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1931 professional wrestling w/ Jim Londos...
1931 professional wrestling w/ Jim Londos...
Item # 725287
June 30, 1931
THE NEW YORK TIMES, June 30, 1931
* Jim Londos "The Golden Greek"
* Early professional wrestling match
* World Heavyweight title defense
* vs. Ray Steele at Yankee Stadium
* From the city where it happened
The top of page 28 has a one column heading: "30,000 SEE LONDOS RETAIN MAT CROWN" 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: The June 29, 1931, showdown at Yankee Stadium stood as a monumental testament to the drawing power of Jim Londos, the "Golden Greek," who successfully defended his World Heavyweight Championship against the formidable Ray Steele. Orchestrated by promoter Jack Curley as a benefit for the Free Milk Fund for Babies, the event drew a staggering crowd of roughly 40,000 spectators—including New York City Mayor Jimmy Walker—and generated a massive $63,000 gate. The main event was a grueling, scientific marathon that lasted over an hour, pushing past the standard 11:00 PM athletic commission curfew to accommodate the intense struggle. Londos ultimately secured the victory at the 1 hour and 9-minute mark by utilizing a double armlock and half-nelson, cementing his status as the era's premier box-office attraction and one of the most technically proficient champions in wrestling history.
Category: The 20th Century
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$48.00
