Wrestling in Huntsville, Alabama in 1933

     Unlike most of other towns in Alabama, it took promoter Chris Jordan a few tries before profession wrestling took hold in Huntsville.  However, once the fans finally started to support the shows (after abortive attempts in August-September 1932 and again in February 1933), shows ran consistently for about the next four years.

HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA 1933 (From the Huntsville Times)

Huntsville, AL:  Wednesday, 01 February 1933
The local "40 and 8" organization announces its intent to begin bi-weekly matches at the Dallas Street National Guard Armory, with Chris Jordan promoting, provided the could deliver the cards as advertised.  A brief attempt at wrestling had failed the previous August & September due partly to frequent card changes as well as poor weather.  The initial card, scheduled for Tuesday, February 2nd, was to include Eddie Pope vs Kid Lott and Dutch Green vs Tarzan the Ape Man (George Romanoff).

Huntsville, AL:  Wednesday, 07 February 1933
Due to bad weather, and a poor expected turnout, the "40 and 8" contacted Chris Jordan to cancel the event.

Huntsville, AL:  Wednesday, 21 February 1933
(National Guard Armory, Dallas Street) The announced card of Tarzan the Apeman vs Stanley Buresh and Joe Dillman vs Ernest Kelly is cancelled when a crowd of less than 100 people, including free passes, is all that shows up.  This would be the last attempt at wrestling in Huntsville until October.

Huntsville, AL:  Wednesday, 04 October 1933
(National Guard Armory, Dallas Street) ... Jack Purdin beat Lon Chaney (2-1) via dq ... Gus Pappas beat Otto Matulka (35:50, 2-1) ... Referee: Musso ...Promoter: Fred Demeritte/Chris Jordan ... local wrestler Clifford "Happy Jack" Helton challenges Chaney after the main event ... Matulka substitutes for the advertised Ernest Kelly

Huntsville, AL:  Wednesday, 11 October 1933
(National Guard Armory, Dallas Street) ... Jack Purdin beat Gus Pappas (18:30, 2-0) ... Eddie Baker beat Mike London (27:30, 2-1) ... Promoter Fred Demeritte/Chris Jordan ... Helton again makes his presence known; the paper says he trained under Ralph Smith and has been working Smith's circuit in West Tennessee

Huntsville, AL:  Wednesday, 18 October 1933
(National Guard Armory, Dallas Street) ... Jack Purdin beat "Rough House" Sam Nelson (2-1) via dq ... Francis Stull beat Stanley Hackney (28:00, 2-1) ... Referee: Bill Rush ... Promoter: Fred Demeritte ... Stull substituted for the announced Bobby Burns

Huntsville, AL:  Wednesday, 25 October 1933
(National Guard Armory, Dallas Street) ... Tuffy Cleet beat Jack Purdin (32:002-1 ) ... Freddie Knichel beat Francis Stull (25:00, 2-1) via countout when Stull missed a flying tackle and knocked himself out on the floor ... Promoter: Fred Demeritte

Huntsville, AL:  Wednesday, 01 November 1933
(National Guard Armory, Dallas Street) ... Rough House Nelson beat Tuffy Cleet () via countout ... Rex Mobley beat Jack Spurgin (21:00, 2-1) via dq ... Referee: Tuffy Cleet (opener), Jack Spurgin (main event) ... Spurgin and Nelson brawled to end the show as Cleet was restrained by the police ... estimated attendance was close to 500

Huntsville, AL:  Wednesday, 08 November 1933
(National Guard Armory, Dallas Street) ... World Welterweight Champion Jack Reynolds beat Francis Stull (13:00, 2-0) ... Rough House Nelson beat Jack Spurgin (45:00, 2-1) ... Promoter: Fred Demeritte

Huntsville, AL:  Wednesday, 15 November 1933
(National Guard Armory, Dallas Street) ... World Light Heavyweight Champion Hugh Nichols beat Rough House Nelson (18:00, 2-0) ... Tuffy Cleet beat Walter Logan (2-1) ... Promoter: Chris Jordan

Huntsville, AL:  Wednesday, 22 November 1933
(National Guard Armory, Dallas Street) ... Red Lyons beat George LaMarr (43:00, 1-1) LaMarr was unable to return for the third fall... Tuffy Cleet drew Dude Chick (60:00, 1-1) ... Referee: Tuck

Huntsville, AL:  Wednesday, 29 November 1933
(National Guard Armory, Dallas Street) ... Dude Chick beat George Sauer (1-1) Sauer was unable to return for the third fall ... Joe Shimkus beat Red Lyons (30:00, 2-1) ... Referee: Coy Martin

Huntsville, AL:  Wednesday, 06 December 1933
(National Guard Armory, Dallas Street) ... Joe Shimkus beat Dude Chick (34:00, 2-1) ... Basanta Singh beat Francis Stull (21:00, 2-1) ... Shinkus substituted for the advertised Tuffy Cleet

Huntsville, AL:  Wednesday, 13 December 1933
(National Guard Armory, Dallas Street) ... Joe Shimkus beat Jack Newell ... Al Baffert beat Pat Murphy (31:00, 1-0) ... Promoter: Fred Demeritte ... Murphy substituted for the advertised Tony Catalina

Huntsville, AL:  Wednesday, 20 December 1933
(National Guard Armory, Dallas Street) ... Joe Dillman beat Walter Logan (24:00, 2-0) ... Suleyman Bey beat Jack Spurgin (29:00, 2-1) ... Promoter: Fred Demeritte