WRESTLING MAD.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 11 August 1928, Page 12

WRESTLING MAD.

WHEN THE FEVER TOOK LONDON MEMORIES OF “RUSSIAN LION.” Sydney is now reacting as favourably to the thrills of wrestling as did Melbourne at the height of the “boom” twelve months ago (says “The Australasian”). It may comfort citizens of either capital who fear that common sense and judgment have been forgotten in the excitement of cave-men conflicts to recall the time when London, too, went “wrestling mad” over heavy-weights like Hackenschniidt, who toured Australia in 1909-10 and Zybszko, who visited us in 1926. In his diverting chronicles, “The Secrets of a Showman,” Mir. Charles B. Cochran tells of some strange and eventful contests at Olympia and the music-halls, in which Haekenschinidt, then in his prime, became the “idol” of London. Cochran has been acclaimed, both before and after his eventful downfall, as one of the world’s master-! showmen, and it is significant that, though lie realised Hackenschmidt’s real ability as a wrestler, he had at first a very poor opinion of the Russian as a showman.

All the music-hall managers told Cochran that the wrestler’s was not a good turn, and this was because Hackenschmidt *had none of the arts and tricks of showmanship. He polished off his opponents too easily, instead of staging a “show,” which was what the public clamoured for. Accordingly, the Russian had to change his tactics, and, playing with his opponents, lie allowed them at times to appear to have, an advantage. Which, of course, would not be toleratod in the Australian wrestling ring.