Wrestlers to identify...

 The following are wrestlers for whom I have been unable to find any solid biographical details.  Research is on-going.  Match references are mostly from WrestlingData.com, confirmed by newspaper research.

Joe Dillman
aliases: Joe Dalman, Joe Delmas, Joe Hassen, Serge Kotsonaros, Yousseff Hassan, Ali Pasha

Current earlist match: 1 September 1930, Indianapolis, Indiana
Latest reference: 
Known career: 1930-1948 (wrestler), -1966 (as promoter, referee)

Selim Omar Hakim
Current earlist match: 21 January 1935, Clarksville, Tennessee

Known career: Jan 1935 - March 1935, all in Meroney/Welch territory

Bulldog Mallory
aliases: Irish Mallory, Clarence Mallory

Current earlist match: 28 January 1931, Waterbury, Connecticut
Known career: 1931-1939

Walter Miller

Current earliest match: 26 January 1933, Sheffield, Alabama
Known career: 1933-1941

Tommy O'Toole
aliases: Dr. X, Red Devil, Red Mask, Yellow Scorpion

Born: 26 April 1913, Phoenix, Arizona (unconfirmed)
Current earlist match: 2 July 1935, Decatur, Alabama
Known career: 1935-1965

Wrestling in Sheffield, Alabama in 1933

SHEFFIELD, ALABAMA 1933 (From the Florence Times)

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 05 January 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Jim Hesslyn beat George Harbin (2-1) ... Dale Haddock beat Freddie Knichel (48:00, 2-0) ... 3-Round Boxing Match: Buster Cox vs Putman Tilson

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 12 January 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Jim Hesslyn beat Joe Dillman (2-1) via dq ... Dale Haddock drew Joe Gunther (60:00) ... Referee: Ernest Kelly

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 19 January 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Tiger Kelly beat George Harben (2-1) ... Tarzan the Ape Man drew Kid Lott (60:00, 1-1) ... all proceeds from the show went to Associated Charities of Sheffield ... Tarzan and Kid Lott substituted for Joe Gunther (who had injured his foot earlier in the week) and Jack Sherry

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 26 January 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Tiger Kelly beat Eddie Pope (2-1) ... Jimmie Demos beat Walter Miller (15:00, 2-1) ... Miller substituted for Al Santell

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 02 February 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Tarzan the Ape Man beat Eddie Pope (2-1) ... Kid Lott beat Dutch Green (37:00, 2-0)

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 09 February 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Eddie Elzea vs Joe Dillman ... Jimmie Demis vs Joe Turner

The microfilm archives of The Florence Times are missing issues from 8-22 February 1933.

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 23 February 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Tarzan the Ape Man beat Pete Seajack (22:00, 2-0) ... Jack Sherry beat Joe Turner (2-1) ... Tarzan voluntarily unmasked, but did not announce his name ... A 3-round amateur boxing match preceded the wrestling matches ... Referee: Dewey Robbins

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 02 March 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Stanley Buersch beat Tiger Kelly (41:00, 2-1) ... Jimmie Demos beat Sammy Miller (32:30, 2-1) ... The "Gold Dust Twins" were scheduled to open the show with a boxing match, but forgot their gloves, so they wrestled instead ... Referee: Dewey Robbins

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 09 March 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Joe Dillman beat George Harben (2-0) ... Cowboy Boland beat Jack Sherry (2-1) ... The Gold Dust Twins remembered their gloves and boxed before the wrestling started

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 16 March 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Kid Lott beat Joe Dillman (43:50, 2-1) ... George Romanoff beat Rough House Hagen (40:00, 2-1) ... A 3-round amateur boxing match preceded the wrestling matches ... Referee: Dewey Robbins

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 23 March 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Jim Hesslyn beat George Harben (2-0) ... Eddie Elzea beat Dr. Fredericks (2-1) ... Referee: Dewey Robbins

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 30 March 1933
(Legion Hall) ... George Romanoff beat Eddie Elzea (2-1) ... Freddie Lassiter beat Jacques Moreau (23:00, 2-0) ... A 3-round amateur boxing match preceded the wrestling matches ... Referee: Dewey Robbins

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 06 April 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Tiger Kelly beat Jim Hesslyn (2-1) ... Rough House Hagen drew Roy Allen (60:00, 1-1) via time-limit draw ... Referee: Dewey Robbins

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 13 April 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Al Stecher beat Tiger Kelly (2-1) ... Roy Allen beat Jacques Moreau (2-1) via dq ... A 3-round amateur boxing match preceded the wrestling matches ... Referee: Dewey Robbins

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 20 April 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Al Stecher beat Rough House Hagen (2-1)... Kid Lott beat Freddie Lassiter (2-1) ... A 3-round amateur boxing match preceded the wrestling matches ... Referee: Dewey Robbins

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 27 April 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Tiger Kelly beat Lon Chaney (2-0) ... Pete Demetroff beat Roy Allen (25:00, 2-0) ... Tiger Kelly substituted for Joe Dillman, who was injured in a match in Jasper earlier in the week ... A 3-round amateur boxing match preceded the wrestling matches ... Referee: Dewey Robbins

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 04 May 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Rained out ... scheduled card was Ernest Kelly vs Cliff McLeod ... Pete Demetroff vs Henry Clausen

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 11 May 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Rained out second consecutive week ... scheduled card was Francis Journee vs Cliff McLeod ... Rough House Hagen vs Pete Demetroff

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 18 May 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Stanley Buersch beat Kid Lott (2-1) ... Charlie Cure drew Tiger Kelly (60:00, 1-1) via time-limit draw ... Referee: Dewey Robbins

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 25 May 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Al Stecher beat George Harben (2-1) ... Ripper Reeves beat Lon Chaney (2-0) via dq ... A 3-round amateur boxing match preceded the wrestling matches ... Referee: Dewey Robbins

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 01 June 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Stanley Buersch beat Charlie Cure (2-1) ... Ripper Reeves beat Hunter O'Neal (2-0) ... Referee: Dewey Robbins

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 08 June 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Stenley Buersch beat Hans Wagner (2-1) ... Tiger Kelly beat Charlie Cure

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 15 June 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Joe Dillman vs Ripper Reeves ... Charlie Cure vs Stanley West

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 22 June 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Stanley Buersch beat Joe Dillman (2-1) ... Kid Lott beat Hans Wagner (29:30, 2-1) ... A 3-round amateur boxing match preceded the wrestling matches ... Referee: Dewey Robbins

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 29 June 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Kid Lott beat Ripper Reeves ... Walter Roxy beat Freddie Knichel ... A 3-round amateur boxing match preceded the wrestling matches ... Referee: Dewey Robbins

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 06 July 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Joe Dillman beat Kid Lott ... Walter Roxy beat Bulldog Mallory ... A 3-round amateur boxing match preceded the wrestling matches ... Referee: Jack Freeman

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 13 July 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Tuffy Cleet beat Fritz Crane (2-1) ... Vic Weber beat Al Westergard (26:00, 2-1) ... Referee: Ernest (Tiger) Kelly

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 20 July 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Tuffy Cleet beat Walter Miller (27:00, 2-1) ... Pete Demetroff beat Mike London (2-0) ... A 3-round amateur boxing match preceded the wrestling matches ... Referee: Bulldog Mallory

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 27 July 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Frank Buersch beat Gus Pappas (21:00, 2-1) ... Pete Demetroff beat Bulldog Mallory (2-1) ... A 3-round amateur boxing match preceded the wrestling matches ... Referee: Tuffy Cleet

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 03 August 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Tuffy Cleet beat Pete Ramos (2-1) .. Bulldog Mallory drew Dale Haddock (60:00, 1-1) via time-limit draw ... Referees: Tuffy Cleet (preliminary), Bulldog Mallory (main event)

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 10 August 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Tuffy Cleet beat Joe Dillman (2-1) ... Bulldog Mallory beat Jimmy Shaber (2-1) ... A 3-round amateur boxing match preceded the wrestling matches ... Referee: Mike London

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 17 August 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Dale Haddock beat Henry Kollen (2-1) ... Walter Miller beat Gus Pappas (40:00, 2-1) ... A 3-round amateur boxing match preceded the wrestling matches

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 24 August 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Joe Dillman beat Tommie Galbos (2-1) ... Pete Demetroff beat Eddie Baker (2-1) ... A 3-round amateur boxing match preceded the wrestling matches ... Referee: Jimmy Murphy

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 31 August 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Ernest (Tiger) Kelly beat Jack Purdin (2-1) via countout ... Dale Haddock beat Jimmy Murphy (2-0) ... A 3-round amateur boxing match preceded the wrestling matches ... Referee: Strong

Sheffield, AL: Monday, 02 September 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Joe Dillman beat Blacksmith Pedigo (29:00, 2-0) ... John Felix beat Bill Hoskins (17:00) ... A 3-round amateur boxing match preceded the wrestling matches ... Referee: Dillman officiated the preliminary while Hoskins and Felix shared referee duties in the main event. Tuffy Cleet was reportedly injured in an automobile accident and unable to work, resulting in the shuffled card.

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 07 September 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Tom Galbos beat Tiger Kelly (20:30, 2-1) ... Blacksmith Pedigo beat Vic Weber (32:00, 2-1) ... A 3-round amateur boxing match preceded the wrestling matches ... Weber's loss was purportedly his first in 19 matches in the South

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 14 September 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Tiger Kelly beat Mickey McGuire (2-1) ... Pete Demetroff beat Al Thompson (29:00, 2-1) ... A 3-round amateur boxing match preceded the wrestling matches ... Referee: Farmer Vance

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 21 September 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Roughhouse Sam Nelson beat Joe Dillman (2-1) ... Jimmy Murphy beat Gorilla Tucker (2-1) ... A 3-round amateur boxing match preceded the wrestling matches

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 28 September 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Tuffy Cleet beat Walter Logan (26:00, 2-1) ... Lon Chaney beat Ace Judkins (35:00, 2-1)

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 05 October 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Tuffy Cleet beat Tiger Kelly (33:00, 2-1) ... Stanley Vance beat Gorilla Tucker (22:00, 2-0) ... A 3-round amateur boxing match preceded the wrestling matches


Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 12 October 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Jack Spurgin beat Tuffy Cleet (12:00, 2-0) ... Gus Pappas drew Eddie Baker (60:00, 1-1) ... A 3-round amateur boxing match preceded the wrestling matches

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 19 October 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Jack Spurgin beat Rough House Sam Nelson (30:00, 2-1) via disqualification ... Lon Chaney beat Eddie Baker (26:50, 2-1) ... A 3-round amateur boxing match preceded the wrestling matches ... Referee: Bob Knichel

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 26 October 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Jack Spurgin beat John Fulton (25:00, 2-0) ... Joe Shimkus beat Floyd Tuck (2-0) ... (amateur match) Bobo Rand beat Mule Taylor (15:00, 1-0) ... Referee: John Fulton (preliminary), Hallon Box (amateur match)

Sheffield, AL: Thursday, 02 November 1933
(Legion Hall) ... Al Stecher beat Jack Spurgin (2-1) ... Pat McCarthy beat Tuffy Cleet (60:00, 1-0) ... Referee: Gus Pappas
 

I have to get back to Florence to get the rest of the year as Google News Archive doesn't have Nov-Dec 1933 online.

Wrestling in Decatur, Alabama in 1933

Decatur, ALABAMA 1933 (From the Decatur Daily)

Decatur, AL:  Monday, 02 January 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Tarzan the Ape Man (George Romanoff) beat Joe Gunther (2-1) ... George Harbin beat Tiger (Ernest) Kelly (2-1) ... Referee: Bob Knichel

Decatur, AL:  Monday, 09 January 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Dale Haddock beat Freddie Knichel (34:45, 2-1) ... Dutch Green beat Al Sentel (37:40, 2-1) ... Referee: Bob Knichel ... Promoter: Chris Jordan ... Al Sentel substituted for the advertised Jimmy Demos

Decatur, AL: Monday, 16 January 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Tarzan the Ape Man (George Romanoff) beat Dutch Green (23:25, 2-1) ... Jimmy Demos beat Jack Sherry (25:05, 2-0) ... Referee: Fred Demeritte ... Promoter: Chris Jordan

Decatur. AL, Monday, 23 January 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Joe Dillman beat Tiger Kelly (33:30, 2-1) ...  Dutch Green beat Jimmy Demos (23:00, 2-0) ... Referee: Fred Demeritte


Decatur. AL, Monday, 30 January 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Jim Hesslyn beat George Harbin (49:31, 2-1) ... Joe Turner beat Bill Watson (20:00, 2-0) ... Referees: Audrey Watkins (opener), Joe Turner (main event) ... Turner and Watson substituted for the advertised Ambrose Cole and Walter Miller

Decatur. AL, Monday, 06 February 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Tiger Kelly beat Kid Lott (36:25, 2-1) ... Jimmy Demis beat Roy Allen (2-1)

Decatur. AL, Monday, 13 February 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Jim Hesslyn beat Eddie Elzea (2-1) ... Kid Lott beat Pete Seajack (2-0) ... Referees: Fred Demeritte (opener), Kid Lott (main event) ... Promoter: Chris Jordan ... Kid Lott substituted for the advertised Tarzan the Ape Man (George Romanoff)

Decatur. AL, Monday, 20 February 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Joe Dillman beat George Harbin (36:10, 2-1) ... Sammy Miller beat Dutch Green (33:45, 2-1) ... Promoter: Chris Jordan

Decatur. AL, Monday, 27 February 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Tarzan the Ape Man beat Fred Lassiter (23:15, 2-1) ... Eddie Pope drew Rough House Hagen (60:00, 1-1) ... Referee: Audrey Watkins

Decatur. AL, Monday, 05 March 1933
(Martin Arena) ... The advertised match was called off citing the "banking holiday".  This was in reference to President Franklin Roosevelt's announcement of a four-day banking holiday to keep banks closed until Congress could pass what would be the Emergency Banking Act, stabilizing the nation's banks following a cascading series of runs on banks by account holders.

The Decatur Daily reported on March 9th that the American Legion, at the suggestion of Chris Jordan, were considering moving their shows from Monday nights to Tuesday nights.  According to Jordan, there were already shows in Birmingham and Montgomery on Mondays and in Mobile on Fridays, so moving Decatur's show to Tuesday would allow for better access to talent.  At the same time, Sheffield was running on Thursdays and Gadsden was also running on Fridays.

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 14 March 1933
(Martin Arena) ... George Harbin beat Eddie Elzea (49:30, 2-1) ... Eddie Pope beat Cowboy Bill Roland (20:55, 2-0) ... Referee: Audrey Watkins ... Promoter: Chris Jordan ... Roland substituted for the advertised Jimmy Demos.

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 21 March 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Tarzan the Ape Man (George Romanoff) beat Lon Chaney (2-1) via dq when Chaney threw a spectator's Coca-Cola into Tarzan's eyes ... Roughhouse Hagen beat Roy Allen (47:50, 2-1) ... Referee: Audrey Watkins ... Promoter: Chris Jordan

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 28 March 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Eddie Pope beat Fred Lassiter (2-1) ... Jacques Moreau beat Roughhouse Hagen (31:55, 2-0) via dq ... Referee: Audrey Watkins ... Promoter: Chris Jordan

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 04 April 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Tiger Kelly beat Lon Chaney (58:26, 2-1) ... Tarzan the Ape Man (George Romanoff) beat Jim Mellen (25:55, 2-0) ... Referee: Chris Jordan

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 11 April 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Al Stecher beat Tarzan the Ape Man (George Romanoff) (21:45, 2-1) ... Lon Chaney beat Roughhouse Hagen (30:30, 2-1) ... Referee: Bill Hoskins ... Promoter: Chris Jordan

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 18 April 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Al Stecher beat Lon Chaney (27:00, 2-1) ... Jacques Moreau beat Roy Allen (26:50, 2-1) ... Referees: Audrey Watkins (main event), Fred Demeritte (preliminary) ... Promoter: Chris Jordan

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 25 April 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Al Stecher beat Lon Chaney (34:05, 2-1) ... Tarzan the Ape Man beat Sammy Miller (19:10, 2-0) ... Referee: Kid Lott

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 02 May 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Tom Galbos beat Kid Lott (29:00, 2-1) ... Ernest Kelly beat Cliff McLeod (33:10, 2-1) via dq ... Referee: Chris Jordan

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 09 May 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Pat Corrigan beat Lon Chaney (33:20, 2-1) ... Tom Galbos beat Charley Cure (25:25, 2-1) ... Referee: Pat Corrigan (preliminary), Charley Cure (main event) ... Lon Chaney substituted for the advertised Joe Dillman

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 16 May 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Stanley Buresh beat Cliff McLeod (23:25, 2-0) ... Kid Lott beat Lon Chaney (46:35, 2-1) ... Referee: Tom Galbos

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 23 May 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Stanley Buresh beat Alex Reeves (35:50, 2-1) ... Roughhouse Hagen beat Sam Bowen (30:35, 2-1) ... Referee: Bulldog Mallory

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 30 May 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Stanley Buresh beat Tarzan the Ape Man (George Romanoff) (25:30, 2-1) ... Buc Lawson beat Bulldog Mallory (31:40, 2-1) via dq ... Amateur bout: Harry Lawber drew Hilyer Laymon (10:00) via tld ... Referee: Audrey Watkins

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 06 June 1933
(Martin Arena) ...  Tiger Kelly beat Al Stecher (2-1) ... Freddie Knichel beat Bulldog Mallory (27:13, 2-1) ... Referee: Alex Reeves

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 13 June 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Tiger Kelly beat Stanley West (37:05, 2-1) via dq ... Freddie Knichel beat Joe Turner (13:45, 2-0) ... Referee: Hans Wagner ... Stanley West substituted for the advertised Has Wagner in the main event, Wagner having been injured in Birmingham the previous night

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 20 June 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Stanley Buresh beat Tuffy Cleet (32:50, 2-1) via dq ... Stanley West beat Alex Reeves (27:55, 2-1) ... Referee: Murray Smith

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 27 June 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Joe Dillman beat Hans Wagner (21:25, 2-0) ... Kid Lott beat Tuffy Cleet (34:25, 2-1) via dq ... Referee: Murray Smith

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 04 July 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Kid Lott beat Bob Jackson (19:10, 2-1) ... Stanley Buresh beat Walter Roxy (33:40, 2-1) ... Amateur Match: Harry Lawber drew Hilyer Laymon (10:00) ... Amateur Match: Henry Knoblock drew Jim Bob Fowler (05:00) ... Referee: Bill Hoskins

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 11 July 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Stanley Buersh beat Al Westergard (38:40, 2-1) ... Ernest Kelly beat Fritz Crane (27:35, 2-1) ... Amateur Match: Jim Bob Fowler beat Henry Knoblock ... Referee: Mike London

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 18 July 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Frank Buresh beat Gus Pappas (19:35, 2-1) ... Harry Kolln drew Vic Weber (60:00, 1-1) ... Referee: Chris Jordan

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 25 July 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Joe Dillman beat Walter Miller (25:30, 2-1) ... Al Westergard beat Pete Demetroff (2-1) ... Referee: Tuffy Cleet ... Demetroff substituted for the advertised Pete Ramos

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 01 August 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Joe Dillman beat Tuffy Cleet (17:40, 2-1) ... Dale Haddock beat Pete Demetroff (45:25, 2-1) ... Referee: Frank Buresh ... Haddock and Demetroff substituted for the advertised Stanley West and Tuffy Cleet preliminary.  Cleet was moved to the main event and Buresh, originally scheduled to meet Dillman, took on referee duties

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 08 August 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Frank Buresh beat Joe Dillman (2-1) ... Mike London beat Dale Haddock (27:20, 2-1) via dq ... Referee: Bulldog Mallory

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 15 August 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Jim Hesslyn beat Tiger Kelly (48:15, 2-1) ... Vic Weber beat Eddie Baker (2-0) ... Referee: Audrey Watkins

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 22 August 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Tom Galbos beat Jim Hesslyn (2-1) via dq ... Vic Weber drew Dale Haddock (60:00, 1-1) ... Referee: Jack Purdin

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 29 August 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Tiger Kelly beat Tuffy Cleet (2-1) ... John Felix beat Vic Weber (22:50, 2-1) ... Referee: Murphy of Dallas, Texas

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 05 September 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Lon Chaney beat Pete Demetroff (32:15, 2-0) ... Blacksmith Pedigo beat Mike London (33:25, 2-1) ... Referee: Dale Haddock

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 12 September 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Freddie Knichel beat Blacksmith Pedigo (23:50, 2-1) ... Tom Galbos beat Walter Miller (27:35, 2-1) ... Referee: Audrey Watkins

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 19 September 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Walter Miller beat Ernest Kelly (18:55, 2-1) ... Juan Cortez beat Farmer Vance (26:50, 2-1) ... Referee: Stanley Hackney ... Walter Miller substituted for the advertised Ernest Zellers

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 26 September 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Stanley Hackney beat Walter Miller (33:00, 2-0) ... Freddie Knichel beat Mike London (23:15, 2-1) ... Referee: Audrey Watkins

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 03 October 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Frank Buresh beat Pat McGee (31:45, 2-1) ... John Felix beat Gorilla Tucker (36:55, 2-1) ... Referee: Farmer Vance ... Pat McGee substituted for the advertised Tiger Kelly, Gorilla Tucker substituted for the advertised Freddie Knichel

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 10 October 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Stanley Buresh beat Gus Pappas (13:55, 2-0) via dq ... Jack Purdin beat John Fulton (2-1) ... Referee: Audrey Watkins

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 17 October 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Tuffy Cleet beat Lon Chaney (56:10, 2-1) ... Freddie Knichel beat Eddie Baker (2-0) ... Referee: Bob Knichel (no relation to Freddie)

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 24 October 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Frank Buresh beat Tuffy Cleet (23:55, 2-1) ... Dude Chick beat Rex Mobley (37:55, 2-1) ... Referee: Bob Knichel

Jack Reynolds

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 31 October 1933
(Martin Arena) ... World Welterweight Champion Jack Reynolds beat Freddie Knichel (13:45, 1-0) ... Knichel was unable to continue due to a leg injury ... Pat McKee beat Stanley Hackney (24:20, 2-1) ... Referee: Gus Pappas

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 07 November 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Red Lyons beat Tuffy Cleet (29:50, 2-1) ... Pat O'Brien beat Walter Logan (28:00, 2-0) ... Referee: Gus Pappas ... Pat O'Brien substituted for the advertised Pat McKee

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 14 November 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Red Lyons beat World Light Heavyweight Champion Hugh Nichols (11:55, 2-1) ... The title was not on the line as both wrestlers were announced as being over the 175lbs weight limit for the light heavyweight class ... Pat O'Brien beat Joe Parelli (31:15, 2-1) via dq ... Referee: George LaMarr

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 21 November 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Pat O'Brien beat Frank Malcewicz (44:50, 2-1) ... George LaMarr beat George Ligosky (19:40, 2-0) ... Referee: Coy Martin ... Attendance: 300 ... Frank Malcewicz substituted for the advertised Jack Spurgin

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 28 November 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Joe Shimkus beat Sam Nelson (31:40, 2-1) ... Floyd Tuck beat Jack Delane (26:50, 2-1) via dq ... Referee: Sam Nelson (preliminary), Jack Delane (main event) ... Tuck and Delane substituted for the advertised Pat O'Brien and George LaMarr

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 05 December 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Joe Shimkus beat Jack Spurgin (2-1) ... Walter Logan beat Basanta Singh (14:45, 2-0) ... Referee: Floyd Tuck ... Basanta Singh substituted for the advertised Red Lyons and the card was rearranged.

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 12 December 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Joe Shimkus beat Tony Catalina (43:05, 2-1) ... Pat Murphy beat Walter Logan (24:51, 2-0) ... Referee: Floyd Tuck

Decatur. AL, Tuesday, 19 December 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Joe Shimkus beat Ernest Kelly (35:35, 2-1) ... Joe Dillman beat Jack Purdin (34:39, 2-1) ... Referee: Coy Martin

Decatur, AL, Tuesday, 26 December 1933
(Martin Arena) ... Tony Catalina vs Jack Spurgin ... Flying Dutchman vs Jim Lolas ... no results found

[In-Progress] Pro Wrestling Profile: Joe Dillman

Real name: Joe Dilman / Dillman (?)

     Most of the early Indiana newspapers from 1930 list him as "Joe Dilman" with a single 'l'.  So far, I've been unable to place him in any U.S. Census returns.  Other early mentions include Delmas, Dalmas, Dalman, as well as "Joe Hassen/Hasson" and later in southern Georgia as "Yousseff Hassan".  Thanks to Kasper at WrestlingData, who discovered Dillman working in Florida out of Al Ritchie's Miami office as Serge Kotsonaras in 1939.

Nicknames: "Dynamite" Joe Dillman, "What-A-Man" Joe Dillman

Hometown: Akron, Ohio (?)

     The 1930 results in multiple Indiana newspapers from August and September list him as being from Akron, OH.  By December, the Indianapolis and Louisville, Kentucky, newspapers were listing him as being from Duluth, Minnesota.  From 1932-1938, he was fairly consistently listed as hailing from Indianapolis or Birmingham, Alabama.

Birth date: 1895-1905?
      A mention in the Palladium-Item from Richmond, Indiana, says the following:

"Dilman will be making his first appearance in this part of the country.  He is a veteran of the mat game, but has confined his activities to the eastern cities."

     The image to the right is from a 1934 issue of the Tuscaloosa News, but the same photo had been used in Decatur and Gadsden in 1933.  None of the mentions of Dillman in the newspapers ever refer to him being young, or a rookie, but his limited appearances in 1930-1931 seem to indicate that was when his professional career started.  Unless he really did start somewhere in the eastern part of the country and under a completely different name.

Death date: after 1966

Earliest appearance (so far): 01 September 1930.  Tomlinson Hall, Indianapolis, Indiana. Joe lost to "Silent Olsen" in the second preliminary of a four match card. [02 September 1930, The Indianapolis Star, p11]

Latest appearance (so far): 15 March 1967.  Fairgrounds Coliseum, Nashville, Tennessee.  Joe refereed an NWA World Tag Team title match between Jackie Fargo & Len Rossi vs. Gene Kiniski & Tojo Yamamoto. [16 March 1967, The Tennessean, p72]

      Throughout his active wrestling career, Joe Dillman mostly worked in the role of a heel, who was highly skilled but wouldn't hesitate to break the rules to win a match.  In more modern times, he would probably be considered something of a tweener, or someone who walked the line between babyface and heel.  Despite his "traditional" role as a rough working heel, he was apparently a good enough technical wrestler that wherever he worked, he won over the fans with his skill and ultimately even his cocky attitude.  In more than one town, after he'd worked there a few times, he went from being billed as his usual "Dynamite" Joe Dillman to "What-A-Man" Joe Dillman.

      The latest match result I've located has him wrestling into at least February 1948 in Hopkinsville, Kentucky (where he'd been a favorite years earlier), Nashville and Blytheville, Arkansas.

      In the 4 July 1954 Montgomery Advertiser, the usual article announcing the upcoming card says this:

     "The Montgomery American Legion Post and Nick Goulas [sic], promoter from Nashville announced jointly last night that Joe "Dynamite" Dillman, who wrestled for years and thrilled thousands in this section years go, has been named matchmaker for Montgomery.
       Dillman is slated to arrive in Montgomery Monday and will begin preparations for wrestling here.  Dillman said yesterday that he was happy to return to Montgomery.  "I have wrestled in Montgomery many times in the past and I've always found Alabama's Capital City a good wrestling town."

       Later in the month he is reported as the referee in match results.  He pops up later that year, refereeing in Anniston, Alabama.

       On January 31, 1955, an article in the Courier News of Blytheville,  hyping an upcoming NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship bout between Freddie Blassie (c) and Tarzan Hewitt said the NWA had appointed Joe Dillman as special referee for the title match.  From then until I lose track of him, all of the mentions of him I find are working as a referee.

       So far, the last mention I find of Joe Dillman in the online newspaper archives at my disposal is the above mentioned 15 March 1967 show in Nashville, where he worked the NWA World Tag Title match between the champions Jackie Fargo & Len Rossi against Gene Kiniski & Tojo Yamamoto.  To date, I have yet to uncover his true home town or his final resting place.  For that matter, I still don't even have a good idea at birth year.  Currently, I suspect it to be somewhere between 1895-1905, but that is purely speculation based on the publicity photos in the newspapers and his never being mentioned as a young man, but always a mat veteran.  I am curious whether he used a different name prior to 1930, or if my lack of success is due not having access to the papers where he worked.

     Below is a rough detailing of Joe's travels over the course of his career.  For more details on the actual shows, consult Joe Dillman's record at WrestlingData.com.  Currently the data at WD is very incomplete, but I am adding shows and results several times a week for the cities where Dillman worked.  Based on the gap between mid-1942 and 1945, I would suspect military service during World War II.  If that is the case, I hope to find a service record.

(cities listed generally in the order he first worked)

1930: Indiana (Indianapolis); Kentucky (Louisville)

1931: Indiana (Indianapolis, Kokomo, Terra Haute), Kentucky (Louisville), Ohio (Cincinnati)

1932: Indiana (Indianapolis, Kokomo), Alabama (Fairfield, Anniston, Bessemer, Homewood, Leeds, Tuscaloosa, Mobile, Sheffield), Kentucky (Louisville, Hopkinsville, Cadiz), Tennessee (Nashville, Johnson City)

1933: Alabama (Sheffield, Decatur, Gadsden, Dothan, Huntsville), Mississippi (Jackson), Texas (Dallas), Arkansas (Little Rock), Tennessee (Kingsport)

1934: Alabama (Decatur, Huntsville, Sheffield, Tuscaloosa, Anniston, Dothan), Arkansas (Little Rock), Tennessee (Nashville), Oklahoma (Oklahoma City), South Carolina (Columbia), Florida (Tallahasee)

1935: Alabama (Sheffield, Anniston, Huntsville, Tuscaloosa), Kentucky (Louisville), Tennessee (Nashville), Georgia (Albany), Arkansas (Little Rock)

1936: Tennesee (Nashville), Alabama (Anniston, Tuscaloosa, Huntsville), South Carolina (Columbia, Charleston), Missouri (Sikeston), Indiana (Evansville)

1937: Kentucky (Louisville), Alabama (Huntsville, Anniston, Mobile), Arkansas (Blytheville, Little Rock), Indiana (Evansville), Tennessee (Nashville), Louisiana (Baton Rouge, Monroe, New Orleans), Mississippi (Jackson)

1938: Tennessee (Nashville), Indiana (Evansville), Kentucky (Hopkinsville), Alabama (Tuscaloosa), Louisiana (New Orleans), Arkansas (Blytheville)

1939: Indiana (Evansville), Louisiana (New Orleans), Alabama (Huntsville, Tuscaloosa), Tennessee (Nashville), Kentucky (Hopkinsville, Paducah), Georgia (Atlanta), Florida (Lake Worth, Miami)

1940: Arkansas (Blytheville, Little Rock), Alabama (Tuscaloosa), Tennessee (Nashville), Louisiana (New Orleans), Illinois (Springfield, Chatham, Alton)

1941: Illinois (Alton), Tennessee (Nashville), Arkansas (Blytheville, Little Rock), Missouri (St. Louis)

1942: Tennessee (Knoxville, Nashville), Arkansas (Blytheville)

1943:

1944:

1945: Tennessee (Nashville)

1946: Florida (Tampa)

1947: Florida (Tampa), Tennessee (Nashville, Knoxville)

1948: Arkansas (Blytheville), Kentucky (Hopkinsville), Tennessee (Nashville)

Profiles for Wrestlers in 1930's Alabama

       Digging through all these old records and newspapers, my interest is increasingly drawn to a handful of characters that make recurring appearances. I've not found any prior efforts focusing on these individuals, so I've decided to attempt to construct profiles and brief biographies for them here on Territory Days. And just to keep some semblance of activity, I'm going to build these profiles in the open, a blog post for each, editing and commenting as I go. Hopefully this will interest someone other than me, and just maybe it will provoke someone into helping out with a detail here and there.

     The following are my choices for this research project (list subject to change).  These are all wrestlers who figured prominently in the business all over Alabama (and the South in general) in the 1930s.

• Chris Jordan
• Joe Gunther
• "Dynamite" Joe Dillman
• Tuffy Cleet
• Lon Chaney
• Freddie Knichel
• Ernest "Tiger" Kelly
• Stanley Buersch
• Frank Buersch 
• Jim Hesslyn
• Kid Lott

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

Wrestling in Gadsden, Alabama in 1933

GADSDEN, ALABAMA 1933 (From the Gadsden Times)

     With the exception of the local Gadsden-area amateurs often used for preliminary matches, wrestlers for promoter Noel Ray's shows were provided by Chris Jordan of Birmingham, Alabama, who promoted all over the Southeast.   Ray was an accomplished local amateur wrestler in his own right and would "go pro" in May of 1933 and have a handful of opening matches through out the summer.

Gadsden, AL:  Friday, 24 March 1933
(American Legion Arena) ... Jim Hesslyn beat Ernest Kelly (44:35, 2-1) ... Georgin Harben beat Eddie Elzea (39:52, 2-0) ... Referee: Sammy Miller ... Promoter: Noel W. Ray

Gadsden, AL: Friday, 31 March 1933
(American Legion Arena) ... Lon Chaney beat Jim Mellon  (37:12, 2-0) ... "Rough House" Jack Hagen beat Jack Sherry (30:56, 2-1) ... Bob Burns beat Max Weiner (9:20)  ... Referee: Ernest Kelly ... Promoter: Noel W. Ray ... Jack Mellon (or Mellen) was listed as 170 lbs, wrestling fireman from Battle Creek, Michigan ...  Bob Burns was referred to as a former University of Alabama wrestler

Gadsden, AL: Friday, 07 April 1933
(American Legion Arena) ... Eddie Pope beat Roy Allen (8:00) in one fall, Allen was unable to continue after suffering a strained back from Pope's "crab hold" ... Eddie Pope beat Sammy Miller (24:52, 2-0) ... Cowboy Roland beat Jack/Jacques Moreau (24:41, 2-1) ... Pope wrestled twice to make up for the no-show by Scotty McNaught, who had been heavily advertised ... Promoter: Noel W. Ray

Gadsden, AL: Friday, 14 April 1933
(American Legion Arena) ... Ernest Kelly beat Al Stecher (33:25) via dq ... Jim Hesslyn drew Joe Dillman (60:00) with no falls ... David Lee Reid beat Bill Stewart (13:10) ... Referee: George Harben ... Promoter: Noel W. Ray ...  Reid and Stewart were listed as Gadsden locals

Gadsden, AL: Friday, 21 April 1933
(American Legion Arena) ... Ernest Kelly beat Jim Hesslyn (34:20, 2-0) ... Eddie Pope beat Freddie Lassiter (27:12, 2-0) ... Referee: "Rough House" Hagen ...  Promoter: Noel W. Ray

Gadsden, AL: Friday, 28 April 1933
(American Legion Arena) ... Al Stecher beat Eddie Pope (2-1) ... Ed "Bull" White beat Charlie Cure (17:20, 2-1) ... Referee Roy Allen ... Ed White listed as former Army football player and pro football All-American tackle

Gadsden, AL: Friday, 05 May 1933
(American Legion Arena) ... Joe Dillman beat Francis (Francois) Journee (26:42, 2-1) ... Ernest Kelly beat Clint McLeod (2-1) ... Lopez Brazile beat Lawrence Vinson (3:10) ... Promoter: Noel Ray ... Vinson listed as local high school football star ... Brazile's name is also spelled Brazell and Brazill in subsequent mentions in the newspaper

Apparently at this point the weather had warmed up enough that the American Legion built an outdoor arena at their golf course here promoter Noel Ray moved his shows.

Gadsden, AL: Friday, 12 May 1933
(American Legion Outdoor Arena) ... First show at the newly contructed outdoor arena at the American Legion golf course on First Street... Al Stecher beat Pat Corrigan (26:23, 2-1) ... Eddie Pope beat Pete Demetroff (2-1) ... Noel "Kid" Ray beat Dr. Roller (10:44, 2-1)
... the Times claims Corrigan was on the recent Savoldi-Londos card in Chicago (7 April @ Chicago Stadium), but the pre-show card and show results listed in the Chicago Tribune do not support that claim ... This was Noel Ray's first professional wrestling match

Gadsden, AL: Friday, 19 May 1933
(American Legion Outdoor Arena) ... Stanley Buresh beat Kid Lott (25:17, 2-1) ... Tarzan, the Ape Man (George Romanoff) beat "Rough House" Jack Hagen (60:00, 1-0) ... Lopez Brazile beat Jimmy Price (1:55)

Gadsden, AL: Friday, 26 May 1933
(American Legion Outdoor Arena) ... Al Stecher beat George Romanoff (17:12, 2-0) .. Kid Lott beat Jack Hagen (9:10, 2-0) .. Clarence Bynum drew Kit Pritchett (15:00) ..  Bynum is listed as from Emma Sansom High School

Gadsden, AL: Friday, 02 June 1933
(American Legion Outdoor Arena) ... Al Stecher beat Jack Freeman (32:00, 2-1) .. Stanley Buresh beat Hans Wagner (34:22, 2-1) .. Noel Ray beat Red Sanger (10:20)

Gadsden, AL: Saturday, 10 June 1933
(American Legion Outdoor Arena) ... Ernest Kelly vs Stanley Buresh (2/3 Falls, 2 hr time limit) ... Al Stecher vs Ripper Reeves (2/3 falls, 60 min time limit) ... Promoter: Noel Ray ... show was delayed a day due to rain, no results were published

Gadsden, AL: Friday, 16 June 1933
(American Legion Outdoor Arena) ... Hans Wagner beat Stanley West (29:15, 2-1) .. Freddie Knichel beat Bulldog Mallory (23:49, 2-0) ... Promoter: Noel Ray

Gadsden, AL: Friday, 23 June 1933
(American Legion Outdoor Arena) ... Joe Dillman beat Walter Roxy (9:40, 2-0) ... Bobby Jackson beat Ripper Reeves (26:12, 2-1) ... Roxy is listed as a University of Indiana wrestling star whose only collegiate loss came in the 1930 Big Ten tournament ... Reeves is listed as a former University of Florida All-Southern guard in football.

Gadsden, AL: Friday, 30 June 1933
(American Legion Outdoor Arena) ... Joe Dillman beat Bobby Burns (21:55, 2-0) ... Bobby Jackson beat Freddie Knichel (40:15, 2-1) ... Gadsden Times says Burns' real name is 'Tony Rico', a member of the 1928 U.S. Olympic wrestling team.

Gadsden, AL: Friday, 07 July 1933
(American Legion Outdoor Arena) ... Ernest Kelly beat Stanley Buresh (2-1) .. Bobby Jackson beat Walter Roxy (28:30, 2-1) ... David Lee Reid beat Bill Stewart via countout ... Buresh's loss reportedly ended a 180 match winning streak

Gadsden, AL: Friday, 14 July 1933
(American Legion Outdoor Arena) ... Ernest Kelly vs Stanley West ... Joe Gunther vs Vic Webber ... Noel Ray vs Bulldog Mallory

Gadsden, AL: Friday, 21 July 1933
(American Legion Outdoor Arena) ... "Queen's Night" ... Tuffy Cleet beat Ernest Kelly (48:30, 2-1) ... Henry Kolln beat Farmer Vance (21:34, 2-1) ... Noel Ray beat Bulldog Mallory (20:00) via dq

Gadsden, AL: Friday, 28 July 1933
(American Legion Outdoor Arena) ... Tuffy Cleet beat Frank Buresh (20:15) via countout ... Vic Webber beat Mike Longon (24:49, 2-1) ... Referee: Ripper Reeves

Gadsden, AL: Friday, 04 August 1933
(American Legion Outdoor Arena) ... Vic Webber beat Dale Haddock (28:50, 2-1) ... Gus Pappas beat Pete Ramos (25:30, 2-1) ... Kid Ray drew Jimmy Shaber (15:00) ...  Shaber is listed as "welterweight champion of Albania"

Gadsden, AL: Friday, 11 August 1933
(American Legion Outdoor Arena) ... Stanley Buresh beat "Pop" Papas (27:40, 2-0) ... Vic Webber beat John Felix (36:19, 2-1) via dq ... Papas substituted for Cleet who was not cleared to wrestle by the on-site doctor due to a carbuncle

Gadsden, AL: Friday, 18 August 1933
(American Legion Outdoor Arena) ... Jim Hesslyn beat Mickey McGuire (2-1) ... Henry Kolln beat Pete Demetroff (15:25, 2-1) ... Referee: Pappas

Gadsden, AL: Friday, 25 August 1933
(American Legion Outdoor Arena) ... Jim Hesslyn beat Frank Buresh (22:42, 2-1) ... John Felix beat Dale Haddock (35:10, 2-1)

Gadsden, AL: Friday, 01 September 1933
(American Legion Outdoor Arena) ... Jim Hesslyn beat Ernest Kelly (45:42, 2-1) via dq ... Vic Webber beat Eddie Baker (28:22, 2-1)

Gadsden, AL: Friday, 08 September 1933
(American Legion Outdoor Arena) ... Joe Dillman beat Tom Galbos (39:50, 2-1) ... John Felix beat Pete Demetroff (20:05, 2-1)

Gadsden, AL: Friday, 15 September 1933
(American Legion Outdoor Arena) ... Mickey McGuire beat Jack Purdin (35:20, 2-1) ... Vic Webber beat Al Thompson (30:10, 2-0) ... Referee: Farmer Vance ... Promoter: Kid Ray ... Purdin was a substitution for Tuffy Cleet who had been suspended by the state athletic commission.  This may refer to an issue mentioned in the August 5th commission meeting minutes concerning Tuffy Cleet striking a spectator during a show in Sheffield, resulting in a $10 fine.

Google's newspaper archive is missing 8 June - 26 September 1933 of the Florence Times, so I'll have to go to Florence to fill in the missing dates from the microfilm at the library.

Gadsden, AL: Friday, 22 September 1933
(American Legion Outdoor Arena) ... Tuffy Cleet vs Roughhouse Sam Nelson ... John Felix vs Eddie Baker

Gadsden, AL: Friday, 29 September 1933
(American Legion Outdoor Arena) ... Tuffy Cleet vs Ace Judkins ... Freddie Knichel vs Eddie Baker

Gadsden, AL: Friday, 06 October 1933
(American Legion Outdoor Arena) ... Frank Buresh beat Otto Matulka (55:20, 2-1) ... Mike London beat Gorilla Tucker (2-0)

Gadsden, AL: Wednesday, 11 October 1933
(American Legion Outdoor Arena) ... World Light Heavyweight Champion Hugh Nichols beat Frank Buresh (33:50, 2-1) ... Jack Purdin beat Jack Spurgin (11:00, 2-0) ... Spurgin was substituted for the advertised Otto Matulka

Gadsden, AL: Friday, 20 October 1933
(American Legion Outdoor Arena) ... Frank Buresh vs Bill Fulton ... Jack Purdin vs John McKee

     At this point, promoter Noel Ray moved the shows into the "new downtown arena" the American Legion had set up.  The hype for the shows in the newspaper continued, but for some reason, they stopped posting the results.

Gadsden, AL: Monday, 23 October 1933
(American Legion Arena) ... Nick Bozinis vs Lon Chaney ... Harry Davison vs Harry "Speedy" Schaeffer

Gadsden, AL: Friday, 30 October 1933
(American Legion Arena) ... Joe Dillman vs Harry Davison ... Freddie Knichel vs Tommy Tassos ... Billy Love vs Ray Myers ... Promoter: Noel Ray

Gadsden, AL: Monday, 06 November 1933
(American Legion Arena) ... George "Wildcat" Pete vs Dick Sampson ... Tommy Tassos vs Eddie Baker

Gadsden, AL: Monday, 13 November 1933
(American Legion Arena) ... George "Wildcat" Pete vs Ray "Tuffy" Meyers (2/3 Falls, 2h time limit) ... Tommy Tassos vs Omar Hanna (2/3 Falls, 60 min time limit) ... Referee Mal "Big Boy" Taylor

Gadsden, AL: Monday, 20 November 1933
(American Legion Arena) ... Freddie Knichel vs Eddie Baker ... Bulldog Mallory vs Jack Carson ... Promoter: Noel Ray


Thanks to the Gadsden Public Library for the use of their ScanPro