Legacy of Wrestling  1922, 1926 1927, 1929, 1931, 1934, 1936 1937, 1944, 1947, 1950 1951, 1954, 1962

Dick Shikat beat Fred Grubmeier

Auditorium drawing ???

On Thursday, March 20, 1930, an announcement that the scheduled match between John

Pesek and Jim Londos in Columbus, Ohio on April 9, 1930 was indefinitely postponed was

made after the former was injured in Ravenna, Nebraska. Pesek suffered a broken collar

bone when he fell from a horse. The match, sponsored by the National Boxing

Association, was to determine which wrestler would be recognized as the World

Heavyweight Champion. Pesek had previously posted $5,000 with the Ohio State Boxing

Commission.

Ray Carpenter-Gus Kallio match, to be held sometime prior to April 20. The match,

sanctioned by the National Boxing Association, to determine the World Middleweight

Champion. H.H. Hamer, representing the winning club, bid $5,000 for the rights to the

match and 40% of the gross. Kallio had recently defeated Ralph Parcaut to win the right to

meet Carpentier.

Columbus, Ohio: Wednesday, May 21, 1930

( ) ... John Pesek b. Ad Santel (2/3) (Pesek won the first and third falls) ... (promoter: Al

Haft) ... (7,000 fans)

Notes: Pesek was said to be the "uncrowned" heavyweight champion. According to one

report, this show took place on May 22.

Columbus, Ohio: Wednesday, June 18, 1930

( ) ... John Pesek b. Ad Santel (2/3) (Santel won the first fall and Pesek took the next two)

(Santel suffered an injury) ... (promoter: Al Haft)

Columbus, Ohio: January 1, 1931

( ) ... Joe Banaski b. Nick Bozinis (2/3) ... Ray Carpenter and Frank Wolfe drew (30:00) ...

Hardy Kruskamp b. Joe Hackenschmidt (DQ) (at one point, Kruskamp missed a flying

tackle and went into the crowd, where he received a punch from a ringside spectator)

Notes: The Coshocton Tribune (1/2/31) stated that the "Midwest Wrestling Association's

first world's light heavyweight championship was held by Joe Banaski," and that he

captured the belt "by taking a sensational victory over Nick Bozinis."

Columbus, Ohio: Thursday, March 26, 1931

( ) ... John Pesek b. Marin Plestina (1-0) to become the first MWA World Champ (two hours) (only fall scored at the 79-minute

mark) ... Al Baffert and Pat Fraley drew ... (promoter: Al Haft) ... (7,500 fans)

Notes: The Zanesville Signal (3/27/31) stated that Pesek "today held the championship

belt of the Midwest Wrestling Association following his hard earned victory over Marin

Plestina."

MWA World Champ John Pesek beat Joe Stecher

Columbus, Ohio: Wednesday, April 29, 1931

( ) ... Roy "Father" Lumpkin b. Hardy Kruskamp (2/3)

Note: Kruskamp was "recently of Ohio State University."


06/18/1931 Columbus, OH

MWA World Champ John Pesek beat Charlie Hansen

Haft’s Acre drwing ???

January 13, 1932 in Columbus, OH

June 27, 1932 in Columbus, OH

Haft’s Acre drawing 1,800
1. Chralie Fox beat Willie Davis (30:00) via decision.

2. Gino Garibaldi beat Floyd Marshall.

3. World Welterweight Champ Jack Reynolds bet Paddy Nolan (9:02).

4. World Champ Jim Londos beat Rudy Dusek (33:53).

October 17, 1932 in Columbus, OH

John Pesek beat Paul Jones (33:00, cnc)

(plus boxing)

NOTE: Second annual Salvation Army fund boxing and wrestling show benefitted the charity by $4,000, officials said.

Columbus, Ohio: Wednesday, January 31, 1934

(Columbus Auditorium) … Everett “Silent” Rattan b. Stacy Hall (41:25) … Ray Carpenter and Don

Hill drew (30:00) … Nanjo Singh b. Ed White (10:50) … Red Devil and Frank Sexton drew (30:00)

… (promoter: Al Haft) … (matchmaker: Herman Hamer) … (sponsored by: Quality Club) …

(3,000+ fans)

Notes: Rattan was avenging an earlier defeat and was going to get a match with Billy Thom.

“Thom was the mentor of the late [wrestler] Eddie Belshaw, and very much a ‘big brother’ to

Belshaw, who made his residence with Billy for five years.” Singh was making his local debut.

The Columbus Dispatch also stated that Sexton was “making his first showing in six months,” and

that “he has been under the tutelage of Joe Banaski in recent months.” He was said to be “about

ready to go places.” Haft was the president of the Quality Club.
Columbus, Ohio: Wednesday, February 7, 1934

(Columbus Auditorium) … Billy Thom b. Everett “Silent” Rattan (1:07:53) … Dutch Hefner b.

Nanjo Singh (DQ) (14:00) … Ernie Dugan b. Don Hill … Bobby Pearce b. Bobby Novak …

(promoter: Al Haft) … (referee: John Collins)

Notes: Rattan was a “brilliant mute grappler” from Houston. The newspaper stated that the

Rattan-Thom bout would, “in all probability” determine who would be recognized “as the

champion of the newly created division by the Midwest Wrestling Association” – the junior

middleweight division. Thom was rated as “one of the fastest men in the ring today” and

possessed “smooth defensive tactics.” Dugan was from Grand Island, Nebraska.
Columbus, Ohio: Wednesday, February 14, 1934

(Columbus Auditorium) … World Welterweight Champion Jack Reynolds b. Ed Kanthe (28:00) …

Nanjo Singh b. Ed “Bull” Civil (1:42) (after the match, Singh brawled with Dutch Hefner, who was

sitting ringside) … Dutch Hefner b. Nanjo Singh (added attraction) (8:00) … Everett Rattan b.

Rod Fenton (14:53) … Ernie Dugan (Duggan) b. Don Hill (14:48) … Bobby Pearce b. Spike

Ashby (decision) … (promoter: Al Haft) … (referees: Ed Beardaley, Cliff Binkley) … (“overflow”

crowd)

Notes: Kanthe was called “an internationally famous wrestler, weight lifter and physical culture

three months of his present American tour, he has literally swept the Atlantic seaboard clean in

the most sweeping series of victories any athlete from across the seas has ever recorded against

American competition,” according to the Columbus Dispatch. “Big Ed Civil” was from Ashland,

Kentucky. He was the future Leo “Daniel Boone” Savage. The paper stated that “the Kentucky

cave man who left the vaes far too soon. Singh made about 57 vvarieties of mince-meat out of

his huge opponent and scored the fall after one minute and 42 seconds had elasped.” Fenton

was said to be 20 pounds heavier than Rattan, and from Philadelphia.

(Columbus Auditorium) … MWA World Light Heavyweight Champion Joe Banaski b. Ernie

Duggan (35:00) … George McCloud b. Nanjo Singh (7:58) … Nick Bozinis b. Clete Kauffman (23:

50) … Stacy Hall b. Don Cortez (22:37) … Dutch Hefner and Johnny Plummer drew (30:00) …

(promoter: Al Haft) … (referee: Ed Beardsley) … (large crowd)

Note: McCloud was an “Etna farmer.”

(Knights of Columbus Gym) … Bobby Pearce b. Bobby Novak (36:00) … Harold Sims b. Joe

Snyder (15:00) … Merle Dolby b. Ray Dixon (21:00) … Babe Cox and Jack Taylor drew …

(matchmaker: Larry Straub) … (sponsored by: Knights of Columbus)

Notes: A wrestling smoker. Sims and Dolby were billed as being from Columbus, Snyder from

Kokomo, Dixon from London, Cox from Erie, Pennsylvania, and Taylor from St. Louis. Novak was

from Kansas City. Pearce was the Olympic welterweight champion.
Columbus, Ohio: Wednesday, February 28, 1934

(Columbus Auditorium) … World Light Heavyweight Title claimant Charles Fischer b. Joe Banaski

to capture the MWA World Light Heavyweight Title (44:00) … World Light Heavyweight Title

claimant Pinkie Gardner b. Leo Wallich (14:00) … John Pesek b. Dutch Hefner (DQ) (10:00)

(Hefner fought with referee Binkley) … Billy Thom b. Spike Ashby (9:42) … Bobby Pearce and

Silent Rattan drew (20:00) … George McCloud b. George Gustaw (16:14) … Nanjo Singh b. Ray

Carpenter (7:35) … (promoter: Al Haft) … (sponsored by: Pleasure Guild) … (3,500-4,000 fans)

… (benefit for the Children’s hospital, $618 turned over)

Notes: Al Haft coordinated the show with Mrs. Richard Wolfe. Banaski was said to be recognized

by the Midwest Wrestling Association as World Light Heavyweight Champion, while Charles

Fischer was backed by the Missouri State Athletic Commission as titleholder. Pinkie Gardner was

recognized by the New York State Commission. According to the Columbus Dispatch, this match

was called the “most important wrestling spectacle that Columbus has housed in years.” Thom

was billed as a “middleweight title claimant,” and Rattan was the “junior middle champ.” The

newspaper stated that “the greatest galaxy of champions that has ever been gathered under one

roof will converge upon Columbus,” and that “seven stars of the wrestling firmament who have

world’s championship claims will appear on this program.” Novak replaced Hall against Rattan.

Th show was expected to draw 7,000 people. Jimmy Duggan was called the “popular sportsman

and mat official from Charleston, W.Va.,” and “one of the best arbiters in the country.” Fischer

and his manager Max Baumann refused any Ohio referee, so Duggan was named. Prior to the

bout, the Columbus Boxing and Wrestling Commission joined with the Missouth Athletic

Commission “and other leading mat bodies in recognizing the Banaski-Fischer bout as an official

world’s champion event and all of these groups which have pulled away from the National

Wrestling Association, will recognize the winner as light heavyweight champion of the world.”

Another report called Rattan a “junior middle title candidate.” The attendance “fell far short of the

anticipated number.” Fischer was said to not have lost a mach in his division in “more than five

years.” In his match against Banaski, Banaski “had very much the better of the encounter, and

was far ahead on points.” Fischer’s win was unpopular with fans. The Dispatch didn’t provide

results for the Jack Reynolds-Steve Nenoff bout, which was said to be a draw.
Columbus, Ohio: Saturday, March 3, 1934

(Knights of Colmbus Gym) … Don Cortez vs. Merle Dolby … Freck Hart vs. Harold Sims … Jack

Domar vs. Larry Tillman … Spike Ashby vs. Joe Snyder … (matchmaker: Larry Straub) …

(sponsored by: Knights of Columbus)

(Columbus Auditorium) … Everett “Silent” Rattan b. Don Cortez (36:00) … Nanjo Singh b. Tony

Gusto (8:43) … Harold Sims b. Joe Snyder (13:55) … Frank Sexton b. Johnny Plummer (DQ) (20:

35) … Clete Kaufmann b. Pete Ramos (18:47) … (promoter: Al Haft) … (“fair” crowd)

Notes: Singh reportedly suffered a leg injury against Ray Carpenter in Cleveland on Tuesday,

which hampered him here. Kaufmann was a “former local idol” who was in the midst of his

comeback “after years out of the ring because of an injury.” He was from Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Columbus, Ohio: Wednesday, March 14, 1934

(Columbus Auditorium) … NWA World Light Heavyweight Champion Leroy McGuirk b. Clete

Kauffmann (37:00) … Steve Nenoff and “Silent” Rattan drew (30:00) … Ray Carpenter and

Marion Mynster drew… Frank Sexton b. Ed White (9:12) … Harold Sims b. Ray Dixon (15:14) …

(promoter: Al Haft)

Notes: Charles Fischer issued a $1,000 challenge to the winner of the McGuirk-Kauffman

match. “Fischer’s unexpected action is just another rmove in his campaign to force every leading

claimant of the light-heavyweight title to meet him on the wrestling pad,” according to the

Columbus Dispatch.
Columbus, Ohio: Saturday, March 17, 1934

(Knights of Columbus Gym) … Merle Dolby vs. Larry Tillman … Nick Bozinis vs. Dick Griffin …

(matchmaker: Larry Straub) … (sponsored by: Knights of Columbus)

Note: Griffin was from Marion, Ohio.

(Columbus Auditorium) … MWA World Light Heavyweight Champion Charles “Midget” Fischer b.

Pinkie Gardner to capture the latter’s claim to the World Light Heavyweight Title (47:00) …

Marion Mynster b. Joe Banaski (10:00) …. Harold Sims b. Merle Dolby (15:00) … Frank Sexton b.

“Father” Lumpkin (12:00) … George McCloud and Nanjo Singh drew (30:00) … (promoter: Al

Haft) … (referee: Red Prater) … (3,500 fans)

Notes: Prater was a referee from Buffalo. Fischer used his piledriver to win the bout. The

newspaper stated that “as a result of his victory, Fischer is now generally recognized as the king

of the division.” Gardner had been previously recognized in New York State.
*Al Haft was the chairman of the Central Ohio amateur wrestling tournament that was going to be

held on April 13-14. Stacy Hall, Spike Mooney, Bobby Pearce, along with Haft, would referee

matches.
Columbus, Ohio: Tuesday, March 27, 1934

(Knights of Columbus Hall) … Athletic and Vaudeville Show … Dan Copen, Earl Hasson, Merle

Dolby, Ray Dickson, Freck Hart, and Harold Sims were going to appear on the wrestling portion

of the show … among the other performers were tap dancer Bobby Grimm, singer Dewey Martin,

night club entertainer Jean McFadden, Billy DuBray and others … (sponsored by: Fraternal

Order of Eagles)

Notes: The facility was at Sixth and State streets. Isadore L. Margulis was handling the

arrangements.

(Columbus Auditorium) … MWA World Light Heavyweight Champion Charles “Midget” Fischer b.

Marion Mynster (58:22) (piledriver) … Nanjo Singh b. John Kilonis (16:25) … Clete Kauffman and

Eddie Malone drew (30:00) … Frank Sexton b. Dusty McDonald (13:08) … Harold Sims b. Merle

Dolby (countout) … (promoter: Al Haft)

Note: Sexton won his eighth-straight match, according to the report.

(Columbus Auditorium) … Ohio State Heavyweight Champion George McCloud b. Frank Sexton

(43:04) … Stacy Hall and “Silent” Rattan drew (30:00) … Earl “Wildcat” McCann b. Larry Tillman

(18:10) … Bobby Pearce b. Jimmy Sabre (12:30) … Don Cortez and Harold Sims drew (30:00) …

(promoter: Al Haft)

Notes: The Columbus Dispatch stated that “the best looking young heavyweight mat prospect

Central Ohio has ever produced, Frank Sexton, will meet possibly the best heavyweight in the

state,” who was George McCloud. “McCloud has ruled Ohio heavyweight mat circles for the past

year and a half as champion of the state.” The April 1, 1934 edition of the paper said that “for the

past two days some of the greatest wrestlers in the game have been working with Al Haft’s big

prospect. ‘Midget’ Charley Fischer, world light-heavyweight title-holder, has been tutoring him in

the use of Charlie’s pet hold, the pile driver. ‘Silent’ Rattan, one of the greatest slam artists in the

game, has been working with him on this phase of the game, and so intense has been the

preparation of the big youngster that even Al Haft himself donned mat togs for the first time in

several years, Friday and Saturday, to show big Frank some of the fine points of balance and

leverage. And the big fellow has proved himself an apt pupil. ‘Why, he’s learning faster than any

youngster I ever saw starting out in the wrestling game,’ Haft stated Saturday, following an

intense session on the pad. ‘He’s a second Joe Stecher, and believe he’s headed places in the

mat sport.’” The newspaper speculated whether or not Sexton was conditioned to go over 30

minutes in a match, which he hadn’t, reportedly, done yet. Sexton “outwrestled McCloud with a

wide assortment of leg and arm holds and frequently forced the latter to seek the ropes to avoid

punishment.” McCloud’s experience was said to be the deciding factor. “Sexton made a great

showing in his first main bout and lost none of the customers’ affection. He looks like he’s

headed places with the right management.”

(Columbus Auditorium) … Everette Marshall b. George McCloud (40:00) … “Lord” Pat Finnegan

b. Spike Ashby (15:08) … Earl McCann and Bobby Pearce drew … Frank Sexton b. Cleve Welch

(14:00) … Nanjo Singh b. Suylemin Bey (8:00) … (promoter: Al Haft) … (referee: Ed Beardsley)

Notes: It was said that the winner of the main event may meet Jim Londos in St. Louis or

Cleveland in the “near future.” Welch was from Cleveland.

(Columbus Auditorium) … Earl McCann b. Everett “Silent” Rattan (32:52) … Bobby Pearce b.

Harold Sims … Merle Dolby b. Bob Blake (16:15) … Frank Sexton b. Bull White (16:51) … Bobby

Chick b. Leo Wallich (13:49) … (promoter: Al Haft) … (referees: Ed Beardsley, Cliff Binkley)

Note: The main event finish was called the “one of the worst decisions ever perpetrated in a

Columbus ring.” McCann, with the win, was going to meet Billy Thom next week for “what may be

the junior middleweight title.”
*According to the Tuesday, April 24, 1934 Columbus Dispatch, the Columbus Wrestling

Commission approved the championship match between Earl McCann and Billy Thom for the

World Junior Middleweight Title. “In taking this action, the local commission stepped into line with

the Midwest Wrestling Association, original sponsor of the tournament, National Wrestling

Association and various other powerful commissions throughout the middle west who are

recognizing th ematch as a bona fide world’s championship.” This brings a climax to the

tournament which started four months ago and “saw such brilliant stars of the 152-pound division

as Rattan, Hall, Tillman, Gable, Nenoff and Domar participate.”

(Columbus Auditorium) … Billy Thom b. Earl “Wildcat” McCann in a tournament final to capture

the initial World Junior Middleweight Title (countout) (52:41) … “Lord” Patrick Lansdown

Finnegan b. Jimmy Sabre (14:32) … Marion Mynster b. Mike Kilonis (11:14) … Henry Kolln b. Al

Stecher (DQ) (10:20) … Duke Ruppenthal b. Joe Snyder (11:26) … (promoter: Al Haft) …

(referee: Ed Beardsley) … (“fair” crowd)

Notes: The main event was said to the “finals in the Midwest Wrestling Association elimination

tournament.” The paper stated that “Immediately following the bout, the Midwest Wrestling

Association will present the winner with the M.W.A. gold belt, emblematic of the world’s junior

middleweight championship, which will carry with it not only recognition by the M.W.A., but the

National Wrestling Association, Columbus Wrestling Commission, and several other national and

local commissions and associations.” Thom was called the wrestling and football coach at Indiana

University. Kolln was a “former bearded gentlemen from the House of David settlement, but now

sans the adornment.” He was said to be from Benton Harbor, Michigan. Stecher was from

Birmingham and Ruppenthal from Milwaukee. Finnegan was called “Lord Patrick Lansdown

Cedric Algernon Finnegan of Springfield.” He was called an “overnight sensation here with two

straight wins in impressive style.”
Columbus, Ohio: Wednesday, May 2, 1934

(Columbus Auditorium) … Marion Mynster b. Ray Carpenter (countout) (12:56) (Mynster earned

a match with Charles Fischer) … Lord Patrick Finnegan and Earl McCann drew (60:00) …

Everett “Silent” Rattan b. Harold Sims (29:55) … Dusty McDonald b. Pete Ladjimi (5:31) … Ernie

Duggan b. The Red Phantom (15:00) … Herman Ohde and Bernard Shoaf drew (15:00) …

(promoter: Al Haft)

Notes: Herman Ohde and Bernard Shoaf were battling “for the police force championship.” Ohde

was the “motor cop,” while Shoaf was the “cruiser man.” Ralph Waugh was the police wrestling

coach and he was going to referee their bout. Ladjimi was spelled “Ladgini.” He was said to be

from Los Angeles. Despite the draw decision, Finnegan was called the winner by the newspaper

and had won by a “big margin.” The Red Phantom was “believed to be Leo Alexander.” No show

next week.

(Columbus Auditorium) … MWA World Light Heavyweight Champion Charles “Midget” Fischer b.

Marion Mynster (38:00) (piledriver) … “Lord” Patrick Finnegan and Stacy Hall drew … “Goldie”

Vest b. Jack Sterling in the finals of a police battle royal … Nanjo Singh b. Ernie Duggan

(decision) … Dutch Hefner and George McCloud drew … World Junior Middleweight Champion

Billy Thom and George Gable drew … Irving Halpern failed to throw both Pete Ladjimi and

George Gusto in 15:00 (Haplern beat Ladjimi in 3:00, but couldn’t beat Gusto) … Ralph Waugh

b. Leo Alexander … Herman Ohde b. Bernard Shoaf for the police championship … Paul Lyons

and Fred Snyder drew … John Terrell and Del Wilkins drew … (promoter: Al Haft) … (6,000 fans)

Notes: Fourth annual Police Athletic Show. There was a debate who would referee the Fischer-

Mynster bout and among those in the running were Jimmy Duggan of Charleston, West Virginia,

Perry Schad of Flint, Michigan, Chob Sisson of Columbus, and Earnest Sharpegge of Milwaukee.

The battle royal included 10 police officers fighting for $100 prize money. Among those involved

were Jack Sterling, Paul Whitman, Fred Kern, John Terrell, Fay Nash, Hen Thomas, Charley

Hulls, and “Goldie” Vest. Vest was called the 1933 champion, while Sterling was the champion in

1931 and ’32. There was also a Kiddie Beauty Contest. George Gable was from Cincinnati.

Finnegan reportedly broke the Indian deathlock in his match, and was the first time that was done

in the “local ring.” Miss Barbara Van Fleet won the beauty contest. Dorothy Romine and Hope

Ellen Lowery came in second and third, respectively. The show ran until 12:30 a.m.
*The Sunday, May 20, 1934 edition of the Columbus Dispatch reported that there was a “new

deal” signed by the Quality Club in regards to the talent entering Columbus. “The local

promotional organization will introduce many new faces, men who have sprung into prominence in

the mat sport in recent years, and who have never shown in Columbus before.”

(Haft’s Acre) … “Lord” Patrick Finnegan b. Stacy Hall (45:53) … The Masked Dark Secret b. Turp

Grimes (22:40) … Earl McCann b. Raul Lopez (19:10) … Les Fishbaugh and Clete Kauffman

drew … Joe Campbell b. Bill Brooks (DQ) (10:32) … (promoter: Al Haft)

Notes: First outdoor show of the season. Bill Brooks was said to be from Racine, Wisconsin,

Raul Lopez from Mexico City, and Les Fishbaugh from Newark, Ohio. Fishbaugh “isn’t exactly

unknown here but it’s been several years since he wrestled here and he was a welterweight at

that time. He’s been in Southern American countries for sevearl years and has grown into a full

fledged 175 pounder.” The newspaper stated that “Haft’s Acre has been rebuilt and redecorated

for the coming season and now ranks as probably the nicest, roomiest arena in the state.”

Finnegan earned a title match with Billy Thom. Dark Secret wore a black mask. Grimes was from

Dayton.
Columbus, Ohio: Wednesday, May 30, 1934

(Haft’s Acre) … World Junior Middleweight Champion Billy Thom vs. “Lord” Patrick Finnegan

Note: On Monday, this show was postponed due to an injured leg Thom suffered in training on

Sunday.
Columbus, Ohio: Wednesday, June 6, 1934

(Haft’s Acre) … World Welterweight Champion Jack Reynolds vs. Earl McCann … (promoter: Al

Haft)

Notes: The newspaper stated that McCann and Reynolds “a year ago hurled epithets and

title and that feeling was only deepened when the National Wrestling Association arbitrarily ruled

in favor of Reynolds.”
*Last on reel searched was June 5, 1934 of the Columbus Dispatch.