Latest Pickups

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by jefferyepayne

Picked this up at the Chantilly, VA show a few weeks ago. It's an advertising piece for Royal Tailors and features Frank Gotch who was the first American to be the professional wrestling champion of the world in 1908. This was back when pro wrestling was a legitimate sport and key matchups used to fill up baseball stadiums with fans.

jeff

Jeff, Frank Gotch was one of my google searches for a long time. I was trying to find more information about this guy (Ed Gaffney) who officiated at least one of his matches in Seattle, and who at one time was also a wrestler for the Seattle Athletic Club, where this photo was probably taken. My interest in Gaffney was purely because the photograph was taken by Curtis & Guptill, whose photographs and gravures I collect.

I also just picked up this 'Ringside' RPPC that shows Gotch.

Story on the Gotch/Roller Seattle fight that Gaffney officiated: Gotch put Roller in a 'bone-breaking hold...a perfectly fair hold, but it is devilish in its cruelty....those at the ringside could hear Ihe bones of the foot and ankle crush and snap. Eddie Gaffney, the referee on hands and knees near the wrestlers, could not stand it. "Let up a little, Gotch, you will break his leg." The champion eased the pressure, and with a tremendous kick with his free foot Roller got free, but he was beaten right there. That awful torture to which he was subjected took the sap out of him, and he jumped 'around the ring like a lame cock who had been gaffed'.

[Exhibitman]

Very nice Mayo!

I picked this up at the National in a trade. Only the 2nd one I'd ever seen.



There is no governmental entity called the "Betting Commissioners of New York"; it was really an illegal policy game based on the fight that happened to use this slip as the ticket.

Ironically, there was one in the recent Heritage auction too.

[eastonfalcon19]

Picked up this Mickey Landis signed postcard. Has anybody ever heard of him?

[D. Bergin]

Pretty obscure fighter. Looks like a Eastern Pennsylvania area clubfighter type.

http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?hum...9934&cat=boxer

[Bugsy]

Tommy Gibbons vaudeville ad.

[Exhibitman]

Any idea where that vaudeville piece is from?

I already posted this in a different thread but WTF, I am so pleased to get it that I might as well do it here too!



I have no idea what this is, other than it is old and came from a European seller:

[D. Bergin]

I'm guessing the Gibbons piece is from his 1924 trip to England, to fight Jack Bloomfield.

[Bugsy]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Any idea where that vaudeville piece is from?

It is from a stint at the Pantages Theater in Minneapolis. It opened in 1916 and is still in use today.

Gibbons was from St. Paul, so doing an event at a venue across the river wouldn't have been unusual. While he didn't make much from the 1923 title fight with Jack Dempsey, he did pretty well with the vaudeville shows.

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by Bugsy

It is from a stint at the Pantages Theater in Minneapolis. It opened in 1916 and is still in use today.

Gibbons was from St. Paul, so doing an event at a venue across the river wouldn't have been unusual. While he didn't make much from the 1923 title fight with Jack Dempsey, he did pretty well with the vaudeville shows.

I stand corrected then. The Pathe News reference on top of all the European sounding supporting acts led me to believe it was UK based.

[Bugsy]

Here is a little more info on Gibbons' show at the Pantages:

[jefferyepayne]

Originally Posted by Runscott

Jeff, Frank Gotch was one of my google searches for a long time. I was trying to find more information about this guy (Ed Gaffney) who officiated at least one of his matches in Seattle, and who at one time was also a wrestler for the Seattle Athletic Club, where this photo was probably taken. My interest in Gaffney was purely because the photograph was taken by Curtis & Guptill, whose photographs and gravures I collect.

I also just picked up this 'Ringside' RPPC that shows Gotch.

Story on the Gotch/Roller Seattle fight that Gaffney officiated: Gotch put Roller in a 'bone-breaking hold...a perfectly fair hold, but it is devilish in its cruelty....those at the ringside could hear Ihe bones of the foot and ankle crush and snap. Eddie Gaffney, the referee on hands and knees near the wrestlers, could not stand it. "Let up a little, Gotch, you will break his leg." The champion eased the pressure, and with a tremendous kick with his free foot Roller got free, but he was beaten right there. That awful torture to which he was subjected took the sap out of him, and he jumped 'around the ring like a lame cock who had been gaffed'.

Hey Scott. Don't know how I missed this response late last year. I'm always looking for Frank Gotch pieces. Can you post a picture of your RPPC? What other sets is Gotch known to be in?

jeff

[jthorst75]

[Ron]

Can not see a makers mark (possibly worn off) but look like the mitts in a 1904 spalding catalogue

[smokelessjoe]

Max Baer vs Jimmy Braddock - Indiana Sport Avion
Jim Londos vs George zaharias - Indiana Sport Avion

Cards are actually whiter than this, not sure what I have going on with my scanner...

[HasselhoffsCheeseburger]

Those are nice, Shawn. I've got a group of those from both the Indiana Sport and Indiana Sport-Avion sets, including Joe Louis. They're from 1936, if you're curious.

[smokelessjoe]

Thank you Arthur - I have quite a few of both of the Indiana Series.

Here are some you guys might like?

Sociedade Industrial:

Gene Tunney
Big Boy Peterson
Tony Canzoneri
Sammy Mandell

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by HasselhoffsCheeseburger

Those are nice, Shawn. I've got a group of those from both the Indiana Sport and Indiana Sport-Avion sets, including Joe Louis. They're from 1936, if you're curious.

There's also a babe Ruth card.