Maryland, United States of America: 1933-1939
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1933
AUGUST 1933
AUGUST 15, 1933 (TUESDAY)
Baltimore, Maryland
1 - George Zaharias (of Pueblo, Colo.) def. Dick Raines (of Dallas, Texas)
(00:32:50)
2 - Gino Garibaldi (of Italy) def. Abe Coleman (of Kansas City),
Decision (00:15:30)
Note:
Both Garibaldi and Coleman were knocked out cold, but Coleman fell to the outside of the ring.
1934
AUGUST 1934
AUGUST 14, 1934 (TUESDAY)
Baltimore, Maryland
1 - Ed Don George (of New York) def. Sandor Szabo (of Hungary)
(01:00:47)
1935 (no results)
1936 (no results)
1937
SEPTEMBER 1937
SEPTEMBER 30, 1937 (THURSDAY)
Baltimore, Maryland
"Why Title Was Vacated
'WE DECIDED to recognize Monday's winner as the champion after a close study of the rassling situation,' Stanley Scherr, chairman of the [Maryland State Athletic] commission, said yesterday in making the announcement. 'At the present time Maryland recognized Bronko Nagurski. The title passed on to Nagurski after he pinned Dean Detton.
'Some weeks ago Nagurski's services were offered the police show committee, and they were accepted, provided he would agree to meet Londos. It developed that the match could not be arranged.
'The National Wrestling Association recently recognized John Pesek, a Middle West rassler, with the understanding that Pesek would get into shape and defend his title within 90 days. Maryland should recognize a man whose services are available and who is willing to meet all comers.'" - The Sun
OCTOBER 1937
OCTOBER 4, 1937 (MONDAY)
Baltimore Police Benefit Fights
Promotion: Police Beneficial Association
Promoter: Ed Contos
Fifth Regiment Armory (Hoffman street), Baltimore, Maryland
Attendance: 11,592
Gate: $26,227
1 - Yvon Robert Vs. Billy Bartush,
Cancelled [?]
2 - Women
Clara Mortensen def. Mary Gardini
3 - Ali Baba def. George Koverly
4 - Ed Don George def. Jack Marshell
5 - [Maryland] State Athletic Commission World Heavyweight Championship Belt
Jim Londos 'the Awesome Greek' def. George Poncheff
(01:05:49) - NEW CHAMPION
Notes:
The day of the show it's reported 15,000 people are expected to show up.
"An hour before the start of the matches a bleacher section on the east side of the armory collapsed, hurling more than 300 men and women to the floor"
Around 45 people received first-aid and 4 had to go to hospital.
11,107 of those in attendance were paying customers.
Inspector Thomas J. Mooney announced he official figure of $21,244 net receipts.
$26,227 was the gross.
It's said no gate in Baltimore has ever done so well.
A comparison was made to Gus "Americus" Schoenlein versus Joe Stecher, which drew $15,000 in receipts.
The Police Beneficial Association will receive 45 per cent.
It's said to be Pencheff's US debut.
Pencheff is billed as the Australian wrestling champ.
It's said the winner of Londos-Pencheff will be presented with a gold belt.
Londos won with an airplane spin and bodyslam.
There is no mention of a belt being awarded to Londos in the match report.
It's said Londos will rest here for several days.
Pencheff is said to be sailing to England on Thursday.
It's said following the success of this Contos would like to use this venue going forwad.
His normal venue, Carlin's Arena, burned down last week.
The manager of the Century Athletic Club, Lou Fisher, and Les Sponsler, do not deem it a good place for bouts though.
1938
OCTOBER 1938
OCTOBER 25, 1938 (TUESDAY)
Baltimore, Maryland
1 - Jim Londos Vs. Joe Savoldi,
Draw
1939
FEBRUARY 1939
FEBRUARY 14, 1939 (TUESDAY)
Carlin's Park, Baltimore, Maryland
Attendance: 4,000
Announcer: Nate Bass
1 - George Pencheff def. Jack Hader
(00:12:00)
2 - Bibber McCoy def. Pete Peterson
(00:09:00)
3 - Nick Campofreda def. Red Ryan
(00:19:15)
4 - Bad Boy Joe Brown def. Jim Christakos
(00:18:00)
5 - Mask Vs. [MSAC] World Heavyweight Championship
The Golden Terror Vs. Jim Londos (c),
Cancelled
6 - Two on One Handicap - Weatherly to Throw Zaharias & Wolf within Sixty Minutes
Bob Weartherly "The Golden Terror" def. George Zaharias & Chief Little Wolf
Notes:
As the Terror, Weatherly wore a black mask and full yellow gymnasium suit.
The Terror is described as a "303-pound roly-poly heavyweight."
Before the main event Bass announced "Jeemy [Londos] had decided to remain in Philadelphia."
It's said Londos sent a telegram at a late hour.
Londos claimed in his telegram that when he agreed to appear, Jack Dempsey was going to be the referee for the title match.
Dempsey could not appear as he had a prior engagement in Florida.
Fans were told they could either have their money or a free show in addition to this one, as a way to make up for Londos not appearing.
"The booing was terrific."
2,000 fans got a refund.
The fans who stayed were promised The Terry would face two opponents.
Stanley Scherr, chairman of the State Athletic Commission, and Ed Woelper, his colleague, then made an announcement.
They said Londos would be suspended for his failure to appear.
The Terror then entered the ring and said he wanted to claim the World Championship.
The commission decided as follows: "Title recognition has been withdrawn from Londos. He will be suspended until he meets the Terror. The Terror will be recognized as world champion in Maryland in the meantime."
The Terror was asked if he'd remove his mask.
He declined as he'd wrestled for 2 years with it on.
He did feel he owes it to the people to tell them who he is, as he's the champion.
"The Baltimore police have my name. When I was locked up here a couple of months ago I told the police I was Robert Weatherly. That's who I am. I am from Bristol, Tenn., and I've been rasslin' since 1932. I have worn a mask for two years. You can check the records and find that I rassled under the name of Weatherly in the early part of my career."
The Sun reported he had been identified as Bob Stewart, a former fighter, in New York.
FEBRUARY 20, 1939 (MONDAY)
Baltimore, Maryland
"The Boxing Commission met yesterday afternoon to investigate further the runout of Jeemy Londos last week. Londos was scheduled to meet the Golden Terror, but did not show up, and failed to notify the promoter and commission until the show was ready to start. Ray Fabiani, Philadelphia promoter, told the commission he had nothing to do with the runout. He denied he sought the match for his city.
Londos has promised to appear before the commission as soon as he is able to complete a series of matches in the Middle West. Londos insists the failure to have Jack Dempsey as the referee is the only angle to the affair.
Ed Contos, local promoter, admitted that he dickered with Dempsey to officiate, but said that the former heavyweight champion was unable to accept the officiating engagement here, and he so notified a representative of Londos in Philadelphia. The representative failed to get into touch with Londos, it was brought out." - The Sun
Notes:
In a separate article in the same paper, it was said the Golden Terror was still the champion.
Fabiani told the Maryland State Athletic Commission Chairman, Stanley Scherr, and Commissioner, Benjamin Woelper, Jr., that Londos was eager to wrestle the Golden Terror.
Fabiani continued that Londos and Lou Daro, California promoter and the man Londos is under contract with, left New York on the afternoon of February 14 for Baltimore. Somewhere after that Daro learned Dempsey would not be the referee. Daro advised Londos to back out of the show and the pair got off of the train at Philadelphia. According to Fabiani, Daro informed Contos of the non-appearance between 6:30 and 7:30PM.
Contos testified to the Commission he was not informed until 8PM.
Contos continued that he did not know of Daro's connection to Londos. He made the arrangements for the match through John Doyle, the Philadelphia booking agent. Contos put the blame onto Doyle, saying it was his failure to notify Londos of the change in referee.
FEBRUARY 23, 1939 (THURSDAY)
Baltimore, Maryland
"Had Maryland's suspension of Jim Londos last week for failure to wrestle the Golden Terror been automatic throughout the nation you can be sure Jim would have been here regardless of his troubles with Promoter Ed Contos over Jack Dempsey as referee or internal difficulties between the Greek and his handlers, Daro, Mondt and Fabiani.
Instead, Jim simply goes trouping through the Middle West and Canada, tossing the boys and collecting money while Maryland waits for his explanation." - The Evening Sun
FEBRUARY 24, 1939 (FRIDAY)
Baltimore, Maryland
Jim Londos meets with the Maryland State Athletic Commission
Notes:
Londos and Ed Contos, Baltimore promoter, both received fines of $100.
Permission was granted for a second match to be booked between Londos and the Golden Terror.
Londos had to post a $2,000 forfeit for his appearance.
The Commission demanded he be there by 3PM the day of the match, but Londos insisted he'd get there the day before.
The Terror also had to post a forfeit and agree to be there by 3PM the day of the show, and the 3PM rule will be ongoing for main event performers.
According to the Evening Sun, Londos said he was scared to face the 300-pounder, as the Terror has "hurt more wrestlers than any man in the game aand he insisted on an official of Jack Dempsey's strength."
The paper continued, "LONDOS ADDED HE WAS dreadfully sorry and anxious to make amends. His idea of making amends is to come to Baltimore next Thursday and throw the hooded Terror for the good fans of the city.
That's provided of course, they will pay their way into the arena so that the visit will be profitable."
The paper speculated that Londos' reason of Dempsey not appearing was "much hooey."
It believed the "COMBINE HAS INTERNAL TROUBLE."
"Either Lou Daro, Toots Mondt and Jim Londos deliberately embarrassed Ed Contos before a house full of enthusiastic customers to teach him a lesson for one reason or another.
Or there was internal trouble in the wrestling combine, which is run by Londos, Daro and Mondt.
I am inclined to believe the latter caused the fiasco here because there was much speculation over whether Londos would or would not wrestle Joe Savoldi two nights later in Toronto.
Had the Greek not shown up in Toronto a wide-open split in the wrestling gang was expected. But when Jim was there to put the former Notre Dame football star on the mat for the enjoyment of the customers, all was again well in the wrestling ranks.
The financial quarrel of Londos, Daro and Mondt was ended and the family was once more united."
FEBRUARY 28, 1939 (TUESDAY)
Baltimore, Maryland
It's reported Leon Balkan, associate of Rudy Dusek in New York, has applied for a license to promote wrestling
Notes:
Balkan and Dusek have aligned with Joe Wolfson, former associate of Ed Contos, Baltimore promoter.
Nick Nestor, former wrestler; Jim Ireland, one-time employee of the Commission and now an employee of Ed Contos; and Mannie Berg have also applied for licenses.
That makes it a total of 4 licenses being requested to run at the new sports center on Monroe street.
MARCH 1939
MARCH 1, 1939 (WEDNESDAY)
Baltimore, Maryland
It's reported Jim Londos is in hospital at St. Louis due to influenza
Notes:
The Golden Terror is also said to have suffered injuries in his match last night against Rudy Dusek.
Due to these issues the match set for tomorrow between Londos and Terror is postponed until Tuesday night.
Londos is listed as "heavyweight title claimant" in the associated press report from St. Louis.
MARCH 2, 1939 (THURSDAY)
Baltimore, Maryland
"LONDOS CHAMP OR CHALLENGER?
'WILL Londos be the champion or the challenger when he wrestles here?' asks a fan.
Londos' title recognition was withdrawn when he was suspended for failure to appear here two weeks ago. Now that he has been reinstated his championship has been restored. The Terror must be satisfied to play the role of challenger." - The Sun
[This is the first mention I have found of the title status. However, it would mean Londos has been again recognized as the champion since February 24, 1939]
MARCH 7, 1939 (TUESDAY)
Promoter: Ed Contos
Carlin's Park, Baltimore, Maryland
1 - Sandor Szabo def. Al Sparks
(00:14:15)
2 - George Pencheff def. Bad Boy Joe BRown
(00:25:20)
3 - Nick Campofreda def. Casey Berger
(00:27:16)
4 - Nanjo Singh def. Angelo Leone
(00:21:15)
5 - Chief Sanooke def. Jim Wright
(00:18:50)
6 - [Maryland] State Athletic Commission World Heavyweight Championship Vs. Mask
Jim Londos (c) Vs. The Golden Terror,
Draw (00:50:00)
Notes:
Szabo used a flying head scissors to win.
Pencheff won wiht a flying headlock.
Berger gave up when he could not break a hammerlock.
Singh used a "Hindu death lock (chin lock)" for the win.
It's said Londos blamed the weight difference for not being able to get the win.
Londos is still the champion following the bout.
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 Maryland, United States of America: 1933-1939.
Updated: June 7, 2020.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
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