Magazines
Chapter One: Relive History with Big Time Wrestling May-June 1963
#PWHS #Article #Magazines #BigTimeWrestling
The first notable difference is the more compact size of this magazine. It is only 5 and 5/8 inches wide (14 centimeters approximately) and 8 and 3/8 inches tall (21 centimeters approximately). It is closer to Reader’s Digest size than the usual wrestling magazine we are accustomed to. The Wrestling Revue would measure 8 and 1/2 inches (20 centimeters approximately) by 11 inches (28 centimeters approximately). This smaller program/magazine would fit much easier into women’s purses if bought in the arena.
The magazine sold for 50 cents and could be purchased in wrestling arenas and through a subscription of $5.00 for twelve issues. On the cover was the Original Shiek and between the two covers were thirty-two pages full of great photography and interesting wrestling news. On page four we read that this is Volume 2 #6 issue and published by Ralph Olds Publications out of Indianapolis, Indiana.
It is emphasized on the front cover that Big Time Wrestling is “now sold in more sports arenas than any other Sports Magazine”. On page three in “the Editor’s Mailbag”, the reader sees that Big Time is currently being offered at matches in Ohio, Colorado, Michigan, Nebraska, Minnesota, Missouri, Georgia, California, Florida, Indiana, Connecticut, West Virginia, and Kentucky. You and I both know that leaves a lot of good wrestling hotspots out. I am sure each had their own regional picture book for sale.
Let’s take a look at the highlights from front cover to the back cover:
Front Cover
Picture of the Shiek on the right side. On the left side is a list of twenty-nine top and lesser known wrestlers that the reader will be seeing inside the pages.
Inside Front Cover
Full page picture of Reggie Parks on the beach.
The magazine sold for 50 cents and could be purchased in wrestling arenas and through a subscription of $5.00 for twelve issues. On the cover was the Original Shiek and between the two covers were thirty-two pages full of great photography and interesting wrestling news. On page four we read that this is Volume 2 #6 issue and published by Ralph Olds Publications out of Indianapolis, Indiana.
It is emphasized on the front cover that Big Time Wrestling is “now sold in more sports arenas than any other Sports Magazine”. On page three in “the Editor’s Mailbag”, the reader sees that Big Time is currently being offered at matches in Ohio, Colorado, Michigan, Nebraska, Minnesota, Missouri, Georgia, California, Florida, Indiana, Connecticut, West Virginia, and Kentucky. You and I both know that leaves a lot of good wrestling hotspots out. I am sure each had their own regional picture book for sale.
Let’s take a look at the highlights from front cover to the back cover:
Front Cover
Picture of the Shiek on the right side. On the left side is a list of twenty-nine top and lesser known wrestlers that the reader will be seeing inside the pages.
Inside Front Cover
Full page picture of Reggie Parks on the beach.
Page One
Advertisement for the past seventeen issues available for 50 cents each. We learn quickly that the first issue was dated December 1961 and followed by twelve issues per year. Each has four to five lines of wrestlers featured in each issue.
Pages Two to Three
The Editor’s Mailbag: This section features letters about Gentleman Saul and the Von Brauners, Cowboy Bob Ellis, Ray Stevens, Al and Ramon Torres, Ivan and Karol Kalmikoff, bad referees, and Wilbur Snyder.
Page Four
Title Page for the magazine on top half. The bottom half has the "Photo of the Month" showing Buddy Rogers on his knees losing a strength battle against Dory Dixon.
Pages Five to Eight
Story about the Sheik taking care of an overzealous fan who pulled a knife on him. The story is told with a backdrop of pictures of Rudy Kay battling the Sheik in the ring.
Pages Nine to Eleven
?Story about The Von Brauners and Gentleman Saul Weingeroff being the #1 disgrace in wrestling. The story tells how the Von Brauners are booked and then “no show” or leave after the first fall. The article mentions specific promoters who have been damaged by their actions. The story is told around the backdrop of the Von Brauners wrestling Reggie Parks and Joe Scarpa.
Pages Twelve to Thirteen
Story about a special referee being pushed by Manager Martino Angelo. The problem was that the special referee was boxing great Jersey Joe Walcott. Angelo was managing the “Beast” and got too physical and received a right to his jaw after being disqualified for a loss of his wrestler to Bearcat Wright.
Pages Fourteen to Sixteen
?Story about unstoppable Ray Stevens. Great pictures against Mitsu Arakawa, Guy Brunetti, and Argentina Rocca. A good story that lists a “who’s who” of he has defeated the prior two years. It mentions how he visits a psychiatrist monthly and that his real love is motorcycle racing. It throws out how he makes $100,000+ a year wrestling.
Pages Seventeen to Eighteen
Story about possible strongest wrestler in the world, Hercules Cortez. It is a short introductory piece to familiarize the wrestling fans who he is.
Pages Nineteen to Twenty One
Picture story of the ladies of wrestling: Kay Noble, Jessica Rogers, (young) Fabulous Moolah, Fran Gravette, Karen Kellogg, June Byers, Ann Casey, Judy Grable, Lola Luray, Brenda Scott, Marva Scott, Ramona Isbell and a great half page picture of Penny Banner.
Advertisement for the past seventeen issues available for 50 cents each. We learn quickly that the first issue was dated December 1961 and followed by twelve issues per year. Each has four to five lines of wrestlers featured in each issue.
Pages Two to Three
The Editor’s Mailbag: This section features letters about Gentleman Saul and the Von Brauners, Cowboy Bob Ellis, Ray Stevens, Al and Ramon Torres, Ivan and Karol Kalmikoff, bad referees, and Wilbur Snyder.
Page Four
Title Page for the magazine on top half. The bottom half has the "Photo of the Month" showing Buddy Rogers on his knees losing a strength battle against Dory Dixon.
Pages Five to Eight
Story about the Sheik taking care of an overzealous fan who pulled a knife on him. The story is told with a backdrop of pictures of Rudy Kay battling the Sheik in the ring.
Pages Nine to Eleven
?Story about The Von Brauners and Gentleman Saul Weingeroff being the #1 disgrace in wrestling. The story tells how the Von Brauners are booked and then “no show” or leave after the first fall. The article mentions specific promoters who have been damaged by their actions. The story is told around the backdrop of the Von Brauners wrestling Reggie Parks and Joe Scarpa.
Pages Twelve to Thirteen
Story about a special referee being pushed by Manager Martino Angelo. The problem was that the special referee was boxing great Jersey Joe Walcott. Angelo was managing the “Beast” and got too physical and received a right to his jaw after being disqualified for a loss of his wrestler to Bearcat Wright.
Pages Fourteen to Sixteen
?Story about unstoppable Ray Stevens. Great pictures against Mitsu Arakawa, Guy Brunetti, and Argentina Rocca. A good story that lists a “who’s who” of he has defeated the prior two years. It mentions how he visits a psychiatrist monthly and that his real love is motorcycle racing. It throws out how he makes $100,000+ a year wrestling.
Pages Seventeen to Eighteen
Story about possible strongest wrestler in the world, Hercules Cortez. It is a short introductory piece to familiarize the wrestling fans who he is.
Pages Nineteen to Twenty One
Picture story of the ladies of wrestling: Kay Noble, Jessica Rogers, (young) Fabulous Moolah, Fran Gravette, Karen Kellogg, June Byers, Ann Casey, Judy Grable, Lola Luray, Brenda Scott, Marva Scott, Ramona Isbell and a great half page picture of Penny Banner.
Pages Twenty-Two to Twenty-Four
Three page story saying, “For Ray Gunkel, Work is Fun”. It mentions he creates new holds and moves during a match. The story tells his bio including that his Dad was a professional ball player. Speaks of his Master’s Degree and great sports background at college. His biggest thrill was taking Verne Gagne’s national amateur title in 1945. A totally positive story of an all-american hero in the ring.
Page Twenty-Five
Tens of wrestling news snippets around the nation. Highlights include: Zorro unmasked in Jacksonville as Hans Mortier, Dick the Bruiser dating Jayne Mansfield, Couple Johnny Weaver and Penny Banner wrestling in Texas, Buddy Rogers bought a new home at $150,000+, Manager Bobby Davis forced to retire because of a heart attack in late January, Lou Albano also quit wrestling due to a heart attack, Dory Funk Jr recently made his debut, and Luther Lindsay is wrestling in Canada.
Pages Twenty-Six to Twenty-Nine
Story on why Lord Athol Layton left Cleveland. Tells the story how Cleveland wrestling has gone down since Layton left their area. The angle it pushes is that Cleveland wrestling flourished because the fans loved the British accent of Layton calling the matches. From time to time he would mix it up with a bad guy which led to record-breaking crowds. The story is told that Layton was attempting to become an American citizen but it dragged on to the point he moved to Canada to become an announcer there. The story tells how attendance declined 50% and promoter Pedro Martinez lost his TV show.
Pages Thirty to Thirty-One
"Fan Club Chatter". Highlights are: A Fred Carveth is president for four wrestlers: Ilio DiPaolo and the the Three Mat Musketeers, Ronnie Etchison, Dominic Bravo, and Don McClarity. Nature Boy Buddy Rogers has almost 300 members. Praise for the George and Sandy Scott fan club, the “Fling”, being a work of art. News mentioned that many fan clubs are now starting focusing on all wrestlers instead of a specific wrestler or tag-team.
Page Thirty-Two
Entitled "Rasslin Ramblin's". The editor tells of how the clash between Dick the Bruiser and John Paul Henning led to a sellout. Cute story about Bruiser and a rental car. Explanation why the cover is May-June instead of May leading to a big announcement about expanding soon. In closing, he names a "Who’s-Who" that will be featured next month and in future months.
Back Inside Cover
Memory Lane picture of Lee Wykoff.
Back Cover
Advertisement of selling five past Indianapolis Programs that sold in the arena for 25 cents. The reader can buy five for a dollar, but the advertiser decides on which five.
I was pleasantly surprised to read this thirty-two page magazine. I learned a lot and the photography was good.
In closing, I am always interested in obtaining pre-1970 magazines.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
Magazines: Chapter One.
Author: Terry Kent.
Published: June 14, 1028.
Article: #201.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Magazines: Chapter One.
Author: Terry Kent.
Published: June 14, 1028.
Article: #201.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Magazines: Chapter Two - Read Here.
Other articles by Terry can be Read Here.