June 1st in the Tunnel:
Happy Birthday to those who have passed on and to those great wrestlers still with us:
In Memoriam:
Katie Glass\Diamond Lil 1944
Big Bully Busick 1954
Happy Birthday:
Dr D David Schultz (70)
Brian Gower\Adias (65)
George Hines\Jackie Fulton (62)
Andrew Warner\Scoot Andrews (58)
John Williams\Ian Rotten (55)
James Cox\James Storm (48)
Ross Von Erich (37)
Sam Gradwell ((34)
Alicia Atout (30)
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.
Sylvester Ritter\Junkyard Dog 6-1-1998 at the age of 45
James Dudley 6-1-2004 at the age of 94
Calvin Prince Pullins 6-1-2006 at the age of 73
Thomas Couch\Tommy Rogers 6-1-2015 at the age of 54
Melanie Pillman 6-1-2022 at the age of 56
Time Tunnel Pro Wrestling Flashback to The Life of Jim Barnett on the Stories with Brisco and Bradshaw Show:
Don't miss my guest appearance with Jerry and John on Stories with Brisco and Bradshaw this week for Episode 1 of a multi-part series on the life of Jim Barnett, one of Professional Wrestling's biggest behind the scenes power brokers of the last 100 years. On this first episode, we cover:
Jim's birth and upbringing in Oklahoma City
His time at ethe University of Chicago
Breaking into the business in marketing with Fred Kohler in 1949
His rise up the ladder to the top of the Fred Kohler organization from 1949-1958
The Chicago Wrestling War of 1949-1955
The two biggest network television wrestling programs of the 1950s
The Johnny Doyle and Cal Eaton partnership in Los Angeles from 1941-1954
Johnny Doyle's failed return attempt to Las Vegas
The Rise of Doyle and Barnett as the "Lennon & McCartney of Pro Wrestling" from 1958-1964
Doyle and Barnett hit a wall in Los Angeles in 1961
The Kentucky Football Scandal of 1959-1963
Complex history and storylines, personal & business relationships destroyed and scandals all around in this first episode!
I hope you will join us for this first episode in this multi-part series on "The Life of Jim Barnett" on the Stories with Brisco and Bradshaw Show!
5/29/2025: Stories With Brisco & Bradshaw with Tony Richards Jim Barnett Episode #1
One Thing I Learned Today About Pro Wrestling History:
The Federal Communications Commission gave the green light for national commercial television starting on July 1, 1941. "Wrestling From the Rainbow Arena" was first telecast on Wednesday nights in July 1946.
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!
Remember, paid subscribers get access to exclusive and special content such as some special issues including a multi-part deep dives on wrestling territories, wrestler bios and championship title histories, special audio and video interviews on territory pro wrestling and more available in The Vault of the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel for Paid Subscribers.