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| Question: Does blading hurt, and how often did you blade? Max in Connecticut |
| "What a question! Yes, it hurts...and don't try it on yourself. How often? As many times as the promoters requested it." |
| Question: How many coal-miner's glove matches did you fight in? J.R. in USA |
| "Someone once told me that over the years in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, I had over 40 of the matches. I never kept count. Who knew they would become "the stuff of legend"? Probably the most vicious one-on-one match ever invented, or so a lot of writers tell me." |
| Question: I remember the Von Steigers being a great tag team in the Northwest. They were always great with quick tags and great double-team moves. Whatever happened to them? I don't remember hearing much about them after they left the territory. Brian in Eugene, Oregon |
| "Great question! Let's see, Karl (as far as I have heard)
died in a plane crash back in the Midwest somewhere, but I can't remember the exact
location. One of the better all-around vicious heels in the business. I really loved
working with him. Outside the ring a real gentleman and keen business mind. He's missed by
a lot of us in the business. Kurt on the other hand has a septic business in either Salem or Wilsonville. Haven't heard a word from him in 25 years. Kurt was probably one of the better talkers on the mic we had in here for a long time. I really like Kurt and if anyone knows his address or phone number, please send it to us. I would really like to talk to the little stinker. We had a ton of great matches together. Kurt should be nominated for the hall of fame, what a ring general. People loved to hate him, and he did very little to get his heat. But when he got it, it was red hot. We were involved in quite a few riots because of his ability. Great memories." |
| Question: I've researched the area history of the Quad Cities (Davenport, Iowa and Moline, Illinois) and collecting memorabilia from the area is difficult. I have the majority of results from Verne's run there (1963-1979) as well as several programs. Several of those programs feature you wrestling in the QC, and I was wondering if you rememeber wrestling there? My parents recall seeing you several times and my mom still calls you one of her favorites. Joel Kolsrud near the Quad Cities |
| "Hello Moline and Davenport! Sorry you're having such a hard time collecting things from that era. Had a lot of matches there and the arena was always packed. Nice folks, can't remember the folks whose house I used to stay at there in Davenport. Although these were just spots shows, the people were great fans and turned out in droves. Thanks, and tell your Mom I still love her." |
| Question: I know Playboy Buddy Rose had his problems several years ago. Any idea what he's up to? Doug in Seattle, Washington |
| "I haven't the foggiest idea about Buddy, where he is and what he is doing at this time. You're right, though; he has had a few "problems", but I ask you...who hasn't? I wish him well though, and remember, we have to let bygones be bygones. What is past is past, and "never let the sun go down on your wrath". (That's in the scriptures.) Buddy will be fine. He's a survivor, and I wish him good luck in whatever he does." |
| Question: Are there wrestlers that you dreaded wrestling because of how stiff they worked? Brian in Eugene, Oregon |
| "The only one I can think of that was really -I MEAN REALLY- stiff was Moose Cholak out of the Minnesota territory. This guy was a real piece of work. Clumsy, unorthodox to say the least. The only way you could get his attention was to give it back to him, and once he found out you wouldn't take his potatoes he'd calm right down and start working with you. I can say he was about the only guy I really didn't like working with during my tenure in the business. He drew some big money in certain territories, but most of the boys will tell you the same story about him." |
| Question: What was your favorite match? Also, whatever happened to wild Bill Savage and do you remember Tiny Frazier? Andy in Seattle, Washington |
| "My greatest matches had to be any match with Ramos,
Mayne, Valentine, Thesz, Brisco, Flair, Andre, Rogers, Kiniski, Jonathan, Brown, Gagne,
Stasiak, Dory and Terry Funk, McDaniel, Fuller, Graham, Vachon, Race, Hennig, Kowalski and
on and on. Oh, almost left out Bruno, Baba, Inoke and 3000 other great workers, but I had
the most fun with Ramos. I really knew how to make him hot and work hard. Bill Savage is a millionaire and I don't have the slightest idea where he and the wife went to after Portland. I remember Tiny Frasier, and that was a LLLOOONNNGGG time ago." |
| Question: Dutch, I was the short, stocky guy who used to work for Superstar and later worked a few times for Don Owens after you retired. I used to go to the Seattle shows when you were there and I also went to a few Portland Sports Arena shows. I got in an argument with Gino Hernandez once at a Seattle show. Later that same night you and I got into it. I hope you will forgive me for any problems I gave you in the past. Greg Lake in Lafayette, Indiana |
| "Don't give it a second thought, as I haven't. Those were the days, weren't they? I never hold grudges anyway, they weigh tooooo much. I don't even remember it. That's the nice thing about getting older, you mostly only remember the good things." |
| Question: What was the worst injury you sustained while you were wrestling? Also, who inflicted it on you? Andy Varner in Seattle, Washington |
| "Probably one of the worst injuries I ever had came at the hands of Tojo Yamamoto and Alex Perez in the old Tennessee territory. It was a television bout and Tojo went behind me for a reverse take down and caught my left ankle under all our body weight. He pulled me down on top of him...I would have rather he broke the dern thing, because it would have healed faster. It was a severe dislocation and it took many months to heal, in fact I still have adema from it to this day. Been lot of other fractures, concussions and the like...far too many to put into print, but that dislocation was one of the worst." |
| Question: I read on your page that you once teamed with Hard Boiled Haggerty. He was always a big star here in Hawaii, and I was wondering if you and he ever held any tag team titles together. Also, I once thought that you might have been his former partner, El Shereef. Were you? Dean Keoloha in Hawaii |
| "No, I wasn't El Shereef, and yes, Hard Boiled and I held the old AWA tag championship for a short time in Verne's territory. I was in Hawaii in the late 60's and the early 70's. Worked as Curtis's partner against Hady, Barrand, Whitewolf and a host of others. I was even teamed up with Ripper Collins for a short time and worked under the name Dutch Schultz." |
| Question: I lived by you in Hazel Dell in 1974. My brother was a good frend of Mark's, his name is Scott. You stated that Mark was also a wrestler. What was his wrestling name and does he live in the Vancouver area? Joe in Olympia, Washington |
| "I'm having a hard time remembering Scott, but Mark started in Kansas City for Bob Geigle under the name of Mark Savage. Yes, he lives in the Vancouver area with my grandson, Nathan." |
| Question: I have a couple of questions: Mr.X, who was Guy Mitchell, also went by Jerry Valiant. I noticed at one time back east he was classified as one of the Valiant brothers and teamed with them in the WWF in the early 1980's.Were they really brothers, and why did he go with two names? The other question is who was Dr.X in Big Time Wrestling in around 1976 or 1977? My research tells me it was Frank Monte. Am I correct? Brian in Victoria, British Columbia |
| "Boy you have done your homework. You are correct in all of your assumptions. Mitchell was not related to the Valiants. You nailed Monte although his stay was a short one." |
| Question: Hello Dutch, it is me Sumito from San Diego. You had a lot of good ideas in your day and me and Buddy Wayne used to listen to some of you advice. I am starting a small-time promotion, kind of like Don Owens and Ed Francis had. I would like some advice once again. Can you please give some clues to how to get money on advertising like Don used to do? Sumito in San Diego, California |
| "Hello Sumito, please e-mail me personally about your promotion down there and I'll answer your questions. It's best not to discuss business over a site. dsavage@pru-nw.com." |
| Question: I always wondered what the deal with Mike Popovich was. He sure seemed to come in and get a huge push, then poof he was gone. Whatcoms Topcat in USA |
| "Mike was a really nice young man. He was given a push by Don Owen because he was such a standout football player for the U of O. He started out fairly well. He became interested in religion, became born again and felt he couldn't serve Jesus Christ and wrestle too, so he chose Christ. I haven't any idea where he is now, but he sure was a nice kid." |
| Question: I would watch you often in Portland in the 1970s when I was a kid and you seemed really big physically. Are you as big as you seemed? Also, your facial-hair patterns always looked cool, I patterned my own after them when I was first able to do so in high school. Doug in USA |
| "I guess I was pretty big to a high school kid, 6'4" 265 lbs. Maybe I'm not as big today as I was then to some people, but then again the Lord has shrunk my ego an awful lot, too. Hope you are having good luck with your beard. I've had mine for over 30 years." |
| Question: When Big Time Wrestling was on my local channel KTNT 11 here in Seattle, I saw this older lady (I can't think of her name) in her 60s or 70s in the front row at the Portland Sports Arena giving every heel a piece of her mind. Was she a plant or did she act on her own accord? This lady was - and will always be - a fan "icon" that I will never forget. I would have a hard time believing she was a plant, unless someone of your great stature told me so. Oh, and before I go just let me add that your "coal-miner's glove" matches were top notch in my book, and I still have great memories of them and meeting you at a few shows back in the early 1970s. Thanks for the memories. Steve in Seattle, Washington |
| "Steve, the lady you saw was "Ringside Rosie".
In the 1960s and 1970s she was always on camera at the TV matches, and yes she always had
something nasty for the heels. She wore her sheriff's badge and carried a cane or an
umbrella. She's gone now, but all the boys during my era will lovingly remember her. She
was not a plant or an act, she was the real deal and was past 80 at her demise. Great old
gal, loved the boys and the sport of wrestling. Thanks for the comments on the Glove matches. They were my legacy to the business, and since Bull Ramos and I stopped having them it seems they ran the match into the ground. Remember what is said about an "orginal": you can often imitate one, but never duplicate it." |
| Question: As a wrestling fan since 1968 and a veteran of many nights at the Portland Sports Arena, thanks for the memories! They keep me going through what wrestling has become. But as a fan to this day and hoping for tomorrow, what do you think can be done to help wrestling of today? Jeff in Lynnwood, Washington |
| "Thank you for being a fan all these years. Wrestling will never, ever be the same as it was during the 1960s and 1970s. We paved the way for what was the last good part of the business. Now it has become completely immoral, decadent, a free-for-all with no rhyme or reason to it. If wrestling is to be believable again, the WWF will have to be bombarded by smaller territories throughout the nation going back to the mat and not, I repeat NOT, copying the antics of the WWF. States should go back and learn from what transpired during the 1960s and 1970s, and how the smaller territories were successful. Worst thing that ever happened to the sport was national television. It completely shut down the smaller promotions. Hundreds upon hundreds of good wrestlers were out of a job, all because of McMahon and Company. Wrestling has to start with some smart fellow or gal breaking the cycle of power. It would take a large effort, but the right people could do it. Hope this helps!" |
| Question: How did Lonnie Mayne die? Mike in Roseburg, Oregon |
| "Lonnie was killed in a car accident in lower California. He was killed instantly. He left behind a family and many people who cared about him. May God rest him in peace." |
| Question: I would like to know what happened to the likes of Nick Kozak and Dean Ho from Hawaii. Also, I saw Ricky Hunter in Honolulu a few months ago, although I never did approach him, so if you are looking for the guy Hawaii could be a starting point. Aloha from Hawaii and thanks for the memories! Ahyochateau in Hawaii |
| "Nick Kozak is still with us (I think). His brother Jerry
and I went on a tour of Japan together in the late 1970s. Both of them are very highly
respected by me. They are great people and two of the better workers in the business. Ricky Hunter lives in Florida, talked to him last month. He's not doing too well after the heart operation. But he is still Ricky, upbeat and positive and one of the more honest guys in the business. Good people. By the way, did you know that Jimmy Snuka taught me how to dance Hawaiian? Pretty good for an old guy, too. Aloha, brudda!" |
| Question: Are you going to the Cauliflower Alley Club reunion in Las Vegas in February? Greg Lake in Indiana |
| "Hello again, Greg, You know, after 30 years or so, I'm having trouble remembering what you looked like. Man my memory is just shot. My apologies, dad-bug-it, I'm trying to remember when you worked for us...or did you? E-mail me if you'd like. In any event, I don't know if I will make it down this year to Vegas. Would like to see and say hello to a couple of thousand of the guys I worked with over the years, though. We'll see. My real estate business keeps this old man jumping all the time. Making more money now then when I was in the wrestling business. Isn't that just amazing, and at my age, too. Boy that was quite a write up that Dean Silverstone put in the CAC periodical about me, bless his heart. Told him humbly and contritely that I didn't deserve it, but that it was nice to be remembered. Going to post it on this site real soon." |
| Question: Congratulations on being the 5000th member of the Cauliflower Alley Club. Being on the Board of Directors, it is always great to see another one of the boys join. Hope you can make to the annual convention in Las Vegas in February. It would be nice to finally meet you and have a chance to talk. I saw you wrestle in the AWA in the late 1960s, and though you only teamed with Hard Boiled Haggerty for a few matches, you have always been one of my favorite teams. H. B. usually comes to CAC each year, so it would be a chance for you to see him. Now, my question: Are the rumors that you and the late Luke Brown were brothers true? When you were in the AWA, I watched you wrestle Luke a couple of times, and later saw you team with him in Oklahoma. You made a great team! George Schire in Minnesota |
| "George, I would hope to be at the Vegas convention,
however my real estate business is going very well at this time, and I run the entire
thing. You must know how that goes, busy, busy, etc. When I was in the Minnesota territory in the 1960s, I came in as H.B.'s partner, then with Maurice Vachon, then turned baby with Watts and then took off for Japan with a great guarantee. That is why I left Minnesota, I couldn't turn down all that $$$. Would have loved to stay longer. Now about Luke Brown and I being brothers: When we grew up together, he was the right tackle on the football team, I was the right end. On the basketball team, he was the center, I was the right forward. On the baseball team he caught, I was the pitcher. On the track team, he threw the shot and I threw the discus and did the 100 yarder. We went into the service together, college together, he went into pro wrestling ahead of me, two years later he broke me into the business. 25 years later he ended up working for me here in the PNW just before he died. Brothers...we were more than brothers, he was my confidant, my best friend, my heart. Yes, we were brothers, not the blood kind, we were better than that. Hardest thing I ever had to do in my life was bury him, back in Elkton Md. 3 years ago this month. Yes sir, we were brothers. I pray I'll meet him again in the not too distant future." |
| Question: Were you guys as stiff in the ring as you made it look or were you guys just that good? Cato in Eugene, Oregon |
| "Boy, you hit on a good question. Yes, they were that good. And yes, some of them were that stiff. And yes, I enjoyed it very much. You know what? If some of these guys today had 1/10 of the ring savvy some of the guys of our era had, they wouldn't have to come up with all these no-timing, foolish, uncalled for, no-selling, outlandish, ridiculous bumps and gimmicks just to try and make themselves look good. Their talent would be enough. No wonder people today call it show business." |
| Question: What do you remember about Jake Roberts? Did he really start in Vancouver, B.C. billed as your nephew? How did that come about? Jim in Portland, Oregon |
| "Good question! I heard they billed him as my nephew, but why they did that I don't know. They never asked me. I didn't hear about that until years after it happened. Maybe someone else could shed a little light on the subject?" |
| Question: What are your memories of Johnny Boyd? He always impressed me with his intensity and his ability to work the crowd. Brian in Eugene, Oregon |
| "OK, I'll be truthful with you: Johnny Boyd was only as good as who he was working with. He was a good hand, but not a ring general. Most of the men he worked with were much bigger than he, so they had to work very hard to get him over. Good on the mic, though." |
| Question: Dutch, you remind me of a quote by Johnny Valentine: "I can't make you believe that professional wrestling is for real, but I sure the hell can make you believe that I am!" You certainly made people believe that *you* were for real! What was John Tolos like to work with--not just in the ring, but outside of it? Zachary Miller in Santa Barbara, California |
| "Well now, Johnny Valentine was one of the true greats,
and if he really wanted to, he could put your head on your foot for you, and you wouldn't
have too much to say about it. That man did less than anybody of his time in the ring. He
could have a riot every night if he wished to with just a hammer lock, he was that
believable. John Tolos was a great worker, fine mic man and was always in superb shape. Out of the ring he was "aces" in my book. A gentleman's gentleman. Hope he is still well and prospering." |
| Question: I remember your son Mark wrestling for a short time. Just wondering how he is doing. He was a very nice kid and we enjoyed speaking to him every match he was on. Hope he is doing well. PWF Hammer in USA |
| "Mark's career was a very short one, and he did well for the time he spent at it. Today he has a successful wholesale business and is doing quite well, so I hear." |
| Question: I heard that you were the guy who discovered Billy Jack Haynes. Is this true? If so, what's the story behind it? And do you still stay in contact with him? Jerry in Redmond, Oregon |
| "You are correct, Jerry, although he will probably give
all the credit to Don Owen. Most of them always do... Billy came to me at the Portland Sports Arena a couple of times and asked me to break him in, give him a try out. I did some homework on him and found he wasn't totally upfront about certain personal problems he had in the past, which we will not air on the net. I told him to see Don and perhaps he could send him to Calgary for Stu Hart for his baptism. The rest is history. Billy shot himself in the foot most of the time, but he's still OK in my book. I haven't heard from him in years, the last time someone told me he was managing a tire store in the Portland area, or at least working there." |
| Question: Is Tough Tony Borne still with us, and if so, what is he up to these days? He was such a great heel! Cato in Eugene, Oregon |
| "You are correct, Tony Borne was a good heel. He is still with us in the Portland area. I think he still owns "Cinderella Realty", but I'm not 100% sure." |
| Question: Any outstanding dressing room ribs you can share with us? Who was the best ribber that you knew? Greg Lake in Lafayette, Indiana |
| "The best ribbers I ever saw were Johnny Valentine, Lonnie Mayne, and of course Harry Fugiwara (Mr. Fuji). Those guys were something else. You never knew what they were going to do. Sometimes you would come back from the ring, go to put your clothes on after showering and one of your shoes would be nailed to the floor and/or one of your pant legs would be cut shorter than the other. Or there would be a paper bag on top of your bag and you'd never know what was in it until you opened it. I'd hate to tell you what they would put in it!" |
| Question: Is there someone who stands out in your mind as being a hard to control "promoters nightmare" type? Also, do you remember Don Morrison who wrestled in the Northwest as Lumberjack Luke? Ken in Ellensburg, Washington |
| "I personally never had any problem with Luke, he did his job and we never had any trouble out of him. He was a good hand to work with if you understood exactly how he worked, and as long as you asked him nicely to do something he would break his back to get it done, I liked the guy. The troublemakers never lasted long, so I can't really think of any." |
| Question: I was wondering the name of the baseball team you are wearing the uniform of in the "Photo Album" section of the site? Also, how did you like working with Gene Kiniski? You guys must have drawn some good money. Whatcoms Topcat in USA |
| "That baseball picture was from Andrews Air Force Base in
Maryland. I was only 19 and the name of the team was the Rockets. We were inter-service
champs that year. Gene Kiniski and I drew million$ over the years. Gene was a great hand and in the best shape of anyone of his day. Almost every match was either 45 minutes or a 1 hour draw, and boy did he make you work. If you weren't in shape to keep up with him he'd beat you into shape in a hurry. Gene is still up in the Blaine area of Washington." |
| Question: Dutch, no one took a back body drop like you. How high up were the "Dutch Savage lights" in the Portland Sports Arena, and are you still feeling some of the after-effects of those falls? Brian in Eugene, Oregon |
| "I'm surprised that anyone remembers the back body drops. The ring lights at the Portland Sports Arena were pretty high. The night, Dory Funk Jr. gave me an extra push and I hit the darn things. The glass beat me to the mat and I ended up with a 6-inch curved piece embedded in my left shoulder through the joint. Had to go to the hospital and have it removed. They changed the light configuration after that. Funny, I almost forgot about that, thanks for jogging this old man's memory!" |
| Question: With "kayfabe" gone, what do you think of the future of pro wrestling? Greg Lake in USA |
| "The future of pro wrestling is safe. Everything has changed for the worst, though. (Only my opinion) They have lowered the moralistic values to match that of the worlds maxium. Read your scriptures; you'll see what I mean. Or, don't read them and just see for yourself what they are teaching the young people of today." |
| Question: Whatever happened to Chris Colt and Gino Hernandez? Mia Zark in Carney, Idaho |
| "Gino died in the 1980s, I believe it was drug-related. Chris was apparently once quite active in the gay community, but I haven't heard a word about what became of him." |
| Question: Did you ever wrestle in Redmond, Oregon? Jerry in Redmond, Oregon |
| "Oh, sure. I ran shows over there about every 6 months. We used to sell the old grade school gym out." |
| Question: I recently came across a video of a documentary called "Savage". The focus of the film was a Tuesday night special between you and the Iron Sheik, probably circa 1976. What can you tell me about that film? Jim in Portland, Oregon |
| "A fellow from Spokane Washington called me and told me that Encyclopedia Brittanica (sp?) had given his company a grant to do a special short film to be placed in a special documentary category at the Oscars of that year. I hear it did OK. As far as the final production went, I had no say; all you see is me getting bloodied and beat up. But it wasn't my call. Anyway it's water over the dam now...although it was fun to do." |
| Question: Did you really wrestle Andre the Giant and Jesse Ventura? And most importantly, who won? Debbie Roeters in Alameda, California |
| "Yes, I wrestled Andre twice: in Seattle in a tag match, and again in San Francisco. We won because he had Chris Taylor for a partner and they got disqualified. I beat Ventura several times...and he also beat me several times. He was a rookie then if you remember." |
| Question: My dad said he saw you and Jimmy Snuka forcibly escort a few not-so-friendly patrons out of a drinking establishment in Coos Bay back in the 1970s. Any truth to that story? Brian in Eugene, Oregon |
| "I'm sorry to say that in those days I didn't frequent drinking establishments, I drank at home. As for Jimmy, we both did our drinking at home. Maybe your Dad saw someone else. But I can assure I never did any escorting of anyone out of a tavern." |
| Question: What is your opinion of women in wrestling? Reta in Newark, Delaware |
| "They have their place in the business. As far as an opinion, I leave all opinions up to the fans. They eventually decide what works, anyway." |
| Question: Did you ever wrestle Fritz Von Erich? If so, how was it? Tyroen in USA |
| "Fritz and I worked together in St. Louis, Tennessee, Atlanta and Texas after he bought that territory. Fritz was a great worker and showman, and his dreaded Iron Claw was deadly." |
| Question: Whatever became of the Sawyer brothers? I remember Buzz was in the south for awhile, but what happened to Hack? John in Portland, Oregon |
| "Unfortunately I don't have a clue. If anyone knows where
they are I'd sure like to know. Hack was one of my favorite people." "Unfortunately, Buzz died on February 7th, 1992 at the age of 32 from, what was reported, a Heroin overdose" -- TonyT, Web Servant |
| Question: In your years in the Pacific Northwest, could you name the top five wrestlers you enjoyed working a "feud" with at any one time? Rick in Portland, Oregon |
| "Let's see now...Lonnie Mayne, Bull Ramos, Jesse Ventura, Jonathan Boyd, The Claw, Gene Kiniski, John Tolos and Bob Brown. Hope this doesn't offend any of the hundreds of other guys I worked with, but these guys and I made the most money together and had the longest feuds." |
| Question: Are Handsome Johnny Barend and Hardboiled Haggerty still with us? Bob in Indiana |
| "My former tag partner Haggerty is still around, although I heard Barend passed away." |
| Question: Who was the best you've seen in the Pacific Northwest at getting a crowd really jazzed for a match? Brian in Eugene, Oregon |
| "This might sound pompous, but I'd have to say ME! I taught most of the boys who came through the Pacific Northwest how to psyche up a crowd. (But they will never admit it!) Rose, Piper, Ventura, Oliver, Snuka, the 'Roos: all became excellent, but none of 'em knew squat when they came in." |
| Question: What became of "Gentleman" Ed Francis and his boys? Cato in Eugene, Oregon |
| "Ed is still around here somewhere. From what I've heard, Russ has a small airport business in Hawaii, and Bill is a policeman in Dallas, Oregon." |
| Question: What interesting stories can you tell us about Roddy Piper when he was wrestling in the Pacific Northwest? And do you keep in touch with "Hot Rod"? Bear in USA |
| "Roddy was a real character and a huge talent, but no stories stand out right now. If I think of anything, I'll be sure and add it right here." |
| Question: Whatever happened to Ricky Hunter? Fan in Honolulu, Hawaii |
| "Ricky is retired down in Florida. He got quite famous in that area when he did his "Gladiator" gimmick. I wish him the best." |
| Question: Do you remember Soupi and I from the late 70s? Greg Lake in USA |
| "I remember you Greg, however I'm a bit fuzzy on Soupi." |
| Question: Who was the Northwest's legit-toughest wrestler of the 1970s? Mike Utter in Tulsa, Oklahoma |
| "Good question! Moondog Mayne was double tough, and so was Bull Ramos, but nobody dared mess with Jimmy Snuka...not even Andre the Giant himself." |
| Question: What became of the coal-miner's glove? Do you still have it around? Jim in Milwaukie, Oregon |
| "I loaned it to the promotion shortly after I retired - I guess around 1981 or 1982 - and never got it back. If anyone knows where it is or who has it, I'd sure like to know. I originated that match in Eugene. One night Elton Owen said, "Savage, everyone I know has a specialty match - except you. You're from Pennsylvania, why don't you have a Pennsylvania death match or something?" I thought about it, and I came up with the coal-miner's death match. From the very first match it became legendary, until it got killed by guys who didn't know what they were doing with it. Center-jump glove matches, tag-team glove matches...they ran it into the ground." |
| Question: What happened to John Ansom? Also, can I get an autographed picture of you? Ed Nadoroz in New York |
| "Last I heard, John was the owner of a very successful marina and shopping center somewhere in Canada. As far as the autographed picture, stop by my Prudential office in Battleground and I'll be happy to. It's not like the old days, though...I don't have many pictures around. You'll have to bring your own." |
| Question: Is there anywhere that I can purchase old Portland Wrestling stuff like photos, t-shirts, videos or programs? Skip in Tacoma, Washington |
| "As far as the video goes, there's a good one available right here at this site. Also check out the Photo Album page...it's a good one, and free!" |
| Question: My uncle wrestled in California in 1970 as Karl Heisinger. Did you ever work with him or know of him? Brian Peterson in Illinois |
| "Sorry, Brian. I never knew Karl, but I'll keep an ear out." |
| Question: Can you tell me whatever happened to Cowboy Bob Ellis? Scott W. in Texas |
| "I heard Bob died a few years back, back can't be certain if it's true. I last worked with him in Ft. Worth in the late 1960s, but unfortunately didn't stay in touch." |
| Question: What are your favorite memories of wrestling in Eugene, and are there more pictures of Lonnie Mayne available? John in Eugene, Oregon |
| "I remember we sold out the Lane County Fairgrounds for 27 weeks in a row. That was a heck of a run! The fans in Eugene were just great." |
| Question: When was your last match? Any hope of a comeback in 2002? Gary in Washington |
| "My last match, I believe, was sometime in 1980...although my memory is a bit foggy on the exact date. Maybe someone out there remembers the specifics better than I do. I do recall being brought out of my first retirement for a couple of big shows. In Seattle, I wore a cast in the ring to protect my broken leg. Killer Brooks proceeded to tear the cast off and injure me even worse! Now, as far as getting back in the ring one more time...forget it!" |
| Question: Do you ever remember wrestling in a small town called Clovis, New Mexico? Jarvis in Dallas, Texas |
| "I remember Clovis very well. That period of time is fresh in my mind. Some great talent came through that area, like Wahoo McDaniel and the Funks. One night in Clovis the bleachers collapsed. That was pretty memorable, as the arena had to be cleared because of all the dust." |
| Question: I have been looking for tapes of the Portland Wrestling from the 60's through the 80's. Do you know where those can be purchased? Rodney in Portland, Oregon |
| "No master tapes exist, as Don Owen didn't want to pay the extra $25 a show to have KPTV save them. There's a great video available at this site, but other than that you're on your own." |
| Question: What do you think of current state of wrestling? Tee in San Antonio, Texas |
| "It's not really wrestling anymore, and I rarely follow what is going on. Today professional wrestling is bad show business without much substance." |
| Question: Do you know what Rip Oliver is up to these days? Is he in good health? Jesse in Gaston, Oregon |
| "I wish I could answer that, but I just don't have a clue what Rip is doing these days. He was an excellent worker, and all-around good guy to have around. I hope he's doing well, and if anybody has any information on Rip please e-mail us." |
| Question: Did you go to high school in Elkton MD? Doug in USA |
| "I sure did, but only for my last two years of high school. I graduated in 1954." |
| Question: Since it seems nearly everyone in the industry these days is releasing a book, have you considered putting together a book of road stories? Bill in USA |
| "No book for me. Instead, I'll occasionally post a story at our message board." |
| Question: Dutch, what is Bull Ramos up to these days? Tom V. in Portland, Oregon |
| "Bull owns a tow truck company in Texas. He's doing well financially, but his health isn't too good these days. My thoughts and prayers are with that tough Apache!" |
| Question: Is Don Owen still with us? Mike in Vancouver, Washington |
| "Yes, Don is living down in the Eugene area. He's in his 90s now. As far as I know, he hasn't had any involvement in wrestling for years." |
| Question: Would you be interested in starting a wrestling promotion in this area? John in Seaside, Oregon |
| "Oh, I'm far too busy with my real estate career to take on something like that. Besides, there are way too many political challenges these days for a wrestling promotion to survive in this area, as unfortunate as it is." |
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