A Gorgeous Era In Wrestling

Los Angeles Times – December 14, 1997
By Cecilia Rasmussen, L.A. Then And Now

To his friends, this 250-pound package of golden-haired, pre-steroid muscle was always G.G.

Promoters billed him variously as the “Toast of the Coast,” the “Sensation of the Nation” and the “Human Orchid.”

But to the legion of fans who made him one of live television’s first superstars in the late 1940s, he was Gorgeous George, the man who not only kept them glued to their newly purchased TV consoles, but also filled the seats each week in such historic Los Angeles venues as Hollywood Legion Stadium, the Olympic Auditorium and the Ocean Park and Long Beach arenas.

Wrestling Show Offered In Woburn Tomorrow

Wilmington Crusader – April 27, 1955

Wrestling, to the satisfaction of the fans, is now being offered every week, in Woburn, by Bing Crosby and Bob Varey, well known Woburn sportsmen. The two men, working in a partnership, under the name of “VARCBO” (Varey and Crosby) have been running shows on Friday night, but have shifted to Thursdays, as a result of requests by their patrons.

The Wrestling takes place in the American Legion Hall, on the Four Corners, at Rte. 3, with ringtime being 8:30 p.m. Bing and Bob assure their fans that the show this week is just as good as that of the week previous, at which time The Four Mighty Midgets were the contestants. This week will feature two lady wrestlers. Alma Mills and Lorraine Johnson.

Wrestling Ad

Sanford Tribune – November 25, 1954

Georgeous George Meets Great Zuma At Stadium Tonight

Nashua Telegraph – August 26, 1954

Tag Team Match Also Highlight of Program

First Main Event — Georgeous George vs The Great Zuma
Second Main Event — Alma Mills vs Jean Hogan
Third Main Event — Tag Team Match — Ricky Waldo and Pat Sullivan vs Frank James and Chief Black Hawk
All Bouts Two Out of Three Falls

Its the muscle-bound mustached Great Zuma of Argentina against the dapper, perfumed Gorgeous George of Hollywood in the main tussle of Promoter Jim Lagios’ mat show at the Holman Stadium tonight. First ‘rasslers of the evening step into the ring at 8:30.

JEAN HOGAN

Alma Mills And Jean Hogan Also on Card

Nashua Telegraph – August 25, 1954

The ancient art of grunting and groaning will be revived at Holman stadium tomorrow night when Jimmy Lagios presents his weekly wrestling show at Holman Stadium. First bout will get underway at 8:30.

The main event will have the dapper Gorgeous George attempt to out wit the brut forces of The Great Zuma who hails from Argentina.

Whitey Has Another Bad Nite; Gal Wrestler Tosses Him Out

Newburyport Daily News – March 23, 1954
By BOB FULLER

It was another bad night for the Everett (Whitey) Davis when he refereed the wrestling bouts in city hall last night. Alma Mills, the Amazon wrestler from Columbus, Ohio, switched her attention from Jean Hogan, her opponent, and grabbed a handful of Whitey’s curls and flipped him out of the ring with a hairpull. The Seabrook fire department sponsored the show.

Tag Matches On LI Card

Long Island Star-Journal – March 24, 1960

The sensational tag team battles are listed on the mammoth second anniversary wrestling show at the Island Garden in West Hempstead, Long Island, Saturday night.

The new combination of Skull Murphy and Pat Kelly will clash with two of the popular Lewin brothers – Don and Ted – from Buffalo, in the two-out-of-three falls, 60-minute time limit.

Featuring the special card will be a battle between Antonino Rocca and Killer Kowalski, Polish giant.  Other highlights are Johnny Valentine against Gorgeous George; Argentina Zuma against Pampero Firpo, and Prince Maiava vs. Chet Wallick.

McGuire Twins Squash Hines

Panama City News-Herald – March 30, 1974

The McGuire Twins, all 1,400 pounds of them, won their wrestling match at Rainbow Garden, but it had an unusual twist.  When Bad Boy Hines went to the aid of Billy Spears and Gorgeous George, they fled the ring, leaving Hines to be squashed between the twins.

Dick Dunn and Ken Lucas beat Hines and Rock Riddle in a tag match.  Riddle won from Chief Thundercloud, and Duke Miller won his match with The Medic, who unmasked and revealed himself as Tony Gonzalez.

Rocca Wins, Heads Here

Long Island Star-Journal – March 28, 1960

Fresh from victory before a crowd of 5,584 which paid $17,037.74 at Island Garden Saturday night, Antonino Rocca moves into North Queens tomorrow night for the first of two mat appearances at Sunnyside Garden this week.

Rocca, who pinned Argentine Zuma in the West Hempstead feature, will take on TV champion Johnny Valentine in tomorrow’s non-televised opening bout.

How Tall Grew The Corn Over George’s Debut!

Denver Post, Saturday – February 19, 1949
By Jack Frank

There wasn’t enough blood shed Friday night in Mammoth Garden to give a transfusion to an ailing cockroach, but who wants blood when you can watch Gorgeous George daintily pat his curls?