1931 professional wrestling w/ Jim Londos...
Item # 725761
November 17, 1931
THE NEW YORK TIMES, Nov. 17, 1931
* Jim Londos "The Golden Greek"
* Early professional wrestling match
* World Heavyweight title defense
* vs. George Calza at Madison Square Garden
* From the city where it happened
The top of page 35 has a banner heading: "17,000 See Londos Keep Wrestling Title by Defeating Calza in the Garden" with subheads. (see images)
I suspect this to be an extremely rare item because there was really no reason to save it at the time.
Complete with all 52 pages, rag edition in very nice condition.
background: On the evening of November 16, 1931, the legendary "Golden Greek" Jim Londos once again proved why he was the undisputed king of the Depression-era ring by defeating the formidable Italian challenger George Calza at a packed Madison Square Garden. Before a captivated audience of roughly 17,000 spectators, the two athletes engaged in a grueling, 49-minute "scientific" masterclass that eschewed modern theatrics for a display of pure endurance and grappling technique. Calza, a powerhouse with a Greco-Roman background, initially frustrated the champion with his sheer strength, but Londos’ superior agility and psychological pacing eventually turned the tide. The match concluded when Londos executed a decisive series of maneuvers to secure the pinfall, successfully defending his World Heavyweight Championship and generating a staggering gate of over $35,000—a testament to his status as a cultural phenomenon who could sell out arenas even in the bleakest economic times.
* Jim Londos "The Golden Greek"
* Early professional wrestling match
* World Heavyweight title defense
* vs. George Calza at Madison Square Garden
* From the city where it happened
The top of page 35 has a banner heading: "17,000 See Londos Keep Wrestling Title by Defeating Calza in the Garden" with subheads. (see images)
I suspect this to be an extremely rare item because there was really no reason to save it at the time.
Complete with all 52 pages, rag edition in very nice condition.
background: On the evening of November 16, 1931, the legendary "Golden Greek" Jim Londos once again proved why he was the undisputed king of the Depression-era ring by defeating the formidable Italian challenger George Calza at a packed Madison Square Garden. Before a captivated audience of roughly 17,000 spectators, the two athletes engaged in a grueling, 49-minute "scientific" masterclass that eschewed modern theatrics for a display of pure endurance and grappling technique. Calza, a powerhouse with a Greco-Roman background, initially frustrated the champion with his sheer strength, but Londos’ superior agility and psychological pacing eventually turned the tide. The match concluded when Londos executed a decisive series of maneuvers to secure the pinfall, successfully defending his World Heavyweight Championship and generating a staggering gate of over $35,000—a testament to his status as a cultural phenomenon who could sell out arenas even in the bleakest economic times.
Category: The 20th Century











