Sonnenberg-Spellman to Wrestle Tomorrow

Pawtucket Times – October 15, 1928

The growing popularity of professional wrestling among college men is well indicated by the Acme A. A.’s opening grappling show of the season at the Arcadia, Providence, tomorrow night, at least half of the contestants being graduates of the higher institutions of learning. “Dynamite” Sonnenberg boasts a diploma from Dartmouth, where he gained fame as “All American” tackle; John Spellman was graduated from Brown after winning an Olympic wrestling championship and starring as a football tackle, and Jack Wagner is a Montana State College product.

Sonnenberg, Spellman Victors in Mat Bouts

Pawtucket Times – March 6, 1928

SPRINGFIELD, Mass, March 6 – Gus Sonnenberg and John Spellman, ex-football stars at Dartmouth and Brown, respectively, featured a professional wrestling show last night. Sonnenberg, using some of the tactics that won him fame on the gridiron, threw George Leon of Chicago in six minutes.

Spellman, an Olympic champion, had a tougher time, but finally beat John Ward, strapping Oklahoma youth after losing the first fall.

Spellman-Sonnenberg on Mat Card Tonight

Pawtucket Times – February 6, 1928

John Spellman and Gus Sonnenberg, two of the most popular players in the Steam Roller football team, feature tonight’s wrestling card at the Arcadia ballroom, Providence. Spellman, who was a star at Brown and who was Olympic champion, is well along the road toward the topnotchers, according to Frank Herrick, coach at Brown. Sonnenberg is in his first season as a professional and is making a great impression.

Many football followers who have never attended a wrestling contest are planning to be present at the encounters to see how their gridiron idols make out in their wrestling ventures.

Lewis To Wrestle At Auditorium Tonight

Pawtucket Times – April 20, 1927

Professional wrestling, which has been undergoing a revival in all parts of the country will be in order tonight at the Auditorium with a series of four of four matches between men of established reputation, the main event bringing together “Strangler” Ed Lewis, holder of the Tex Rickard $10,000 belt, against Dr. Karl Sarpolis, the Lithuanian physician wrestler. They are to go best two out of three falls to a finish.

The supporting numbers indicate a well-balanced programme. Ned McGuire, the Irish giant, and Mike Romano, the Italian heavyweight, are down for a one fall match, and as both have wrestled Lewis and scored falls, the winner will get after the champion real hard for a return match.

‘Pro’ Wrestling At Marieville Friday

Pawtucket Times – March 15, 1927

Some of the leading matmen in the country will perform at the Marieville arena next Friday evening in an attempt to reintroduce “pro” wrestling ln Rhode Island after a lapse of a few years. Angelo Taramaschi, Italian heavyweight champion, will oppose Stanley Stickney of Hartford in the main bout.

John Spellman, local favorite and Olympic champion wrestler while at Brown University, will have his ability tested by Harry Coleman, Jewish heavyweight champion. The Brown University football star will have an advantage of about 20 pounds weight on Coleman. Adam Joseph, Armenian light heavyweight champion, faces Charles Platos of Smyrna in another match.

Spellman to Get Test in Bout With Stevens

Pawtucket Times – February 28, 1926

Arrangements are being perfected for the revival of wrestling on a monster scale at the Marieville A. C. next Thursday night, when Matchmaker Dick Curley will present an all-star bill of heavyweight wrestlers. John Spellman, Olympic champion and former Brown football star, is to appear in the special attraction against Harry Stevens of Ireland. Spellman impressed followers of the grappling sport when he easily defeated Jimmy Gentwell at the Grand Opera House in Boston last week. It took Johnny but 27 minutes to pin Gentwell’s shoulders to the mat to score the fall. Boston dispatches stated that Spellman shaped up like a future champion. In addition to the Spellman-Stevens match, Matchmaker Curley has arranged for a well-balanced card. Wladek Zbyszko, younger brother of Stanislaus Zbyszko, former heavyweight wrestling champion of the world, and himself Graeco-Roman champion, will stack up against Joe Zigmund of Ukrainia. The winner best two in three falls. Renato Gardini, idol of Italian wrestling fandom, champion of Italy, will be pitted against Tommy Draak, the rough and tumble champion of Holland. Abe Kaplan, Jewish champion, who hails from ‘Frisco, meets Frank Bruno of Poland.

Spellman Wins His First Match as Pro Wrestler

Pawtucket Times – February 12, 1926

John Spellman, former Olympic wrestling champion and Brown wrestler and football player, made his debut in professional wrestling last night at Boston, when he threw Jimmy Gentwell of Boston in 27 minutes in a very tough much.

Sonnenberg Wins Bout with Count Zarynoff

The Pawtucket Times – April 29, 1932

BOSTON, April 29 (AP) – After losing the first fall Gus Sonnenberg of Boston, former wrestling title claimant, throw George Zarynoff of Russia twice last night to gain the victory in Paul Bowser’s feature match at the arena. Sonnenberg went down in 43:33 under a reverse double leg nelson, but evened the match in 13:51 with a head lock and body press and gained the deciding fall in 18:13 with a flying tackle. Sonnenberg weighed 210 and his opponent scaled 205. Nick Lutze, 198, Los Angeles, won the semi-final grappling by tossing Jim Neslin, 205, Montreal, in 18:15 with a backfall. Al Morelli, 210, Boston, threw Pat O’Reilly, 202, Texas, in 15:45 with a flying tackle. In the other bouts Pat McKay, 218, Memphis, threw Karl Tompkins, 210, Saco, Mo., in 2:30 and Patsy Flanagan, 205, Stamford, Conn., with headlocks and body presses Jack Wagner, 205, Providence drew with John Poddubney, 208, Lithuania, John Spellman, 202, Providence, threw Eddie Pope, 200, Georgia, in 7:26 with a giant swing: Regis Siki, 207, Buffalo, threw Rex Smith, 210, South Dakota, in 6:15 with a hip lock; Jack Gansen, Lithuania, drew with Charlie Leahman, Cleveland; Lee Wyckoff, St. Louis, drew with Boris Demitroff, Bulgaria; Jack Patterson, Syracuse, drew with Arthur Flynn. Lawrence, and Mike Mazurki, New York, threw Jimmy Nelson, Sweden, in 3:19 with a body slam.

Flying Tackle To Be Shown Monday

The Montreal Gazette – July 25, 1931

George and Mercier, Opponents at Arena, Are Both Expert in Its Use

Wrestling fans who journey to the Mount Royal Arena Monday night to see Don George, the former champion, wrestle Al Mercier, rugged Chicoutimi product, will have an opportunity of seeing the flying tackle, one of modern wrestling’s most potent holds, on display by two experts in its use, judging by performances of the rivals in previous bouts here this season.  It was this grip that gave Gus Sonnenberg his win over Lewis for the title, and it was by the same hold that Gus lost his crown to George.  Against Deglane, the champion.  George found it unavailable in Boston two weeks ago, but Sonnenberg hopes to regain the championship with it when he tackles Deglane outdoors in Boston next week.

Szabo Puts Kibosh On Strangler

San Francisco Chronicle – February 3, 1937

Sandor Szabo, the Hungarian menace, evened matters with the aged Ed (Strangler) Lewis last night when he took Lewis, two falls out of three, in the main event at Dreamland.

Szabo took the first fall in 10:55 with his suplex hold, all rights reserved. Lewis captured the second with his old standby, the headlock, in 9:25, and Szabo wound it up by taking the deciding fall in 5:45 with a leg spring.