Memphis Wrestling

Wrestling at Ellis Auditorium
Photos from 1960

In the early 60s, Monday night at 8:30 was "Bell Time" at Ellis Auditorium.
Lance Russell and Dave Brown sat at ringside and called the action.

The big stars of the time were Sputnik & Rocket Monroe; Billy Wicks; Lester & Herb Welch; Jackie, Don, Roughhouse, Joe & Sonny Boy Fargo; Treacherous Phillips; The Baby Blimp; The Great Bolo; Joe Scarpa; Bobby, Don & Lee Fields; Joe & Jean, the Corsican Brothers; Al "Spider" Galento; Mario Galento; The Von Brauner Brothers; Antonino Rocco; Don & Al Green; Buddy Rogers; Gorgeous George; Oni Wiki Wiki; Rocky Columbo; the Mighty Yankee; wrestler/promoter Buddy Fuller; and more.
All of the photos and newspaper clips on this page were from 1960.

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Submitted by: Butch Mitchell : 31 Dec 2008, 10:00

Those were the good old days. I remember when I was only @8 years old my grandmother taking me to Ellis Auditorum to see these wrestlers. Drew big crowds and was great entertainment. Billy Wicks later became a deputy Sheriff with Shelby County in the 60's and 70's. I knew him from the gym at the old MPD East Prect at Armour Station.

Submitted by: Bill Gray : 23 Jan 2009, 16:32

My best friend, Richard "Goose" Tatum and I would rush from Holy Names Parochial school to Ellis Auditorium every Monday afternoon to be first in line for jobs selling concessions inside the auditorium. I actually had to get my social security card for this reason. We'd often get there early enough to see some "choreography" between wrestlers. Won many a bet predicting the outcome of some matches. Lived for the day when I'd be old enough to sell beer at the event.

Submitted by: Chris Ellis : 20 Oct 2009, 19:58

I would like to have any photos or wrestling programs featuring Sputnik Monroe. Contact Chris at taxandspend@sbcglobal.net

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