THE UNMASKING OF THE MASKED MARVEL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 51, 1 March 1941, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE UNMASKING OF THE MASKED MARVEL.

Of course, there are many sinister characters associated v.'th several

branches of professional sports, particularly horse racing and prize-fighting , . But my early education in the matter of athletic intrigue came in another field, wrestling, and the effects have not yet worn off, says the author. I covered the modestly billed (Jreat Internationa] Heavy-weight Gnrc.o-Koinan Championship Wre.-tling Tournament at tlie old Manhattan Opera House in Thirtyfourth Street, in the winter of 11)15lti. The four outstanding performers. by ability and repute, were Ale.\ Aberg, a bald and burly Russian. who disappeared during the World War: Wladek Zbyszko, one of a famoiufaniily of Polteh grapplers; Strangle? Lewis; and Dr. Ben F. Roller, who. by tho way, was a. licensed physician ami a cultured gentleman in every way. He died some years ago.

But, apart from these, the management provided a large supply of "comic relief" in the way of ferocious-looking fellows of foreign extraction and muscular addition whose actions on the mat gave rise to the conclusion that they were all bred up to the butchering trade. To top this aggregation of beef on the hoof there was inserted a '"Masked Marvel. , " This hilarious drama was well staged. One night during the show a man in evening clothes stood up in a balcony box and began to address the crowded house in a loud voice. Beside the volunteer orator 6tood a huge, silent, hooded figure. There were apertures in the hood for tlie eyes, but no other breaks in the black mask. The interloping orator announced that the alleged '"international wrestling championship" on the stage below was nothing but a hollow mockery and a cheap farce because the Iwst wrestler in tho world wasn't in it, the same being his Exhibit A. the "Masked Marvel" at his side and under hie ehaperonage. A Call For Justice. The orator called for justice. He was still calling for it when the ushers and special cops gathered around and cast him and his hooded hero into exterior darkness. The manager of-the wrestling tournament, apologising to the audience for -the undignified interruption of the stirring programme, said that the vulgarian intruder with the stocking pulled over his head was undoubtedly a hillbilly clown looking for notoriety, and if he had l>een any good as a wrestler he would, have been welcomed into the tournament in the regular way. The manager hinted darkly that the hooded wrestler and his sponsor were a couple of frauds. The crowd let it pass with a, laugh.

But the next night the man in evening clothes bobbed up again in another part of the liouee. His passionate cry wae that his young friend sitting beside him who would now stand up (which he did, towering, hulking, and l.oixlrrt) had been barred from the tournament because he would have thrown all those other wrestlers right through the mat and hardwocd floor to the basement below. The ushers and special cops gathered for the summary ejection notice again. The tournament manager -was really angrv this time. lie announced from the stage that the intruders were no better than loafers. But this time the spectators were taking up the cauee of the Masked Marvel. Let him wrestle. Why not ? If he couldn't wreetle he wouldn't last long.

The manager shrugged his shoulders in disgust at the gullibility of the spectators. At his signal the two intruders were heaved out into the night again. The crowd hooted—whom? The manager! The. next night the same scene was staged over again, but this time the manager bowed before the great storm raised by the customers. Very well. The "hoodlum" with the hood over his head wae just a big tramp, but. to please the public the manager would let him into the. tournament, where he probably would have his neck broken in short order, and a good thing, too. It would be a lesson to him. The crowd cheered.

So they l<>t him wrestle, and in a few nights he was the idol of the audience. Hβ was really a bis: fellow, and what with that grim-looking mask and the fact that lie never uttered a sound, the effect was fearsome to a degree. As a starter,they matched him with some of the "Tumbling Toms" from the grappling chorus whom he threw as flat as one side of a pancake to the wild cheers of the enthralled throng. Feature writers on some of the more sensational newspapers took him up. The Masked Marvel was looming bigger each succeeding night. Then he wae matched to wrestle Demetrius Tofalos.

Demetriue Tofalos wa* a etout, equat Greek, with a tremendous pair of arms and shoulders. He had won the weightlifting championship for hie native

country in the World fiauies at Athenin 100(1 Domctrius, couldn't wrestle a little bit, but lie was possessed of very powerful arms. His one bit of wrestling strategy was to grab the other fellow's wrist and pin it to tlie mat. That usually brought about an impasse, a stalemate, no fall possible for either grappler; just Demetrius pinning the other gent's wrist to the mat and hold ing it there against all struggles of hi« victim to move it an inch in any direction.

The old Manhattan Opera House was packed when the Masked Marvel stalked out to face Demetrius Tofalos and his hnndeulf trick. Suro enough, Demetrius the Mighty immediately took his favourite hold. The hooded head was temporarily bowed. The Masked Marvel's wrist wae pinned to the mat in the iron grasp of the former Olympic weight-lifting champion. For ten seconds nothing liap-|H-ned. N'ot a sound was heard through the whole arena. The Masked Marvel didn't struggle as the eommon herd of wrestlers had tugged and twisted ami yanked in vain to escape the fatal clutch. Tic remained absolutely motionless. Then those .clone up heard him take a deep breath and those farther away could see tlie muscles of his leg* ami back stilVen. With Demetrius straining to hold it down, his wrist was lifted slowly—slowly—upward—and upward— and an absolute ga>p ran through the crowded house. Even I. who meant, to tako it laughingly, felt the hair on the back of my grulp tingling with excitement of the grand eiiow that it was. Then the Masked Marvel suddenly wrem-hed his arm loose and threw Tofalori in a whirling fury. The Truth Will Out. Hurronr! Kvoe! Plaudite, eives! The outburst of cheering almost raised the roof. The Marked Marvel became the talk of the town after that feat. But. alas! Some of the other artists had become jealous of the applause that was being heaped on the hooded impostor. A.* soon as the opportunity offered Strauuler Lewis took the masked monster by the neck and tossed him as unceremoniously to the mat as he irouUl have discarded a slightly tainted dried fish. This ruined tho act, which was discontinued forthwith. The good people who believe in fairies and have implicit faith in tlie honesty of wrestling bout-s were further shocked when the Masked Marvel went into Court to sue for back salary on his contract. It appeared on the affidavits and certain papers offered in evidence that the management had his name on the payroll from the very beginning of the tournament. He was working for the promoters when he was standing in the balcony boxes and heiiiir exhibited by another confederate—the gent in evening clothes—as a mysterious stranger and a hooded outcast striving to get into the best wrestling society bv right of might. It may have been the genera] excitement surrounding his brief but s|>eotacular career that caused the promoters to overlook the item of paying him regularly. In any event, he entered suit for his salary, and that was how hie name came out* It was Mori Henderson. It meant little then. It means nothing now. '