A while back, I was contacted by an old-school fan out in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Melanie Wilson offered to send me some photos to share with SlamWrestling.net readers.
“Finally, here are the photos. I know I have a few more but unable to locate in my clutter,” she wrote. Also enclosed were some Christmas cards from wrestlers — I can make out Sweet Daddy Siki and Fred Curry for sure — and an autograph book.
But I was particularly drawn to the photos, which are very much a moment in time.
When I look at the photos, I can’t help but reflect back on the many stories I have done on these people through the years (click for more info).
- Sweet Daddy Siki I know very well, having worked with him on his documentary.
- Bulldog Brower is on the cover of The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Heels, and I talked extensively to his family for that one.
- If I were to count, I bet I’ve interviewed Emile Dupre more than two dozen times; here’s the archive (though some of the stories were dated, previewing summer tours, so didn’t survive the move to the new site).
- One of the last interviews Don Jardine ever did was with me, as he was prominent in PWHF: The Heels, and then a couple of years back, I got to know his widow, Becky, at the Cauliflower Alley Club. Of course, he’s still “Babyface” Jardine here, and not yet The Spoiler.
- Chuck Conley is mentioned our book, The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Tag Teams, as a part of the Scufflin’ Hillbillies.
- Bronko Lubich was someone I once talked to, and then wrote an obituary on. Ditto for Rudy Kay.
- Yvon Durell — “The Fighting Fisherman” — was one of the most colourful boxers-turned-wrestlers ever.
- “Leaping” Larry Chene is profiled in a piece by Steve Johnson in The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: Heroes & Icons.
- The Johnny Valentine archive of stories is live once again, and John Molinaro covered his health issues near the end of his life in detail.
- Darling Dagmar was a fun interview years ago, and then I met her at the CAC too.
- Tiger Joe Tomasso was profiled in the Canadian Hall of Fame, as was midget legend Little Beaver.
- Then there are a couple I don’t have much knowledge about: Kit Fox, Sonny Whitehorn, Alex Medina. I even threw in a shot where I’m not totally sure who it is.
But it all comes back to Siki. That purple suit? Man, not many people could pull that off!
The wrestler you are not able to identify the one who is posing is general homer o dell