September 16th in the Time Tunnel:
Happy Birthday to those who have passed on and to those great wrestlers still with us:
In Memoriam:
(none)
Happy Birthday:
Dan Kroffat (81)
RIP Memorial: We stop & remember those who have passed on this day and gave themselves to the business for us, the fans. We salute you and thank you.
Don Bass 9-16-2016 at the age of 70
Jerry Brown 4-16-2020 at the age of 83
75 Year Flashback
9-16-1950: A major announcement is made concerning professional wrestling coming to the nation of Japan
In 1950, the Zainichi Torii Osasis Shriner's Club made announcements regarding early professional wrestling events in Tokyo. These were aimed at entertaining U.S. servicemen stationed in Japan during the occupation period following World War II. The events were part of broader cultural and charitable initiatives, often sponsored by groups like the Japanese Red Cross, to promote goodwill and recreation.
The club announced and organized an invitation for former world heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis (accompanied by seven professional wrestlers) to perform in a show specifically for U.S. military personnel. The wrestlers included international talents such as Bobby Bruns (United States), Andre Adoree (France), and Ovira Asselin (Canada), along with others not fully detailed in records. This event marked one of the earliest documented pro wrestling exhibitions in Tokyo, blending boxing and wrestling to draw crowds.
Then, on September 30th, building on the prior announcement, the club promoted a full wrestling card at Ryogoku Memorial Hall (now known as Ryogoku Kokugikan, a historic sumo and wrestling venue in Tokyo). The lineup featured the same core group of wrestlers (Bobby Bruns, Andre Adoree, and Ovira Asselin), with matches designed to entertain U.S. servicemen. This show was officially sponsored by the Japanese Red Cross, emphasizing its charitable angle.
These events were precursors to the explosion of professional wrestling (puroresu) popularity in Japan during the 1950s. They occurred amid the U.S. occupation of Japan (1945–1952), when American cultural influences, including sports entertainment, were introduced to local audiences. The Shriners' involvement highlights how fraternal organizations facilitated such cross-cultural exchanges. While these shows were small-scale compared to later tours, they helped lay the groundwork for figures like Rikidōzan, who debuted in similar Shriners-sponsored events in 1951 and became known as the "father of Japanese pro wrestling."
One Thing I Learned Today About Pro Wrestling History
Jerry Brown broke into the business around age 17 in Kansas City after a brief stint in construction, training primarily under Charlie Adcocks in Argentine, Kansas, and later Bob Orton Sr. His best run in the business was as half of The Hollywood Blonds with Buddy Roberts & managed by Sir Oliver Humperdink.
Thank You for Reading
I'm Tony Richards, Pro Wrestling Historian, Author and Storyteller. I share pro wrestling historical items in each issue of the Time Tunnel Pro Wrestling History Newsletter. Thanks for reading! If you enjoy my information on select events, matches and insights, please share it with folks you think might like to be a subscriber!
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