Ed George Is Paired With Zbyszko

Albany Times-Union – July 27, 1933

Ed Don George, New England’s choice for the world’s heavyweight wrestling crown, comes back to Hawkins Stadium Tuesday night, in quest of his second victory there.  Karol Zbyszko agile Chicago star, was signed as his opponent last night.

Browning Pins Negro Marvel

New York Times-Union – June 10, 1932
By Jack Andrews

After quite some embarrassment, Jim Browning, the Verona, Mo., Razzle Dazzle got his turnover scissors working on the rubbery Reginald Siki, Sengalese negro marvel, last night at Hawkins Stadium and it was all over in 38:50 just before Jupiter Pumphandle Pluvius got down to some serious work.  It drizzled all through the final event.

Much of the dazzle was taken out of the barrel-legged James, until he finally got the eel-like negro in that vise-like lock.  Siki put up a glittering exhibition of defensive wrestling, the like of which has never been seen in these parts.

Wrestling

San Pedro News-Pilot – August 4, 1931
By The Associated Press

BUFFALO – Ed Don George, 219, Buffalo, defeated Stanley Stasiak, 253, Cambridge, Mass., two falls out of three (Stasiak first, 16:49; George second, 15:48 4/5 and 4:44 4/5) Len Macaluso, 195, New York, drew with Rudy Laditzi, 220, in 30:00.

Strangler Gets Boos But Wins The Mix

Honolulu Star-Bulletin – September 23, 1936
By Loui Leong Hop

“Personally, I don’t go for this hippodroming and clowning rassling stuff, but you know how the public is. They want that kind of a show and I’m always willing to oblige.”

Ed (Strangler) Lewis, the daddy of ’em all in wrestling, gave out this statement to a bunch of sports scribes soon after his arrival about two weeks ago.

Last week he pinned Ed Don George after 55 minutes of straight scientific wrestling, using his famous “strangle” liberally. The crowd, totaling close to 4,000, was divided as to its likes and dislikes of that performance.

Lewis Obliges, Applies Strangle Near End

Honolulu Star-Bulletin – September 16, 1936
By Loui Leong Hop

For a long time last evening, some 4,000 curious spectators gathered in the Civic Auditorium thought they were going to be deprived of the commodity that made Ed (Strangler) Lewis the holy terror of the wrestling world.

But the veteran showman, willing to oblige when the occasion demands, finally came through to apply his famous “strangle” and then clamped the headlock to down Ed Don George for the only fall of the main attraction.

There were less than five minutes left in their scheduled one-hour performance when Lewis pinned George. Then the fans got up, cheered the 45-year-old, 245-pound grappler and started to go home.

The ‘Strangler’ Lewis is Due Here Tomorrow

Honolulu Star-Bulletin – September 9, 1936
By Loui Leong Hop

Honolulu’s rassling fans are sitting pretty again.

About a month ago, they saw “Jumping Joe” Savoldi’s famous dropkick in action against Al Karasick and Ed Don George. The “big league” attractions jammed the Civic Auditorium to overflowing.

Next Tuesday evening at the covered arena, these grappling addicts will set their optics on a match that commands major interest and prices on the mainland.

Donchin Throws Passas In Armory Mat Bout

The New York Sun – March 2, 1935

By United Press

Twenty-second Engineers Armory – Curley Donchin, New York, threw Steve Passas, Greece; Sammy Kosh, New Jersey, threw John Gudiski, Poland; Leo Wallick, Germany, drew with Maurice La Chapelle, France; Jack Bloomfield, Connecticut, gained decision over Hans Schnabel, Germany; Wilhelm Wagner, Germany, threw Hymie Fishman, Chicago; Sammy Nicholas, San Francisco, gained decision over Dave Levin, New York.

Opera Glitters, But Matmen Just Grunt

United Press – December 17, 1935
By Jack Diamond

NEW YORK – Not to be outdone by the glittering premiere of the opera last night, Promoter Jack Curley staged a rival, and repeat, performance of that stirring drama, Danno O’Mahoney versus Ed Don George, once again wrestling for what so many people believe to be the heavyweight championship of the world.

Santa Claus Arrives Here Little Early For George

New York Post – December 16, 1935
By Eddie Wade

Poppa Curley Plays Santa Claus… by Uhlmann

Grappler Don Hangs Xmas Sock in Bid to Regain Mat Crown

 Third Time Danno, Challenger Meet

Santa Claus comes early this year.  At least he does to Ed Don George, the former heavyweight wrestling champion of the world, who gets a chance to even matters tonight with the current title-holder, Danno O’Mahoney, at Madison Square Garden.

On the Mat

Time – February 2, 1931

In Madison Square Garden, Jim Londos humped an enormous torso shaped like a single pile of white dough and topped with a tiny spike of head, wrapped his arms around Jim McMillen, U. S. wrestler who once played with Red Grange on Illinois’ football team. For 56 minutes, 54 seconds they grunted, sweated, flopped with terrific thuds on the canvas. Once Londos threw McMillen out of the ring. Then McMillen slipped Londos through the ropes. Then both fell down into the press bench, were helped in again, resumed grappling. At last Londos picked up McMillen, slapped him down, rolled him over with a quick half Nelson that won the match and kept one of the world’s heavyweight wrestling championships safe for Greece. Two nights before the bout, at a dinner in the Madison Square Garden Club, lion-headed, box-chested Londos had been presented with a jeweled gold belt supposed to symbolize the wrestling championship of the world. However, it is not the only belt with this significance. Don George, Michigan graduate, also claims the world’s championship because he beat Gus Sonnenberg two months ago. Not since herculean Frank Gotch retired in 1913, after a career in which he won 154 matches out of 160, has there been an undisputed heavyweight wrestling champion. In the last seven years two main groups of wrestlers have emerged to do business separately, each with its own champion: a group controlled by Promoter Jack Curley in the East, the other by old-time Billy Sandoz in the Midwest and on the Pacific Coast. Curley’s champion is recognized by the National Boxing Association, whose authority over wrestling is vague. Sandoz’ champion is supported mainly in Massachusetts, Michigan and California. To Curley goes credit for having revived wrestling, long discredited by its reputation as an incurably crooked sport, as a big money-maker in eastern cities.* It is still maintained by experts, and borne out in college wrestling, that when wrestlers are sincere they immediately fall to the mat and lie prone, grunting, until one succumbs from fatigue. No matter what can be said for its spirit, such sincerity is exceedingly weak as entertainment.

*Rev. Charley Urban, onetime University of Pennsylvania footballer and 220lb. wrestler, signed a professional wrestling contract with a Philadelphia promoter. “A preacher doesn’t get much money and the little I can make on the side will keep me in a cheerful frame of mind which . . . will be reflected in my sermons,” said he.