Monday, December 2, 2013

The Touchables

Ricki Starr wrestling and acting in The Touchables

RICKI STARR VS FRANK FOZO

Former ballet dancer, Ricki Star, takes on rough, tough Frank Fozo sometime in the late 50s - early 60s. The ever graceful twinkletoes Starr continually confounds the burly Fozo in a match for the ages as the crowd continually screams with laughter.

RICKI STARR VS PIETRO CAPELLO

"Pancho" Zappata vs Jeff Kaye ('69) Ricky Starr vs Pietro Capello ('64)

RICKI STARR IN NY PRO WRESTLING

Last updated on 02/03/2013
01/26/1957 Ed Ceccolini - White Plains, NY - Westchester County Center
Karl Von Hess vs Arnold Skaaland
Ricki Starr vs Len Rossi
02/04/1957 Manhattan Wrestling Enterprises (Walter Smallshaw & Toots Mondt) - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden [III] (19,300)
Jackie Nichols (15min limit draw) Don Stevens
Wildman Fargo (10:43 pin) Arnold Skaaland
Cowboy Bradley & Red Feathers def Sky Low Low & Tiny Roe 
Don Lee (15min limit draw) Jimmy Szikszay 
Miguel Perez (15:43 pin) Len Rossi
Ricki Starr (5:55 pin) Skull Murphy 
Antonino Rocca & Verne Gagne (2-1) Hans Schmidt & Karl von Hess
02/05/1957 Joe Smith - New Haven, CT - Arena (3,771; $7,301)
Antonino Rocca def Dick the Bruiser

02/13/1957 Ted Bayly - Kingston, NY - Municipal Auditorium
Ricki Starr vs Karl Von Hess
Little Red Feather & Tito Infante vs Sky Low Low & Bull Drummond
Skull Murphy vs Len Rossi

02/20/1957 Joe Smith - Waterbury, CT - State Armory
Jackie Nicholas vs Jim Bernard
Antonino Rocca vs Rocky Lee

02/27/1957 Ted Bayly - Kingston, NY - Municipal Auditorium
Rocky Lee (23:50 sleeper hold) Len Rossi
World Tag Team Title: Wild Man Fargo & Don Stevens* (2-1) Jack Nichols & Arnold Skaaland
Antonino Rocca (2-1) Skull Murphy

03/11/1957 MWE - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden [III] (19,995; $62,565)
Jim Bernard (11:55) Arnold Skaaland
Skull Murphy & Karl Von Hess def Jackie Nichols & Len Rossi
Jerry Graham (8:37) Cowboy Rocky Lee
Jackie Fargo & Don Stevens def Miguel Perez & Reyes Rodriguez
Great Scott (20min limit draw) Chief Big Heart
Ricki Starr (7:25) Dick the Bruiser
Antonino Rocca (16:56) Hans Schmidt

03/13/1957 - Kingston, NY - Municipal Auditorium
Ricki Starr vs Rocky Lee
plus two other bouts

03/23/1957 - Middletown, NY
Antonino Rocca vs Skull Murphy

03/30/1957 MWE - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden [III] (20,125; $63,753)
Chief Big Heart (15min dec) Skull Murphy
Reyes Rodriguez (later Ciclon Negro) (12:52) Harry Lewis
Oyama Kato (6:43) Jack Wilson
Gino Garibaldi (20min dec) Cowboy Rocky Lee
Dick the Bruiser (9:37 DQ) Karl Von Hess
Ricki Starr (3:55) Paul Bunyan
World Tag Team Title*: Antonino Rocca & Miguel Perez (2-1) Jackie Fargo & Don Stvens

04/23/1957 MWE - New York, NY - St. Nicholas Arena
Antonino Rocca def karl Von Hess
Miquel Perez def Skull Murphy
Jackie Fargo & Don Stevens def Miquel Torres & Lenny Montana
The Great Scott def Gene Dubuque
Gino Garibaldi def Larry Simon (sub Harry Lewis)

04/30/1957 MWE - New York, NY
Antonino Rocca & Miquel Perez def Skull Murphy & Karl Von Hess 
Ricki Starr def Jackie Fargo
Jackie Nichols def Gene Dubuque
Lenny Montana def Don Stevevens
Miquel Torres drew Gino Garibaldi

05/13/1957 MWE - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden [III] (15,542; $42,419.20)
Skull Murphy (12:55) Miguel Torres
Bob Nandor (15:02) Gino Garibaldi
Larry Hamilton (9:13) Oyama Kato
Eric Von Hess (12:55) Chief Big Heart
Jerry Graham & Roy Shire def Greg Jarque & Jackie Nichols (sub Jackie Fargo & Don Stevens)
Ricki Starr (7:58) Great Scott
Antonino Rocca & Miguel Perez def Dick the Bruiser & Karl Von Hess

05/22/1957 Ed Ceccolini - White Plains, NY - Westchester County Center (2,000)
Larry Hamilton (13:43) Tony Martinelli
Aldo Venturi (17:34) Miguel Torres
Great Scott (17:13 pin) Skull Murphy
Larry Simon drew Soldier Barry
Antonino Rocca & Arnold Skaaland (2-1) Karl Von Hess & Eric Von Hess

05/24/1957 - Norwalk, CT
Jackie Nichols vs Kurt Von Hess
Skull Murphy vs Chief Big Heart
Czaya Nandor vs Harry Lewis

06/15/1957 MWE - New York, NY
Antonino Rocca & Miguel Perez def Jerry Graham & Roy Shires 
Ricki Starr def Eric Hess
Danny McShain def Czaca Nanda
Larry Hamilton (NC) Karl Von Hess
Skull Murphy def Miguel Torres

06/29/1957 - Peekskill, NY - Stadium
Tony Martinelli vs Harry Lewis
Arnold Skaaland vs Danny McShain
Al Smith & John Smith vs Jerry Graham & Roy Shires
Antonino Rocca vs Karl Von Hess

07/12/1957 MWE - Queens, NY
Antonino Rocca vs John Tolos

07/15/1957 Ray Fabiani - Stamford, CT - Boyle Stadium
Miguel Perez vs Bobby Wallace
Skull Murphy vs
Ricki Starr
Eric Von Hess & Karl Von Hess vs Great Scott & Chief Big Heart
World Heavyweight Title: Edouard Carpentier* def Roy Shire
07/17/1957 Mike Aide - Norwalk, CT - Crystal Arena
Ricki Starr vs Danny McShain
Eric Von Hess vs Great Scott
Skull Murphy vs Arnold Skaaland
Soldier Barry vs Cowboy Rocky Lee

07/19/1957 - Newark, NJ
World Heavyweight Title(?): Edouard Carpentier* def Karl Von Hess

07/19/1957 - New Haven, CT (cancelled)
07/23/1957 Acorn AC (Jack Havery) - Stratford, CT - Raybestos Memorial Field (2,239; $4,143.25)
Ricki Starr vs Jerry Graham
Skull Murphy vs Czaya Nandor
Angelo Savoldi vs Miguel Perez
Cowboy Rocky Lee vs Larry Hamilton
Arnold Skaaland vs Great Kato

07/26/1957 - New Haven, CT - Arena (3,052; $5,632.38)
08/05/1957 Mike Aide - Norwalk, CT - Crystal Arena
Antonino Rocca vs Roy Shire
The Great Scott vs Jerry Graham
Skull Murphy vs Sandor Kovacs
Czaya Nandor vs Harry Lewis

08/06/1957? Capitol Wrestling Corporation (Vincent J. McMahon & Toots Mondt) - New York, NY (date conflicts with the Nyack show below)
Antonino Rocca & Miguel Perez def Larry Hamilton & Danny McShain
Jerry Graham (NC) Karl Von Hess
Skull Murphy def karl Von Hess
Eric Von Hess def Ramon Lopez
Czaya Nandor def Kostas Goulass
Sandor Kovacs def Miguel Torres

08/06/1957? - Nyack, NY - Nyack HS (date conflicts with the NYC show above)
Arnold Skaaland vs Larry Hamilton
Aldo Venturi vs Miguel Torres
Tony Martinelli vs Al Smith
Antonino Rcca & Gino Garibaldi vs Karl Von Hess & Eric Von Hess

08/12/1957 CWC - Freeport, NY
World Heavyweight Title(?): Edouard Carpentier def Roy Shire

08/14/1957 Ray Fabiani - Stamford, CT - Boyle Stadium
Jerry Graham vs Antonino Rocca
Larry Hamilton & Danny McShain vs Chief Big Heart & Arnold Skaaland
Karl Von Hess vs
Ricki Starr
Oyama Kato vs Cowboy Lee
Czaya Nandor vs Harry Lewis
08/14/1957? CWC - New York, NY
Antonino Rocca def Larry Hamilton 
Ricki Starr & Miguel Perez (NC) Karl Von Hess & Eric Von Hess
The Great Scott def Angelo Savoldi
Chief Big Heart & Sandor Kovacs drew Danny McShain & Skull Murphy
Ramon Lopez def Kostas Goulas

08/14/1957 - Waterbury, CT
08/20/1957 Acorn AC (Joe Smith) - Stratford, CT - Raybestos Field
Aldo Venturi vs Al Smith
Angelo Savoldi vs Great Scott
Karl Von Hess vs Skull Murphy
Antonino Rocca & Czaya Nador vs Danny McShain & Oyama Kato

08/27/1957 Mike Aide - Norwalk, CT - Crystal Arena
Larry Cordee vs Sandor Kovacs
Bobby Wallace vs Aldo Venturi
Great Scott & Adrian Baillargeon vs Oyama Kato & Legs Langevin
Edouard Carpentier def Karl Von Hess

08/28/1957 - Poughkeepsie, NY - Riverview Field
Kosta Goulas vs Ray Lopez
Don Lee vs Miguel Torres
Charles Robinson vs Al Smith
Karl Von Hess & Eric Von Hess vs Chief Big Heart & Gino Garibaldi
Ricki Starr vs Larry Hamilton
Antonino Rocca vs Skull Murphy

09/04/1957 CWC - Long Island City, NY
Jerry Graham drew Great Scott
Gino Garibaldi & Czaja Nandor def Larry Hamilton & Danny McShain
Oyama Kato def Chief Big Heart
Joe Hamilton def Bobby Wallace
Kostas Goulas def Buddy Gilbert

09/07/1957 Ed Ceccolini - White Plains, NY - Westchester County Center (5,000)
Danny McShain (10:38) Soldier Barry
Arnold Skaaland (22:58) Czaya Nador
*Skull Murphy & Larry Hamilton (8:25 pin) Chief Big Bear & *Gino Garibaldi
Ricki Starr (17:11) Eric Von Hess
Antonino Rocca (13:24 pin) Karl Von Hess

09/09/1957 CWC - Freeport, NY
Edouard Carpentier (NC)
Ricki Starr
09/14/1957 CWC - Union City, NJ
Great Scott vs Skull Murphy
Donn Lewin & Mark Lewin vs Karl Von Hess & Eric Von Hess
Larry & Joe Hamilton vs Ramon Lopez & Reyes Rodriquez
Adrien Baillargeon vs Angelo Savoldi

09/16/1957 CWC - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden [III] (19,165)
Skull Murphy def Legs Langevin
Danny McShain (10min limit draw) Rey Urbano
Eduardo Castillo (5:10) Eric Von Hess
Dick the Bruiser (9:47) Larry Moquin
Jerry Graham & Roy Shire (1-1 30min limit draw) Mark Lewin & Donn Lewin
Miguel Perez (12:27) Larry Hamilton
Ricki Starr (5:15 DQ) Karl Von Hess
Antonino Rocca curfew (40min curfew draw) Edouard Carpentier
Killer Kowalski vs Chief Big Heart (cancelled - curfew)
Sandor Kovacs vs Felix Lamban (cancelled - curfew)

09/17/1957 Ed Ceccolini - Yonkers, NY - Polish Community Center (500)
Kostax Goulax (11:33) Ray Lopez
Arnold Skaaland (16:03) Miguel Torres
Sandor Kovacs (15:49) Larry Hamilton
Eduoardo Castillo (5:18) Angelo Savoldi
Mark Lewin & Donn Lewin (2-0) Karl Von Hess & Eric Von Hess
Antonino Rocca (11:52) Skull Murphy

09/18/1957 CWC - Long Island City, NY
Ricki Starr vs Danny McShain
Donn Lewin & Mark Lewin vs Skull Murphy & Larry Hamilton
Joe Hamilton vs Gino Garibaldi
Sandor Kovacs vs Adrien Baillargeon
Rey Urbano vs Kostas Goulas

09/21/1957 - New Haven, CT - Arena
Skull Murphy & Larry Hamilton vs Mark Lewin & Donn Lewin 
Roy Shire & Jerry Graham vs Chief Big Heart & Aldo Venturi 
Luis Martinez vs Bobby Wallace 
Ricki Starr vs Danny McShain
09/27/1957 - White Plains, NY - Westchester County Center
Arnold Skaaland vs Miguel Torres
Chief Big Heart vs Danny McShain
Jerry Graham & Roy Shires vs Mark Lewin & Donn Lewin
Antonino Rocca & Eduardo Castillo vs Skull Murphy & Larry Hamilton

09/28/1957 CWC - Teaneck, NJ
Antonino Rocca &
Ricki Starr vs Larry Hamilton & Karl Von Hess
Chief Big Heart vs Felix Lamban
Roy Shire vs Eduardo Castillo
Jerry Graham vs Miguel Perez
Donn & Mark Lewin vs Skull Murphy & Danny McShain
Bobby Wallace vs Harry Lewis

10/02/1957 CWC - Long Island City, NY
Donn & Mark Lewin def Skull Murphy & Karl Von Hess
Edouardo Castillo def Larry Hamilton
Ludwig Von Krupp def Sandor Kovacs
Paul Berger def Ramon Lopez
Angelo Savoldi def Miguel Torres

10/09/1957 CWC - Union City, NJ
Donn & Mark Lewin vs Karl Von Hess & Ludwig Von Krupp
Skull Murphy & Joe Hamilton vs Miguel Perez & Rey Urbano
Steve Stanlee vs Aldo Venturi
Kostas Goulas vs Tony Martinelli

10/12/1957 - New Haven, CT - Arena
Edouardo Castillo vs Joe Hamilton
Andrian Baillargeon vs Paul Berger
Don Eagle vs Soldier Barry
Killer Kowalski vs Great Scott
Roy Shire vs Yukon Eric

10/15/1957 CWC - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden [III] (17,355; $51,335.98)
Jerry Graham & Roy Shires (2-? 33:12) Luis Martinez & Eduardo Castillo
Danny McShain (12:42 pin) Donn Lewin
Paul Berger (9:08 pin) Rey Urbano
Ludvig Von Krupp (6:09) Cowboy Rocky Lee
Yukon Eric (11:26) Skull Murphy
Antonino Rocca & Miguel Perez (2-0; DQ in 1st) Killer Kowalski & Dick The Bruiser

10/16/1957 Ed Ceccolini - White Plains, NY - Westchester County Center
Don Lee vs Aldo Venturi
Angelo Savoldi vs Miguel Torres
Arnold Skaaland vs Paul Berger
Skull Murphy & Larry Hamilton vs Mark Lewin & Donn Lewin
Antonino Rocca & Eduardo Castillo vs Ludwig Von Krupp & Karl Von Hess

10/19/1957 CWC - Paterson, NJ
Antonino Rocca & Ed Castillo vs Killer Kowalski & Roy Shire
Miguel Perez & Luis Martinez vs Skull Murphy & Karl Von Hess
Yukon Eric vs Larry Hamilton

10/21/1957 Ted Bayly - Kingston, NY - Municipal Auditorium
Rocky Lee & Bob Wallace vs Jerry Graham & Aldo Venturi
Antonino Rocca vs Danny McShain
plus another bout

10/22/1957 Ed Ceccolini - Yonkers, NY - Polish Community Center (500)
Tony Martinelli (15:37 pin) Joe Hamilton
Arnold Skaaland (20min limit draw) Gene Dubuque
Steve Stanlee (18:28) Skull Murphy
Jerry Graham (11:09) Aldo Venturi
Antonino Rocca & Eduardo Castillo (2-1) Ludwig Von Krupp & Paul Von Berger

10/22/1957 Norwalk, CT - Armory
Sandor Kovacs vs Adrian Baillargeon
Ricki Starr vs Cowboy Rocky Lee
Killer Kowalski vs Great Scott
Mark Lewin vs Miguel Lopez

10/23/1957 CWC - Long Island City, NY
Antonino Rocca & Ed Castillo def Danny McShain & Larry Hamilton
Jerry Graham def Angelo Savoldi
Steve Stanlee def Miguel Torres
Sandor Kovacs (DQ) Skull Murphy
Jerry Gordet (DQ) Ludwig Von Krupp

10/26/1957 CWC - Union City, NJ
Ricki Starr & Miguel Perez vs Skull Murphy & Karl Von Hess
Larry & Joe Hamilton vs Ed Castillo & Tony Martinelli
Sandor Kovacs vs Gene Dubuque
Ludwig Von Krupp vs Aldo Venturi

10/26/1957 - New Haven, CT - Arena
Great Scott vs Harry Lewis
Yukon Eric vs Bobby Wallace
Luis Martinez vs Paul Berger
Killer Kowalski vs Donn Lewin
Antonino Rocca & Don Eagle vs Jerry Graham & Danny McShain

11/02/1957 CWC - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden [III] (20,675; $63,876.14)
Great Scott def Larry Hamilton
Pat O'Connor def Legs Langevin
Danny McShain def Larry Moquin
Luis Martinez & Edouardo Castillo def Ludwig Von Krupp & Paul Berger
Don Eagle drew Karl Von Hess
Antonino Rocca & Miguel Perez def Jerry Graham & Roy Shire
Edouard Carpentier (curfew draw) Killer Kowalski

11/06/1957 CWC - Long Island City, NY
Ricki Starr & Ed Castillo def Danny McShain & Karl Von Hess
Skull Murphy def Donn Lewin
Mark Lewin def Larry Hamilton
Ludwig Von Krupp (DQ) Steve Stanlee
Paul Berger drew Angelo Savoldi

11/09/1957 CWC - Trenton, NJ - Trenton Armory
Sandor Kovacs def Joe Hamilton
Steve Stanlee drew Paul Berger
Great Scott def Skull Murphy
Miguel Perez & Luis Martinez (2-1) Karl Von Hess & Ludwig Von Krupp
Antonino Rocca &
Ricki Starr (2-0) Jerry Graham & Danny McShain
11/09/1957 - New Haven, CT - Arena
Donn Lewin vs Angelo Savoldi
Mark Lewin vs Legs Langevin
Roy Shire vs Edouardo Castillo
Don Eagle vs Larry Hamilton
Edouard Carpentier vs Killer Kowalski

11/16/1957 CWC - Jersey City, NJ - Armory
Jerry Graham & Roy Shire vs Luis Martinez & Ed Castillo
Ricki Starr vs Chief Don Eagle
Antonino Rocca & Miguel Perez vs Killer Kowalski & Danny McShain

11/18/1957 CWC - Waterbury, CT - Buckingham Hall
Don Eagle vs Sandor Kovacs
Danny McShain vs Luis Martinez
Antonino Rocca &
Ricki Starr vs Jerry Graham & Roy Shire
11/19/1957 CWC - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden [III] (12,987; $38,153)
Felix Lamban (sub Jerry Graham) (5:20) Legs Langevin
Chief Big Heart (7:30) Paul Berger
Skull Murphy (11:45) Great Scott
Ludwig Von Krupp & Karl Von Hess (2-1) Luis Martinez & Eduardo Castillo
Pat O'connor (20min limit draw) Don Eagle
Miguel Perez (14:38 UTC) Danny McShain
Antonino Rocca & Edouard Carpentier (DQ) Dick the Bruiser & Jerry Graham (sub Wladek Kowalski)

11/23/1957 - New Haven, CT - Arena
Luis Martinez vs Legs Langevin
Lord Littlebrook vs Fuzzy Cupid
Don Eagle & Chief Big Heart vs Jerry Graham & Roy Shire
Edouard Carpentier &
Ricki Starr vs Killer Kowalski & Danny McShain
11/27/1957 CWC - Meriden, CT - City Hall Auditorium
Antonino Rocca vs Roy Shire

11/28/1957 - Kingston, NY - Municipal Auditorium
Karl Von Hess & Skull Murphy vs Mark Lewin & Donn Lewin 
Ricki Starr vs Jerry Graham
plus one other bout

11/29/1957 Ed Ceccolini - White Plains, NY - Westchester County Center (1,800)
Jerry Graham & Roy Shires (2-1) Arnold Skaaland & Great Scott
Ricki Starr (9:12 pin) Rocky Lee
Antonino Rcca (18:51) Don Eagle

11/30/1957 CWC - Jersey City, NJ - Armory (cancelled)
Harry Lewis vs Legs Longevin
Don Eagle vs Donn Lewin
Jerry Graham & Roy Shire vs Ed Castillo & Felix Lamban
Lou Thesz vs Edouard Carpentier
Antonino Rocca & Miguel Perez vs Karl Von Hess & Ludwig Von Krupp

12/03/1957 - New Haven, CT - Arena
Bearcat Wright vs Luis Castillo
Danny McShain vs Luis Martinez
Chief Big Heart vs Paul Berger
Edouard Carpentier &
Ricki Starr vs Jerry Graham & Roy Shire
12/07/1957 CWC - New York, NY
John Tolos drew Don Eagle

12/09/1957 CWC - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden [III] (9,264; $24,866.34)
Roy Shire (13:04 pin) Edouardo Castillo
Felix Lamban (12:17 pin) Skull Murphy
Killer Kowalski (9:50 pin) Mark Lewin
Luis Martinez (9:30 DQ) Ludwig Von Krupp
Chief Big Heart (6:35 DCOR) Chris Tolos
Don Eagle (20min limit draw) John Tolos
Dick the Bruiser (9:32) Donn Lewin
Antonino Rocca & Miguel Perez (2-1; DQ in 3rd) Jerry Graham & Danny McShain

12/21/1957 CWC - New York, NY
Antonino Rocca & Miguel Perez beatg Jerry Graham & Roy Shires
Ludwig Von Krupp def Eduardo Castillo
Chief Big Heart def Paul Berger
Chris Tolos def Tony Martinelli
The Great Scott drew John Tolos

12/27/1957 CWC - Paterson, NJ
Antontio Rocca vs Jerry Graham
Chief Don Eagle & Chief Big Heart vs Chris & John Tolos
Miguel Perez & Tony Martinelli vs Ludwig Von Krupp & Joe Berger
Marvin Mercer vs Gene Dubuque
Sandor Kovacs vs Manuel Torres

Researches by J Michael Kenyon, Hisaharu Tanabe, Steve Yohe, David Baker
including the information from the newspaper ads/articles provided by Doug McLeer

Ricki Starr vs Hans Herman

http://www.chicagofilmarchives.org/collections/index.php/Detail/Object/Show/object_id/4164

[Wrestling TV show]: Tiny York vs Johnny Gilbert - Ricki Starr vs Hans Herman

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Film Identifier: F.2008-04-0045
Run Time
0h 29m 2s
Format
16mm
Color
B&W
Sound
Optical
Date Produced
circa 1960
Abstract
An episode of a syndicated wrestling show shot at Chicago’s International Amphitheatre. Shot live on film with three-camera coverage, it features a witty and entertaining narration from announcer Russ Davis. The reel features two matches. The first (unfortunately not a midget match even with a wrestler named Tiny) is a rather dull one between two nondescript unexciting wrestlers with even Davis complaining about the lack of action. The second one on the other hand is one of the more interesting matches between former ballet dance Starr and the seig-heiling Hermann. Starr uses his balletic grace and speed to overpower the 50 pound heavier Hermann to win the match.
Log
00:01 MS Ring announcer introducing match, 00:28 Davis begins talking about new comer wrestlers in the ring, match begins at 01:07, men exchange holds on each other, Davis admits to losing track of who’s who, Gilbert knocks York to the mat, wrestlers compare muscles, 05:00 armlock on York, leglock on Gilbert, men exchange holds, toehold on York, chokehold on Gilbert, Gilbert punches York and bodyslams him 09:50 head scissors on York, Davis complains that the match is uneventful. bodyslam on York, match is called at 10:57 in favor of Gilbert, though Davis complains that the match was dull, 11:18-11:29 MS Gorgeous George in a tux steps into the ring, the ring announcer states that George is unable to wrestle due to a damaged finger, crowd boos and cheers as George throws gifts into the ring, Starr prances up to George and offers George ballet slippers causing George to storm off the mat, Starr doing ballet moves before match 15:00 when meeting in middle to go over rules Starr prissily slaps Hermann enraging him, match starts and Starr eludes Hermann with ballet moves, Starr jumps on Hermann’s back and tickles him, legscissors on Hermann, headlock on Starr, Starr gets punched to the mat, leglock on Hermann, 19:45 leg scissors on Starr, headlock on Hermann, chokehold on Starr, 21:44 Hermann loses first fall when he refuses to stop illegal hold on Starr, Hermann goes steps across the mat and heil hitlers, 22:32-22-42 yellow leader, between rounds Davis thanks all of his fans in Australia, Hong Kong and the Philippines, 24:12 second round starts, Starr jumps on Hermann’s back, chokehold on Starr, leghold on Hermann, CU kneelock on Hermann, Hermann stepping on Starr’s neck, MS Hermann dragging Starr around the ring, CU Starr pinning Hermann against the ropes gouging his nose, MS Starr flips off of Hermann, bodyslam on Hermann, dropkick on Hermann, bodyslam on Hermann, 28:14 Starr wins second fall and match, out 28:44
Distributors
Main Credit
Imperial World Films (is production company)
Davis, Sylvia H. (is producer)
Davis, Russell (is director)
Actors, Performers and Participants
York, Tiny (is performer)
Gilbert, Johnny (is performer)
Gorgeous George (is performer)
Starr, Ricki (is performer)
Hermann, Hans (is performer)
Davis, Russell (is commentator)
Wayland, Ed (is participant)
Genre
Related Place
Chicago (production location of)
Dallas Wrestling Results - 1952
Dallas, Texas:  Tuesday, July 15, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Mr. Moto b. Sterling “Dizzy” Davis (2/3) … Chief Kit Fox b. Danny 
Savich (countout) … Ricki Starr b. George Scott (decision) … Jack Kennedy b. Karol 
Krauser … Ray Gunkel b. Ivan Kalmikoff … Rolando Vera b. Johnny Bence … 
(promoter:  Ed McLemore)

Dallas, Texas:  Tuesday, July 22, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Mr. Moto b. Chief Kit Fox (2/3) (third fall by DQ) (referee Steddum 
reversed Leo Voss’s decision to award the match to Moto) … Duke Keomuka vs. Ricki 
Starr
… Danny Savich and George Scott vs. Miguel Guzman and Rolando Vera … Bud 
Richardson vs. Willie Spencer (Negro match) … Ray Gunkel vs. George Penchoff … 
(promoter:  Ed McLemore) … (referees:  Leo Voss, Bill Steddum) … (6,549 fans) 
(overflow crowd)
Notes:  Kit Fox was billed as a Comanche Indian from Oklahoma and he uses a 
“tommyhawk slash” as a finisher; Ricki Starr was reported as being 20 years old, 195 
pounds, and working toward the junior title.


Dallas, Texas:  Tuesday, July 29, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Chief Kit Fox b. Mr. Moto … Miguel Guzman and Duke Keomuka 
drew … Roy Graham and George Penchoff drew … Jack Kennedy b. Dutch Hefner 
(abdominal stretch) … Ray Gunkel and Ricki Starr b. Danny Savich and George Scott 
(Starr pinned Scott) … (promoter:  Ed McLemore) … (capacity crowd)

Dallas, Texas:  Tuesday, August 5, 1952
(Sportatorium) … Duke Keomuka beat Chief Kit Fox … (Loser Leaves Town Match) Mr. 
Moto drew Dick Raines (60:00, 1-1) … Ricki Starr vs Miguel (Black) Guzman … Andre 
Drapp beat Ray Gunkel … Danny Savich beat Jack Kennedy … NOTE: "Ray Gunkel 
pinned newcomer Andre Drapp in less than a minute in the second event but recalled 
the fall when Drapp announced that he was not ready for action. They proceeded and 
Drapp pinned Gunkel in five minutes' time in a snappy match." – Dallas TX Morning 
News, Aug. 6, 1952  Research by J Michael Kenyon

Dallas, Texas:  Tuesday, August 12, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Dick Raines b. Mr. Moto (2/3) (“loser leaves town” match) … Ricki 
Starr b. Duke Keomuka (reverse decision) (Starr was a substitute for Miguel Guzman)
… 
Danny Savich b. Chief Kit Fox … Sterling “Dizzy” Davis and Andre Drapp drew … 
Cyclone Anaya b. Ivan Kalmikoff … (promoter:  Ed McLemore)

Dallas, Texas:  Tuesday, August 19, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Rito Romero b. Danny Savich (2/3) (Romero was given the third 
fall by Texas Deputy Commissioner Bill Hughes due to a cut on Savich’s head) … Duke 
Keomuka b. Dick Raines … Andre Drapp b. Roy Graham … Cyclone Anaya and Sterling 
“Dizzy” Davis drew … Karol Krauser b. George Penchoff … (promoter:  Ed McLemore) 
… (5,636 fans)

Dallas, Texas:  Tuesday, August 26, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Rito Romero b. Danny Savich (DQ) … Cyclone Anaya and Andre 
Drapp drew (60:00) (1-1) … Dick Raines b. Karol Krauser … Sterling “Dizzy” Davis b. 
Duke Keomuka (4 seconds) (Raines fought with Keomuka) … Roy Graham b. Dutch 
Hefner … (promoter:  Ed McLemore)

Dallas, Texas:  Tuesday, September 2, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Dick Raines b. Duke Keomuka (2/3) … Ray Gunkel b. Roy 
Graham … Jack Kennedy and Danny Savich drew … Cyclone Anaya b. Jack O’Brien … 
Andre Drapp b. Johnny Bence … (promoter:  Ed McLemore)

Dallas, Texas:  Tuesday, September 9, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Texas State Heavyewight Champion Ray Gunkel b. Dick Raines 
(2/3) (Gunkel earned match with Thesz next week) … Duke Keomuka b. Billy Varga (DQ) 
… Nell Stewart b. Carol Cook … Roy Graham and Jack O’Brien b. Cyclone Anaya and 
Andre Drapp … Jack Kennedy b. Karol Krauser … (promoter:  Ed McLemore) … 
(referee:  Roy Carter)

Dallas, Texas:  Tuesday, September 16, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz b. Ray Gunkel (2-
0) (Gunkel could not continue during the second fall after losing the first) … Cyclone 
Anaya b. Duke Keomuka (DQ) (Danny Savich interfered) … Dick Raines vs. Danny 
Savich … Nell Stewart b. Ida May … Sterling “Dizzy” Davis and Dory Funk (local debut) 
drew …Billy Varga b. Jack Kennedy … (promoter:  Ed McLemore)
Note:  The Dallas Morning News reported on September 17, 1952 that “Thesz threw him 
[Gunkel] to the mat cracking several neck vertebraes.  Dr. Allen F. Rowsen refused to let 
Gunkel continue further action.”

Dallas, Texas:  Tuesday, September 23, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Danny Savich b. Sterling “Dizzy” Davis (2-0) … Duke Keomuka 
and Billy Varga drew (60:00) … Sterling “Dizzy” Davis and Billy Varga wrestled Duke 
Keomuka and Danny Savich to a no contest … Bill Steddum b. Al Massey … Texas Tag 
Team Champions Cyclone Anaya and Miguel Guzman b. The Kasheys (Abe and Al 
Kashey) … Andre Drapp b. Carl Engstrom … (promoter:  Ed McLemore)

Dallas, Texas:  Tuesday, September 30, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Danny Savich b. Sterling “Dizzy” Davis (Davis was unable to 
continue) … Duke Keomuka and Danny Savich b. Roy Graham and Jack O’Brien 
(Keomuka pinned O’Brien) … Andre Drapp and Billy Varga drew … Cyclone Anaya b. 
Abe Kashey (DQ) … Al Kashey b. Bill Steddum … Dory Funk b. Carl Engstrom … 
(promoter:  Ed McLemore) … (referee:  Benny Bickers)
Note:  Keomuka was billed as the new Texas champion.

Dallas, Texas:  Tuesday, October 7, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Duke Keomuka and Danny Savich b. Cyclone Anaya and Miguel 
Guzman to capture the Texas State Tag Taem Title (2/3) (Keomuka was the Texas 
champion) … Dory Funk and Billy Varga drew … “Cowboy” Orv Carlson b. Al Kashey … 
Roy Graham b. Abe Kashey … Ricki Starr b. “Spoiler” Hank Metheny … (promoter:  Ed 
McLemore)

Dallas, Texas:  Tuesday, October 14, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Ricki Starr b. Danny Savich (2/3) … Andre Drapp b. Duke 
Keomuka (2/3) (non-title match) … Ray Gunkel b. Ike Eakins … Jack Kennedy b. 
Abdullah Bey … Cowboy Carlson and Miguel Guzman drew (15:00) … (promoter:  Ed 
McLemore)

Dallas, Texas:  Tuesday, October 21, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Texas Tag Team Champions Duke Keomuka and Danny Savich 
b. Ray Gunkel and Ricki Starr (2/3) … Duke Keomuka and Ricki Starr drew (1-1) … 
“Cowboy” Orv Carlson b. Carlos Moreno … Abdullah Bey b. Dr. Lee Grable … Andre 
Drapp and Dick Raines drew … (promoter:  Ed McLemore)

Dallas, Texas:  Tuesday, October 28, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Texas State Heavyweight Champion Duke Keomuka b. Ray 
Gunkel in one fall when the latter was unable to continue due to injury (Ricki Starr came 
in and wrestled Keomuka as a substitute)
Ricki Starr b. Duke Keomuka (2-0) 
(according to the Dallas Morning News, Starr won a “strong claim” to the Texas Title) … 
Ricki Starr b. Kinji Shibuya (DQ) … Ike Eakins b. Kinji Shibuya (DQ) … “Cowboy” Orv 
Carlson b. Abdullah Bey … Cyclone Anaya b. Roy Graham … (promoter:  Ed McLemore) 
… (referee:  Leo Voss)

Dallas, Texas:  Tuesday, November 4, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … . NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion Danny McShain b. 
“Wild” Red Berry with a referee’s decision after McShain was unable to continue due to a 
severe cut on his head) (2/3) (Berry was disqualified in the second fall after winning the 
initial fall) (McShain retained his title) (referee blamed Berry for McShain’s inability to 
continue and gave him the bout) … Texas Tag Team Champions Duke Keomuka and 
Danny Savich b. Ray Gunkela and Ricki Starr (2/3) … Ginger the Bear b. Danny Savich 
(DQ) … Ella Wladek b. Dolores Villa … Juan Humberto b. Ike Eakins … Cyclone Anaya 
b. Dory Funk (decision) … Ray Gunkel, Ricki Starr and Ginger the Bear b. Duke 
Keomuka, Danny Savich and Kinji Shibuya … (promoter:  Ed McLemore) … (7,000+ 
fans)
Note:  The Dallas Morning News reported on November 5, 1952 that “over seven 
thousand fans, the largest turnout in Dallas wrestling history, packed the Sportatorium to 
watch promoter Ed McLemore’s seven match grappling card.”

*On November 7, 1952, the Dallas Morning News reported that Ed McLemore was going 
to offer up a new championship for the winner of next Tuesday night’s six-man tag team 
bout between Juan Humberto, Duke Keomuka and Danny Savich and the team of 
Cowboy Orville Carlson, Ricki Starr and Billy Varga.  The main event would be a rematch 
between Danny McShain and “Wild” Red Berry.

Dallas, Texas:  Tuesday, November 11, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … “Wild” Red Berry b. NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion 
Danny McShain (2/3) (third fall by DQ) (McShain won the first fall, Berry won the second, 
and Berry won the third by disqualification when McShain “continued to slam Berry 
outside the ring.”) … Texas Tag Team Champions Duke Keomuka and Danny Savich b. 
“Cowboy” Orv Carlson and Ricki Starr … “Cowboy” Orv Carlson, Ricki Starr and Billy 
Varga b. Juan Humberto, Duke Keomuka and Danny Savich to capture the initial Texas 
Six-Man Tag Team Title … Cyclone Anaya and Juan Humberto drew … Billy Varga b. 
Andre Drapp … Ella Wladek b. Ethel Brown … (promoter:  Ed McLemore) … (referee:  
Leo Voss) … (5,000 fans)
Notes:  The Dallas Morning News on November 12, 1952 reported:  “A world wrestling 
title changed hands for the first time in many years in Dallas Tuesday night at the 
Sportatorium when Wild Red Berry defeated he junior heavyweight champion, Danny 
McShane, in the feature main event of the six-bout grappling card, witnessed by nearly 
5,000 fans.” McShain was “expected to challenge the disqualification decision with the 
Texas commission.” It should be noted that no National Wrestling Alliance, board 
controlled, titles could change hands on a DQ.

Dallas TX: November 18, 1952 (Tuesday)
(Sportatorium) … Ricki Starr beat Duke Keomuka (Starr earned title match with Cyclone 
Anaya)
… (Ladies) June Byers & Millie Stafford beat Dot Dotson & Ella Waldek … Wild 
Red Berry beat DannySavich … Billy Varga beat Juan Humberto … Cyclone Anaya beat 
Jack Kennedy … NOTE: Originally billed as a Texas title match, the main event went 
without that distinction when Keomuka was stripped of the laurels the previous Friday 
night (11/14/1952) in Houston by Cyclone Anaya … Byers and Stafford were said to 
have defended something called "the national women's tag-team match championship" 
(?)  Research by J Michael Kenyon

Dallas, Texas:  Tuesday, November 25, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion Danny McShain b. Billy 
Varga (2/3) … Bob Clay b. Bill Staddum (DQ) … Cyclone Anaya and Juan Humberto 
drew … Duke Keomuka b. Andre Drapp … Ricki Starr b. “Wild” Red Berry … (promoter:  
Ed McLemore) … (benefit for the Leader Dogs for the Blind, one fourth of the gross was 
donated) … (in attendance:  Leroy McGuirk)
Note:  Leroy McGuirk made an appearance in the ring in support of the NWA-wide 
benefit program.

Dallas, Texas:  Tuesday, December 2, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … NWA Texas Heavyweight Champion Cyclone Anaya b. Billy Varga 
(2-0) … Red Berry and Ricki Starr drew (1-1) … Juan Humberto and Jack Kennedy drew 
… Roy Graham b. Kinji Shibuya … Jack O’Reilly b. Gene Allbert … (promoter:  Ed 
McLemore)

Dallas, Texas:  Tuesday, December 9, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion Danny McShain b. 
Ricki Starr (2/3) (Starr won the first fall, McShain won the second and third) (Starr was 
accompanied by his former University of Purdue wrestling teammate, Ray Gunkel) …
 
NWA Texas Heavyweight Champion Cyclone Anaya b. Roy Graham (special handicap 
match) (Graham had to beat Anaya twice in 30-minutes or forfeit) (Graham was 
disqualified in the first fall and lost the match) … Red Berry and Gory Guerrero drew … 
Andre Drapp b. Jack O’Brien … Billy Varga b. Bill Steddum … (promoter:  Ed McLemore) 
… (matchmaker:  Dr. Karl Sarpolis)

*In San Antonio on Wednesday, December 10, 1952, a number of wrestlers refused to 
compete in the scheduled show with complaints on the way television was being handled 
in Texas.

*The problem beginning in San Antonio created a large rift in the Texas wrestling 
landscape.  Once the first block tumbled, everything began to fall, and sides were 
quickly taken.  On one side was the Texas Wrestling Agency, headed by Morris Sigel 
and partners Dr. Karl Sarpolis and Frank Burke.  On the other was Ed McLemore, the 
promoter in Dallas.  In a chain of events, McLemore left the National Wrestling Alliance, 
saw Sarpolis leave as his matchmaker, and announce that he would continue to promote 
shows with new talent.  The Texas Wrestling Agency claimed to have owned two-thirds of 
the Dallas office that McLemore owned.

*On Friday, December 26, 1952, a representative of the Texas Wrestling Agency, Frank 
Burke, announced that the NWA and the wrestlers Dallas fans were used to seeing 
would continue being promoted with a tentative start date of January 6.  They had not 
announced their local promoter or the venue.

*Over the course of the next day, it was announced that Norman Clark of Houston would 
move to Dallas and promote NWA stars at Pappy’s Showland.  The war would see both 
promotions run shows in Dallas on Tuesday nights.  Clark leased the Showland for nine 
months.

*On Monday, December 29, 1952, eight wrestlers filed suit against promoter Ed 
McLemore, matchmaker Dr. Karl Sarpolis, Dallas TV station KRLD-TV, and the Texas 
Rasslin’ and Dong King Advertising Agency.  The eight wrestlers included Jesus B. 
Valencia (Cyclone Anaya), Ray Gunkel, Joseph (Billy) Varga, Bernard Herman (Ricki 
Starr),
Ralph L. “Red” Berry, Danny (McShane) McShain, Salvador (Gory) Guerrero,a 
nd Dory Funk Sr.  The group of wrestlers claimed that the contract they had prevented 
television stations in Texas from showing them in action, and that the station in Dallas 
was doing so, thus, damaging the local draw.

The Elusive Ricki Starr



http://blogs.canoe.ca/gregoliver/wrestling/the-elusive-ricki-starr/

The elusive Ricki Starr


It took us about five years to complete The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: Heroes and Icons, and we spent every bit of it working on Ricki Starr. Starr was a sensation in the late 1950s and early 1960s, a lithe little wriggler who incorporated ballet-style moves into his repertoire. A delight to watch, he parlayed his fame into something of a crossover career as a recording artist and bit actor. Here’s British announcer Kent Walton:
You could almost imagine Ricki is on some opera-house stage holding aloft a seven-stone-six-swam-necked ballerina instead of a fifteen-stone massively muscled Pole. At the end of the spin Starr doesn’t so much dump his now dazed opponent as gently lay him out like a considerate undertaker. The crowd are silent for a moment. Then they lift the roof off.

Ricki Starr
My personal collection includes a brochure signed to Buffalo publicist Earle F. Yetter, with whom he worked; the piece contains sample articles for placement in the women’s or features sections of newspapers.
Starr, or Bernard Herman, went to England in 1963, more or less never came back, and has been reclusive for decades. He’s in his 80s now. We made great headway into his existence and got a lot of material to some of his relatives who still live near St. Louis, where he was raised. No spoilers here: you’ll have to check out the book to learn why Ricki broke off contact with his past, and his family, for that matter. But I still think the profile is one of the strongest in the book. We drew on the detailed recollections of one of his friends and fellow dancers of 60 years ago, and a lot of intimate letters he wrote to Jack Pfefer, his booking agent. In fact, those probably provide a more candid look at Starr than he’d provide in an interview. You wonder if he was saying as much in a Wrestling World interview in 1967:
There is something lacking in my makeup that prevents me from winning true and lasting friendships. I guess I sub-consciously feel that I have a hard enough time getting on with myself without inflicting ‘me’ on others.
Still, just the same, I have my list of questions by my phone, in case Ricki calls back.