December 2018 The Ear

OUR 2019 HONOREES

2019

TAbLE OF CONTENTS

Hello CAC Galaxy,

The end of the year gives us one more opportunity to bring our message to you. Included this issue are the tres hombres Karl, Dean, and Mike, featured articles on Jeff Walton, Robbie Ellis, Kyle Klingman, and life members.

Also, we bring you the fine photography of Terrance Machalek, boxing profiles on former CAC champion members, and photos of our 2019 honorees.

Best wishes for a great New Year!

As always * = were or are a member of the

Karl’s Korner 17

Continuations/R.I.P./Contributors .......18

Membership/Banquet Forms 19

Corrections/Mark Henry Back Cover

CONTRIbUTORS

Royal Duncan

- editor, writer

Chris Jones

- asst. editor

Dean Silverstone

- writer, photos

Dr. Mike Lano

- writer, photos

Karl Lauer

- writer

Ilio DiPaolo Family

- photos ibhof.com

- photos, writer

John Jewell

- photos

Tony Lanza

- photos

Terrance Machalek

- photos

Mike Mazurki

- photos

MEET YOUR CAC LIFE MEMBERS

John McEvers

- photos

Dan Murphy - writer National Wrest HoF - photos

Richard Nieves - photos

Wayne Palmer - photos

Joyce Paustian - photos

Mike Rodgers - photos

Scott Romer

- photos

Dan Westbrook

- photos

Kari Williams

- writer

WWE

- photos

Published by:

* As with any project this size, photos are provided with no copyright or unknown photographer. We appreciate and thank the photographers that have taken these photos.

Photography Committee

Mike Lano - Chairman

Joyce Paustian (AWA, etc), Scott Teal (Tennessee, etc), Dave Burzynski (Detroit, Toronto, Ohio, etc.),

Howard Baum (Florida), Bob Mulrenin (WWE, indies),

Dan Westbrook (L.A.), & Terry Machalek (Winnipeg)

David Buckler

Born: 5/26/73 - York, Penn

Married: Jenny Carson Buckler 1999-2016, Claudia Carolina Buckler 2018-present

Kids: 1 son (Dylan - 12), 1 daughter (Morgan - 7)

High School: York Suburban High School

College: Gettysburg College (1991-95); Bachelor's Degree, George Washington University (1995-97; Master’s degree in Operations Research

Parents: Bernard (D.1996) and Lyn

How did he get wrestling fever: Randy Savage w/Elizabeth

Work history: David worked as a Navy Civil Servant through the Defense Department.

CACI in Chantilly, VA and Operations Support Manager for OPM contract.

A member of SAG doing film and TV work since 2004. TV commercials, HBO.

TV Shows I’ve appeared in: The Wire, VEEP, The Maury Povich Show

Films I’ve appeared in: Cowboy Killer "w/ Netflix"

Hobbies: Autograph collecting

First matches: At 12 I saw the WWF on Oct 1985 at Hershey Park Arena in Hershey, Penn (TV Taping)

CAC Member: 7 years (Lifetime)

CAC Board: 5 years

Functions: Formerly ran the CAC Website. Helped with banquet. Former co-host of the CAC podcast.

Wrestling related work: Editor and Chief of OnlineWorldofWrestling.com. Announces for Primal Conflict Wrestling (Tyler Steel) and Delaware Wrestling Alliance which consists of 302 Pro Wrestling, Dynamite Championship Wrestling, and Power Pro Wrestling.

Gloria Lovell

Born: Connellsville, Pa

Married: 25 years to Dennis

High School: Thomas Jefferson High SchoolDenver, Co

Mom and Dad: Walter & Lilia (Kelley - maiden name)

How did she get the wrestling fever: Her Grandpa took her to the matches when she was 5 or 6 in the early 60’s.

Work History:

A) Oak Ridge Boys - Gloria was working for a promoter when the ORB’s were touring nationally. She worked for them 8 years as a road manager and event planner. This was when the ORB’s were turning from gospel to country.

B) WWF - Event planner for Wrestlemania (1995), Royal Rumble, Summer Slam, In Your House

C) Event management for the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, and Colorado Crush

D) Starz Entertainment Group (handled all corporate events throughout the country. Took care of all aspects including travel, catering, decor, and talent booking.)

Hobbies: Ceramics (as a teenager) - Had a good instructor and won 8 ribbons for her work. Skiing - until achilles transplant 10 years ago.

Traveling - she and Dennis have visited Egypt, Israel, Italy, Turkey, Morocco, Greece, France, Spain, Portugal, and Great Britain.

CAC Member: 17 years (Lifetime)

CAC Board Member: 15 years

Functions: Former Event Coordinator, Membership, & Reunion (Editor’s notes - and everything in between. Gloria was our go-to girl and we had great confidence in her.)

Red, Nick, and Karl. Lord Alfred Hayes brought her to her first function.

MEN’S WRESTLING AWARD ANDREW ANDERSON

BIO: Dean is the former Pacific Northwest wrestling promoter and currently holds two positions within the Cauliflower Alley Club – Secretary and Treasurer. Dean began working in the Northwest area in 1958 and left the business in 1976 after promoting in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, British Columbia and Alaska. Dean became a CAC Director in 1995 and was named to the Executive Committee in 1999. Dean and his late wife, Ruth, were the co-editors of “The Ear,” the official newsletter of the Cauliflower Alley Club, from 1995 until 2012.

As the CAC prepares itself for the 54th Reunion to be held late in April, 2019 at the Gold Coast Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, the rich history of past events will always remain in our minds and hearts as once-in-alifetime gatherings of kindred souls who made a living from one of the most unusual professions the world has ever known.

While we are now privileged to share our time with current top stars like Dr. David Shultz*, Mark Henry*, Kurt Angle*, Sean Michaels*, Diamond Dallas Page*, Terry Funk*, Sgt. Slaughter*, and many others, vintage pictures of professional wrestlers from the past were preludes to CAC reunions where once opponents, broke bread with each other, instead of shoulders.

For example, here are two pictures of five ring men (four from wrestling and one from boxing who created electric excitement by attending the CAC reunions just like the excitement Brett Hart* created recently, when he was the honored guest.

Dr. Lee Grable* (1917-2001) was a main event attraction throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Using his “hypnotic talents” in the ring, he would cause his opponent to practically be helpless; however, he actually was able to hypnotize anyone when he really wanted to do so, which made him a controversial figure in real life as well as within the wrestling world. Lou Thesz* (1916-2002) of course needs no introduction to any followers of wrestling. He served multiple times as world heavyweight champion and was also the President of the Cauliflower Alley Club. These two entertained the crowd that attended the 1968 CAC reunion and the only question remaining was who had the better time? The fans that attended or Dr. Grable or Thesz.

Yvon Robert* (1914-1971) was the NWA world champion from 1940 to 1943. In 1948 when he wrestled Gorgeous George* in Montreal they drew a record gate ($21,000) only to break the record again a few weeks later. In 1953 he and Whipper Billy Watson* won the Canadian tag team title and in 1958 he and Billy Wicks* defeated the Corsica Brothers* (Joe and Jean) in Memphis to win the NWA world tag team title. Great Togo* (19111973) was said to be the brother of Harold Sakata* (Tosh Togo). And of course the Brown Bomber Joe Louis* (1914-1981) was the former world heavyweight boxing champion from 1937 until 1949. The CAC reunion (at that time being held in Los Angeles) became a national news event when both Joe Louis and one time CAC President Archie Moore* attended along with Yvon Robert.

As time marches on, perhaps 50 years from now, one of you reading this, will be able to offer the public a glimpse of what went on at the 2019 CAC reunion. Surely it will be just as exciting, important, memorable, and enjoyable as every event has been leading up to our fifty-fourth.

...5th Pole of the Mat... There are two books that each time I read them I learn something new. Can’t recommend both of them enough and they are J.J. Dillion’s* Wrestlers Are Like Seagulls and Mark Fleming’s* It’s Wrestling, Not Rasslin’! J.J. of course became a CAC Ambassador and recent CAC master of ceremonies, but he is also one of the classiest pros this business has ever known. He spent close to eight years as Vince McMahon, Jr’s* right hand man and made an icon out of the Four Horsemen in the world of professional wrestling. This book continues to hold the reader’s attention each time you read it because it offers such amazing insight and facts. Mark Fleming was trained to wrestle be Gene* & Ole* Anderson and worked for Promoter Jim Crockett* throughout the Charlotte territory. He also worked Canada and Japan before catching the eye of Lou Thesz who became his coach, mentor, and manager. I always learn something I never knew before every time I read Mark’s insights... ...Wishing CAC life member David Cantu* the best during his illness. Want to see you and your wife Esther* at the next CAC reunion... ...Also heard Tennessee legend Len Rossi* is a bit under the weather and we all extend out hopes to him. I know where he can get some good vitamins... ...Stuart Kemp* we are keeping hope that you and your wife will be able to attend the reunion in a few months... ...Announcing caution to Bob Orton, Jr.*: Ace look out! After winning the 2018 CAC cribbage tourney, you’ll be the man to beat... ...I know it’s early yet, but CAC life member Roy Lucier* has already purchased his banquet tickets for 2019. Other banquet tickets have already been purchased by Greg Crawford*, Thomas Rude*, and: please let me add your name to this list in the next issue of The Ear.

The Cauliflower Alley Club is well known for its annual awards and its mission of providing financial assistance to those in the wrestling industry that have fallen on difficult financial times, but in Western New York, the term “Cauliflower Alley Club” has a slightly different connotation to high school student athletes.

by Joyce Paustian

ART ABRAMS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD TONY VELLANO

JAMES C. MELBY HISTORIAN AWARD

MIKE RODGERS

The Ilio DiPaolo* Scholarship Fund was established in 1995 following the passing of former CAC honoree Ilio DiPaolo. The fund awards scholarships for Buffalo-area student athletes and contributes to local charities, including Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Kids Escaping Drugs, and People Inc.

Among the scholarships provided by the fund each year are three with special significance for the Cauliflower Alley Club: The Ilio DiPaolo Award, The “Destroyer” Wrestling Award (in honor of DiPaolo’s longtime friend and CAC mainstay Dick “The Destroyer” Beyer*) and The Cauliflower Alley Club Award. All three are presented to talented high school wrestlers in the Western New York area.

“My dad was a big fan of the Cauliflower Alley Club and what it stands for, and we named the award in honor of the CAC because it had a very special place in my father’s heart,” said Dennis DiPaolo, who serves on the board of directors of the scholarship fund.

All three awards have been given out every year since 1996.

In June, the 2018 DiPaolo Award went to Giuseppe Hoose of Southwestern High School; the CAC Award went to Matthew Evans of Randolph High School; and the “Destroyer” Award went to Bryce Rowe of Chautauqua Lake High School.

Though not officially connected to the Cauliflower Alley Club, the scholarship was named in honor of the organization and its ideals, and helps introduce high school students and their families to the organization.

The Ilio DiPaolo Scholarship Foundation describes the CAC as “an association of past, present and future champions, combatants and allied

by Dan Murphy

BIO: A Senior Writer with Pro Wrestling Illustrated and Senior Editor-in-Chief of Online World of Wrestling and Diva-Dirt.com. He coauthored the book Sisterhood of the Squared Circle: The History and Rise of Women's Wrestling with Pat Laprade. He has also written Bodyslams in Buffalo: The Complete History of Pro Wrestling in Western New York.

This is the second in a series of Q&As with the management of wrestling halls of fame

Nestled in picturesque Waterloo, Iowa, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum offers a unique look at wrestling as a sport and spectacle. Established in 1976, the museum seeks to honor the sport of wrestling by preserving its history, securing its legacy for generations to come.

Kyle Klingman serves as the director of the museum. Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Klingman grew up in Cedar Falls, Iowa, where he was introduced to the sport of amateur wrestling.

“My high school was winning state wrestling championships and the University of Northern Iowa had a solid wrestling program,” Klingman said. “My mom is from Stillwater, Oklahoma, and went to Oklahoma State, which has a great wrestling tradition. Family vacations were to Stillwater and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame so I was exposed to high school and college wrestling in a variety of ways. I went to the NCAA wrestling championships in Iowa City in 1995 for the first time and I haven’t missed ever since. I was hooked—and I still am. This sport is like no other.”

Klingman wrestled in junior high school but found his true calling as a runner, eventually becoming involved in the grueling sport of ultrarunning. He competed in the Leadville 100, a 100-mile running race at an average elevation of 10,000 feet. He graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 2000 and began working at the International Wrestling Institute and Museum in 2002.

He graciously agreed to the following interview for The Ear.

How did you become involved with the National Wrestling Hall of Fame?

My involvement began in 2002 as the associate director of the International Wrestling Institute and Museum when it was located in Newton, Iowa. The museum moved to Waterloo, Iowa, in 2006 and was renamed the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum. We merged with the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2010 and I have been director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum ever since.

What are your main responsibilities in conjunction with the National Wrestling Hall of Fame?

My main responsibilities as director include event planning, programming, fundraising, and day-to-day operations.

What’s your background in terms of professional wrestling?

Like most kids growing up in the 1980s, WWE was an important part of my youth. I couldn’t get enough professional wrestling when it was on television. I didn’t watch much professional wrestling in high school, but my interest was rekindled when Kurt Angle signed with WWE. Angle, a 1996 Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling, was my hero in high school and college so I followed his career very closely as he entered professional wrestling. I watched Monday Night RAW every week until he made his debut and I’ve followed professional wrestling ever since. I was so excited when Angle entered the ring for the first time. Chad Gable, a 2012 Greco-Roman Olympian, has a chance to carry the torch of amateur wrestling’s great champions that wrestled professionally.

Kyle Klingman* photo courtesy National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum

Given the showmanship and spectacle inherent in pro wrestling, is there any friction in operating the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in connection with the Dan Gable Museum? Many wrestlers of Gable’s era didn’t care for their entertainment-driven pro wrestling counterparts. Any friction from amateur wrestling toward professional wrestling stems from a misunderstanding of what professional wrestling is. Amateur wrestling and professional wrestling started in the same place but ended up in two different spaces. Our museum explores all aspects of the sport and the profession. The lowest rated episode of Monday Night RAW is higher than the most viewed NCAA championship wrestling finals on ESPN. Amateur wrestling has much to learn from professional wrestling on how to promote and entertain. Our professional wrestling detractors usually become our advocates after a visit to the museum. We are proud to include amateur wrestling and professional wrestling in one place.

What is your criteria for enshrinement in your HOF?

Induction into the George Tragos/Lou Thesz* Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame includes substantial impact on professional wrestling, general respect within the profession, and a strong amateur wrestling or athletic background. All past inductees and a select group of wrestling historians vote for the upcoming hall of fame class.

Who were some of the earliest “pro wrestling” inductees?

Our earliest inductees were the pioneers of professional wrestling. Frank Gotch, Verne Gagne*, Lou Thesz*, George Tragos, Ed “Strangler” Lewis, Dan Hodge*, Baron Von Raschke*, Joe Stecher, Earl Caddock, Dick Hutton*, Maurice “Mad Dog” Vachon*, Jack Brisco*, Farmer Burns, Bob Geigel*, and Ray Steele. With the exception of Hodge and Raschke, all of the above names have passed away. It’s a source of pride that many of professional wrestling’s greatest champions visited our wrestling museum. Having Lou Thesz and Verne Gagne together in one room seems surreal—but it happened!

Who were the most recent inductees (the class of 2018)?

The Class of 2018 included Dan Severn*, Owen Hart (posthumously), Booker T Huffman (Lou Thesz World Heavyweight Championship Award), Bruiser Brody (Frank Gotch Award), and Koji Miyamoto* (Jim Melby* Award). This was the 20th anniversary of the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and the 70th anniversary of the NWA being formed in the President Hotel in Waterloo, Iowa. Lark Gable, Dan Gable’s grandfather, was the manager of the hotel when the NWA was being formed.

Can you describe the hall’s relationship with the Cauliflower Alley Club?

Our relationship with the Cauliflower Alley Club is among the most important and valuable that we have. The success of our Hall of Fame weekend over the past seven years is a direct result of our time in Las Vegas. CAC president and past Lou Thesz Award winner Brian Blair has been to our Hall of Fame weekend for the past five years (he even wrestles on the Impact Pro Wrestling show). CAC donates $1,000 every year in name of Jack Brisco. The CAC convention is one that we look forward to every year. It has already provided a lifetime of memories—and we plan to have many more. I’m proud to be a lifetime member. Everyone should be.

Was there one specific piece of wrestling memorabilia you received that made you think, “This is something that absolutely needs to be put out on public display?”

Bret Hart* gave us the jacket he used during his time with WWE. That is an absolute must to have on display. It gets the most comments from visitors and it is our most photographed item in our professional wrestling wing. We even let a few people try it on for a picture. It’s also hard to beat the AWA tag team belts.

On a personal level, what has been your most enjoyable moment or experience during your time with the HOF?

Meeting Gerald Brisco* for the first time in 2005 was my most memorable experience as it relates to the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame. He was, and is, larger than life to me. I’ve never met someone who is more respected and more revered in both amateur and professional wrestling.

Have you had any contact with Vince McMahon* or WWE regarding their Hall of Fame?

We have not had any contact with Vince McMahon or WWE regarding

their Hall of Fame; however, WWE has graciously sent talent to our Hall of Fame weekend for the past three years. They have been a big part in the growth of our event. We are grateful for our relationship with WWE.

I’ve heard a lot of good things about the induction events. Why should someone come out and make the trip to Waterloo, Iowa?

Jim Ross famously said that attending the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame weekend should be on everyone’s bucket list. We completely agree with Good ‘Ol JR. His endorsement is all the reason anyone needs to attend this fan friendly, entertaining weekend.

What can visitors expect when coming to the hall (ie, is there a gift shop/memorabilia, interactive displays ... describe the experience if you can)?

Visitors will find a complete history of wrestling. Wrestling is mankind’s oldest sport and our goal is to showcase it in a manner that is entertaining and educational. Various pictures, trophies, paintings, singlets, jackets and authentic artifacts are on display throughout.

We are in the midst of a $1.4 million renovation, which will enhance the visitor experience. We are tripling the size of the wrestling so we can provide more opportunities for young wrestlers. This will also function as a multi-use space for events and other activities.

We will host the most of our George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame weekend activities in the wrestling room (the mats will be rolled up, of course). There will also be a 50-seat theater and interactive kiosks throughout the museum. Among our biggest revenue generators is our gift shop. As a non-profit, we rely on a variety of sources to stay operational.

CAC AWARDS QUIZ

by Thomas Rude

1. Who won the 2001 REEL Award?

a. Don Stroud

b. Mimi Lesseos

c. Roddy Piper

d. All od the above

2. Don Leo Jonathan won this award in 2007:

a. Lou Thesz Award

b. Iron Mike Mazurki Award

c. REEL Award

d. Wrestler of the Year Award

3. Who won the Red Bastien Friendship Award in 2012?

a. Brian Westcott

b. Tom Burke

c. Tracy Myers

d. Gerald Brisco

4. Who did NOT win a Future Legends Award?

a. Frankie Kazarian

b. Chris Benoit

c. Edge

d. Trevor Blanchard

5. Who was the rst recipient of the Jason Sanderson Humanitarian Award?

a. Yvonne Melcher (wife of Magic Schwarz)

b. Al Burke

c. Sean Dunster

d. Diamond Dallas Page

BIO: Kari Williams received her bachelor's and master's degrees in Mass Communications from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Kari is currently the editorial associate for VFW magazine and has been freelancing for SLAM! Wrestling since 2014.

Robbie Ellis’ career has been spent working the arts — the art of professional wrestling and as owner of Barridoff Galleries in Portland, Maine.

Ellis, a Portland, Maine native, began wrestling in the 1960s, initially hiding his career because of his work with the gallery. But even when keeping his two worlds publicly separate, they overlapped in the sense that he would purchase paintings and shop at antique stores for himself while on the road.

“It’s top of the line kind of stuff,” Ellis said of his artistic endeavors. “I thought it would be hard.” (being an art dealer/wrestler)

But that wasn’t the case at all — “Everybody loved it,” he said, once his worlds merged — and then the media caught on, splashing a photo of Ellis in his wrestling gear on the front page of the local paper and even gracing the pages of Sports Illustrated. Prompted calls from “a variety of promoters,” said Ellis, who wrestled quite a bit in Italy and lived there for several weeks every year.

“I’m probably more well known there than I was here,” Ellis said. While the exposure waxed and waned over the years, he said it picked up again when the documentary, “Canvasman: The Robbie Ellis Story,” came out in 2010.

However, Ellis’ career received a resurgence of sorts upon meeting CHIKARA Pro founder Mike Quackenbush. Ellis had been wrestling for

a promotion in the Northeast, when, according to Ellis, Quackenbush and some members of the CHIKARA roster were brought in. Thus started his relationship with CHIKARA, where he has wrestled a handful of times. Ellis debuted with CHIKARA in 2003 in a tag team match with Hallowicked and Rorschach against Quackenbush, Gran Akuma and Mister ZERO. He also has faced the likes of Legion Cage and Hydra.

Ellis, whose wrestling career stretches back to his days at Amherst College, said it wasn’t his plan to transition from his amateur to the pro ranks.

“I loved amateur wrestling. I was a fan as a kid,” said Ellis, who thought his size was a detriment to the joining the professional realm.

Then one day, in Boston, Mass., he came across information on how to be a professional wrestler. He continued to make the trip to the city for training, initially hiding his plans from his wife.

“I was doing something entirely different. It was the only time I ever cheated on (my wife) in my whole life.” Ellis joked.

The man who led a double life also spent time at Killer Kowalski’s* school as both a student and trainer for a number of years, according to Ellis. By the time he began working with Kowalski, Ellis said he had “wrestled quite a bit,” but felt he hadn’t had quite enough training. “Walter (Killer Kowalski) was great about bringing me up to snuff,” Ellis said.

In regard to the Las Vegas, Nev., staple, the Cauliflower Alley Club reunion, Ellis said he wrestled former WWE Tough Enough competitor Luke Robinson in 2009.

“We had a wonderful match… He’s so amazing. He made me look terrific,” Ellis said of the reality show’s runner up who now runs a fitness company called Wolfpack Fitness.

- Art dealer/Wrestler

- Turned down a potentially lucrative career running his dad's manufacturing business

- Graduated with honors from Amherst College

- Sports Illustrated did a story on Robbie

- "The MacNeil/Leher Report" picked up his story

- www.canvasmanmovie.com - earned 5 suplexes (this is a rating system)

The Sports Illustrated Legend and

America’s Sexiest Sexagenarian Superstar

“...his gallery has sold works by such renowned American painters as Eakins and Homer for prices as high as $500,000” - Sports Illustrated

“Robbie Ellis is a splendid athlete and showman.”ABC World News Tonight

“The Walter Mitty of the Mat” - Sports Illustrated

“I wouldn’t want to negotiate with him on a painting!”

- TODAY on NBC

Terrance started watching wrestling about five years old on a display television in the window of a hardware store near his home. An uncle took him there. There was always a large crowd standing outside the hardware store watching as most people, in those days, did not have television of their own in their homes. And there was only one television station in Canada at that time. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). The wrestling was from Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario.

He started taking photos of wrestling matches professionally in 1973 after being asked by one of the leading wrestling magazine publishers to submit samples of his work. Prior to that, in the late 60’s & early 70’s, he would take photos for his own enjoyment and give copies of the best to some of the wrestlers. Nick Bockwinkel*, Ray Stevens*, Mad Dog Vachon*, among others, told him that he should send shots into the magazines and get paid for it.

Some of the awards he has won for his work from the Wrestling Fans International Association (W.F.I.A.) are: Professional Photographer of the Year – Kansas City, Mo. Convention – 1985; Best Fan Club Publication (Results) – Birmingham, Al. Convention – 1987; Best Fan Club Publication (General) – Birmingham, Al. Convention – 1987.

He still enjoys taking photos of the local wrestling cards and sending copies to all the participants.

BIO: I’ve been a newsstand magazine photographer/writer since the sixties and covered every CAC event since the late eighties.

2018 was a year of significant positive accomplishments in the industry contrasting the great losses we suffered starting with longtime friend Bruno Sammartino*. I’ll miss the champ’s Sunday afternoon calls asking how the business was doing, what were the tv ratings and latest ppv numbers. Most know Bruno avidly read the Observer Newsletter for years and was always concerned with wrestling’s health and growth. In a year with so many positives on both those fronts, it’s cruel that he was taken from us. Let’s examine 2018.

The NWA recently put on a 70th anniversary PPV-calibre card topped by Cody Rhodes dropping the NWA Championship back to Nick “Magnus” Aldis. CAC honoree Dory Funk Jr and many other former NWA champions attended plus Jeff Jarrett. Cody had won the title at the megaimportant All-In independent card in Chicago which had no input from any professional promotion yet sold-out a large venue and in record time with primarily Bullet Club-esque social media. Credit the brilliant young minds of Cody, The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega who most of the time highlight New Japan and Ring Of Honor. And add in the even more recent Chris Jericho Rock ‘N’ Wrestling Rager and wrestling extravaganza which completely tilted the biz on it’s cauliflowered ear. CAC’s Jim Ross* and Jerry Lawler not only called the action, but were part of a multitude of wrestling’s best on the cruise which included wrestling matches, signings, podcasts, and events along with music and comedy concerts from talent that love our biz. Not to mention host Jericho fronting his band Fozzy. Other than the regular annual original GLOW stars cruise (their next one is scheduled for May 2019 so go to their Facebook page originalglowgirls.com) plus an 80’s one that was supposed to have had Bruiser Brody, Abby (Abdullah The Butcher*), Carlos Colon* and others on it. Has pro wrestling had any other cruises of any kind? CAC’s Kevin Sullivan* would be the ultimate expert, so Kev, have we had any others over the years or perhaps any you may have promoted in the Caribbean with Tyree Pride? Some other historian/athletes/brains who might know are Jerry and Jeff Jarrett. I’ve been nagging both to possibly attend CAC next year since we’re honoring Jeff Walton* who again truly loved his time as heel manager Tux Newman* in Jerry’s classic Memphis promotion.

interviewer and WWE Network host Rene Young where she belongsright alongside Corey Graves and Michael Cole in the weekly RAW primary announce desk. There’s more ground to shatter and more to come, but 2018 was definitely a year for our talented women as we’ve discussed in this column.

This year, WWE’s very first all-women’s PPV (Evolution) was equally epic and historic on many other more subtle business and booking/ creative levels. They mixed their former legends like CAC honorees Trish Stratus*, Ivory* and Molly Holly*. with current superstars (like champs Ronda Rousey, Becky Lynch, Asuka, Charlotte Flair, Bailey, Sasha Banks, etc.) as well as with name NXT stars like Kairi Sane, Shayna Baszler, Toni Storm, Io Shirai (who all had amazing careers prior to developmental). Many appreciated Evolution’semphasis on the tough in-ring wrestling product. Roman Reigns announced that he was taking a break as WWE Universal Champion(and lead RAW face) to focus on beating leukemia again(he’d been reportedly in full remission the past 11 years) live on RAW. Totally breaking KF on 10/22/18 was equally emotional and unique. Especially since most everyone in the back including the athletes, crew and the fans had no idea and were as shell shocked as the on-camera announcers. WWE also broke uncharted ground in putting their long-time

Fresh off the success of New Japan’s WrestleKingdom12 at the Tokyo Dome last January, New Japan Pro Wrestling promoted more shows here in the United States in 2018 since their Long Beach debut sold-out cards last year. Including their largest U.S.-venue Cow Palace show last July. Yet another giant step forward also was Progress Wrestling of the UK, holding it’s super card last September at SSE Arena in Wembley England. That area of the world continues to produce superb global talent like Zack Sabre Jr, Marty Scurll, Will Osprey beyond veteran Doug Williams, of course, just to name a few. 2017 may have been the all-important year to plant the seeds for top indie and international talent which sprang to unprecedented growth peaks this year. For women and men. Everyone seemingly benefitted.

Switching 2018 gears, long-time CAC member Chris Cruise* was one of Bruno Sammartino’s* pallbearers last April. Many might not know that the longtime WTBS/WCW tv announcer accompanied Bruno on most all his public appearances the last two decades including Wrestlemanias, conventions and more. Chris first met Bruno in the WWF in 1985 and said they hit it off so well, they almost spoke by phone every day for more than thirty years. Chris still delivers national radio news for ABC and other outlets on major terrestrial radio stations as lead weekend anchor.

Living Legend (and longest-reigning WWWF/WWE champion)Bruno who most thought or hoped might live forever was a too young (82 years of age) when we lost him. Other ring greats we lost this year include Masa (Mr.) Saito (76), Brian Christopher Lawler(46), Brickhouse

Brown (57) who was emotionally with us this year in Vegas, Anvil Jim Neidhart (63), Johnny Valiant (71) (aka John L. Sullivan when Bruno broke him in in Pittsburgh), beloved OVW star Matt Cappotelli (38), Nikolai Volkoff* (70) who attended all three of our NY 90’s reunions, Paul “#1” Jones* (75) who graced several CAC’s with Jack Brisco* and was honored, Leon “Big Van Vader” White* (63) who attended the famous CAC/Vegas where nearly every top trainer helped all the indie talent attending that year along with Samoa Joe and Matt “Spike Dudley” Hyson, Big Bully Busick (63), Rockin’ Rebel (52) who was one of Joel Goodhart’s* TWA stars. Joel attended his first CAC this year while Rebel had been at all our NY ancillary ones, Don Leo Jonathan* arguably the greatest big man ever and who helped Andre the Giant immensely in Montreal’s Grand Prix, Dick Slater* who worked nearly everywhere, Lucha legends El Picudo, Rayo de Jalisco Sr, Universo 2000, Villano III. New Breed Chris Champion. Northern California young high-flying sensation Virgil Flynn who worked several CAC Vegas wrestling spectaculars and really shined in APW and Sparky Ballard’s GoldRush promotion. And for those who may only recall Paul Jones as a Jim Crockett Jr NWA heel manager in the 80’s, look online at some tape of his early 70’s Florida matches against greats like Jack Brisco*, hooker/shooter Boris Malenko/Larry Simon*, Dusty Rhodes*, Hiro Matsuda, Karl Kox* and more. Amazing work. Here’s hoping we don’t lose any of our family next year. And that pro wrestling keeps evolving and growing for the better.

Here is important information meant to facilitate the hotel booking process for CAC’s upcoming 54th Annual Reunion. It is very important that you use this information when making hotel reservations as the hotel will not accept the booking code over the phone the way they have in the past. This is being done to protect our room block from hotel guests not attending the reunion.

has

Nino Benvenuti*

Born: April. 26, 1938

Bouts: 90

Won: 82

Lost: 7

Drew: 1

KOs: 35

Induction: 1992

Nino Benvenuti was an Italian sports legend before his first pro fight. He won European junior middleweight amateur titles in 1957 and 1959 and captured a gold medal at the 1960 Olympics in Rome.

All of Benvenuti’s early fights took place in Italy. Several top American fighters -- such as Isaac Logart, Gaspar Ortega and Denny Moyer -- traveled across the Atlantic to face him. Each one came home a loser.

Young Corbett III*

Born: May 27, 1905

Died: July 15, 1993

Bouts: 151

Won: 124

Lost: 12

Drew: 15

KOs: 32

Induction: 2004

Born Raffaele Capabianca Giordano on May 27, 1905 in Protenza, Campania, Italy. He came to this country as a child and settled with his family in Fresno, CA.

In 1965, Italy was beset by a Civil War when Benvenuti challenged reigning world junior middleweight champion Sandro Mazzinghi. Benvenuti knocked out Mazzinghi in the sixth round to win the crown. He made two title defenses before KiSoo Kim dethroned him in Seoul, Korea.

In 1967, Nino jumped to middleweight and traveled to New York City where won the title from Emile Griffith at Madison Square Garden. Griffith won a rematch but Benvenuti reclaimed the 160-pound belt in their third meeting in 1968.

Nino made title defenses against American contenders Don Fullmer, Fraser Scott and Luis Rodriguez.

In 1970, Tom Bethea, a hard-punching New Yorker, knocked Benvenuti out in the eighth round of a non-title fight. Displaying honor often unusual for the fight game, Benvenuti granted him a rematch with the title on the line.

This time Benvenuti knocked out Bethea in the eighth round.

Benvenuti lost the title in November of 1970 when Argentina’s Carlos Monzon knocked him out in 12 rounds. A rematch took place a year later and Monzon won again, scoring a thirdround knockout this time.

Benvenuti retired in 1971.

He began boxing in 1919 as Young Corbett III while still a 14-year-old “newsboy.” A tough southpaw, Corbett would have to wait until 1933 for a world title bid. On his march to the title, the crafty Corbett would become a headliner in fight clubs in California.

He engaged in a four-fight series with future welterweight champion Young Jack Thompson, winning three and drawing once.

Wins over Jack Zivic, Sgt. Sammy Baker, and welterweight champion Jackie Fields* (W10 non-title) and future middleweight king Ceferino Garcia (W10, W10) propelled him to a world welterweight title bout with Fields. On February 22, 1933 Corbett decisioned Fields over 10 rounds to win the championship. His reign was brief, losing the title to Hall of Famer Jimmy McLarnin* three months later via a shocking one round knockout.

Corbett never again challenged for the welterweight belt, opting instead to campaign as a middleweight. Wins over future light heavy champ Gus Lesnevich (TKO 5), as well as Hall of Famers Mickey Walker* (W10), Billy Conn* (W10) and Fred Apostoli (W10) followed. In his second bout with Apostoli, held November 18, 1938, he was stopped in 8 rounds in a middleweight championship go. Corbett, who only boxed outside of California on five occasions, continued to box until 1940 before retiring with a 123-11-17 (33KOs) record.

He died in Auberry, CA at the age of 88 in 1993.

Boxing Hall of Fame

Our mission is to honor and preserve boxing’s rich heritage, chronicle the achievements of those who excelled and provide an educational experience for our many visitors.

For decades the boxing community looked on with envy as legends from other sports were inducted into their respective halls of fame. The shrines to baseball, football and basketball are located in the ancestral homes to those sports. But boxing has no such geographical origin. Although organized pugilism as we know it originated in England, the sport’s epicenter moved across to America around the same time that the sun began to set on Queen Victoria’s empire.

Beginning with the reign of heavyweight champion John L. Sullivan more than a century ago, professional boxing champions have been among the most celebrated athletes in history. And the epic championship battles they waged can be found on the annual lists of top sports stories. But for years there was no structure or independent entity to chronicle and preserve boxing’s rich history.

The idea for a boxing hall of fame germinated out of a town’s love for two of its hometown boys who became world champions. In 1982 residents of Canastota, NY decided to honor former welterweight and middleweight champion of the late 1950s, Carmen Basilio, and his nephew, Billy Backus, who won the world welterweight title in 1970. The townspeople raised funds for a showcase that would celebrate the achievements of their two local heroes.

The success and enthusiasm for that project encouraged Canastotians to explore the possibility of establishing boxing’s first hall of fame and museum. That project was completed in 1989, when two dozen former champions witnessed the ribbon cutting ceremony of the International Boxing Hall of Fame. A year later the first class of boxing legends, including Muhammad Ali, were on hand to receive their long overdue enshrinement. Since then the Hall of Fame has added one wing to the Museum and an event pavilion adjacent to the Hall. The Hall of Fame holds an annual induction ceremony in early June as the highlight of a four-day celebration of boxing and its legends.

Freddie Steele*

Born: Dec. 18, 1912

Died: Aug. 23, 1984

Bouts: 134

Won: 120

Lost: 4

Drew: 9

NC: 1

KOs: 60

Induction: 1999

The Pacific Northwest region of North America isn’t known as a breeding ground of champions, but in the 1930s it produced two Hall of Famers; welterweight sensation Jimmy McLarnin* was one, Steele was the other.

The power-punching Steele is sometimes lost in the cavalcade of 14 middleweight title claimants who reigned in that decade.

The 5-10 Tacoma, Washington native dreamed of becoming a world champion since early boyhood. He hooked up with trainer Dave Miller at a local boys club and a bond was forged that could only be broken by death. Steele turned pro as a welterweight in 1928 and streaked to a 38-0-6 record before losing his first fight, via six-round decision to Tony Portillo, December 17, 1930 in Seattle. He then went 70-2-3 with 1 no contest before meeting Eddie “Babe” Risko for the NBA / New York Middleweight title in Seattle on July 11, 1936.

After winning the title, via 15-round decision, Steele made five successful defenses. New York withdrew recognition in February 1938, when he refused to defend the crown against Fred Apostoli, who had knocked out Steele in nine rounds in January.

After a non-title win, Steele lost the title via first round kayo to Al Hostak* July 28, 1938 in Seattle. He was inactive the next two years and was knocked out in his lone comeback bout in 1941.

In all, Steele fought seven past or future world champions (Ceferino Garcia, Apostoli, Vince Dundee, Risko, Gus Lesnevich, William “Gorilla” Jones*, Ken Overlin and Al Hostak). Several of these champs he fought more than once, and owned wins over all but Hostak. The hard-hitting Steele retired with a record of 124-6-8 with 1 No Contest and 62 kayos.

After leaving the ring, Steele appeared in several Hollywood films, including Gentleman Jim, G.I. Joe, and Hail the Conquering Hero. He died in Aberdeen, Washington on July 23, 1984.

My immediate boss shooting ringside for the Hollywood/Lebell Wrestling Office program was Jeff “man of many hats” Walton* who we’re deservedly honoring next year in Vegas for his great managerial work, most notably throughout Tennessee(but later beyond) as Tux Newman for Jerry Jarrett. But Jeff was also well known as being able to do nearly everything in wrestling, including taking bumps when warranted. Jeff was known by the Cal Eaton/Lebell wrestling office even when he was a teen running Fred Blassie’s* International Fan Club. It was unusual at the time for a heel wrestler fan club but Fred was a unique superstar. Always helpful regarding anything Jeff wanted to do, Jeff won countless annual awards for best fan club bulletin. I should know because John Arezzi and I later took over Fred’s club after Jeff had transitioned from that into a long career as program editor, publicist, on-air and much more for our SoCal wrestling office.

Let’s look at how Jeff finally came to be a wrestling manager. Jeff was already articulate on the stick and in 1972 appeared on both our main Saturday KCOP-13 TV Studio show as well as the ever-growing Wednesday “Lucha Libre” 90 minute syndicated show taping from the L.A. Olympic Auditorium that was beamed globally by SIN (Spanish International Network). Jeff was first introduced to the viewers as “Sam Muchnick’s local NWA Representative.” That role later transitioned into interviewer (which included our TV on-airs including Dick Lane, Miguel Alonso*, Luis Magana, Gene Lebell* and even Jimmy Lennon Sr* occasionally). Jeff often looked exasperated on-camera by all the craziness going on around him, especially anytime fireball-throwing Sheik* returned to his second home at the Olympic. When John Tolos* turned on Victor Rivera* after losing a “scientific/babyface” match and thus forced by the stips to shave his head, Jeff began calling him “Maniac” Tolos and the new nickname stuck for the former Golden Greek. L.A. and Houston territories were the few that had both an English-language and Hispanic weekly TV shows and Jeff quickly began interviewing the boys on both, explaining intricate match stips for bouts like Tolos’ Roman Gladiator grudge matches and legit news events like Sam Muchnick retiring or which exciting new stars were coming from Japan and Mexico.” It would be a natural transition years later in becoming a heel manager, because not only had Jeff handled most all mike roles, but had learned from our best talkers including Blassie, Tolos, Ernie Roth, Shibuya, JC Dykes, colorful Lonnie Mayne and the great Ernie Ladd*.

Jeff Walton was actually born in New York City, but soon moved with his parents to Southern California where he grew up. He said he first began watching wrestling on TV with his good friend Terry Brodt starting in 1960 (Terry would later become our lead ring-announcer in the late 70’s once Jimmy Lennon semi-retired and became busier with Aileen Eaton’s affiliated boxing promotion). The top star there at the time of course was Blassie who was usually WWA World Champion and Fred quickly became their favorite to where a nervous Jeff asked Fred in 1961 if he could run his fan club, not knowing how Fred would react. But Fred was generous and also saw something in Jeff, helping him whenever possible. Rather than simply writing about Fred in his bulletin, Jeff also extensively covered the other WWA stars (at this time, the WWA world title was well respected as a global one and defended in Japan, Honolulu, and San Francisco at times) including Rikidozan, Destroyer (Dick Beyer*), Red Lyons, Red Bastien*, Assassins, Don Manoukian*, Luke Graham*, Gorilla Monsoon*, Pedro Morales*, Giant Baba, Warren and

young Nick Bockwinkel*, Wild Red Berry, the Torres Brothers and more total legends. Jeff also loved studying wrestling history and became involved with Tom Burke*, Dave Burzynski*, Diane Devine* and primarily through Don Wilson* as a Wrestling Fans Int’l Association (WFIA) originator in the late 60’s. Each year, WFIA would hold a fanfest in a different city in conjunction with the local wrestling office(s), and in 1971, Jeff oversaw the great one held in L.A. that received acclaim with lots of offices supporting by sending many top boys to the WFIA awards banquet, plus hosting fans who flew in to see cards at the Olympic Auditorium and surrounding “club” venues.

When I asked how Jeff originally came to work for the Lebell office, he said “Jack Disney* was a sportswriter who also worked at the Olympic Aud. He was going back to the L.A. Herald-Examiner newspaper. Prior to leaving, I was already writing the programs and fan-mailers for the Friday night matches for free! Mike Lebell* called me and offered me a permanent position as publicity director for wrestling when Disney left. In those days, it was extremely impossible to break into the KF wrestling business in any way and it took me a long time to gain confidence from the likes of (genius bookers) Jules Strongbow and Charlie “Mr” Moto*, who ran and booked the entire Hollywood Office. The very first match I was lead-in on was Sheik versus Bobo Brazil. Mike Lebell eventually took over the wrestling office after his stepfather Cal Eaton died and I became his assistant in the late sixties.” Jeff did more than that because the weekly cardboard fliers mailed out to regular ticket holders also included Olympic Auditorium boxing news (the Eaton/Lebells promoted both wrestling and boxing, with the Olympic Aud being the primary venue). “I had major area wrestling fans working for me like Larry Korn and Bob Kubik who helped make sure the wrestlers were licensed and always at the clubs on time over the years. But I basically ran everything as publicist and later even promoted in some of our ancillary towns like El Monte.” Jeff also nearly ran most everything going on at the Saturday KCOP-channel 13 afternoon TV tapings from the locker room on. A few years after Blassie turned beloved babyface, Jeff interviewed him on KCOP in 1973 in one of the most amazingly legit emotional moments for our circuit.

“Jeff, you used to work for me running my fan club. You did a great job, won all kinds of awards and I was always proud of you. But now... I work for you!” Fred was referring to wrestling in the main event for Jeff’s first card. “Once I started his fan club and as time passed, I really got to know Fred on a personal level and he was very instrumental in helping me break into the business. Starting as his fan club president to keeping his name alive when he was semi-retired in Georgia, to making his big comeback; he helped to establish my credibility within the business.”

I asked Jeff about that interesting period when Verne Gagne* partnered with L.A. Fabulous Forum owner, Jack Kent Cooke in attempting to takeover L.A. circa 1968. Jeff said “It was only one show. Gagne* vs Bruiser with Thesz* vs Larry Hennig* underneath. Bruiser didn’t want to come in (he’d had a long history wrestling for Strongbow in L.A. battling Blassie*, Carpentier* and Bobo) but had a commitment to Gagne/AWA. He vowed to come in for just the one show. Mike (Lebell) in turn, contacted all the other NWA promoters with Muchnick’s* okay. We were able to bring

(continued on page 18)

BIO: Was with the CAC for 36 years 1979 till 2015 including 24 years as Executive Vice President, Board Chairman and CEO.

One of my missions with the CAC is to educate people as to what the CAC is all about. Very few people, when asked why they are a member, will say something like, “They have an annual reunion and they put out a great newsletter several times a year.”

Yes, we do those two things, but our reunion is much more than that. In fact, our reunion is like none other in the world of wrestling. Not only do people get to rub shoulders with people like Jim Ross*, Sgt. Slaughter*, Ricky Steamboat* and Bob Orton Jr.*, but they get to participate in many other activities. We offer two days of interesting and informative teaching seminars, three days of visiting with wrestlers and fans in the nostalgia room, two dinners, which includes the Bockwinkel Blowout (an all-you-can-eat deli-style buffet) and an awards banquet. And that’s not all. You can participate in or watch wrestlers and fans battle it out in the Dr. Ken Ramey* Bowling Tournament and the Dick Beyer* Cribbage Tournament. This year, we plan to have a dominoes tournament. I don’t know who came up with the idea for that one, but it’s one that I can do.

Sound like fun? It is.

However, the CAC does much more than host a reunion and banquet. Most people don’t know what we do the other 362 days of the year. From the time the reunion ends until the next one begins, we work on our benevolent program, which is the primary function of the club. Like all 501(c)(3) non-profit corporations, our directors donate their time to raise money to help former full-time wrestlers who are in need. Over the past 22 years, our benevolent fund has helped many wrestlers, with most of the donations going towards either medical payments or death expenses.

Something few people know is that Mike Mazurki*, the CAC president, was the benevolent fund from 1965 until his death in 1991. When a need arose, the help came directly from his pocket. Someone may have broken their hip, or were facing mounting medical bills, or had been in

CRYPTOGRAM

by Thomas Rude

Thomas J. Rude was born and raised in Alpena, Michigan which means he grew up on Big Time Wrestling. Graduated Central Michigan University, joined the US Army as a paralegal/court reporter. He is currently working for Sabu and Super Genie. He also is a co-promoter of Capital Pro Wrestling and sends results and top ten ratings to Pro Wrestling Illustrated.

an accident. When he got legitimate calls from several wrestlers in a short period of time, Mike would call a number of us and tell us “So-andso needs our help. Bring a coupl’a bucks to the luncheon this week. I’ll match whatever you bring and Karl will deliver it.”

Mike was caring and generous to a fault, and I heard him say on many occasions, “I got a lot more than I need. There are others who can use the help.”

When Lou Thesz* was president, he came up with the idea to set up a benevolent fund. We moved the incorporation of the club from California to Alabama, where Tom* & Chris Drake*, who handled our legal work, opened the fund with a $5,000 donation of their own. For the next several years, Tom & Chris matched all donations for the scholarship fund. During the next 12 years, with Chris at the helm as secretary/treasurer of the CAC, we averaged benevolent payouts of approximately $12,000 a year. Since 2010, we have written 92 checks totaling $117,500. That’s approximately $266,500 and help for more than 150 of the boys. That’s pretty good for a club that had $10 dues for the first 30 years and $25 dues since.

The only way all that could have happened is through the generosity of each of you. As a member, you help support those in need, and I can’t tell you enough how much that means to many of the people we’ve helped.

We do not assist people with their drug or alcohol problems. There are other organizations better suited for that. We don’t send anyone to Hawaii for R&R, either, or make payments on their Cadillac. I mention these because we have had requests for donations of that kind. We have an effective system in place to check on whether or not financial requests are valid and indicate a true need. One person requested help for an illness he was undergoing. A cursory check showed us that he had a comprehensive health insurance plan and $75,000 in the bank. Needless to say, the money we would have given them went to someone who really needed it.

We are not a source of income, either, but we are there to help when someone is truly in need. And speaking of income, we donate money in the form of a cash grant, which means it’s a gift; not income or a loan.

From the very beginning, we agreed to never reveal the names of those we have helped, unless they gave us permission to do so. Our purpose was not to make ourselves look good, but simply to help those in need. In turn, several of those we’ve helped have told us that they would be honored to have us use their names to help promote the benevolent fund. A few of those include Bobby Heenan*, Brickhouse Brown, Ox Baker*, Kamala*, Don Fargo* and Jerry Gray*.

The CAC is your club, and your membership and donations will continue to help our brothers and sisters in need. We thank you for that. I hope to see each of you in Vegas on April 29-May 1, 2019.

Karl Lauer

CRYPTOGRAM

Cauliflower Alley Club Benevolent Chairman

in wrestlers from all over the country like Don Leo Jonathon*, Curtis Iaukea*, Paul Jones and Nelson Royal*, Johnny (Mr. Wrestling 2) Walker* and many top names. We did this under the guise of “SOS-Save Our Sports” and had a free wrestling show the very same night the Forum ran. We filled the Olympic and Gagne didn’t return.”

Some of Jeff’s favorite times were “whenever Sheik* and Bobo headlined shows. Theirs was the longest and biggest feud in wrestling from Detroit to Hawaii, etc and a big money-maker no matter where they wrestled. Shibuya*/Saito versus Gordman/Goliath for the first time was a dream match on our big 1971 L.A. Coliseum show. Absolutely one of the best tag matches I’ve ever seen. And Tolos/ Blassie? Lots of work behind-the-scenes and it became one of the best feuds ever, lasting years like Sheik/Bobo. So both feuds headlining that Coliseum show was huge as was the rest of the international card with Mascaras, Solitario, Paul DeMarco and many others brought in.”

Jeff, to me, always seemed the stable-stasis rock in the Southern California wrestling office, there until Lebell sold-out to Vince Jr*, wearing so many hats. He saw bookers come and go from Louie Tillet* in 1974-5 to Leo Garibaldi* once Tillet left. He helped create unique match stips like Tolos’ Roman-Gladiator Death Match. “It was used not only here but all over the U.S. and is still used annually by EWF on their Hall-Of-Fame night!”

Which brings me to Jeff as irascible Tux Newman. “I didn’t actually decide to become a heel manager until I knew we were going to close the wrestling office here in L.A. in 1982. I decided to work on several names for a character. One was Steve Stunning. I talked to Red Bastien*, booking in Texas for Paul Boesch*, and gave him that name. When I wanted to go to that office, he said there was no room for me at the time but would let me know in the future (Tony Rocco* was already a heel manager for Gran Markus under a hood there along with others). Red later gave the Stunning Steve name to new prelim wrestler Steve Williams who had to change his name to Stunning Steve Austin to avoid being confused with Dr Death Steve Williams. The name Tux was my idea. The name “Newman” came from old-time manager Leo “The Lion” Newman. Another former booker for us helped in Tom Renesto. I was going to work for Florida/Eddie Graham but two weeks after I spoke with Graham about coming in, he committed suicide. Renesto was about to leave Puerto Rico and go to work in Tennessee for Jarrett. He asked me to come in

(continued from page 5)

personages joining in celebration and recognition of fellowship within the wrestling world.” The scholarship for outstanding scholar-wrestlers nicely fits that description.

The Destroyer is a familiar face (or mask) at scholarship fundraising events, such as the annual Celebrity Golf Classic, Celebrity Chef Culinary Extravaganza, and Italian American Festival Night at the downtown baseball park, and he is joined by prominent supporters, such as NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly, current and former Buffalo Bills players, and family members of Ilio and The Destroyer.

“On behalf of the Ilio DiPaolo Scholarship Fund, I would like to give a special thank you to the CAC for their financial contributions through the years,” DiPaolo said. “Without their support, we would not have been able to help so many of the scholar-athletes in our community.”

Hiroshi Wajima - Oct 8

Don Leo Jonathan, Don Leo Delaun Heaton - Oct 13

Dick Slater, Richard Van Slater - Oct 18

boris Levinsky, Dr. Eric Goldenberg - Oct 27

Tor Hart, Roeey Lariviere, bell ringer throughout Ontario - Oct 28

ben Justice, Jerry Maiburg - Oct 30

Jose Lothario, Guadalupe Robledo - Nov 6

and work that territory as Jimmy Hart* had just left for Georgia/Ole.” Jeff’s Tux Newman character was a pleasant surprise for all his longtime friends and he was heavily involved in Jerry Lawler, Andy Kaufman, Dutch Mantel*, Bill Dundee angles and more in one of the world’s great territories. Jeff’s characterization and years of behind-the-scenes work on every level helped make his Tux a favorite for everyone. Besides being Jeff’s first managerial gig, he also bleached his hair and just let loose in his “Tux” promos like none of us had ever seen from him. We could tell he was having the time of his life and he soon got the respect of other managers from his friend Don Carson* who teamed for years with Fred in Los Angeles, to Bronko Lubich*, Saul Weingeroff* and more like Jimmy Hart. After eventually managing all over the Southeast, Jeff began doing Vince McMahon Jr’s* programs while working for overall publishing genius Norm Kietzer. “While I still worked for Lebell, Vince flew me to Stamford and wanted me to do his first wrestling magazine for him. I did an interview on his Buddy Roger’s* Corner talk-show describing this new exclusive WWF magazine. I flew back a second time to organize his archive photos and slides for it and edited his first magazine under the Victory name very quickly. He called and wanted me to sell my house, take the kids out of school, move my family the next day to Connecticut. That he’d find us a place, find my wife Jamie a job with a NY company but I was told I’d have to do it the very next day, which was impossible. I said I could do the magazine from California but he didn’t want that.” But Jeff never lost his love of the biz or all the history he gleaned.

Jeff then worked with honor for the Santa Monica Police Department for over 25 years after leaving wrestling, but still found time to work parttime for some of Vince’s shows in both North & South California. In 2004, with son Scott, he wrote the book “Richmond9-5171:A Wrestling Story” which was about his years in L.A. wrestling and orderable at scottmwalton@gmail.com. Jeff wanted to pay tribute to the famous “RI9-5171” sign which was the Olympic Auditorium’s phone number shown on the globally-syndicated SIN wrestling show Jeff was so much a part of. While CAC is honoring Jeff as a manager, he’s secondarily getting respect for all the work and love he’s put into pro wrestling and in particular, our Southern California territory. Now if any event can get Art Williams* back to rejoining and attending CAC, it’s Jeff/Tex getting honored next year!

For more information on the Ilio DiPoalo Scholarship Fund and the “Destroyer” and CAC awards, please visit http://iliodipaolos.com/iliodipaolo-scholarship-fund.

Mission Statement:

The Ilio DiPaolo Scholarship Fund, was established in 1995 to carry the name and ideals of Ilio DiPaolo through his belief that education, athletics and community involvement are essential for success. The Scholarship Fund awards Scholarships and provides support to many Western New York athletes. In addition, Ilio’s support of the less fortunate is legendary and the Scholarship Fund also contributes to many local charities.

Mad Dog Marcial bovee, Dale Pierce, Manager/Author - Nov 8

“Eagle Eye” Lenny Travis, Len Telewiak, Manitoba referee - Nov 9

Alan Koss, Actor, 2002 CAC REEL Winner - Nov 10

Thunder Morgan, Dave Kriner - Nov 13

Rob Kincaid, Robby King - Nov 17

Larry Matysik, St. Louis announcer, promoter, writer - Nov 25

Thanks to Greg Oliver - SLAM! sports slam.canoe.com & www.caulifloweralleyclub.org

PAST CONTRIBUTORS

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Colin

Dan Murphy

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(only one non-member charge per immediate family is necessary)

(List the RING NAME of each person who will be using the tickets) PRINT NAME CLEARLY

Enclosed is a check in the amount of __________________ or charge my credit card in the amount of ____________________ for _____ tickets.

If paying by credit card:

Credit Card #______________________________________

Amt. Charge___________ Exp. Date___________________

Name of credit card holder __________________________

E-mail _________

*To pay via Check or Money Order mail form to: Cauliflower Alley Club 4138 187th Ave SE Issaquah, WA 98027

**To pay via Credit Card mail this form to above address with Credit Card information; or phone CAC at (425) 644-2658.

Open Seven days a week noon to 5pm Pacific Time.

U.S. Postage Paid Peoria, IL Permit #376

54th Anniversary of The CAC Gold Coast Hotel/Casino, Las Vegas April 28th to May 1st 2019

This photo was mislabeled in the last issue. The correct cutline is: Baron von Raschke, Carmine DeSpirito, & Mrs. Baron