Friday, July 10th, 1953: Seventy years ago today, Don Owen's promotion made their television debut in the Portland area as Heidelberg Wrestling on KPTV at 8:30pm, named after the territory's main sponsor, Heidelberg Brewing in Tacoma, Washington. Don and his brother Elton had only just taken over the territory in 1951, when their father Herb passed away, and had joined the National Wrestling Alliance in 1952.
After some sleuthing, I've even discovered the matches held that night at the Armory for Pacific Northwest wrestling's television debut! Jack O'Reilly defeated George Drake two falls to one, Erik Pedersen and Jack Kiser went to a thirty minute draw in the third fall of their bout, and John Paul Henning battled the Masked Marvel to a thirty minute draw after winning one fall each.
During that time period, Frank Stojak was the Pacific Coast Junior Heavyweight Champion (about to become the World Champ a month later), Jack Kiser was the Pacific Coast Light Heavyweight Champion, and either the team of Harold Sakata & Glenn Detton or the duo of Jack O'Reilly & Red Vagnone were Pacific Northwest Tag Team Champions (likely the former of the two teams, but records are still sketchy).
Heidelberg Wrestling would soon become Portland Wrestling and go on to have a thirty eight year run on local television before losing their timeslot and going off the air forevermore on Dec. 28th, 1991. During its time, the television show was hosted by local radio personalities Gordon White, Ivan Smith, Bob McAnulty, and Barney Keep before settling on Frank Bonnema, who would host the show until his passing in the early 1980s.
FUN FACT: The same night as their television debut, Elton Owen was promoting a second card in Coos Bay, Oregon, which featured Glenn Detton and Juan Hernandez going to a time limit draw and Mr. Sakata locking horns with Tony Ross in a bout with unknown results.
Ring of Fire Pro Wrestling
Friday, July 10th, 1953: Seventy years ago today, Don Owen's promotion made their television debut in the Portland area as Heidelberg Wrestling on KPTV at 8:30pm, named after the territory's main sponsor, Heidelberg Brewing in Tacoma, Washington. Don and his brother Elton had only just taken over the territory in 1951, when their father Herb passed away, and had joined the National Wrestling Alliance in 1952.
After some sleuthing, I've even discovered the matches held that night at the Armory for Pacific Northwest wrestling's television debut! Jack O'Reilly defeated George Drake two falls to one, Erik Pedersen and Jack Kiser went to a thirty minute draw in the third fall of their bout, and John Paul Henning battled the Masked Marvel to a thirty minute draw after winning one fall each.
During that time period, Frank Stojak was the Pacific Coast Junior Heavyweight Champion (about to become the World Champ a month later), Jack Kiser was the Pacific Coast Light Heavyweight Champion, and either the team of Harold Sakata & Glenn Detton or the duo of Jack O'Reilly & Red Vagnone were Pacific Northwest Tag Team Champions (likely the former of the two teams, but records are still sketchy).
Heidelberg Wrestling would soon become Portland Wrestling and go on to have a thirty eight year run on local television before losing their timeslot and going off the air forevermore on Dec. 28th, 1991. During its time, the television show was hosted by local radio personalities Gordon White, Ivan Smith, Bob McAnulty, and Barney Keep before settling on Frank Bonnema, who would host the show until his passing in the early 1980s.
FUN FACT: The same night as their television debut, Elton Owen was promoting a second card in Coos Bay, Oregon, which featured Glenn Detton and Juan Hernandez going to a time limit draw and Mr. Sakata locking horns with Tony Ross in a bout with unknown results.
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