One of my favourite grapplers from my young days in the 1950’s was the good looking young adonis Gene Stanlee. Gene passed away last month. In the 1955 pictures he is seen with his brother Steve. I was in their fan-club during the 50’s. Gene did not visit New Zealand as he was always too busy and a regular main eventer at Madison Square Garden in New York. However his brother Steve came here in 1959 but he was not quite the sensation of his younger brother.
Abie Coleman, in the other photo was in New Zealand in 1930. He recently celebrated his 100th birthday.
Abe was billed as the Jewish Heavyweight Champion out here. What an amazing guy. He would have to be the oldest still living of all the guys who appeared here in the 1930’s.
Well known superstar from the 1950’s Crusher Lisowski passed away this month. Reggie Lisowski, Also known as Crusher died in Milwaukee aged 79. One of the mats great brawlers and an A. W.A. World Champion on several occasions, Crusher started out in 1949 and tagged with Art Neilson, and later Stan Lisowski. He later teamed with Dick the Bruiser Afflis and the Bruiser and Crusher team were famous world wide. They drew huge audiences wherever they appeared, but sadly were never seen in New Zealand.
