Lord Layton's wrestling show on CKLW Television

**goirish1966** · November-09-10, 12:24 PM

Steve:
Sam was an accomplished pilot. Did he offer to fly you on a trip?? Around that time period I think he was still working for Wilbur Snyder & Dick the Bruiser in Indy.

**Steve** · November-09-10, 12:27 PM

No, he didn't offer to fly me, just shook my hand. It was my one brush with greatness.

**daddeeo** · November-09-10, 01:51 PM

How about Killer Kolwalski and his Klaw move?

**lafayette** · November-10-10, 09:14 AM

Anybody remember or know stories of local wrestling on TV in Detroit in the 1940s and 50s?

**9606 Prest** · November-11-10, 01:10 PM

I don't remember the early days of wrestling in the Detroit area but I do recall on one occasion going to the CKLW studios in Windsor to see Big Time Wrestling! To get to the studio where wrestling was held, we walked passed the star on the door to Bill Kennedy's studio. Two shows were taped that day and Lord Layton was the host for both. During the first show a wrestler was carried off on a stretcher [[I think it was Mark Lewin) and during the second show which was taped about 30 minutes after the first show was completed , the wrestler that was carried off on the stretcher returned and said he was in the hospital for one week!
Not many people were in the studio audience but it was a very entertaining event and didn't cost us anything but our time. It was also amusing to gather at one of our homes the following week night to watch ourselves on television as part of the crowd!

**Laurent** · November-11-10, 01:37 PM

I remember one guy wore an "asbestos mask" to protect against the Sheik's fire. Wonder if he has a lawsuit in store?

**Downriviera** · November-11-10, 06:06 PM

Wrestler Lou Klein had a gym in Allen Park. He had a ring set up outside next to the building. It was great for us kids as we would play in the ring and act like we were big time wrestlers. Sometimes Klein would come out and show us some moves.

http://www.percivalafriend.com/friend011408.htm

**lpg** · November-12-10, 05:23 PM

Originally Posted by Downriviera

Wrestler Lou Klein had a gym in Allen Park. He had a ring set up outside next to the building. It was great for us kids as we would play in the ring and act like we were big time wrestlers. Sometimes Klein would come out and show us some moves.

http://www.percivalafriend.com/friend011408.htm

I went all the way through school and graduated with a girl who trained at Lou Klein's studio. Her wrestling name was Heather Feather. She was always a very sweet person to me and my wife. I still have the graduation picture she gave me.

**lpg** · November-15-10, 02:07 PM

[quote=Downriviera;197777]Wrestler Lou Klein had a gym in Allen Park. He had a ring set up outside next to the building. It was great for us kids as we would play in the ring and act like we were big time wrestlers. Sometimes Klein would come out and show us some moves.

http://www.percivalafriend.com/friend011408.htm[/quote] About what year was that ??

**Downriviera** · November-15-10, 07:09 PM

I'm guessing around 68 or 69.

**lpg** · November-16-10, 12:56 PM

Originally Posted by Downriviera

I'm guessing around 68 or 69.

We graduated in January 1968 from Lincoln Park High. So her training was after that. I remember seeing her on TV in the 70's or maybe a little later.

**Thruster315** · November-15-10, 10:22 PM

Originally Posted by Laurent

I remember one guy wore an "asbestos mask" to protect against the Sheik's fire. Wonder if he has a lawsuit in store?

The things the Sheik made people do! He truly was a legend here wasn't he? He had one heckuva gimmick and I hope he parlayed it into something huge for himself. I've heard rumors that he did very well after he quit the wrestling circuit and just passed away not that long ago. Any validity to that?

**BFoster** · November-12-10, 01:23 PM

This stuff is so burned into my brain, using up space that could been used for something...anything...else

Leapin' Larry Chene was a regular on Motor City Wrestling, which was on WXYZ. In the 60's, Fred Wolfe was the announcer, and when he wasn't touting the upcoming Saturday night bout [[promoted by Bert Ruby), he was hawking real estate in Toltec, Arizona. Larry's big moves were the "flying scissors kick" and the "double drop kick", and his frequent tag team partner was Gentleman Jim Hadee [[who lived across the street from me when I was about 4 yrs old).

One of my favorite MCW bad guys was "Mr. X", who wore a mask and was always accompanied by his manager, "The Professor" [[or maybe it was The Prof accompanied by his manager Mr. X).

Check out Flying Scissors Kick around 1:37...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_3Pcjr74BU

**goirish1966** · November-16-10, 11:11 AM

The Sheik passed away on January 18, 2003. He lived in Williamston, Michigan. His former residence has been converted into a bed & breakfast now after sitting vacant for a few years.

The Sheik never really quit the business. He continued to appear in Japan until just a few years before his death.

Real name is Edward Farhat and, according to his family, he lived the Sheik persona 24/7.

**steveharms** · November-28-10, 06:30 PM

Originally Posted by goirish1966

The Sheik passed away on January 18, 2003. He lived in Williamston, Michigan. His former residence has been converted into a bed & breakfast now after sitting vacant for a few years.

The Sheik never really quit the business. He continued to appear in Japan until just a few years before his death.

Real name is Edward Farhat and, according to his family, he lived the Sheik persona 24/7.

The Sheik fell on hard financial times and eventually lost his mini-mansion in Williamston. He did continue to work, but couldn't save the home. I went to the home around 1981 [[approx) and it was in total disrepair. There were garbage bags all over the balcony........broken windows and trash everywhere. No one lived there. Very sad to see what happened to the place. It was eventually purchased and renovated to become the above-mentioned bed and breakfast.

I went to MSU with his niece Ida and once asked her if the stories about him being the "Sheik" 24/7 were true. Apparently there were other Ed Farhats in the family and to distinguish one from another, the kids called him Uncle Sheik.....but she told me he didn't carry his professional personality to family gatherings.

**Wingnatic** · November-29-10, 10:18 AM

'' he didn't carry his professional personality to family gatherings. ''
Good thing for that in case he became angry at someone and decided to gnaw on their foreheads lol

**9606 Prest** · November-29-10, 11:21 PM

Did anyone attend matches at the air-conditioned Cobo Arena? What do remember about those wrestlers? Were the prices reasonable?

**9606 Prest** · November-26-10, 09:18 AM

Does anyone remember what years "Big Time Wrestling" was on Channel 9? Was Lord Layton always the host?

**Oldpuck** · November-26-10, 05:46 PM

I remember going to WXYZ's Broadcast House with my mother, an aunt and a couple of cousins to be in the audience for for the televised wrestling show which I know now was Motor City Wrestling. I think it was a Saturday morning taping. I know we got to watch it on TV later. It would have been around 1960.

**9606 Prest** · November-26-10, 06:58 PM

Was Fred Wolf the host of 'Motor City Wrestling' in 1960? How long did that show run? Did "Big Time Wrestling" come in after "Motor City Wrestling" went off the air or were they both on television at about the same time??

**steveharms** · November-27-10, 03:06 PM

When I was a kid I lived across the street from promoter Johnny Doyle out in Franklin. Occasionally he would take me to CKLW on Thursday nights to watch the "live" wrestling show. Dick the Bruiser was the top bad guy and Cowboy Bob Ellis among the top good guys. Sam Menacker was the announcer prior to Athol Layton taking over. That show was "Big Time Wrestling" with their Detroit shows primarily at the Olympia.

The other promotion was "Motor City Wrestling" which was taped at WXYZ. As mentioned above, Johnny Slagle was the main announcer. That promotion was owned by Burt Ruby who primarily promoted outside of Detroit. Leapin Larry Chene was the top good guy while Ricki Cortez was among the cast of villains. During those times, when secrecy or "kayfabe" was the norm, Jim Myers, a coach and athletic director at Madison High School, wrestled as "The Student" a masked villain. Outside of Detroit Myers became George "The Animal" Steele, a brawling bad guy.

**Wingnatic** · November-27-10, 03:56 PM

Not sure about the wrestlin' shows , but I remember Fred Wolf [[e ? ) hosting a bowling show called '' Beat The Champ '' at Thunderbird Lanes [[ in Troy ? ) I think the show was about regular bowlers taking on a pro bowler [[ probably someone local)

**Wingnatic** · November-27-10, 04:11 PM

http://apps.detnews.com/apps/history/index.php?id=11
Wolf had a television show, "Championship Bowling," that ran from 1954-1965 and was carried in 200 cities. He was inducted into the ABC Bowling Hall of Fame in 1976.

Beat The Champ

http://www.mrbowling300.net/post?id=4759405

**goirish1966** · November-28-10, 05:27 PM

9606 Prest:

This is the debut show of Big Time Wrestling on Channel 9. Note that is was originally on Tuesday; in the early summer of '59 it moved to Wednesday night; then on December 10th it moved to its more remembered Thursday night slot. It Remained on Channel 9 until October of 1968 when it moved to Channel 62.

Sam Menaker, the original TV commentator, had a colorful background in wrestling, as a wrestler, manager, and TV commentator. Prior to Jim Barnett & Johnny Doyle bringing Big Time Wrestling to the Detroit area, there was a taped show on Sunday mornings, Bedlam From Boston. Sam was the commentator on this show. In the very early 1950s, he appeared as Gorgeous George's manager/second in the midwest.

Tuesday, March 3, 1959 at the CKLW channel 9 TV studios in Windsor, Canada:
1- Dick ‘the Bruiser’ Afflis vs. Jack Allen
2- Angelo Poffo vs. Jim Martin
3- Wilbur Snyder vs. Frank Brown
4- Jim Hady vs. Joe Rostoff

**bencher446** · October-29-11, 11:50 PM

My father used to take me to see the wrestling show at CKLW years ago and introduced me to Bobo Brazil, who is still my favorite wrestler, The Shiek, Lord Layton and others. It was so much better than all the hyped up WWE and other ones that on TV today.
I'm glad I got to experience wrestling at this level.....