BOOK DETAILS
PUBLISHER
Crowbar Press
PUBLICATION DATE
April 23, 2025
6x9 Perfect Bound
Pages: 200
Words: 89,905
Images: 152 b&w
Cover: Full color
ISBN: 978-1-940391-47-2
Item #: cbp62-ws
$22.95
$22.95
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For anyone making a list of the top wrestlers in North America in the 1950s, it's probably safe to begin with Lou Thesz — a multi-time world champion and top attraction almost everywhere he appeared. Number two might be Verne Gagne, an amateur great and top pro attraction in the Midwest before settling into promotion in Minneapolis in the early '60s. Excellent choices for spaces three to five, in no particular order, are two of the most flamboyant attractions of the '50s, Buddy Rogers and Gorgeous George, along with a wrestler who was their very antithesis in the ring, and yet, during his first decade as a pro wrestler, he was an attraction on a similar scale.
Among top wrestlers of the '50s and '60s, Wilbur Snyder isn't remembered or revered in the same manner as other top names of the era. One reason is that many current-day wrestling fans, if they remember Snyder at all, remember him more as the middle-aged wrestler who, after years of plying his trade as a top-shelf attraction, settled in Indianapolis and ran the wrestling promotion there, in partnership with — and in the shadow of — Dick the Bruiser. That Snyder — the middle-aged version — continued to be considered a solid and respected performer, but one who was more interested in diverting attention to his opponents ... a role he played for many years for the sake of the promotion.
Many people who remember Wilbur Snyder — known early in his career as the "California Comet" and later as "The World's Most Scientific Wrestler" — recall him as a wrestler who drew many people through arena turnstiles, but whose star burnt out much too early. This book is a reminder that, after Snyder left the national spotlight, he solidified his legacy as one of the greatest wrestling personalities of his era through his achievements as a highly respected wrestling promoter.
Foreword
Preface
1 "Go West, Young Man"
2 Death by Accident
3 Challenges in the Land of Opportunity
4 Running with the Wolves
5 Snyderville
6 Varsity Ute
7 Heir to the Throne
8 The Cement Truck
9 In Pursuit of the Grey Cup
10 Iron Man
11 Cauliflower Ear
12 War in Southern California
13 "What's Cookin' with Kokon"
14 Snyder Road Show
15 From Canada to Texas to the West Coast
16 Rigors of a "Rough Life"
17 Title Reigns, Judo Jackets, and a Penalty Belt
18 The Teuton Terror |
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19 Third Man in the Ring
20 Title Complexities
21 500 Miles a Day
22 "Outlaw" Promoter
23 Rematch at the Cow Palace
24 The Comet Returns to California
25 Making Good on a Promise
26 A Downward, Unsteady Trend
27 Entrepreneurial Spirit
28 Raymond Louis Heenan
29 Dual Operations 300 Miles Apart
30 Illusions of Violence, Anger and Pain
31 Baron Chauncey Von Raschke
32 Showtime at Soldier Field
33 $80,000 Lawsuit
34 Stagnation Sets In
35 You Can't Beat Father Time
36 Twilight Years
37 Epilogue |
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ABC Booking
Afflis, Louise
Afflis, William
Aguirre, Joe
American Wrestling Association
Arakawa, Mitsu
Armstrong, Ike
Assassins, The (Guy Mitchell-Joe Tomasso)
AWA U.S. heavyweight title
Baba, Giant
Baker, Ox
Barnett, Jim
Beat the Champ International TV title
Bernard, Brute
Best, Raymond
Beyer, Dick
Big Time Wrestling (Edmonton AB)
Big Time Wrestling (San Francisco)
Big Time Wrestling (Detroit)
Blackburn, Stanley
Blaisdell, Bell Zora
Blanchard, Joe
Blassie, Fred
Blears, Lord James
Bockwinkel, Warren
Bowser, Paul
Braget, Glen
Brazil, Bobo
Brazil, Hobo
Brody, King Kong (Bruiser)
Brown, Bozo
Bruiser, Dick the
Brunetti, Guy
Bryan, Jeffrey
Bryant, Robert
Buffalo (NY) Memorial Auditorium
Burzynski, Dave
Cadillac Hotel (Detroit)
Carlston, Pete
Carnera, Primo
Carpentier, Edouard
Chain Gang, The
Chain Gang, The New
Championship Wrestling (Windsor ON)
Chapman, Mike
Chase Hotel (St. Louis)
Chicago Stadium
Chicago Wrestling Club, Inc.
Cholak, Moose
Christy, Bobby
Christy, Jerry
Christy, Paul
Cincinnati (OH) Gardens
CKLW-TV 9 (Windsor ON)
Claypool Hotel (Indianapolis)
Cliff, Buddy Lee
Cobo Arena (Detroit)
Colt, Chris
Comiskey Park (Chicago)
Cornette, Jim
Cow Palace (San Francisco)
Cox, Myron
Crowbar Press
Crusher, The (Reggie Lisowski)
Dawm, Evan
Dempsey, Jack
Devil's Duo, The
Dillinger, Frank (Kenny McMullen)
Dillinger, Jack (Don Fargo)
Dobratz, Ron
Douglas Aircraft
Doyle, Johnny
Dr. X (Dr. Bill Miller)
DuMont Television Network
Dusek, Joe
Dynasty, Dave
Eastern States heavyweight title
Eaton, Cal
Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Sales Pavilion
El Paso Times
Ellis, Cowboy Bob
Estes, Balk
Fabulous Forum (Inglewood CA)
Fairgrounds Coliseum (Indianapolis)
Fairgrounds Coliseum (Salt Lake City)
Fargo, Don
Fargo, Jackie
Fenton, Rod
Filchock, Frank
Firpo, Pampero
Foss, Joe
Funk Sr., Dory
Gagne, Mary
Gagne, Verne
Gardenia, Ed
Garibaldi, Gino
George, Gorgeous
Georgia Championship Wrestling
Giant, Andre the
Gibson, Stu
Ginsberg, Benny
Gomez, Pepper
Gonnella, Allan
Goulet, Sgt. Jacques (Rene)
Gulas, Nick
Gunkel, Ray
Hall, Dennis
Hart, Stu
Hearn, Francis (Chick)
Heenan, Bobby
Hickey, Frank (Golden Terror)
Hirsch, Elroy (Crazy Legs)
Hirsch, Mike |
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Hnilo, Judy
Hollywood Legion Arena
Hornbaker, Tim
Huber, Spike
Illinois State Athletic Commission
Indiana State Athletic Commission
Indiana State Fairgrounds
Indianapolis (IN) Armory
Indianapolis Star
International Amphitheatre
International Championship Wrestling (Poffo)
International heavyweight title (Quebec)
International TV tag team title
International TV title
International Wrestling Alliance
Ivy, Frank
Japan Pro Wrestling Association
Jarrett, Jerry
Jernagen, Jared
Johnson, Rick
Johnson, Steve
Jonathan, Don Leo
Karbo, Wally
Karras, Alex
KCOP-TV 13 (Los Angeles)
Khorassan Ballroom (St. Louis)
Kiel Auditorium (St. Louis)
Kietzer, Norman
Kiniski, Gene
Kiniski, Kelly
Kirby, Roger
Kohler, Bill
Kohler, Fred
Kokon, Pete
Koloff, Ivan
Kowalski, Killer (Walter)
KTLA-TV 5 (Los Angeles)
KTTV-TV 11 (Los Angeles)
Lafayette (IN) Armory
Lane, Dick
Lano, Mike
Lanza, Black Jack
Lanza, Cowboy Jack
Legionnaires, The
Leland Hotel (Detroit)
Lentz, George
Leone, Baron Michel
Lewis, Ed (Strangler)
Lisowski, Reggie & Stan
Los Angeles Mirror
Los Angeles Rams
Louis, Joe
Luce, Bob
Luce, Robin
Lutze, Nick
Maciejewski, David
Madera Tribune
Malcewicz, Joe
Mancuso, Dominick
Marigold Gardens (Chicago)
Market Square Arena (Indianapolis)
Markoff, Chris
Marlowe, Chuck
Martin, Mad Man (Brute Bernard)
Martinez, Pedro
Marturello, Michael
Marxen, Don
Matysik, Larry
McDonald, Jack (Sockeye)
McElhenny, Hugh
McMahon Sr., Vince
McNaughton, Elizabeth Shaw
McShain, Danny
Melby, Bill
Meltzer, Dave
Memorial Hall (Columbus OH)
Menacker, Sam
Miller, Bill
Miller, Louie
Milwaukee County Stadium
Mitchell, Guy
Miyamoto, Koji
Mondt, Toots
Morelli, Tony
Moto, Mr.
Mulligan, Blackjack
National Hockey League
National Wrestling Alliance
Newman, Lou (Shoulders)
Nichols, Hugh
Nomellini, Leo
Norris, Michael
Northside Armory (Indianapolis)
NWA U.S. heavyweight title
O'Connor, Pat
Oeming, Al
Official Wrestling
Ogden Standard Examiner
O'Hara, Michael
Oliver, Greg
Olympia Stadium (Detroit)
Olympia, The (Detroit)
O'Mahoney, Danno
Pacific Coast tag team title
Paproski, Steve
Paramount Television Network
Parsons, Chris
Pasquale, Frank
Pazandak, Joe
Penalty belt match
Pfefer, Jack
Planters Hotel (Chicago)
Poffo, Angelo
Poffo, Lanny
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Pomahac, Bruce
Quinn, Eddie
Quondamatteo, Jim
Regal, Jenna
Regal, Steve
Reynolds, Dave
Rice, Tom
Ring Talent, Inc.
Robert, Yvon
Robinson, Billy
Rogers, Buddy
Rogers, Bummy
Romer, Scott
Royal, Darrell
Rozelle, Pete
Salt Lake Tribune
Sammartino, Bruno
Sanmartino, Bruno
Savage, Randy
Schire, George
Schleckman, Karl
Schmidt, Hans
Schnabel, Hans
Schramm, Tex
Sheik, The (original)
Shibuya, Kinji
Shire, Ray
Shire, Roy
Shooting with the Legends
Sigel, Morris
Simmons, Herb
Siskel, Gene
Skibinski, Joseph
Skyline Conference
Slam Wrestling
Snyder, Cindy
Snyder, Dakota
Snyder, Dustin
Snyder, Ephraim Stockwell
Snyder, Firman
Snyder, Frank
Snyder, James William
Snyder, Lola Anderson
Snyder, Mike
Snyder, Shirlee
Snyder, Vicky
Snyder, Wilbur
Soldier Field (Chicago)
Southside Armory (Indianapolis)
Stansauk, Don
Starr, Johnny
Stevens, Ray
Strangler, The (Guy Mitchell)
Strongbow, Jules
Stukus, Annis
Stydahar, Joe
Sullivan, Terry
Szabo, Sandor
Tangaro, Joe
Tassler, Tim
Teal, Scott
Terror, Masked (Jay York)
Texas tag team title
The Valley Times
The Wrestler (1974)
Thesz, Lou
Tito, Rich
Tolos, John
Tomasso, Joe
Tucker, Al
U.S. heavyweight title (San Francisco)
University of Utah
Vachon, Mad Dog
Valentine, Johnny
Valiant, Jerry
Valiant, Jimmy
Valiant, Johnny
Valley Garden Arena
Van Brocklin, Norm
Van Nuys High School
Verrier, Steven
Vicek, Arlene
Vicek, Richard
Victory Field (Los Angeles)
Von Erich, Fritz
Von Raschke, Baron
Walcott, Joe
Walton, Jeff
Waterfield, Bob
WCIU-TV 26 (Chicago)
Welch, Roy
Westbrook, Dan
What's Cookin' with Kokon
White Sox Park
Winnipeg Civic Auditorium
WKBD-TV 50 (Detroit)
WLKY-TV 32 (Louisville)
World heavyweight title (Omaha)
World Wrestling Alliance (Indianapolis)
World Wrestling Alliance (Los Angeles)
World Wrestling Association (Indianapolis)
Wrestling Champions
Wrestling from Hollywood
Wrestling Life
Wrestling Revue
Wrestling World
Wright, Jim (Riot Call)
WRTV-TV 6 (Indianapolis)
WTTV-TV 4 Indianapolis
WWA heavyweight title (Indianapolis)
WWA tag team title
Yohe, Steve
Zordani, Jim |
Wilbur Snyder was a legendary professional wrestler. He was enormously popular, a skilled performer, and entertained millions of fans throughout the world. His story was one that needed to be told, and finally, great historians Steve Verrier and Richard Vicek have done just that — creating a must-read book for all wrestling fans. Don't waste any time, get this book!
Tim Hornbaker, author of Master of the Ring: The Biography of "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers
At first glance, Wilbur Snyder seemed to be the dull, clean-cut partner to the colorful madman known as Dick the Bruiser. But Vicek and Verrier have proven that to be very incorrect and have delivered an in-depth, interesting look at one of pro wrestling's greats.
Greg Oliver, Hockey & Pro Wrestling historian and author
Wilbur Snyder was a main event wrestler in the ring. Outside the ring he was a main event man. One of the most renowned, yet often overlooked grapplers of his era, his book by Vicek and Verrier is a main event read for every serious old school fan. Snyder was a man among men, and they bring him to life as they share their extensive research about "The World's Most Scientific Wrestler."
George Schire, author of Minnesota's Golden Age of Wrestling: From Verne Gagne to the Road Warriors
From the day Wilbur Snyder started in pro wrestling, he was handpicked to be a superstar. He was a big, good-looking football player who became an instant star in California, and soon was one of Lou Thesz's leading challengers for the NWA world title. Snyder remained a name star until the end of his career, and is most remembered in Indiana where he was co-owner of the promotion with Dick the Bruiser and known as The World's Most Scientific Wrestler. Sadly, a lot of modern fans don't know about the top stars of the 50s, 60s and 70s, nor realize the respect Snyder had from his peers inside the ring.
Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Observer Newsletter
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