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Greco Roman and Catch as Catch Can, epic battles and Carny scams. Why were there two Strangler Lewises? What’s a Hippodrome? Find out when you listen, learn, and party with Nick and Heidi Howitzer: The Pro Wrestling History Nerds!
Episodes
Tuesday Jul 19, 2022
Tuesday Jul 19, 2022
In 1922 an effort was make to put Jack Dempsey in the ring with Ed "Strangler" Lewis. Was it a money making scheme or a legitimate attempt at mixed style competition? Listen to Nick and Chango sort it out as they explore the year 1922 in pro wrestling!
*CONTENT WARNING*
If discussions of sexual abuse is upsetting, skip 19:10-24:41.
-Primary Sources
-Ed Lewis: Facts Within A Myth, by Steve Yohe
-The Nebraska Tigerman- The John Pesek Story", by Geoff Pesek
-Fall Guys: The Barnums of Bounce, by Marcus Griffin
-Double-Crossing The Gold Dust Trio: Stanislaus Zbyszko's Last Hurrah, By Ken Zimmerman Jr.
Tuesday Jul 05, 2022
Tuesday Jul 05, 2022
The year 1921 was a wild one. Crowds rioted as Ed "Strangler" Lewis picked up wins, Stanislaus Zbyszko continued to dominate, and Billy Sandow makes a deal with "The Nebraska Tiger Man" John Pesek to keep outside talent in line.
It's a tale of violence, vendettas, riots, and even a little pro wrestling.
-Primary Sources
-Ed Lewis: Facts Within A Myth, by Steve Yohe
-The Nebraska Tigerman- The John Pesek Story", by Geoff Pesek
-Fall Guys: The Barnums of Bounce, by Marcus Griffin
-Double-Crossing The Gold Dust Trio: Stanislaus Zbyszko's Last Hurrah, By Ken Zimmerman Jr.
Tuesday Jun 21, 2022
Tuesday Jun 21, 2022
Zbyszko is coming, Hurray! Hurroo!
What happens when Stanislaus Zbyszko returns from War Torn Europe? How did the Infamous Black Socks scandal affect pro wrestling? Why can't Marin Plestina get a booking?
Listen to Nick and Chango discuss the year 1920 in pro wrestling!
-Primary Sources
-Ed Lewis: Facts Within A Myth, by Steve Yohe
-The Nebraska Tigerman- The John Pesek Story", by Geoff Pesek
-Fall Guys: The Barnums of Bounce, by Marcus Griffin
-Double-Crossing The Gold Dust Trio: Stanislaus Zbyszko's Last Hurrah, By Ken Zimmerman Jr.
Tuesday Jun 07, 2022
Tuesday Jun 07, 2022
The outbreak of The Great War puts the wrestling world into chaos, as Champion Earl Caddock enlists, and contenders Ed "Strangler Lewis", Joe Stecher, and Wladek Zbyszko are drafted! What happens when deals are made, alliances are formed, and Jack Curley takes over wrestling? Listen to our latest episode and find out!
-Primary Sources
-Ed Lewis: Facts Within A Myth, by Steve Yohe
-Fall Guys: The Barnums of Bounce, by Marcus Griffin
-American Newspaper archives, various
Tuesday May 24, 2022
Tuesday May 24, 2022
Nick and Chango are back to talk about the intersection of Ed Lewis and Joe Stecher's careers, the power of talking shit, swindling money marks, and even a little wrestling!
It's part two of our look at the career of Ed "Strangler" Lewis.
Primary Sources-
-Ed Lewis: Facts Within A Myth, by Steve Yohe
-Fall Guys: The Barnums of Bounce, by Marcus Griffin
-Masked Marvel to the Rescue, by Ken Zimmerman Jr & Tamara Zimmerman
-Newspaper Archives, various
Tuesday May 10, 2022
Tuesday May 10, 2022
How did Bob Fredrick wrestle Ed Lewis? Why did the sinking of the Titanic lead to violence over a movie reel? Why did yet another riot nearly break out after a match?
Find out when Nick and Chango discuss the early life and career of Ed "Strangler" Lewis!
-Primary Sources
-Ed Lewis: Facts Within A Myth, by Steve Yohe
-Fall Guys: The Barnums of Bounce, by Marcus Griffin
-Showman, by William Brady.
-American Newspaper archives, various
Tuesday Apr 26, 2022
Tuesday Apr 26, 2022
Today Nick and Chango talk about why Elbows aren't cool, but wearing overalls to the circus definitely is!
It's a tales of shoots, works, shooting on workers, working with shooters, and how the Spanish Flu saved John Pesek from the front line of The Great War.
Hit play, damnit!
Primary Sources:
-The Nebraska Tigerman- The John Pesek Story", by Geoff Pesek
-Selected articles from Library of Congress newspaper archives.
Tuesday Apr 12, 2022
Tuesday Apr 12, 2022
Childhood trauma! Midwestern tragedy! Showbiz Razzle Dazzle! Corrupt referees! And maybe even a little wrestling!
Nick and Chango discuss the early life and career of "The Nebraska Tiger Man" John Pesek!
Primary Sources:
-The Nebraska Tigerman- The John Pesek Story", by Geoff Pesek
-Selected articles from Library of Congress newspaper archives.
Tuesday Mar 29, 2022
Tuesday Mar 29, 2022
Joe Stecher was the king of Catch Wrestling, with the title firmly around his waist. But what happens when the competition starts catching up, and the personal demons start dragging him down?
Listen to Nick and Chango discuss submission wrestling, the continued influence of Frank Gotch, Bipolar disorder, and humanity's incapacity to process history without turning it into storytelling.
Party!
Primary Sources:
-sited articles from newspaper archives.
--Wrestling Time Capsule: "Scissors King" Joe Stecher, Wrestling's Forgotten Champion", by Brian Solomon. https://www.themidcarders.com/latest/b6eyi4m98z4kr2uqcmwl16polhg4tj
Tuesday Mar 15, 2022
Tuesday Mar 15, 2022
He was the hottest young star in the post Gotch vs Hackenschmidt era. He was the master of the scissor hold. He was a technical prodigy. So why couldn't he escape the shadow of Frank Gotch?
Join Nick and Chango for a discussion of farm life, long limbs, technical strategies, and pro wrestling madness. It's the story of Joe Stecher!
-Sources
-Noted Archive articles.
-Masked Marvel to the Rescue, by Ken Zimmerman jr and Tamara Zimmerman.
-Wrestling Time Capsule: "Scissors King" Joe Stecher, Wrestling's Forgotten Champion", by Brian Solomon. https://www.themidcarders.com/latest/b6eyi4m98z4kr2uqcmwl16polhg4tj