Chicago Wrestling Results

Chicago, IL: January 3, 1919 (Friday)
(Haymarket Theater) … William Demetral beat Paul Martinson (45:00, Paul cracked a rib)

Chicago, IL: January 4, 1919
(Chicago Athletic Association) … Jim Londos beat Joe Turner (of Chicago) (11:04) … Joe
Smith beat Bird Budd (2-0) … Pat Connolly beat Jim Brown … Herman Koch beat Joe
Wallace (2-0) … NOTE: Sergeant Ed Lewis was at the card.

South Bend, Indiana: January 7, 1919
John Freberg (as Frieberg) beat Paul Martinson (2-0) (Martinson suffered a cracked rib in
the first fall)

Chicago, IL: January 10, 1919
(Haymarket Theater) … William Demetral vs Fred Pilokoff

Chicago, IL: January 18, 1919
Chicago A.A.) … Sergeant Ed “Strangler” Lewis drew with Paul Martinson (30:00) … Louis
Talaber beat Charles Peterson … William Demetral beat Nick Orloff … Joe Shea beat
Walter Snyder

Chicago, IL: January 20, 1919
(Argo) … Wladek Zbyszko vs Young Stecher … Steve Savage vs Jim Kostovo … Charles
Kramer vs Billy rvie (can’t read part of name)

Chicago, IL: January 24, 1919
(Haymarket Theater) … Joe Stecher beat Paul Martinson (2-0)

Chicago, IL: January 25, 1919
(Illinois A.C.) … Sergeant Ed “Strangler” Lewis beat Paul Martinson (34:10) … Harold
Christenson beat Carl Schultz … Ben Reuben beat Charley Peterson … Kid Varner beat
Young Samson … Dick Hankel beat Livingston Osborn … (boxing exhibition) Capt. Bob
Roper (Charley Cutler’s heavyweight hope) vs instructor Johnny Behr … NOTE: This was
the monthly stag of the Athletic Club.

Chicago, IL: January 26, 1919
(Florence Avenue & 160th street) … Marin Plestina beat J. Connolly (2-0) … Steve
Savage beat Jack Dribbs (2-0)

Chicago, IL: January 30, 1919
(Auburn Hall) … William Demetral vs Carl Schultz

Chicago, IL: January 31, 1919
(Haymarket Theater) … John Olin vs William Demetral

Houston, Texas: January 31, 1919
Joe Stecher beat Steve Savage (2-0)

Chicago, IL: February 11, 1919
(Crown Theater) … Wladek Zbyszko vs Jack Rolands … Charles Cutler vs John Farrell

Chicago, IL: February 15, 1919
(C.A.A.) … Paul Martinson drew with John Freberg (30:00) … Charley Peterson beat
George Fisher … Mike Nester beat Jack Levy … plus 5 black man royal … (Att.-500)

Sioux City, Iowa: February 24, 1919
(Auditorium) … Wladek Zbyszko beat Joe Stecher (60:00, dec.) … (Att.-4,000) … NOTE:
Referee Hugh McDougall called the match a draw. The next day he awarded Zbyszko the
match on points, as a decision was to be given. Jack Curley promoted the match with the
crowd yelling “Fake” at the draw verdict.

Chicago, IL: March 1, 1919
(C.A.A.) … Steve Savage beat Carl Schultz (23:05) … Walter Evans drew with Young
Demetral (30:00) … Herman Koch beat Joe Wallace … NOTE: Ed Lewis at the card.

Chicago, IL: March 1, 1919
(Illinois A.C.) … Paul Martinson beat Jack Rogers (31:00) … Dick Hankel beat Charley
Peterson … Mike Nester beat Young Beell … Jim Londos beat Rolanda … (referee-Capt.
Roper, the heavyweight boxer)

Chicago, IL: March 3, 1919
(Coliseum) … Ed “Strangler” Lewis beat Joe Stecher (2:12;37) … Paul Martinson drew with
Jack Sampson (30:00) … Jim Londos beat Frank Yusko … (Att.-7,000) … (promoter-Jack
Herman)

Gary, Indiana: March 5, 1919
Tony Bokich vs Billy Schoeber … Louis Talaber vs John Borden … Jimmy Demetral vs Ole
Hanson … Louis Pergantis vs Steve Leatschke … NOTE: This was a tournament with a
championship belt to to given to the middleweight winner.

Springfield, MA: March 5, 1919
Ed “Strangler” Lewis beat John Freberg (1-0, utc)

Chicago, IL: March 7, 1919
(Haymarket Theater) … William Demetral drew with George Vassell (1;35:00) … NOTE:
Demetral scored a fall at 1:07:00 with a toe hold. Vassell protested that his shoulder had
not touched and Demetral waived it. They went to the time limit.

Chicago, IL: March 9, 1919
(Hoerber’s Hall) … (Senior heavyweight division) Fred Meyers ((Chicago Hebrew Instinute)
beat A. D. Johnson (Swedish American A.A.) … NOTE: This was the annual amateur meet
between several Chicago clubs. Fred Meyers was the only well known wrestler to have a
long professional career.

Kansas City, MO: March 10, 1919
Wladek Zbyszko beat Joe Stecher (2-1)

Chicago, IL: March 11, 1919
(Crown Theater) … Wladek Zbyszko beat Steve Savage (1-0, curfew) … Ben Reuben beat
Young Beell (2-0)

Chicago, IL: March 14, 1919 (Friday)
(Haymarket Theater) … Paul Martinson drew with Jack Sampson (1-1, curfew)

Chicago, IL: March 15, 1919 (Saturday)
(C.A.A.) … Paul Martinson beat Jack Sampson (22:43) … William Demetral beat Carl
Schultz … Ernest Kartje beat Young Beell

Harrisburg, PA: March 18, 1919
(Graeco-roman style) Wladek Zbyszko beat Iran Madras (2-0)

Chicago, IL: March 19, 1919
(Hebrew Institute Gym) … (amateurs) Fred Meyers beat Koda (for first place)

Chicago Tribune: March 19, 1919
$500 returned to J.C. Marsh, manager of Marin Plestina, from Tribune. Lewis, Stecher, or
Wladek Zbyszko failed to response to the challenge in 30 days.

Chicago, IL: March 21, 1919
(Haymarket Theater) … Alan Eustace drew with Zulu Havanpas (1-1) … John Kilonis beat
Charley Peterson (2-0)

Chicago, IL: March 22, 1919
(First Regiment Armory) … Herman Koch vs Joe Wallace … Freberg vs Roland …
Peterson vs Lou Talaber … Young Roberts vs Sandow Jones … NOTE: This was a
carnival run by the Young Men’s Robert M. Sweitzer club.

Chicago, IL: March 25, 1919
(Crown Theater) … Ben Reuben vs Herman Koch … Lou Talaber vs Jim Lutmeg

Chicago, IL: March 28, 1919 (afternoon)
(Auditorium Theater) … World Champion Wrestler Wladek Zbyszko will wrestle at the Actor’
s Fund Benefit

Chicago, IL: March 28, 1919
(Douglas Park Auditorium) … Charlie Cutler, Ben Rueben, John Freberg, Paul Martinson,
Mike Nester, Joe Wallace and other wrestlers will help entertain at the Political stag.

Montreal, Quebec: March 29, 1919
Elsie Goodenough beat Priscille Smith (2-0) (won the welterweight women’s wrestling
championship of Canada)

Chicago, IL: April 4, 1919
(Haymarket Theater) … Jack Linow beat William Demetral (1-0, curfew)

Kansas City, MO: April 4, 1919
Ed “Strangler” Lewis beat John Olin (2-0)

Chicago, IL: April 15, 1919
(Crown theater) … Steve Savage beat Jack Rogers (51:00) … Bill Demetral drew with Mike
Yokel (1:10:00) … NOTE: The bout ended at midnight when the theatre lights were turned
off.

Chicago, IL: April 24, 1919 (Thurday)
(Gayety Theater) … Lou Talaber vs Eddie Beal … Jimmy Papas vs Hi Olson … Sam Harris
vs Tom Rolowitz … (last week Talaber beat Beal)
Beaumont, Texas: April 24, 1919
Wladek Zbyszko drew with John Freberg

Chicago, IL: April 25, 1919
(Haymarket Theater) … William Demetral beat Jack Linow (1:30, utc)

Chicago, IL: April 28, 1919 (Monday)
(Coliseum) … Wladek Zbyszko beat Ed “Strangler” Lewis (2:14:09) … Jim Londos beat Dr.
B.F. Roller … Mike Nester drew with Lou Talaber (33:00) … (referee-Martin Delaney) …
(Att.-6,000)

Chicago Tribune: April 30, 1919
Jack Curley claims World title for Wladek Zbyszko, claiming Earl Caddock will not wrestle
after returing from France. However Caddock is wrestling in Paris in service bouts. Zbyszko
was said to had a bout in Newark, Ohio last night.

Louisville, KY: May 9, 1919
Joe Stecher beat Wladek Zbyszko (1:45:15) … (billed for World’s title)

Chicago, IL: May 14, 1919
(Yondorf’s Hall) … Hughie Gannon (135 pound champion’s pro debut) vs Young Gotch

Chicago, IL: May 19, 1919
(Coliseum) … Ed “Strangler” Lewis beat Wladek Zbyszko (2-1) … no other matches … (Att.
-6,000) … (promoter-Joe Coffey) … NOTE: Lewis is now entitled to the world’s
championship baring Caddock return to wrestling.

Chicago Tribune: May 24, 1919
Earl Caddock landed at New York City on the Santa Elena yesterday to see his ill wife.

Gordon, Nebraska: June 14, 1919
John Pesek beat Wladek Zbyszko (2:03:15)

Chicago, IL: June 17, 1919
(Empire Theater) … (world middleweight champion) Johnny Meyers* beat Ben Reuben (2:
04:00)

Chicago, IL: June 17, 1919
(Forester Hall) … Wildcat Ed Braun beat Vic Hlavacek (2-0) … NOTE: This building was
located at Gross Point, which I can’t find at Rand McNally’s tripmaker.

Rockford, IL: June 20, 1919
Steve Savage vs Jovo Sajatovich … NOTE: The following day Sajatovich was fined $200 in
police court, but the fined was lowered to $4 under agreement that Jovo would leave the
city at once. Savage was badly bitten about the head and hands.

Paris, France: June 25, 1919
(Pershing Stadium) … (Interallied Games) (Greco-roman) Coeles, of Belgium, beat Polk,
USA, in the extra period

Chicago, IL: June 28, 1919
(White Sox Park) … Charley Cutler failed to throw John Freberg (10:00) … Jack Dribbs vs
Havenpaa … plus boxing matches … (Att.-8,000) … NOTE: This was the second annual
barbecue of the Chicago Elks.

Omaha, NE: July 4, 1919
(referee-Earl Caddock) Joe Stecher beat Ed “Strangler” Lewis (2-0)

Broken Bow, NE: July 4, 1919
John Pesek beat Charley Peters (2-0)

Chicago, IL: August 19, 1919
(Haymarket Theater) … William Demetral vs George Vassell … (first of the season) …
NOTE: It probably will be Demetral’s only match in these parts for a long while, for he has
booked with a circus and will tour, meeting all comers. First card of the season.

Chicago, IL: September 12, 1919
(Haymarket Theater) … William Demetral vs Jack Linow

Chicago, IL: September 19, 1919
(Haymarket Theater) … Jack Linow vs Paul Martinson

Chicago, IL: September 26, 1919
(Haymarket Theater) … Ben Reuben beat Billy Schober (1-0, curfew)

Chicago, IL: October 2, 1919
(Coliseum) … (non title) William Demetral beat Johnny Meyers* (2-0) … Ben Reuben drew
with Billy Schober (42:00) … Marin Plestina beat Paul Martinson … (Att.-2,000) … NOTE:
Demetral forfeited $250 because he failed to make the weight of one eighty two and a half
pounds as agreed.

Chicago, IL: October 15, 1919
(Social Turner Hall) … Charley Cutler vs Jack Rogers … Ben Reuben vs Young Beell …
Jack Sandow vs Henry Wirth

Chicago, IL: October 17, 1919
(Haymarket Theater) … Jack Sampson vs William Demetral

Chicago, IL: October 27, 1919
(Aryan GrottoTemple) … Steve Savage beat William Demetral (2-1) … Ben Reuben beat
Ted Danks … Sam Clapham beat Jack Rogers … NOTE: Weekly matches to be staged by
the Coliseum Athletic Club. The group was unable to get dates at the Coliseum.

Chicago, IL: November 3, 1919
(Aryan Grotto Temple) … Steve Savage beat Charley Cutler (2-0) … Johnny Meyers beat
Joe Schulte … Matty Matsuda beat Charley Peterson

Chicago, IL: November 7, 1919
(Haymarket Theater) … William Demetral drew with Steve Savage (curfew)

Chicago, IL: November 8, 1919
(Chicago Athletic Association) … Jim Londos drew with Steve Savage (30:00) … Matty
Matsuda beat Charley Peterson … (first card of season for this club) … NOTE: Original
card was Londos vs Paul Martinson and Savage vs Jack Cazeau.

Fort Sheridan, IL: November 12, 1919
(Card put on by C.A.A.) … Roughhouse Charley Wallace vs Jack Dribbs … Charley
Peterson beat Steve Letschka … plus boxing matches … (Att.2,000 wounded soldiers)

Cedar Rapids, IA: November 12, 1919
(worlds’s welterweight champion) Jack Reynolds* beat Joe Risberg (2-0)

Chicago, IL: November 13, 1919
(Casino Theater) … William Demetral beat Jack Linow (1:46:01) … Johnny Meyers drew
with Lou Talaber (45:00) … Sam Clapham beat Joe Schulte … (first card here promoted
by Ed White)

Chicago, IL: November 15, 1919
(North Ridgewood Ave) … Steve Savage vs George Mack

Chicago, IL: November 20, 1919
(Casino Theater) … Johnny Meyers beat George Hill (2-0) … Ben Reuben drew with Pete
Katausky (45:00) … Ted Danks beat Paul Lou Pargantis … (promoter-Ed White)

Chicago, IL: November 22, 1919
(C.A.A.) … Jack Linow vs Jack Sampson … Ted Danks vs Steve Leschkie

Chicago, IL: November 27, 1919
(Casino Theater) … Sam Clapham beat William Demetral (15:00, utc) … Sam Clapham
beat Cyclone Burns (10:00) … Tom Rolowitz vs John Jordan … George Hill vs Joe Schulte
… NOTE: The Burns match was added to please the fans.

Chicago, IL: November 28, 1919
(Haymarket Theater) … Lou Talaber vs Ben Reuben

Rockford, IL: November 28, 1919
John Freberg vs Paul Martinson … Ivan Linow vs Jack Sampson

Chicago, IL: December 1, 1919
(Aryan Grotto Temple) … Ed “Strangler” Lewis beat John Olin (2-0) … John Freberg beat
Emil Mogyrossy … Jim Londos beat Max Orlando (sub for John Darovich)

Chicago, IL: December 2, 1919
(Elks Lodge #4 Gymnasium) … Ben Reuben beat Young Americus (replaced Ernest
Kartje) … Sam Clapham drew with Johnny Meyers (20:00) … Ernest Kartje beat Ted
Danks … George Hill beat Joe Schultz (sub for Steve Savage) … plus boxing workouts

Chicago, IL: December 4, 1919
(Casino Theater) … (WMTM) Johnny Meyers* vs Chuck Breen … (WWTM) Jack Reynolds
vs John Jordan … Pete Katausky vs Ted Danks

Mason City, Iowa: December 8, 1919
Ed “Strangler” Lewis vs Helmer Myre

Rockford, IL: December 12, 1919
Ed “Strangler” Lewis vs John Freberg

Chicago, IL: December 18, 1919
(Second Regiment Armory) … (WTM) Earl Caddock* beat Sam Clapham (2-0) … Johnny
Meyers drew with Ben Reuben (40:00) … Tony Bernardi drew with Cyclone Burns (30:00)
… Spiros Vorres beat Henry Strand … (Att.-4,000) … (staged by Col. James E. Stuart)

Chicago, IL: December 19, 1919
(Haymarket Theater) … Matty Matsuda beat Johnny Billeter (mentioned on12-21)

Chicago, IL: December 20, 1919
(Chicago A.A. Gym) … Matty Matsuda beat Johnny Billeter (20:45) … John Freberg beat
Tom Hedges … Paul Martinson beat Herman Koch

Rockford, IL: December 22, 1919
(handicap match, must throw both in 90:00) Marin Plestina beat Charley “Kid” Cutler (23:
30) … Marin Plestina failed to throw John Freberg in remaining time

Chicago, IL: December 26, 1919
(Haymarket Theater) … Bill Demetral failed to throw Ben Reuben (twice in 60:00, won only
one fall in 45:00)

Chicago, IL: December 31, 1919
(Coliseum) … John Pesek beat Steve Savage (2-0) … Ben Reuben beat Herman Koch
(sub for Capt. Walter Evans) … Spiros Vorres beat Young Shea … (Att.-2,000)

Research above by Don Luce

Research below by Tim Hornbaker

Chicago, Illinois: Monday, March 3, 1919
( ) … Ed “Strangler” Lewis b. Joe Stecher (2:12:37) (Stecher suffered a broken finger early
in the match) … (in attendance: Jacob Friedrich) ... (gate: $18-20,000)
Notes: Stecher was the aggressor for a majority of the match. At one point, Stecher broke
free from Lewis's headlock.

Chicago, Illinois: Tuesday, March 11, 1919
( ) … Wladek Zbyszko b. Steve Savage by decision (1-0) (Zbyszko won the first fall in 45-
minutes, match was halted at the midnight closing after 28:00)

Chicago, Illinois: Monday, April 28, 1919
( ) … Wladek Zbyszko b. Ed “Strangler” Lewis (2:14:09) (Match was originally scheduled to
be best two-of-three-falls, but was changed to a one-fall match after two-hours) (Zbyszko
earned a future match with Earl Caddock)

*In the Friday, May 9, 1919 edition of the Evening State Journal, Lincoln, Nebraska, the
May 19, 1919 match between Ed Lewis and Wladek Zbyszko was for “a belt emblematic of
the world’s wrestling championship.” It was based on the fact that Earl Caddock had
retired. The belt would be worth $3,500, a price contributed by wrestling promoters from
across the country.

Chicago, Illinois: Wednesday, May 14, 1919
(Yondorf’s Hall) … Hughie “Kid” Gannon b. Young Gotch (2-0)
Notes: The facility wa at North Avenue and Halstead Street. Gannon was making his
professional wrestling debut here. He was of Seward Park, and was the 135-pound
champion of the Chicago Parks System for the last five years. The Chicago Daily Tribune
stated that Gannon “met Al Forst at the Chicago Hebrew Institute in one of the longest
amateur wrestling bouts ever held,” two years earlier. Gannon was declared the victor
after 1:30:00. “Kid Gannon, as he is known to his friends, was developed by W.S. Hine,
director of Seward Park.”

Chicago, Illinois: Monday, May 19, 1919
(The Coliseum) … Ed “Strangler” Lewis b. Wladek Zbyszko to capture a claim to the World
Heavyweight Title (2/3) (Zbyszko won the first fall in 1:36:52, Lewis took the second in 48:
35 and then the third in 12:56) (Lewis won both of his falls with his headlock) … (referee:
Martin A. Delaney) … (timekeeper: Walter Eckersall) … (sponsored by: Coliseum Athletic
Club) … (6,500 fans) … (gate: $11,900)
Notes: The winner of the Lewis-Zbyszko match was going to be “presented with a belt
emblematic of the world’s wrestling championship. Officials of the Coliseum A.C. decided
upon this action after they received positive assurance that Sergt. Earl Caddock will not
defend his title upon his return to this country from France. Caddock is with the 2d Army
at Toul. The belt is valued at $2,250. All wrestling promoters in the country have
contributed to its purchase.” In the days prior to this affair, Zbyszko lost a contest to Joe
Stecher in Louisville and Wladek claimed his loss was “due to too much wrestling and
traveling,” as noted in the Chicago newspaper. He was going to train at the I.A.C. Stecher
wanted to bet $5,000 that he could beat Zbyszko in a finish bout. The Chicago Daily
Tribune stated that “as a result of this contest, Lewis is entitled to the world’s heavyweight
title providing Sergt. Earl Caddock, the present champion, who is with the A.E.F. in France,
does not wrestle again. Lewis won a one fall match from Joe Stecher, who in turn defeated
Zbyszko at Louisville. Thus Lewis earned just claim to the title by defeating Zbyszko.” An
estimated 400 wounded soldiers from military hospitals were present and “rooted for Lewis,
and the grappler bowed to them as he left the ring.” For the match, Lewis received 75 per
cent, which was $5,287.50, and Zbyszko earned 25 per cent, $1,762.50. It was reported
that Lewis “will not engage in a championship contest for at least two months.” Zbyszko
was returning to his home at Old Orchard, Maine, and planned to train for his bout with
John Pesek in Nebraska on June 14.

Chicago, Illinois: Friday, May 23, 1919
(Haymarket Theater) … Johnny Meyers vs. Mike Nestor
Note: Nestor and Meyers were middleweight grapplers.

Chicago, Illinois: Wednesday, December 31, 1919
( ) … John Pesek b. Steve Savage (2-0) (Pesek won the first in 1:27:42 with a toehold,
Pesek won the second in 15:36 with a toehold) (Pesek earned a match with Earl Caddock
for the World Title)

Chicago Wrestling Results - 1919