PWHS Team
Chapter Four: Julie Hankinson - From Lewis To Styles
#PWHS #Interview
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Question 1
Julie, it is indeed my pleasure to interview you and allow everyone to get to know you better. We have talked about doing this several times, and now here we are. Thank you for your time and consideration. Where do you live presently, how long have you resided there, and what brought you there?
Answer
I am currently living in Malden, MA, and I have lived there for the past 40 years (with the exception of a 4 year spell in Everett, MA) My father was in the Navy, and I spent the first eight years of my life traveling to various locales (Homestead. Florida, Corpus Christi, TX, Naples, Italy) and when he retired, we returned to his childhood home and I have been there ever since.
Question 2
We sure appreciate the fine job you do in leading our PWHS Facebook Book group. I am sure there is an interesting story how all this came about. Please tell us how you came about heading up this portion of PWHS.
Answer
I started my own website because I felt that there was a dearth of wrestling history on the web. Every time I googled "wrestling history" I didn't find very much (although at one point, I found a chronology of wrestling that doesn't exist anymore.) Of course, this was before the excellent PWHS website was created, and before I knew about the PWHS Facebook group. I delved into doing research, which led me to reading wrestling books extensively. This is where my interest in wrestling history started. Shortly after I started working on the website, I met Jimmy. He provided so much support and constructive criticism. It was a huge help to me. Because of the vastness of the topic, I became overwhelmed, and I gave up on the website. The work I did currently exists on the PWHS website. [Editor's Note: Julie's Articles]
I started the PWHS Book group because I figured that it would be interesting for people to discuss wrestling books, and no other wrestling book group existed on FB (although I later discovered that there was one, but it was devoted to wrestling instructional books and MMA books.) I invited a good deal of authors and historians from my friends list because I wanted them to be involved. The group really picked up, and the results pleased me beyond my expectations. I have really enjoyed the discussions that have come about.
Question 3
Julie, tell us about your family and the places you have lived over the years. Has that played a part in learning about different territories?
Answer
I do not believe that my formative years have really taught me about the territories. I was too young to be aware of it.
Question 4
There are so many different types of books written about pro wrestling. What have been some of your favorite reads been so far, and why specifically?
Answer
My favorite reads so far: Scott Beekman's Ringside, as it emerged me into the history of pro wrestling. It was the first book I read when I was doing my research. I spent a lot of time with it.
I also spent a lot of time with From Milo to Londos, which I frequently inter-library loaned from the Boston Public Library. Although it was a classic, I eventually realized that it relied mostly on kayfabe.
Any book by Tim Hornbaker. I was really taken with Capitol Wrestling, and although I struggled with National Wrestling Alliance, I was eventually able to return to it and finish it. I really appreciated the work that went into both books, which were extensively researched.
Any book by Nathan Hatton. The focus of his works is rather narrow, which allows him to cover the topics on a microscopic level. I am really impressed with his work.
Question 5
Since we have the "book expert", please allow me (and countless others) to find out more about the reading material that's out there. I would be safe in saying that your interview will get many people interested into reading books that they never have, or only on a limited manner. You are about to increase the great discussions in the Book Page.
Tell us what "Ringside" is all about. How would it benefit us to read it?
Answer
Ringside is an excellent retrospective of wrestling history, that covers wrestling from its origins in caveman times through Greece and Rome, the styles that developed in Europe, and wrestling in the United States. It has an excellent biography of William Muldoon and covers figures such as Frank Gotch, Ed Lewis, Joe Stecher, etc. One chapter covers wrestling in the "gimmick" days of the 1930s. The book's coverage extends to the 1980s.
Question 6
Though leaning toward kayfabe, what does Milo to Londos cover?
Answer
Milo to Londos was written in the 1930s. It also covers wrestling from its origins, and perhaps the best part of the book is its recounting of the legend of the Afghan wrestler Rustun. Following that, it is devoted to wrestling in the United States, and it played a large part in creating the legend that surrounded William Muldoon.
Question 7
Why should I read "Capitol Wrestling"? Does it detail how the older promoters handled the business?
Answer
Yes, Capitol Wrestling does cover older promoters. It traces the WWF/WWE through its origins, detailing the roles that Jess McMahon and Vince McMahon Sr. played in building the promotion, as well as Toots Mondt. It is an excellent read, and more accessible than some of Tim Hornbaker's other works.
Question 8
What books have been written by Nathan Hatton, and what specifically are the "narrow" subjects he writes about?
Answer
Nathan Hatton primarily writes about Canada. Thrashing Seasons covers wrestling in Manitoba, and Rugged Game covers the Lakehead region of Ontario. Both books are researched extensively, and are clearly written despite the scholarly nature to them.
Question 9
Who would you say are your top 10 favorite wrestlers of all time?
Answer
I have taken a liking to "scientific" or "technical" wrestling. If I could choose ten practitioners, they would be:
Ed "Strangler" Lewis - Perhaps the best scientific wrestler of all time.
Lou Thesz - A protegee of Ed Lewis, and obviously well-respected for his grappling ability.
Billy Robinson - A product of the Wigan, England wrestling tradition, and a great grappler and instructor.
Kurt Angle - His Olympic wrestling background plays a large part of his gimmick with the WWE, but it has assisted him in becoming one of the greatest grapplers of all time.
AJ Styles - A versatile grappler who can do it all. Submission holds play a big part in his repertoire. I believe he is the best wrestler around today.
Chris Benoit - Despite the controversy surrounding him, I believe he was an outstanding wrestler. He influenced many other technical wrestlers, including Daniel Bryan.
Dean Malenko - Known as the "Man of 1000 holds", his matches with Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit were legendary.
Daniel Bryan - Has claimed to know hundreds of submissions, and to be able to reverse as many. Innovative grappler.
Minoru Suzuki - Trained by Karl Gotch, he is the most feared wrestler in New Japan Pro Wrestling. He has great grappling skills and a mean streak to match.
Zack Sabre Jr. - An innovative grappler who jumps on the opportunity to find submissions.
Question 10
Tell us a little about yourself and family. What have you done for a living over the years.
Answer
As far as myself, I am the daughter of a Navy Vet and a native of Rotenberg auf der Fulda, Germany. I have two sisters. My mother passed away last year, and we recently went to Germany to pay tribute to her.
Life has been hard for me over the years, dealing with bipolar disorder, but I have fought through it. I mostly did clerical work after college, but I was able to find my calling, and now I am a professional librarian.
That was a lot to talk about! Thank you for giving me this opportunity, Terry.
Terry Kent
It has been a REAL pleasure, and you just make me want to go research, research, research! Thank you Julie.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
Interview with Julie Hankinson.
Interviewer: Terry Kent.
Published: January 17, 2019.
PWHS Team Interview: #4.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
Interview with Julie Hankinson.
Interviewer: Terry Kent.
Published: January 17, 2019.
PWHS Team Interview: #4.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
An Interview with Harry Grover by Terry Kent - Read Here.
An interview with Mark D. Robinson by Terry Kent - Read Here.
Other interviews on the #PWHS website can be Read Here.