Hawaii, United States of America: 1937
#PWHS #Results #NorthAmerica #USA #Hawaii #HI #Honolulu #CatchWrestling #CACC #JiuJitsu
JANUARY 1937
JANUARY 5, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Promoter: Al Karasick
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Attendance: 4,000
Referees: "Big Boy" Clement & Bull Campbell
1 - Rusty Westcoatt Vs. Jack Holland,
Draw
2 - Harry Demetral def. Tomy Mead
3 - Chief Thunderbird def. Don "Doc" McKenzie
4 - Red Scorpion Vs. Arjam Singh,
Draw
Notes:
Singh weighed 265lbs.
Scorpion weighed 228lbs.
JANUARY 12, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Referees: "Big Boy" Clement & Walter King
1 - Arjan Singh def. Tommy Mead
2 - Jack Holland def. Harry Demetral
3 - Rusty Westcoatt def. Don "Doc" McKenzie
4 - Chief Thunderbird def. Red Scorpion
Notes:
The Thunderbird-Scorpion and Westcoatt-McKenzie bouts were billed as double main events.
This was the Scorpion’s first loss and he was forced to remove his mask.
His identity was announced as Jack McCarthy of Spencer, Iowa.
JANUARY 19, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Referees: Ernie Andrade & "Big Boy" Clement
1 - Don "Doc" McKenzie def. Tommy Mead,
Disqualification
2 - Rusty Westcoatt def. Jack Holland
3 - Arjan Singh Vs. Jack McCarthy "Former Red Scorpion",
Draw
4 - Chief Thunderbird def. Harry Demetral
JANUARY 26, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Referees: Ernie Andrade & Bob "Totem" Anderson
1 - Abel "Kahuku" Rodrigues def. Sammy Sugai
2 - "Big Boy" Clement def. Walter King
3 - Don "Doc" McKenzie Vs. Jack Holland,
Draw
4 - Rusty Westcoatt def. Tommy Mead,
Forfeit
5 - Rough House Championship of the Islands
Harry Demetral def. Jack McCarthy
Notes:
Mead was a substitute for Chief Thunderbird.
Mead was unable to continue.
Demetral-McCarthy and Westcoatt=Thunderbird had been billed as double main events.
Thunderbird reportedly came down with ptomaine poisoning and was unable to appear.
Westcoatt “all but tore the head off the shoulders of Tommy Mead, as he connected with a driving flying dropkick that sent Mead crashing over the top rope and into the ringside.” - The Advertiser
There was no referee in the ring for the Demetral-McCarthy “no-holds-barred” match.
Andrade and Anderson were stationed outside the ring and ended up brawling with the former masked man.
FEBRUARY 1937
FEBRUARY 2, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Promoter: Al Karasick
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Referee: "Totem" Anderson
1 - Middleweight Belt Elimination Tournament
Benny Kim def. Curley Freedman "The One Man Gang"
2 - Tommy Mead def. "Big Boy" Clement
3 - Harry Demetral Vs. Jack Holland,
Draw
4 - Rusty Westcoatt def. Don "Doc" McKenzie
5 - Chief Thunderbird def. Jack McCarthy
FEBRUARY 9, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Referee: Ernie Andrade
1 - Abel "Kahuku" Rodrigues def. "Totem" Anderson
2 - Don "Doc" McKenzie Vs. Tommy Mead,
Draw
3 - Arjan Singh def. Harry Demetral
3 - "Dynamite" Johnny Wood def. Jack Holland
4 - Chief Thunderbird def. Rusty Westcoatt
Notes:
Wood is billed as the protégé of Walter Miller.
FEBRUARY 16, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Ernie Adrade
1 - Don Carver def. Abel "Kahuku" Rodrigues
2 - Rusty Westcoatt Vs. Jack Holland,
Draw
3 - Johnny Wood def. Tommy Mead
4 - Rough House Rules
Don "Doc" McKenzie def. Harry Demetral
5 - Arjan Singh def. Chief Thunderbird
FEBRUARY 23, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
1 - Torchy Smith def. Walter King
2 - Battle Royal
Rusty Westcoatt & Tommy Mead def. Johnny Wood, Arjan Singh, Chief Thunderbird, Don "Doc" McKenzie, Harry Demetral & Jack Holland
3 - Johnny Wood def. Tommy Mead
4 - Chief Thunderbird def. Don "Doc" McKenzie
5 - Battle Royal Finalists
Rusty Westcoatt def. Tommy Mead
Notes:
The contestants for the main event and the semi-final were selected by the order of elimination in the battle royal.
Smith, a Schofield Barracks soldier was making his local debut.
MARCH 1937
MARCH 2, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Promoter: Al Karasick
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Referees: Johnny Wood & Jack Holland
1 - Don "Doc" Holland def. Jack Holland
2 - Harry Demetral def. Tommy Mead
3 - Arjan Singh def. Rusty Westcoatt
4 - Tony Felice def. Chief Thunderbird
Notes:
Wood was having a difficult time controlling Felice
Karasick stopped the bout and sent Holland in to take over the officiating duties.
MARCH 9, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Referee: Ernie Andrade
1 - Don Carver Vs. Albert Carvalho,
Draw
2 - Torchy Smith def. Abel "Kahuku" Rodrigues
3 - Arjan Singh def. Don "Doc" McKenzie
4 - Tommy Mead def. Johnny Wood
5 - Rough House Championship
Tony Felice def. Harry Demetral (c)
NEW CHAMPION
MARCH 16, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Promoter: Al Karasick
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Attendance: 2,000
Referees: Ernie Andrade & Walter King
1 - Don Carver def. Albert Carvalho
2 - "Big Boy" Clement def. Torchy Smith
3 - Harry Demetral Vs. Johnny Wood,
Draw
4 - Tommy Mead def. Don "Doc" McKenzie
5 - Rough House Championship
Tony Felice (c) def. Arjan Singh,
Disqualification - Two Falls to One
Notes:
With one fall apiece, Singh went amok and had to be subdued by officials and fellow wrestlers.
Felice was defending his “rough house championship.”
Karasick plans to rematch them.
MARCH 18, 1937 (THURSDAY)
Honolulu, Hawaii
Al Karasick’s wife and daughter arrived in Honolulu
They plan to make the Islands their home.
MARCH 23, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Attendance: 2,000
Referee Jack Dod
1 - Don Carver Vs. Torchy Smith,
Draw
2 - Johnny Wood def. Don "Doc" McKenzie
3 - Harry Demetral def. Tommy Mead
4 - Tony Felice def. Arjan Singh,
Disqualification
[Dod was an old time wrestler]
MARCH 24, 1937 (WEDNESDAY)
Sumo Wrestling Tournament: Opening Day
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Attendance: 3,000
Tickets: $0.75 & $1.25
1 - Hirosegawa def. Ohgaki
2 - Hirosegawa def. Sato
3 - Sunayama def. Komori
4 - Shirayama def. Sunayama
Notes:
This is the first day of the tournament that finishes on March 27, 1937.
Japan's Foremost Amateur Champs Vs. Leading Local Sumo Wrestlers.
Teilnehmer / Participants
Local Wrestlers
Sunayama, [William "Big Boy" Naumu]
Hirosegawa. [Aukai Naumu]
Japanese Wrestlers
Ohgaki,
Sato,
Komori,
Asano,
Kimura,
Shirayama.
Hawaiian champion W. Naumu and his cousin A. Naumu were local favorites.
Japan led after the first night’s competition.
MARCH 25, 1937 (THURSDAY)
Sumo Wrestling Tournament: Penultimate Day
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Attendance: 2,000
1 - Sunayama def. Kimura
2 - Hirosegawa def. Konori
3 - Kimura def. Hirosegawa
4 - Asano def. Sunayama
Notes:
The Japanese team continued their lead in the competition against local wrestlers.
Al Karasick, Arjan Singh, Walter King and Jack Dod were in attendance.
MARCH 27, 1937 (SATURDAY)
Sumo Wrestling Tournament: Final Day
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
1 - Sunayama def. Sato
2 - Shiroyamam def. Hirosegawa
Notes:
This is the final day of the tournament that started on March 24, 2019.
The Japanese collegiate team will tour other Hawaiian islands.
Platzierung / Placement:
1. Japanese Team.
MARCH 30, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Referees: Ernie Andrade & "Big Boy" Clement
1 - Walter King def. Torchy Smith
2 - John Spellman def. Harry Demetral
3 - Bob Kruse def. Jack Forsgren,
Disqualification
4 - Tony Felice def. Hal Rumberg
[John Spellman, 2x AAU wrestling champion, 1924 Olympic wrestling gold medalist, NFL football player, pro wrestler.
Wrestling in Africa at the outbreak of WWII, he was unable to return to the US.
Spellman remained in Africa for the remainder of his life, working as a mining engineer. He died in Zimbabwe in 1966.]
APRIL 1937
APRIL 6, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
1 - Don Carver def. Walter King
2 - Jack Forsgren def. Harry Demetral
3 - Tony Felice def. John Spellman
4 - Arjan Singh Vs. Bob Kruse,
Draw
APRIL 13, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Promoter: AL Karasick
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Tickets: $0.30, $0.55, $0.60 & $1.10
Referee: "Big Boy" Clement
1 - Twenty Minutes - One Fall
Walter King def. Abel "Kahuku" Rodrigues
2 - Twenty Minutes - One Fall
Harry Demetral def. Ernie Andrade
3 - Forty-Five Minute Time Limit - Two out of Three Falls
Jack Forsgren def. John Spellman
4 - No Time Limit - Two out of Three Falls - Fight to A Finish
Bob Kruse def. Tony Felice,
Disqualification
Notes:
Andrade was a substitute for Charlie "Marine" Nissen.
The Felice-Kruse bout ended with a wild free-for-all involving the ref, spectators, ushers and policemen.
Nissen, billed as “the champion of the Marine Corps”, was called out on maneuvers and unable to appear.
APRIL 17, 1937 (SATURDAY)
Pot Luck Show
Princess Theater, Honolulu, Hawaii
Notes:
Entertainment included “Totem” Anderson in a one-man wrestling bout.
APRIL 20, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Referees: Ernie Andrade & "Big Boy" Clement
1 - Abel "Kahuku" Rodrigues def. Jimmy Sukimaya
2 - Bull Toyama def. Walter King
3 - John Spellman Vs. Harry Demetral,
Draw
4 - Ted "King Kong" Cox def. Jack Forsgren
APRIL 23, 1937 (FRIDAY)
Pioneer Mill Arena, Lahaina, Muai, Hawaii
1 - Bob Kruse Vs. "Big Boy" Clement,
Result Unknown
2 - Tony Felice Vs. "Big Boy" Naumu,
Result Unknown
3 - Ted "King Kong" Cox Vs. Harry Demetral,
Result Unknown
APRIL 24, 1937 (SATURDAY)
Wailuku, Muai, Hawaii
1 - "Farmer" def. "Big Boy" Naumu
2 - Ted "King Kong" Cox def. Bob Kruse
3 - Tony Felice def. Harry Demetral
[None of the wrestlers currently in Al Karasick’s troupe were known as “Farmer.”
This may be a newspaper typo]
APRIL 27, 1937 (SATURDAY)
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Ernie Andrade
1 - Walter King def. Albert Carvalho
2 - Don Carver Vs. Bull Toyama
3 - Juan Selassie Amnerus "the Black Panther" (of Ethiopia) Vs. Bob Kruse,
Draw
4 - "Big Boy" Naumu Sunayama def. Harry Demetral
5 - Ted "King Kong" Cox def. Tony Felice,
Two Falls to One
Notes:
Said to be Naumu’s pro wrestling debut in Honolulu.
The Hawaiian Islands sumo champion was trained by Al Karasick.
Amnerus was billed as from Ethiopia.
[Based on publicity photos it appears he was pioneer African-American wrestler Jack Claybourne.
It was mentioned that he also used the name Jack Nelson.
A contemporary black wrestler King Kong Clayton also used the moniker Tiger Jack Nelson.
Clayton was wrestling in Montana at this time.
Both claimed to have been former boxers]
APRIL 30, 1937 (FRIDAY)
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu based promoter Al Karasick plans to begin holding cards in Manila and Hong Kong
MAY 1937
MAY 4, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Referee: Ernie Andrade
1 - Bull Toyama def. Torchy Smith
2 - Juan Selassie Amnerus "The Black Panther" def. Harry Demetral
3 - Tony Felice def. Floyd Marshall
4 - Chief Little Wolf def. Ted "King Kong" Cox,
Disqualification
MAY 11, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Referee: Ernie Andrade
1 - "Big Boy" Clement def. Bull Toyama
2 - "Big Boy" Naumu def. Harry Demetral
3 - Bob Kruse def. Juan Selassie Amnerus "The Black Panther
4 - Chief Little Wolf def. Tony Felice
5 - Floyd Marshall def. Ted "King Kong" Cox,
Disqualification
MAY 13, 1937 (THURSDAY)
Honolulu, Hawaii
Ted Thye is visiting here
Notes:
Thye is the Portland, Oregon promoter and former champion wrestler.
He is on his way to New Zealand.
He is representing world middleweight boxing champion Freddie Steele in negotiations for a fight in Honolulu.
MAY 18, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
1 - Albert Carvalho def. Walter Gomez
2 - "Big Boy" Clement Vs. Walter King,
Draw
3 - Sailor Jack Arnold def. Juan Selassie Amneru "The Black Panther"
4 - Chief Little Wolf Vs. Floyd Marshall,
Draw
5 - Rough House Championship
Tony Felice def. Ted "King Kong" Cox (c)
NEW CHAMPION
Notes:
Also featured music by the USS Maryland band.
MAY 25, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Referees: Ernie Andrade & Walter King
1 - Abel "Kahuku" Rodrigues def. Torchy Smith,
Disqualification
2 - "Big Boy" Naumu def. Juan Selassie Amnerus
3 - Tony Felice def. Sailor Jack Arnold
4 - Floyd Marshall def. Chief Little Wolf
Notes:
Notes: Movie star Arline Judge was in attendance.
Little Wolf crashed out of the ring and landed in her lap…as he toppled to the floor she began a countdown.
JUNE 1937
JUNE 1, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Attendance: 3,500
Referees: Ernie Andrade & Johnny Solomon
1 - Bull Toyama def. Abel "Kahuka" Rodrigues
2 - Battle Royal
Floyd Marshall & Sailor Jack Arnold def. Chief Little Wolf, Sandor Vary, Juan Selassie Amnerus, "Big Boy" Clement & "Big Boy" Naumu
3 - Juan Selassie Amnerus "The Black Panther" def. "Big Boy" Clement
4 - Chief Little Wolf Vs. Sandor Vary,
Draw
5 - Battle Royal Finalists
Floyd Marshall def. Sailor Jack Arnold
Notes:
The order of elimination picks the remaining matches.
JUNE 8, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Tickets: $0.25, $0.55, $0.60 & $1.10
Referees: Amnerus Selassie & Ernie Andrade
1 - Jiu-Jitsu
Bull Toyama def. "Big Bou" Clement
2 - Handicap - Naumu to Throw Rodrigues & Joy in Thirty Minutes
"Big Boy" Naumu def. Abel "Kahuku" Rodrigues & Coulson "Biggie" Joy
(00:21:00)
3 - Forty-Five Minutes - Two out of Three Falls
Sailor Jack Arnold def. Sandor Vary
4 - No Time Limit - Two out of Three Falls
Floyd Marshall def. Chief Little Wolf
Notes:
In the jiu-jitsu bout, Toyama “threw Clement, who outweighed him 35 pounds, from every possible angle, finally crashing him to the mat for the count with a swinging overhand throw.” - The Advertiser
“Biggie” Joy was a local football star.
JUNE 15, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Referees: Watler King & "Big Boy" Clement
1 - Juan Selassie Amnerus "The Black Panther" def. "Biggie" Joy,
Disqualification
2 - Sandor Vary Vs. Floyd Marshall,
Draw
3 - Ray Richards def. Sailor Jack Arnold
4 - Chief Little Wolf def. "Big Boy" Naumu
JUNE 22, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Attendance: 2,000
Referees: Ernie Andrade & "Biggie" Joy
1 - Torchy Smith def. Albert "Young" Carvalho
2 - Count Francis Fouche def. Juan Selassie Amnerus "The Black Panther"
3 - Sandor Vary def. Sailor Jack Arnold
4 - Ray Richards def. Floyd Marshall
Notes:
Fouche was a dietician and gave lectures and cooking demonstrations.
He also claimed to have been a circus trapeze artist.
JUNE 29, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Attendance: 2,000
Referees: Ernie Andrade & "Biggie" Joy
1 - "Big Boy" Clement def. Juan Selassie Amnerus "The Black Panther"
2 - "Big Boy" Naumu Vs. Sailor Jack Arnold,
Draw
3 - Count Francis Fouche def. Sandor Vary
4 - Ed "Strangler" Lewis def. Ray Richards,
Decision
Notes:
Lewis arrived in Honolulu on June 28, 1937.
He said this was the first stop on a world tour that would also take him to Australia, New Zealand, and India, where he planned to face the Great Gama.
Lewis is accompanied by his fourth wife Bobbie Lee West.
They were married January 11, 1937, in Yuma, Arizona.
West was described as a “full-blooded Cherokee Indian.”
JULY 1937
JULY 6, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
1 - "Biggie Joy" def. Juan Selassie Amnerus "The Black Panther"
2 - Ray Richards def. "Big Boy" Naumu
3 - Sailor Jack Arnold def. Sandor Vary
4 - Ed "Strangler" Lewis def. Count Francis Fouche
Notes:
This is said to be Amnerus’ last card in Hawaii.
[By mid-month he is back wrestling all over the continental US as Jack Claybourne, the Black Panther]
JULY 8, 1937 (THURSDAY)
Free Children's Show
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
1 - Exhibition
Ed "Strangler" Lewis Vs. Count Francis Fouche,
Result Unknown
Notes:
Also featured speeches by Ed “Strangler” Lewis and swimming champion Duke Kahanamoku, Jiu-jitsu and Hawaiian wrestling exhibitions, plus music by the Royal Hawaiian Band.
JULY 13, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Promoter: Al Karasick
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Tickets: $0.25, $0.55, $0.60 & $1.10
Attendance: 2,000
Referees: Ernie Andrade & "Big Boy" Clement
1 - Walter King Vs. Bull Toyama
2 - Sailor Jack Arnold def. "Big Boy" Clement
3 - "Big Boy" Naumu def. Sandor Vary
4 - Handicap - Lewis To Throw Richards & Fouche in Ninety Minutes
Count Francis Fouche & Ray Richards def. Ed "Strangler" Lewis
Disqualification
Notes:
Lewis tossed Fouche.
Richards threw Lewis, but the fall was disputed.
Lewis brawled with ref Andrade.
Karasick overturned the decision and brought in “Big Boy” Clement to officiate the remainder of the bout.
Richard was awarded a fall by disqualification.
JULY 14, 1937 (WEDNESDAY)
Honolulu, Hawaii
Ed “Strangler” Lewis is heading to New Zealand
Notes:
He says his tour will take him to India searching for “an honest wrestling match” - The Star-Bulletin
Lewis has set his sights on challenging the Great Gama.
JULY 20, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawai
Attendance: 2,000
Referees: "Biggie" Joy & Ernie Andrade
1 - Fred "Popeye" McKenzie def. Abel "Kahuku" Rodrigues
2 - Bob Jessen "Bearded Montana Sheep-Herder" def. Sailor Jack Arnold
3 - Count Francis Fouche def. Scotty Dawkins,
Disqualification
4 - Herbie "Butch" Freeman def. Ray Richards
JULY 26, 1937 (MONDAY)
All Soldier Wrestling Card
Schofield Barracks, Honolulu, Hawaii
Attendance: 7,000
Referee: Vincent Semprevino
1 - ???? Vs. ????,
Result Unknown
2 - ???? Vs. ????,
Result Unknown
3 - ???? Vs. ????,
Result Unknown
4 - ???? Vs. ????,
Result Unknown
5 - ???? Vs. ????,
Result Unknown
6 - ???? Vs. ????,
Result Unknown
7 - Battle Royal
8 - Battle Royal
Notes:
The soldiers were trained by Torchy Smith, who also competed in the event.
The matches were described as “a cross between the rough and tumble, knock ‘em down and drag ‘em out brand of commercial ‘rasslin’ and the clean cut type of collegiate gym class wrestling.” - The Star-Bulletin
JULY 27, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Promoter: Al Karasick
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Referee: Ernie Andrade
1 - Rassling Referees' Elimination Bout
"Big Boy" Clement def. "Biggie" Joy
2 - "Big Boy" Naumu Vs. Salor Jack Arnold,
Draw
3 - Bob Jessen def. Scotty Dawkins,
Disqualification
4 - Herbie Freeman def. Count Francis Fouche
AUGUST 1937
AUGUST 3, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
1 - Walter King def. Albert Carvalho
2 - Bob Jessen def. Sailor Jack Arnold
3 - "Big Boy" Naumu def. Scotty Dawkins,
Disqualification
4 - Herbie Freeman def. Count Francis Fouche
AUGUST 10, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Referee: Ernie Andrade
1 - "Biggie" Joy def. Abel "Kahuku" Rodrigues
2 - Sailor Jack Jensen Vs. Count Francis Fouche,
Draw (00:30:00)
3 - "Big Boy" Naumu def. Herbie Freeman,
Disqualification
4 - Scotty Dawkns def. Bob Jessen
AUGUST 17, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Promoter: Al Karasick
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Tickets: $0.25, $0.55, $0.60 & $1.10
1 - Twenty Minutes - One Fall
Fred "Popeye" McKenzie def. Walter King
2 - Thirty Minutes - One Fall
Ernie Petersen def. Sailor Jack Arnold
3 - Forty-Five Minutes - Two out of Three Falls
Bob Jessen Vs. Count Francis Fouche,
Draw
4 - Rough House Championship of the Mid Pacific
Herbie Freeman def. Scotty Dawkins
Notes:
Karasick is celebrating his one year anniversary as a Honolulu promoter.
AUGUST 24, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Referees: Ernie Andrade & "Big Boy" Clement
1 - Bull Toyama def. Fred "Popeye" McKenzie
2 - Battle Royal
Count Francis Fouche & Bob Jessen def. Ernie Petersen, Scotty Dawkins, "Big Boy" Sunayuma & Herbie Freeman
3 - "Big Boy" Naumu Vs. Sailor Jack Arnold,
Draw
4 - Ernie Petersen def. Scotty Dawkins
5 - Battle Royal Finalists
Count Francis Fouche def. Bob Jessen
Notes:
The contestants for the main event, semi-final and special event were selected by the order of elimination from the battle royal.
Both referees were in the ring during the battle royal.
Freeman “never had a chance to display his wares, as all the lads pounced upon him at the opening gong and pounded him to the canvas when Sunayama [Naumu] applied a Japanese leg lock with such force that Freeman’s leg was sprained and he was unable to come back to wrestle the special event.” - The Advertiser
Arnold was a substitute for Freeman.
AUGUST 31, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Referee: Ernie Andrade
1 - Ernie Petersen Vs. Bob Jessen,
Draw
2 - Dan "Doc" McKenzie def. Sailor Jack Arnold
3 - Herbie Freeman def. "Big Boy" Naumu
4 - Scotty Dawkins def. Count Francis Fouche
SEPTEMBER 1937
SEPTEMBER 1, 1937 (WEDNESDAY)
Honolulu, Hawaii
J.C. Marsh is heading back to the mainland after a brief stop in Honolulu
Notes:
He was returning from a New Zealand tour with Marin Plestina, Steve Savage and Frank Brunowicz.
Marsh, an old-time wrestler and manager, formerly associated with Farmer Burns and Frank Gotch, had been involved in the local mat promotion a few years ago.
SEPTEMBER 7, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Referee: Ernie Andrade
1 - Walter King def. Bull Toyama
2 - Bob Jessen def. Count Francis Fouche
3 - Ernie Petersen def. Scotty Dawkins
4 - Herbie Freeman Vs. Tommy Mead,
No Contest
Notes:
Freeman challenged Mead to meet in “a no time limit, no holds barred, no referee and winner take all match.”
Mead accepted the defi.
SEPTEMBER 14, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Referee: Erie Petersen
1 - Bill Sinclair def Al Carvalho
2 - Bob Jessen Vs. Dan "Doc" McKenzie,
Draw
3 - "Big Boy" Naumu def. Scotty Dawkins
4 - Tommy Mead def. Herbie Freeman
SEPTEMBER 21, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Promoter: Al Karasick
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Tickets: $0.25, $0.55, $0.60 & $1.10
Referees: "Big Boy" Naumu & "Big Boy" Clement
1 - Hawaiian Heavyweight Championship Elimination Tournament - One Fall - Twenty Minutes
Ernie Andrade def. Whiskers "Biggie" Joy
2 - One Fall - Thirty Minutes
Ernie Petersen def. Sailor Jack Arnold
3 - Two out of Three Falls - One Hour
Herbie Freeman def. Tommy Mead
4 - Two out of Three Falls - One Hour
Oki Shikina def. Dan "Doc" McKenzie
Notes:
Local martial artist and pro wrestler Shikina returns to Hawaii.
He’s been wrestling on the mainland for the past two years.
Karasick started an elimination tournament to crown a Hawaiian champion.
The tourney is open to all Hawaiian wrestlers-pro or amateur.
”You don’t have to be a pro wrestler to get in the contest...local huskies who would like to try their hand in pro wrestling” were urged to contact the promoter.
Karasick will present a belt to the winner.
Besides Andrade and Joy, Shikina, Naumu and Clement have all expressed their readiness to participate. - The Advertiser
SEPTEMBER 28, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Referee: Ernie Andrade
1 - Hawaiian Heavyweight Championship Elimination Tournament
"Big Boy" Clement def. Gust Steele,
Disqualification
2 - "Big Boy" Naumu Vs. Tommy Mead,
Draw
3 - Dan "Doc" McKenzie def. Herbie Freeman
4 - Oki Shikina def. Ernie Petersen
OCTOBER 1937
OCTOBER 5, 1937 (TUESDAY)
American Legion Benefit
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
1 - Hawaiian Heavyweight Championship Elimination Tournament
Mr. X def. "Big Boy" Clement
2 - Hawaiian Heavyweight Championship Elimination Tournament
Abel "Kahuku" Rodrigues def. Henry K. Pa
3 - "Big Boy" Naumu def. Dan "Doc" McKenzie
4 - Ernie Petersen def. Tommy Mead
Notes:
Pa was described as a “giant young heavyweight protégé of Al Karasick.”
Mr. X wore a mask and posted a bond guaranteeing that he had been wrestling as a pro for twelve years.
He was said to be from Big island.
OCTOBER 12, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
1 - Hawaiian Heavyweight Championship Elimination Tournament - One Fall - Twenty Minutes
Abel (Kahuku) Rodrigues def. Bill Sinclair
2 - Hawaiian Heavyweight Championship Elimination Tournament - One Fall - Twenty Minutes
Ernie Andrade def. Manuel (Kahuku) Rodrigues
3 - Thirty Minutes - One Fall
Sailor Jack Arnold Vs. Dan "Doc" McKenzie,
Draw
4 - Forty-Five Minutes - Two out of Three Falls
"Big Boy" Naumu def. Butch Freeman
5 - One Hour Time Limit - Two out of Three Falls
Tommy Mead def. Ernie Petersen
Notes:
Naumu won both falls by forcing submissions with a Japanese leg bar.
Manuel Rodrigues, 50 years old, was Abel’s father.
OCTOBER 19, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Promoter: Al Karasick
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Referee: Sailor Jack Arnold
1 - Hawaiian Heavyweight Championship Elimination Tournament
Mr. X def. Abel "Kahuku" Rodrigues
2 - Hawaiian Heavyweight Championship Elimination Tournament - Semi Final
"Big Boy" Naumu def. Ernie Andrade
3 - Ernie Petersen def. Dan "Doc" McKenzie
4 - Vic Christy def. Tommy Mead
Notes:
Rusty Westcoatt, wrestling in New Zealand, sent a telegram to Karasick stating that he’s heading home and wants to compete in the Hawaiian championship tournament.
OCTOBER 26, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Referee: Sailor Jack Arnold
1 - Bill Sinclair def. Bull Toyama
2 - Hawaiian Heavyweight Championship Elimination Tournament - Semi Final
"Big Boy" Naumu def. Mr. X
3 - Vic Christy def. Jack Gacek
4 - Oki Shikina def. Tommy Mead
Notes:
Naumu tried unsuccessfully to unmask his opponent.
Shikina had been out for a couple weeks, recovering from a tonsillectomy.
OCTOBER 27, 1937 (WEDNESDAY)
Schofield Barracks, Honolulu, Hawaii
Attendance: 11,000
Referees: Ernie Andrade & Torchy Smith
1 - Soldier Bout
Stanley Wagonis "The Terrible Turk" def. Torchy Smith,
Disqualification
2 - Soldier Bout
Bill Albanese Vs. Tex Miller,
Draw
3 - Battle Royal
Vic Christy Vs. Jack Gacek Vs. Ernie Petersen Vs. Dan "Doc" McKenzie Vs. Sailor Jack Arnold,
Result Unknown
4 - Vic Christy def. Dan "Doc" McKenzie,
Disqualification
5 - Jack Gacek def. Ernie Petersen
Notes:
Smith is billed as “Schofield’s pride and joy.”
Both referees were in the ring for the battle royal.
OCTOBER 29, 1937 (FRIDAY)
Honolulu, Hawaii
It's reported here that Ed "Strangler" Lewis has left here
Notes:
He was accompanied by his wife and Mr. and Mrs. Ted Thye, have left India for London.
Lewis had been offered a $25,000 guarantee for a “world championship contest” with the Great Gama, but no money had been posted.
Gama reportedly “decided to retire, just before the bout was to take place.” - The Advertiser
NOVEMBER 1937
NOVEMBER 2, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Referee: Ernie Andrade
1 - Ernie Petersen def. Tommy Mead
2 - Rusty Westcoatt def. Dan "Doc" McKenzie
3 - Floyd Marshall Vs. Jack Gacek,
Draw
4 - Oki Shikina def. Vic Christy
Notes:
Westcoatt, “Honolulu’s own son” claims to be the “Hawaiian territorial champion.”
NOVEMBER 4, 1937 (THURSDAY)
Honolulu, Hawaii
Schofield Barracks soldier and pro wrestler Torchy Smith is out with a challenge to meet all comers “under any rules, with or without a referee”
NOVEMBER 9, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Referee: Ernie Andrade
1 - Sailor Jack Arnold def. Dan "Doc" McKenzie
2 - Floyd Marshall def. Tommy Mead
3 - Jack Gacek def. Ernie Petersen,
Forfeit
4 - Hawaiian Heavyweight Championship Elimination Tournament - Semi Final
Rusty Westcoatt def. "Big Boy" Naumu,
Two Falls to One
Notes:
Petersen was unable to continue.
The winner of the Westcoatt-Naumu contest will meet Oki Shikina for the championship.
After losing the first fall to a Japanese leg bar, Westcoatt won two straight falls with flying dropkicks.
NOVEMBER 16, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Attendance: 4,500
1 - Floyd Marshall Vs. "Big Boy" Naumu,
Draw
2 - Jack Gacek def. Sailor Jack Arnold
3 - Glen Wade def. Tommy Mead
4 - Hawaiian Heavyweight Championship Elimination Tournament - Final
Oki Shikina def. Rusty Westcoatt
(00:45:00) - NEW CHAMPION
Notes:
There was also a hand-balancing act by The Three Romeros.
Shikina threw Westcoatt with an arm bar.
There were no additional falls and Shikina was declared the winner.
He “became the first champion of Hawaii’s professional wrestlers.”
The belt was presented by Duke Kahanamoka.
Wade was billed as a “John Pesek protégé.”
NOVEMBER 23, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Referees: Ernie Andrade & "Big Boy" Clement
1 - "Big Boy" Clement def. Bill Sinclair
2 - Tommy Mead Vs. Sailor Jack Arnold,
Draw
3 - Jack Gacek def. Ernie Petersen,
Forfeit
4 - Floyd Marshall def. Glen Wade
Notes:
Petersen was unable to continue.
DECEMBER 1937
DECEMBER 7, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
1 - Bull Toyama Vs. Albert Carvalho,
Draw
2 - "Big Boy" Naumu def. Ernie Petersen
3 - Glen Wade def. Floyd Marshall
4 - Jack Gacek def. Oki Shikina
DECEMBER 11, 1937 (SATURDAY)
Honolulu, Hawaii
Ed “Strangler” Lewis returned to New York from Europe
Notes:
He announced his retirement from pro wrestling.
”Lewis said that he decided to quit because the fans no longer wanted to see scientific wrestling.” - The Advertiser
DECEMBER 14, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Ernie Andrade
1 - Jack Freitas def. Albert Carvalho
2 - Jiu-Jitsu
Bull Toyama def. Fushiyama
(00:08:00)
3 - "Big Boy" Naumu Vs. Floyd Marshall,
Draw
4 - Matros Kirilenko "The Terrible Cossack" def. Glen Wade
5 - Hawaiian Championship
Oki Shikina def. Jack Gacek
Notes:
Kirilenko was billed as “the international champion of Russia.”
In the special jiu-jitsu bout, Toyama forced Fushiyama to give up with a Japanese arm bar.
DECEMBER 21, 1937 (TUESDAY)
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Attendane: 1,500
1 - Jack Freitas Vs. Bull Toyama,
Draw
2 - Sailor Jack Arnold def. Ernie Petersen
3 - Matros Kirilenko def. Jack Gacek
4 - Oki Shikina Vs Glen Wade,
Draw
DECEMBER 28, 1937 (TUESDAY)
One Night Tournament Derby
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Referees: Bill Sinclair & Ernie Andrade
1 - Young Daruma Vs. Bill Sinclair,
Draw
2 - Ernie Petersen def. Ernie Andrade
3 - Jack Gacek Vs. Matros Kirilenko,
Draw
4 - Oki Shikina def. Glen Wade
5 - Ernie Petersen def. "Big Boy" Naumu
Notes:
Teilnehmer / Participants
Ernie Petersen,
Oki Shikina,
Glen Wade,
"Big Boy" Naumu,
Matros Kirilenko,
Jack Gacek,
Ernie Andrade.
The tourney consisted of the names of seven wrestlers being placed in a derby hat.
A name was chosen by a fan selected from the audience and then the crowd voted on his opponent.
The last name picked out of the hat met the winner of the first match.
Daruma was billed as “the newly crowned Japanese light heavyweight sumo champion.”
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
All research has been completed by the Professional Wrestling Historical Society or by a trusted contributor.
Information came from contemporary newspapers unless otherwise stated.
Results from Hawaii, United States of America: 1937.
Updated: April 4, 2019.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
All research has been completed by the Professional Wrestling Historical Society or by a trusted contributor.
Information came from contemporary newspapers unless otherwise stated.
Results from Hawaii, United States of America: 1937.
Updated: April 4, 2019.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
From Mark Hewitt:
"The Honolulu research files are dedicated to the memory of the late J Michael Kenyon.'JMK was “the daddy of ‘em all' in the pro wrestling research field. J Michael passed away May 3, 2017, at his home in Port Orford, OR. I never met the great man personally but we corresponded for years via email. JMK was a tremendous source of information on any and all topics, wrestling, boxing, barnstorming baseball and basketball teams, history, current events, etc. In our last email exchange, a week before he died, he commented that he had been very busy working on a basketball book project and stated, 'I’m living vicariously through your researches these days.' He added, 'I got word through the grapevine that the Spelling Police are interested in taking a HARD squint at all your 1930s Hawno-woo-woo (Elmer Fudd pronunciation) stuph…don’t be surprised if there is a late night knock at your laboratory door.'"
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