Jim Londos
Encyclopedia
Christos Theofilou or Christopher Theophelus (Greek: Χρήστος Θεοφίλου) (January 2, 1897 – August 19, 1975) better known as "The Golden Greek" Jim Londos, was a professional wrestler
who was one of the most popular stars wrestling offered during the Great Depression
.
. Working whenever he could, Theofilou took several odd jobs including cabin boy, construction jobs and posing nude
for figure drawing
classes. Theofilou landed a job as a catcher in a carnival acrobatic act. It was during this period that he was exposed to professional wrestling and began training.
Londos' first matches would be as "The Wrestling Plasterer" Christopher Theophelus, a gimmick that saw him coming to the ring in overalls. After a number of years he dropped this in favour of wrestling under the name Jim Londos and being a no nonsense wrestler.
To compensate for his lack of wrestling ability, Londos was well known for his good looks and his well muscled physique. He capitalized on this by having himself matched up against the ugliest opponents he could find. This promotional tactic worked very well and Londos became one of the most popular wrestlers in the 1930s and early 40's.
Considered to be a national hero in Greece
, Londos once drew a crowd estimated to be made of nearly 100,000 fans to see one of his matches when he traveled there.
. He was honored by both U.S. President Richard Nixon
and King Paul of Greece
for his various philanthropic efforts outside the ring.
Londos died of a heart attack
August 19, 1975 and is buried at Oak Hill Memorial Park in Escondido, California.
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
who was one of the most popular stars wrestling offered during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
.
Career
Jim Londos was born Christos Theofilou in 1897 in Argos, Greece. as the youngest of thirteen children. At age thirteen he ran away from home and eventually ended up immigrating to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Working whenever he could, Theofilou took several odd jobs including cabin boy, construction jobs and posing nude
Model (art)
Art models are models who pose for photographers, painters, sculptors, and other artists as part of their work of art. Art models who pose in the nude for life drawing are usually called life models...
for figure drawing
Figure drawing
In art, a figure drawing is a study of the human form in its various shapes and body postures - sitting, standing or even sleeping. It is a study or stylized depiction of the human form, with the line and form of the human figure as the primary objective, rather than the subject person. It is a...
classes. Theofilou landed a job as a catcher in a carnival acrobatic act. It was during this period that he was exposed to professional wrestling and began training.
Londos' first matches would be as "The Wrestling Plasterer" Christopher Theophelus, a gimmick that saw him coming to the ring in overalls. After a number of years he dropped this in favour of wrestling under the name Jim Londos and being a no nonsense wrestler.
To compensate for his lack of wrestling ability, Londos was well known for his good looks and his well muscled physique. He capitalized on this by having himself matched up against the ugliest opponents he could find. This promotional tactic worked very well and Londos became one of the most popular wrestlers in the 1930s and early 40's.
Considered to be a national hero in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, Londos once drew a crowd estimated to be made of nearly 100,000 fans to see one of his matches when he traveled there.
Retirement
Londos retired in 1946 and would spend the remainder of his life working for charitable organizations. His favorite charities dealt with Greek war orphans of the Second World WarWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was honored by both U.S. President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
and King Paul of Greece
Paul of Greece
Paul reigned as King of Greece from 1947 to 1964.-Family and early life:Paul was born in Athens, the third son of King Constantine I of Greece and his wife, Princess Sophia of Prussia. He was trained as a naval officer....
for his various philanthropic efforts outside the ring.
Londos died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
August 19, 1975 and is buried at Oak Hill Memorial Park in Escondido, California.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Armbar
- Boston crab
Championships and accomplishments
- National Wrestling AssociationNational Wrestling AssociationThe National Wrestling Association was an off-shoot of the National Boxing Association, formed to sanction professional wrestling. This NWA is not the same organization as the National Wrestling Alliance, which was formed in 1948....
- NWA World Heavyweight ChampionshipWorld Heavyweight Championship (National Wrestling Association)The World Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship of the National Wrestling Association , an offshoot of the National Boxing Association...
(1 time)
- NWA World Heavyweight Championship
- New York State Athletic CommissionNew York State Athletic CommissionThe New York State Athletic Commission or NYSAC, also known as the New York Athletic Commission, regulates all contests and exhibitions of unarmed combat within the state of New York, including licensure and supervision of promoters, boxers, professional wrestlers, seconds, ring officials,...
- NYSAC World Heavyweight Championship (1 time) - unified with NWA World Heavyweight Championship
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
- Class of 2002 (Pioneer Era)
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of FameWrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of FameThe Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame is a professional wrestling hall of fame that recognizes people who make significant contributions to the sport. It was founded in 1996 by Dave Meltzer, editor of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame is not...
(Class of 1996)
- Other titles
- World Heavyweight Championship (original version) (1 time)
- Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
World Heavyweight Championship (1 time) - MarylandMarylandMaryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
World Heavyweight Championship(2 times) - Minneapolis World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)