1930 professional wrestling w/ Jim Londos...
Item # 725827
January 14, 1930
THE NEW YORK TIMES, Jan. 14, 1930
* Early Jim Londos "The Golden Greek"
* Early professional wrestling match
* vs. Joe Stocco at 71st Regiment Armory
* From the city where it happened
The top of page 33 has a one column heading: "STOCCO IS THROWN TO MAT BY LONDOS" with subhead. (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 56 pages, rag edition in nice condition.
background: On the night of January 13, 1930, the 71st Regiment Armory served as the stage for a critical masterclass in professional wrestling as Jim Londos squared off against the formidable Joe Stocco. According to contemporary reports from the following morning, the "Golden Greek" utilized his legendary agility and superior conditioning to overcome Stocco’s renowned scientific grappling and leg-lock expertise. This specific encounter was a vital component of promoter Jack Curley’s grand elimination tournament, designed to solidify a single, undisputed champion during a period of deep industry fragmentation. The match drew a massive "turn-away" crowd of approximately 10,000 spectators, a feat that essentially forced the hand of New York athletic commissions to acknowledge Londos as the premier attraction in the sport. By defeating a technician of Stocco's caliber in such a high-pressure environment, Londos effectively cleared his final hurdle on the path to his historic title victory over Dick Shikat later that June, marking the Armory bout as the night "The Golden Greek" proved he was a true cultural phenomenon rather than just a regional favorite.
* Early Jim Londos "The Golden Greek"
* Early professional wrestling match
* vs. Joe Stocco at 71st Regiment Armory
* From the city where it happened
The top of page 33 has a one column heading: "STOCCO IS THROWN TO MAT BY LONDOS" with subhead. (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 56 pages, rag edition in nice condition.
background: On the night of January 13, 1930, the 71st Regiment Armory served as the stage for a critical masterclass in professional wrestling as Jim Londos squared off against the formidable Joe Stocco. According to contemporary reports from the following morning, the "Golden Greek" utilized his legendary agility and superior conditioning to overcome Stocco’s renowned scientific grappling and leg-lock expertise. This specific encounter was a vital component of promoter Jack Curley’s grand elimination tournament, designed to solidify a single, undisputed champion during a period of deep industry fragmentation. The match drew a massive "turn-away" crowd of approximately 10,000 spectators, a feat that essentially forced the hand of New York athletic commissions to acknowledge Londos as the premier attraction in the sport. By defeating a technician of Stocco's caliber in such a high-pressure environment, Londos effectively cleared his final hurdle on the path to his historic title victory over Dick Shikat later that June, marking the Armory bout as the night "The Golden Greek" proved he was a true cultural phenomenon rather than just a regional favorite.
Category: The 20th Century
