Paul Bowser
Encyclopedia
Paul Forbes Bowser was a professional wrestling
promoter who was active from the 1920s to the 1950s in the Boston
area.
in 1912 and began to promote wrestling shows, often working as a referee. In 1913 He married women's wrestling champion Cora Livingstone. That same year, he opened a wrestling school in Newark.
On March 10, 1916, Bowser became world middleweight champion, defeating Joe Turner in Newark. In November 1919, he and a co-defendant were successfully sued by Kelton Mitchell, who claimed he had been conned out of $2,300 that was bet on a fixed wrestling match in 1917.
Bowser moved to Boston in 1922, running shows against the area's established promoter, George V. Tuohey. Within a year, Bowser had won the promotional war and Tuohey filed for bankruptcy. In Boston, on January 3, 1922, Bowser again won the middleweight title from Joe Turner in a show promoted at the Boston Opera House
. He retired as a wrestler the following year.
and Ed "Strangler" Lewis
and took on entrenched rival, New York-based Jack Curley
. On January 25, 1923, Curley-backed Nat Pendleton
was defeated in a real contest by Bowser's John Pesek
, taking two falls in under 45 minutes. Curley would get his revenge two years later, paying Stanislaus Zbyszko
to go against plans and defeat Sandow/Lewis/Bowser-backed world champion Wayne Munn
in Philadelphia. On March 11, 1926, Bowser planned to regain control of the title by having Joe Malcewicz ambush champion Joe Stecher (who had won the title from Zbyszko and was also aligned with Curley)—who was expecting to wrestle a different opponent. But the plan failed when Stecher just walked out of the ring and left before the match started.
In 1928, Bowser put his promotional efforts behind Gus Sonnenberg
, an NFL football player for the Providence Steam Roller
. Sonnenberg and his flying tackle became a sensation in professional wrestling and, on January 4, 1929 at the Boston Garden
, promoted by Bowser, Sonnenberg became the world heavyweight champion, defeating Strangler Lewis. Sonnenberg became the biggest draw in professional wrestling, although he would soon be eclipsed by Jim Londos
, wrestling's biggest star during the Great Depression
. Sonnenberg consistently drew big crowds in Los Angeles for promoter Lou Daro—part of the Bowser camp. His popularity also led Bowser-aligned Ivan Mickailoff to introduce weekly wrestling shows to Toronto in 1929, largely using Bowser's wrestlers.
In 1930, Bowser created the American Wrestling Association and also recruited amateur wrestling standout Ed Don George
, who was immediately put in main events and, on December 10, 1930, defeated Sonnenberg for the world title in Los Angeles. Lewis, who felt he had been promised that he would be the one to get the title back from Sonnenberg, defeated George for the belt on April 13, 1931 in Los Angeles, against Bowser's wishes. But Bowser quickly regained control of the title when on May 4, 1931 in Montral, Lewis was disqualified for biting his opponent, Henri DeGlane
, who was declared the new champion. It is widely believed that the bite marks were actually inflicted by DeGlane himself or one of his cornermen, and that he pretended to have been bitten by Lewis to win the match.
During the promotional wars of the 1930s, Toots Mondt
and Ray Fabiani, supported by Curley, began presenting shows in Boston in opposition to Bowser, running their first event on January 27, 1932 with Lewis in the main event. But after Londos broke away from Curley, peace was made between Bowser and Curley in the summer of 1932. In 1933, Bowser backed Jim Browning, who defeated Lewis in New York for recognition there as world champion, with Bowser reportedly paying $42,000 to Lewis and Mondt to drop the title. In November 1933, Bowser signed an agreement with Curley, Mondt, Fabiani, Ed White and Tom Packs, under which the six promoters agreed to share talent and profits.
Bowser's next star creation was Danno O'Mahoney, who unified the New York and Boston versions of the world title in June and July 1935 with wins over Londos and George, respectively. O'Mahoney was not a skilled wrestler and promoters who had not been shut out of the Curley-Bowser alliance took advantage of that weakness, arranging for Dick Shikat to win the title in a doublecross on March 2, 1936 in New York. The "Curley Trust" began to fall apart after Shikat's victory, with Fabiani eventually running in opposition to Curley.
Later in 1936, Bowser made Steve "Crusher" Casey
his top star, and Casey rose to become world champion with a victory over Lou Thesz
in Boston on February 11, 1938. Bowser brought Maurice Tillet
to the U.S. in 1940, and he became the largest draw in professional wrestling and defeated Casey for the Boston area world title on May 13, 1940. Casey regained the title two years later and served in the United States Army
during World War II
and returned to wrestling for Bowser in Boston in 1945, dropping the title to Bowser's next major star, Frank Sexton
.
Bowser did not initially join the National Wrestling Alliance
when it formed in 1948, but considered himself to be a friend of the organization and sent the NWA a check for initiation fees. In 1952, as a concession to the NWA, Bowser renamed his world title the Eastern Heavyweight Championship. Verne Gagne
became a top draw for Bowser in the early 1950s.
In the late 1950s, Bowser hired Johnny Doyle to handle all booking responsibilities at the Boston wrestling office. Doyle left to go into partnership with Jim Barnett
and Bowser ran what would be his last show on July 15, 1960 at the Boston Garden. He had suffered a heart attack three days earlier and died on July 17 following surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital
at age 74.
and owned a substantial estate. Included in this was an old racetrack and "trotting park." His brick mansion still stands at 171 Grant Street.
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...
promoter who was active from the 1920s to the 1950s in the Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
area.
Wrestler
Bowser grew up on a farm in western Pennsylvania and attended Beaver College before becoming a professional wrestler and touring with the Pollock Brothers Circus. He moved to Newark, OhioNewark, Ohio
In addition, the remains of a road leading south from the Octagon have been documented and explored. It was first surveyed in the 19th century, when its walls were more apparent. Called the Great Hopewell Road, it may extend to the Hopewell complex at Chillicothe, Ohio...
in 1912 and began to promote wrestling shows, often working as a referee. In 1913 He married women's wrestling champion Cora Livingstone. That same year, he opened a wrestling school in Newark.
On March 10, 1916, Bowser became world middleweight champion, defeating Joe Turner in Newark. In November 1919, he and a co-defendant were successfully sued by Kelton Mitchell, who claimed he had been conned out of $2,300 that was bet on a fixed wrestling match in 1917.
Bowser moved to Boston in 1922, running shows against the area's established promoter, George V. Tuohey. Within a year, Bowser had won the promotional war and Tuohey filed for bankruptcy. In Boston, on January 3, 1922, Bowser again won the middleweight title from Joe Turner in a show promoted at the Boston Opera House
Boston Opera House (1909)
The Boston Opera House was an opera house located on Huntington Avenue in Boston, Massachusetts. It opened in 1909 as the home of the Boston Opera Company and was demolished in 1958 after years of disuse....
. He retired as a wrestler the following year.
Promoter
As a promoter, Bowser was initially allied with Billy SandowBilly Sandow
Wilhelm Baumann, better known as Billy Sandow , was the manager of professional wrestler Ed "Strangler" Lewis and a subsequent member of the famed Gold Dust Trio promotion that changed the face of the industry during the 1920s...
and Ed "Strangler" Lewis
Ed Lewis (wrestler)
Robert Herman Julius Friedrich , was a professional wrestler best known by his ring name Ed "Strangler" Lewis, whose career spanned four decades.-Wrestling career:...
and took on entrenched rival, New York-based Jack Curley
Jack Curley
Jack Curley was a sports promoter of the early 1900s. He managed several high-profile boxing events around the turn-of-the-century and he also established professional wrestling as a viable business in the big city, and he eventually built the New York office into an industry power while...
. On January 25, 1923, Curley-backed Nat Pendleton
Nat Pendleton
Nathaniel Greene "Nat" Pendleton was an American Olympic wrestler and film actor.-Early life:Pendleton was born in Davenport, Iowa to Adelaide E. and Nathaniel G. Pendleton. He studied at Columbia University where he began his wrestling career. He was twice Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling...
was defeated in a real contest by Bowser's John Pesek
John Pesek
John Pesek was an American professional wrestler and notable greyhound racing dog breeder.He was born to Bohemian parents near Ravenna, Nebraska, the fifth of seven children, and grew up living the hard life of the American pioneer. His father Martin died in an accident when John was twelve...
, taking two falls in under 45 minutes. Curley would get his revenge two years later, paying Stanislaus Zbyszko
Stanislaus Zbyszko
Stanislaus Zbyszko was a Polish strongman and professional wrestler popular in the United States during the 1920s. He was one of the most influential European grapplers of all-time, he was also among the sport’s great pioneer champions...
to go against plans and defeat Sandow/Lewis/Bowser-backed world champion Wayne Munn
Wayne Munn
Wayne Munn was an American professional wrestler and collegiate football player from the University of Nebraska.-Wrestling career:...
in Philadelphia. On March 11, 1926, Bowser planned to regain control of the title by having Joe Malcewicz ambush champion Joe Stecher (who had won the title from Zbyszko and was also aligned with Curley)—who was expecting to wrestle a different opponent. But the plan failed when Stecher just walked out of the ring and left before the match started.
In 1928, Bowser put his promotional efforts behind Gus Sonnenberg
Gus Sonnenberg
Gustave Adolph Sonnenberg was an American football player and professional wrestler. As a wrestler, he was National Wrestling Association world heavyweight champion...
, an NFL football player for the Providence Steam Roller
Providence Steam Roller
The Providence Steam Roller was a professional American football team based in Providence, Rhode Island in the National Football League from 1925 to 1931. Providence was the first New England team to win an NFL championship...
. Sonnenberg and his flying tackle became a sensation in professional wrestling and, on January 4, 1929 at the Boston Garden
Boston Garden
The Boston Garden was an arena in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Designed by boxing promoter Tex Rickard, who also built the third iteration of New York's Madison Square Garden, it opened on November 17, 1928 as "Boston Madison Square Garden" and outlived its original namesake by some 30 years...
, promoted by Bowser, Sonnenberg became the world heavyweight champion, defeating Strangler Lewis. Sonnenberg became the biggest draw in professional wrestling, although he would soon be eclipsed by Jim Londos
Jim Londos
Christos Theofilou or Christopher Theophelus 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.-Career:Jim Londos was born Christos Theofilou in 1897 in Argos, Greece. as the youngest of...
, wrestling's biggest star 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...
. Sonnenberg consistently drew big crowds in Los Angeles for promoter Lou Daro—part of the Bowser camp. His popularity also led Bowser-aligned Ivan Mickailoff to introduce weekly wrestling shows to Toronto in 1929, largely using Bowser's wrestlers.
In 1930, Bowser created the American Wrestling Association and also recruited amateur wrestling standout Ed Don George
Ed Don George
Edward Nicholas "Ed Don" George was an American professional wrestler and wrestling promoter.-Career:George was born in North Java, New York. He wrestled for both St. Bonaventure University and for the University of Michigan...
, who was immediately put in main events and, on December 10, 1930, defeated Sonnenberg for the world title in Los Angeles. Lewis, who felt he had been promised that he would be the one to get the title back from Sonnenberg, defeated George for the belt on April 13, 1931 in Los Angeles, against Bowser's wishes. But Bowser quickly regained control of the title when on May 4, 1931 in Montral, Lewis was disqualified for biting his opponent, Henri DeGlane
Henri Deglane
Henri Deglane was a French wrestler. He was an Olympic Champion in Greco-Roman wrestling and a world champion professional wrestler.-Olympics:...
, who was declared the new champion. It is widely believed that the bite marks were actually inflicted by DeGlane himself or one of his cornermen, and that he pretended to have been bitten by Lewis to win the match.
During the promotional wars of the 1930s, Toots Mondt
Toots Mondt
Joseph Raymond "Toots" Mondt was a former wrestling promoter who revolutionized the wrestling industry in the early to mid 1920s and co-promoted the World Wide Wrestling Federation...
and Ray Fabiani, supported by Curley, began presenting shows in Boston in opposition to Bowser, running their first event on January 27, 1932 with Lewis in the main event. But after Londos broke away from Curley, peace was made between Bowser and Curley in the summer of 1932. In 1933, Bowser backed Jim Browning, who defeated Lewis in New York for recognition there as world champion, with Bowser reportedly paying $42,000 to Lewis and Mondt to drop the title. In November 1933, Bowser signed an agreement with Curley, Mondt, Fabiani, Ed White and Tom Packs, under which the six promoters agreed to share talent and profits.
Bowser's next star creation was Danno O'Mahoney, who unified the New York and Boston versions of the world title in June and July 1935 with wins over Londos and George, respectively. O'Mahoney was not a skilled wrestler and promoters who had not been shut out of the Curley-Bowser alliance took advantage of that weakness, arranging for Dick Shikat to win the title in a doublecross on March 2, 1936 in New York. The "Curley Trust" began to fall apart after Shikat's victory, with Fabiani eventually running in opposition to Curley.
Later in 1936, Bowser made Steve "Crusher" Casey
Steve Casey
Stephen "Steve" Casey was an Irish sport rower and world champion professional wrestler. He was the second Irish wrestler, after Danno O'Mahoney, to become a world champion.- Rowing :...
his top star, and Casey rose to become world champion with a victory over Lou Thesz
Lou Thesz
Aloysius Martin "Lou" Thesz was a United States professional wrestler and 18-time world heavyweight champion, most notably holding the NWA World Heavyweight Championship three times. Combined, he held the NWA Championship for 10 years, three months and nine days , longer than anyone else in history...
in Boston on February 11, 1938. Bowser brought Maurice Tillet
Maurice Tillet
Maurice Tillet was a French professional wrestler known as The French Angel who was a leading box office draw in the early 1940s and was recognized as world heavyweight champion by the American Wrestling Association run by Paul Bowser in Boston...
to the U.S. in 1940, and he became the largest draw in professional wrestling and defeated Casey for the Boston area world title on May 13, 1940. Casey regained the title two years later and served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War II
World 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...
and returned to wrestling for Bowser in Boston in 1945, dropping the title to Bowser's next major star, Frank Sexton
Frank Sexton
Frank Sexton was an American professional wrestler in the early to mid-twentieth century. Along with Orville Brown, Bill Longson, and Lou Thesz, he was one of the biggest stars of the 1940s...
.
Bowser did not initially join the National Wrestling Alliance
National Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
when it formed in 1948, but considered himself to be a friend of the organization and sent the NWA a check for initiation fees. In 1952, as a concession to the NWA, Bowser renamed his world title the Eastern Heavyweight Championship. Verne Gagne
Verne Gagne
Laverne Clarence "Verne" Gagne , is a retired American professional wrestler, football player, and professional wrestling trainer and promoter. He was the former owner/promoter of the American Wrestling Association , based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which was the predominant promotion throughout...
became a top draw for Bowser in the early 1950s.
In the late 1950s, Bowser hired Johnny Doyle to handle all booking responsibilities at the Boston wrestling office. Doyle left to go into partnership with Jim Barnett
Jim Barnett (wrestling)
James E. Barnett was an American professional wrestling promoter, and owner of Georgia Championship Wrestling and Australia's World Championship Wrestling.-Professional wrestling career:...
and Bowser ran what would be his last show on July 15, 1960 at the Boston Garden. He had suffered a heart attack three days earlier and died on July 17 following surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital is a teaching hospital and biomedical research facility in the West End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts...
at age 74.
Personal life
Bowser was a resident of Lexington, MassachusettsLexington, Massachusetts
Lexington is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 31,399 at the 2010 census. This town is famous for being the site of the first shot of the American Revolution, in the Battle of Lexington on April 19, 1775.- History :...
and owned a substantial estate. Included in this was an old racetrack and "trotting park." His brick mansion still stands at 171 Grant Street.
Championships and accomplishments
- 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 2006)
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame