[dblyn]

About a year ago I picked up a lot of about 45 autographs from the 1930's.  Almost all of these autographs are of wrestlers most of us have never heard of though after doing some research online, I was able to verify that most of these wrestlers have matches on resord in the midwest leagues of the time.  I'll be honest, I don't really know what to do with the autographs of Roughouse Nelson, The Mystery Man, Tony Romelli - The Boulder Badboy, Nanyo (Japanese Wrestler), Emilio Firpo (Italian Wrestler) and a host of others.  I did pull autographs of Spider Kelly - a well-known boxer and Robert Wadlow, the Worlds Tallest Man (check Guinness).  I have since sold the Wadlow autograph but is there interest for these 40-odd wrestling autographs?  Does anyone know of a site that lists wrestlers of the 30's and 40's??  I'd like to hear from anyone who is interested in this topic.  It's difficult to find information at this time, but anything would help.. 

[supposedscammer]

I have been told by my family (I never met him because he passed away from a heart attack before I was born) that my grandfather on my fathers side once was a wrestler. he retired and open a resturant in NYC and if I rememebr right, it was called Bela Hampe or something like that. Anyways, I need to see if they have any pictures or stuff. I have never really done much to find out or googled it.

[biggie2911]

I am a big time wrestling fan.  And I'm kinda a amateur historian, and collector.  If you could send me the names I would love to find out more about them.  And maybe even take them off your hands.

[biggie2911]

I did find out Emilio Firpo wrestled in the 30's in the Atlanta area. And The Mystery Man was George Bollas. He also wrestled as The Zebra kid.  He had notable feuds with such great as Verne Gagne, Antonino Rocca, Buddy Rogers, and even the Grandfather of Japanese wrestling Rikodozan.  He also held many title in the AWA< and traveled all the teritories and worldwide.  Let me know the other names it would be fun finding out who they were.

[dblyn]

Well, like I said, there are about 40 or so.  Here are a few of the names:  Whitey Brexler, Homer Wright, Al Haemmerle, Lloyd Chung Vallina, Tommy Mannin, Billy Scharbert, Babe Metheny, Claude Woodson, Milo Occhi, Lee Wing, Kid Grogan and Sammy Klun.

There are others but that's probably enough to start with.  Some of these fellows I have found on the net, some I haven't.  All were active during the 30's. 

[biggie2911]

Otto "Whitey" Brexler was a referee in the St. Louis area in the 40's, Homer wright was a wrestler from the Ozarks.  During the day we worked as a dam worker. it looks like billy Scharbert wrestled in the stlouis are in the 40's.  He seemed to be a main contender, and is mentioned in the official NWA book as having face Lou Thesz when he first broke in the business. Claude Woodson looks to be a promoter in Illinois. Milo Occhi  was a referee in St. Louis.  He is mention in the book "Wrestling at the Chase" the Sam Muchnick story.  I could not find Lee Wing, I did find a Lee Wong, however he looks like he might have been from the 70's.  So probably not the same guy..  It looks like your collection is from the St. Louis area.  You don't seem to have any of the big names ( Thesz, O'Connor, Zbysko), so the collection I would think is not worth very much.  BUt if you are lookin to get rid of them, I would like them.  Mainly because I'm a wrestling geek and I take anything of wrestling that old.