Pro Wrestling in Chattanooga’s Memorial Auditorium 1950

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On January 5, 1950 Nick Gulas held his first card as a promoter in Chattanooga. The attendance was around 3,000 fans in Memorial Auditorium. For this first wrestling event, I reached out to Tim Dills, wrestling historian, to let me know a more complete picture of Chattanooga history and the Memorial Auditorium specifically. I asked him several questions including, “Did they have matches somewhere before Memorial Auditorium?” This was Tim’s reply:

“Nick Gulas closed in 1980. Jerry Jarrett ran Sept-Dec 80 at the Auditorium then Georgia Championship Wrestling ran the very end of ’80 into probably ’84 at the Auditorium. By ’84 the cards were less frequent but when they were held it was at the Auditorium. Continental ran there in mid-80’s, WCW/Crockett and WWF ran shows there as well.

The Auditorium is an old building, about 100 years old now. It was in decline by 1990 and at some point closed for renovation. Sometime in 90’s, it reopened. The renovation took away the floor space for a ring so the floor is all mostly fixed seating now. Ron West ran a show or two in the Auditorium during the late 90’s (97 or 98) but the ring had to be placed on the stage. When Smoky Mountain ran in the 90’s, they never ran a show in Chattanooga because the Auditorium was either undergoing renovation or they would have to put the ring on the stage (can’t recall).”

Then I asked him, How about before 1950? Was Gulas the promoter and where did they hold matches before Memorial? Have you any idea the seating capacity? 3000 were at the first card at Memorial. Tim’s reply:

“Various promoters before 1950 including Cowboy Luttrell for a time. Tom Humphreys was another promoter. Auditorium became the home fairly early but not sure when, late '20s or early '30s. They did run outdoor shows at times at Engal Stadium through the years. I know they ran shows at some theaters in the 1910s and '20s. Auditorium capacity I think was around 6100 when they put seats on the floor, otherwise I think it was around 5400. Current capacity is probably 4,500 but that is a guess. It’s still a great venue. I work for a community college and our yearly graduation is usually held there.”

Thursday, January 5, 1950 - First Card

In the main event Tex Riley defeated Buddy Knox in two straight falls. Tex had just began his Tennessee career and would stay in the area until he died of a heart attack in 1964, after wrestling in a match against the Von Brauners. Main eventer most of the time and he became popular tag partner with Len Rossi. Buddy Knox was a perennial villain, many times a masked villain - such as Masked Marvel or Mighty Yankee.

The Green Shadow had a draw with Ginger the wrestling bear. It appears this Green Shadow was not the famed Green Shadow, Pat Malone. On May 18 a Green Shadow was unmasked as Walter Sirios in a Mask versus Mask tag team match. Black Phantom and Bob Godfrey beat Billy Hixson and the Green Shadow. Ginger was unable to pin The Green Shadow in the allotted time.

Ralph Garibaldi over Les Welch. Ralph Garibaldi changed his name legally to his wrestling name in 1944 from Rocco Joseph Curcuru. Ralph had been a top name since the mid-30s. Welch was part of the famous Welch family that had three more brothers active also: Herb, Jack, and Roy. He was noted for being a tag team champion though very good single wrestler also.

Tom Mahoney over Johnny Long by disqualification. Tom wrestled from early '30s to mid '50s. Was in over one hundred cards in the Atlanta area. There were at least two Johnny Longs. I believe this was Fabulous Moolah’s husband, who she would soon divorce.

The Masked Black Phantom Storyline

On Wednesday, February 8, 1950, a wrestler called The Masked Black Phantom made his first appearance in Chattanooga. In his first match he defeated Don Keene in two straight falls to win the World Junior Heavyweight Championship. On Thursday, February 23, 1950, Roy Welch defeated Black Phantom but by disqualification. In a rematch in front of 3,500 people on Thursday, March 9, 1950, Black Phantom beat Roy Welch. However, on Thursday, March 16, 1950, Tex Riley defeated Black Phantom in two straight falls. The Black Phantom continued to battle Tex Riley, Herb Welch and teamed with Rowdy Red Roberts in a successful tag team. Lou Thesz wrestled him in a World Title versus Mask match (Thursday, May 11, 1950) and Phantom lost by disqualification, but refused to unmask since he was not pinned. The following week (Thursday, May 18, 1950) he was in a tag team with his mask and the Green Shadow’s mask on the line. The Green Shadow’s team lost and Walter Sirois was revealed to the crowd. On Wednesday, May 24, 1950, The Black Phantom even defeated Ginger the wrestling bear. Phantom kept on rolling without defeat and beating Eddie Gossett (became Eddie Graham later), Roy Welch, Big Ben Morgan, and even regained the World Junior Heavyweight Title by defeating Don McIntyre two straight falls (Thursday, September 14, 1950). Eddie Gossett and Phantom were building a good feud and Gossett even lost or had a draw in boxing matches with him, with the Phantom’s mask on the line. The Phantom continued his winning ways until Thursday, January 18, 1951, when he lost a Hair versus Mask World Junior Heavyweight match against Tex Riley. The Black Phantom was finally unmasked as Art Nelson. At this point, Art had been wrestling only a couple years but would go on to wrestle over thirty years mainly as a heel, masked and not. His run had been almost for a year and brought many exciting matches to the good folks in Chattanooga. He would return as Art Nelson in a few months.

Other Notable Events During 1950

Thursday, January 12, 1950, Lillian Ellison defeated Celia Blevins. Lillian was later known as Slave Girl Moolah and then as Fabulous Moolah. Jack Larue was on the card also and he and Celia were listed as husband and wife.

Thursday, January 19, 1950, Martin Levy, billed at 640 pounds defeated Bob Godfrey. This had to be one of his final matches as even athletic commissions were starting to pull his wrestling license. It has been said he passed away weighing around 900 pounds. He wrestled in most places as The Blimp or as Blimp Levy.

Thursday, February 23, 1950, The French Angel, Maurice Tillet, visited Chattanooga one time and defeated Tiger Joe Marsh. This was in the latter part of his career as his health began to fail by the mid 1940s. At age 17 he began to suffer from acromegaly which causes increased bone growth in the hands, feet, and face. Many think he was the idea for the character Shrek.

[Editor's Note: You can read more about Maurice Tillet and Shrek over at Death Mask of Maurice Tillet, The Angel]

Thursday, March 9, 1950, Nell Stewart defeated six other ladies to win a Seven-Girl Wrestle Royal. The other ladies were Carol Cook, Millie Stafford, Beverly Lehmer, Betty Lee, Marilyn Martin, and Dot Dotson. Nell would be considered one of the top lady wrestlers in the near future.

Thursday, July 6, 1950, in a World Title match, Lou Thesz defeated a wrestler called the Masked Superman. He was unmasked as Bobby Lane. Thank you to Michael Norris, who confirmed this Lane was Roberto Pico, who was better known as Pancho Villa. Pico was the husband of Ann Laverne. They had a son together, who also wrestled as Bobby Lane, but did not get his start until 1969.

Thursday, July 27, 1950, in a Ladies World Title Match the great Mildred Burke defeated Dot Dotson, who was subbing for June Byers.

Thursday, September 14, 1950, Ralph Garibaldi and the Great Humphrey missed the event. Garibaldi did not appear because his daughter had been hit by a mail truck.

Wednesday, October 11, 1950, Cora Combs defeated Ella Waldek in a top ladies match.

Wednesday, November 15, 1950, Mars Bennett defeated Ella Waldek in top ladies match. Mars was a circus worker, stunt woman, and wrestler noted for her strength.

Additionally, The Masked Bat was part of a tag team that won Southern Tag Team Titles. However, after the match Roy Welch (loser) unmasked The Bat as Sid Nabors. Sid Nabors later wrestled as Danny Dusek. Sidney Nabors was the real name for Danny Dusek with Sidney being his middle name.

Thursday, November 30, 1950, Ivan Kalmikoff made two appearances and had a draw with John Swenski in his first match. The following week he lost to Don McIntyre. Dot Dotson also defeated Ellen Olson.

Thursday, December 7, 1950, Farmer Jones and his pig appeared for two weeks. In the first week he defeated Sid Nabors. His second appearance was a draw in a tag team match.

End of 1950.

A big thank you goes out to Tim Dills who originally compiled the results used for this article.
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Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.

Pro Wrestling in Chattanooga’s Memorial Auditorium 1950.
Author: Terry Kent.
​Published: August 3, 2020.
Article: #245.
​Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Other articles by Terry can be Read Here.