesz,
Quinn, and Tunney incorporated the Mississippi Valley Sports Club, and according to the
books, Thesz had 90% of the corporation, and both Quinn and Tunney each had 5%.  
Thesz was the MVSC President and promoter.

*Paperwork to register the fictitious name was signed before a notary public on June 15,
1948 in St. Louis by Martin Thesz, Frank Tunney, and Eddie Quinn, and filed on December
23, 1948.

*It should be noted that Martin Thesz stopped being his son’s manager after this deal was
made, and it was noted in the St. Louis program “Sports Pointers” on Friday, July 2, 1948.

St. Louis, Missouri:  Friday, June 18, 1948
(Kiel Auditorium) … Bill Longson b. Billy Watson (CO) … Lou Thesz b. Frederick Von
Schacht (DQ) … Sky-Hi Lee b. Don McIntyre (9:05) … Warren Bockwinkel b. Fritz Schnabel
(13:25) … Jose Carillo and George O’Brien drew … (promoter:  Martin Thesz) …
(matchmaker:  William “Roughhouse” Nelson) … (sponsored by:  Mississippi Valley Sports
Club)

*The following was printed in the Friday, June 18, 1948 edition of Sports Pointers:  “We’re
pleased to note that the change-over from Tom Packs Sports Enterprise to Mississippi
Valley Sports Club is taking place so smoothly.  Matchmaker Bill Nelson, associated with
Promoter Packs for twenty years, is working closely with Martin Thesz to keep a succession
of sensational mat cards coming your way all year ‘round.  And of course Mr. Packs,
although he is devoting all his time to circus and rodeo production now, in all parts of the
continent, still is available for consultation by the new organization.”

St. Louis, Missouri:  Friday, July 2, 1948
(Kiel Auditorium) … Sky-Hi Lee and Frederick Von Schacht b. Mike Sharpe and Wladeslaw
Talun (Australian Tag Team Match) (No Time-Limit, Both men of team has to be pinned for a
victory) … Ernie Dusek b. Felix Miquet (17:01) … Al Lovelock b. Al Billings … Warren
Bockwinkel and Don McIntyre drew (20:00) … Jose Carillo b. Tommy Felis (12:48) …
(promoter:  Martin Thesz) … (matchmaker:  Bill Nelson) … (referees:  Henry Costa, Walter
McMillan, Charley Venetor) … (sponsored by:  Mississippi Valley Sports Club)

St. Louis, Missouri:  Friday, July 16, 1948
(Kiel Auditorium) … Bill Longson b. Sky-HI Lee (12:01) … Enrique Torres b. Hans Schnable
(DQ) (13:48) … Warren Bockwinkel b. Al Billings (11:45) … Joel Morris b. Fritz Schnable (11:
29) … one other match featuring Al Lovelock … (promoter:  Martin Thesz) … (matchmaker:  
Bill Nelson) … (sponsored by:  Mississippi Valley Sports Club) … (5,945 fans)

St. Louis, Missouri:  Friday, July 30, 1948
(Kiel Auditorium) … NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz b. Bobby Managoff (29:
23) (special referee:  Ed “Strangler” Lewis) … Enrique Torres b. Sky-Hi Lee (15:23) … Al
Lovelock b. George Linnehan (14:04) … Ralph Garibaldi and Joel Morris drew (20:00) …
Ray Gunkel b. Carlos Rodriguez (12:10) … (promoter:  Martin Thesz) … (matchmaker:  Bill
Nelson) … (referees:  Ed “Strangler” Lewis, Henry Costa, Walter McMillan, Charley Venetor,
Fred Vopel) … (sponsored by:  Mississippi Valley Sports Club) … (in attendance:  Colonel
Harry J. Landry, Eddie Quinn, Billy Thom and 16 wrestling promoters in total for a meeting of
the National Wrestling Association)

*In the Friday, August 13, 1948 edition of “Sports Pointers” by the Mississippi Valley Sports
Club, the following was printed:  “NWA Meeting Here Stresses New Talent.  Sixteen of the
country’s best known wrestling promoters were in St. Louis to witness the last Mississippi
Valley Sports Club card, and to hold a meeting under the direction of Col. Harry J. Landry,
President of the National Wrestling Association, and also treasurer of the National Boxing
Association.

Edward Quinn, promoter from Montreal, Canada, reported that he had been in contact with
Henri DeGlane, international known wrestling promoter from Paris, France.  DeGlane
advised Quinn that there were seveal European grapplers approaching their prime, and
anxious to come to the United States to meet the best this country has to offer.  The men
inclue two Frenchmen, both on the order of Felix Miquet, the Hungarian heavyweight, and a
grappler claiming the title from Yugoslavia.

Colonel Landry’s keynote address to the meeting concerned the bringing forth of new talent
in the coming year of 1949.  The NWA embraces thirty states, most of Canada, and Landry
asked that youthful heavyweights be watched carefully, and brought along slowly.  Landry
also expressed great satisfaction with the showing of Torres, Lovelock, and Gunkle on the
Mississippi Valley Sports Club card.”

It also printed the following:  “The visiting promoters all made a beeline for the Thesz’
dressing room after the match, and besigned the champ with some pretty good offers.  
Thesz, now operating without a manager refused to commit himself to any one promoter,
and asked time to think things over.”

St. Louis, Missouri:  Friday, August 13, 1948
(Kiel Auditorium) … NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz b. Bobby Managoff (31:
00) … Enrique Torres b. Wladislaw “Iron Man’ Talun … Al Lovelock b. Babe Zaharias (9:22)
… Ray Gunkel b. Joe Dusek (DQ) (17:28) (Dusek was disqualified for biting the referee) …
Jack Kennedy and Don McIntyre drew (20:00) … (promoter:  Martin Thesz) … (matchmaker:  
Bill Nelson) … (referees:  Henry Costa, Ralph Gruner, Walter McMillan, Charley Schwartz,
Fred Vopel) … (sponsored by:  Mississippi Valley Sports Club)

St. Louis, Missouri:  Friday, August 27, 1948
(Kiel Auditorium) … Bill Longson b. Enrique Torres (DQ) … NWA World Junior Heavyweight
Champion Leroy McGuirk b. Joe Dusek (8:24) (non-title match) … Warren Bockwinkel
wrestled Don Evans to a no contest (11:22) … Ray Gunkel b. Al Galento (DQ) (10:01) …
Don McIntyre and Joe Millich drew (20:00) … (promoter:  Martin Thesz) … (matchmaker:  Bill
Nelson) … (referees:  Whitey Brexler, Henry Costa, Walter McMillan, Charley Schwartz,
Charley Venetor) … (sponsored by:  Mississippi Valley Sports Club)

St. Louis, Missouri:  Friday, September 10, 1948
(Kiel Auditorium) … Enrique Torres b. Bill Longson (DQ) (12:17) … Al Lovelock and Bobby
Managoff drew (30:00) … Ray Gunkel b. Al Galento (DQ) … Warren Bockwinkel b. Natie
Brown (13:05) … Babe Zaharias b. Joe Millich (13:25) … (promoter:  Martin Thesz) …
(matchmaker:  Bill Nelson) … (referee:  Charley Schwartz) … (sponsored by:  Mississippi
Valley Sports Club)

St. Louis, Missouri:  Friday, September 17, 1948
(Kiel Auditorium) … NWA World Heavyweight Champion Orville Brown b. Otto Kuss … Don
Eagle b. Jim Wright (DQ) … Barney Bernard b. Walter Sirois … Fred Blassie and Frankie
Talaber b. Bert Rubi and Jack Vansky … (promoter:  Sam Muchnick) … (referee:  Wally
Karbo) … (season opener)
Note:  The St. Louis Globe Democrat made mention of the new National Wrestling Alliance in
the Friday, September 17, 1948 newspaper.

St. Louis, Missouri:  Friday, September 24, 1948
(Kiel Auditorium) … NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz b. Enrique Torres … Al
Lovelock b. Karl Davis … The Zaharias Brothers (Babe and Chris Zaharias) b. Mickey Gold
and Joe Millich … Joe Dusek b. Ray Gunkel … (promoter:  Martin Thesz) … (matchmaker:  
Bill Nelson) … (sponsored by:  Mississippi Valley Sports Club)

St. Louis, Missouri:  October 1, 1948
(Kiel Auditorium) … NWA World Heavyweight Champion Orville Brown b. Don Eagle …
Ronnie Etchison and Otto Kuss drew … Neil Warren and Walter Sirois b. George Bruckman
and George Lippold … (promoter:  Sam Muchnick)

St. Louis, Missouri:  Saturday, October 9, 1948
(Kiel Auditorium) … NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz b. Enrique Torres (DQ)
(32:28) (Torres initially won the match by pinfall, but the decision was reversed and Torres
disqualified when it became known that the latter’s manager Benny Ginsberg interfered) …
Bill Longson b. Mickey Gold (9:44) … Ernie Dusek b. Jim “Goon” Henry (17:09) … Joe
Dusek and Emil Dusek b. Karl Davis and Ralph Garibaldi (2/3) … (promoter:  Martin Thesz)
… (referee:  Charles Schwartz) … (sponsored by:  Mississippi Valley Sports Club) … (9,300
fans)
Notes:  Missouri State Athletic Commission Deputy Commissioner Charles Pian, who was in
attendance, notified the referee of Torres’ interference.  Longson needed an escort to the
dressing room after his villainous tactics roused the crowd.

St. Louis, Missouri:  October 29, 1948
(Kiel Auditorium) … NWA World Heavyweight Champion Orville Brown b. Frankie Talaber …
(promoter:  Sam Muchnick)

St. Louis, Missouri:  November 11, 1948
(Kiel Auditorium) … Don Eagle b. Jim Wright … Ali Baba b. Finice Hall … (promoter:  Sam
Muchnick)

St. Louis, Missouri:  Friday, November 26, 1948
(Kiel Auditorium) … Buddy Rogers b. Jim Wright … Don Eagle b. Abe Kashey … Ali Baba b.
Jack Vansky … Otto Kuss and Lucky Simunovich b. Johnny Marrs and Walter Sirois …
(promoter:  Sam Muchnick) … (10,176 fans)

*In a letter to Buddy Rogers’s manager, Jack Pfefer dated November 27, 1948, Muchnick
revealed that the actual attendance of his November 26 show was 9,176, and that he added
1,000 to reports given to the press.  Muchnick stated that Thesz and his matchmaker Bill
Nelson were complaning to the State Athletic Commission that he had padded the numbers.

St. Louis, Missouri:  Friday, December 10, 1948
(Kiel Auditorium) … NWA World Heavyweight Champion Orville Brown b. Don Eagle (17:24)
(Brown used a leglock to score the victory, preying on Eagle’s injured leg) (Brown’s third title
defense in St. Louis) … Ronnie Etchison and Otto Kuss b. Abe Kashey and Jack Vansky
(DQ) (22:10) … Buddy Rogers b. Frankie Talaber (16:01) … Tug Carlson and Jim Wright
drew (30:00) … (promoter:  Sam Muchnick) … (referee:  Henry Costa) … (8,343 fans)
Note:  Abe Kashey and Jack Vansky were suspended for 30-days for their actions, and “not
listening to reasonable rules.”

St. Louis, Missouri:  Friday, December 17, 1948
(Kiel Auditorium) … Gorgeous George b. Larry Moquin (stepover toehold) (8:50) …
Antonino Rocca b. Warren Bockwinkel (11:40) … Chief War Cloud b. Joe Millich (Indian
Death Lock) (15:39) (Millich was a substitute for Sam Menacker) … Juan Humberto and Jack
Kennedy drew (20:00) … The Dusek Brothers (Emil and Ernie Dusek) b. The Zaharias
Brothers (Babe and Chris Zaharias) (Emil pinned Chris) (24:39) … Enrique Torres b. Joe
Dusek (16:45) … (promoter:  Martin Thesz) … (referee:  Whitey Brexler) … (sponsored by:  
Mississippi Valley Sports Club) …  (10,042 fans)


Research by Tim Hornbaker
St. Louis Wrestling Results - 1948