"Baron" Benny Ginsberg and Bluebeard Lewis take their wrestling match outside the ring at the Olympic stadium in downtown Los Angeles. Lewis pinned Ginsberg in 3 minutes and 12 seconds. May 26, 1937.
Wrestler Jules Strongbow on the ground after falling out of the ring during a match against Daniel Boone Savage at the Olympic. Also known as the "Cherokee Choker," Strongbow weighed in at 285 pounds and measured at six foot four inches.
Wrestler Daniel Boone Savage petting a hound in the ring at the Olympic before a match against Jules Strongbow. "Whiskers" Savage was known for his rustic sensibility and untameable locks.
Heavyweight wrestling world champ Bronko Nagurski, pictured, prepares to take on challenger Vincent Lopez. The two met in a much-touted match before a crowd of 20,000 at Los Angeles' Wrigley Field. Nagurski won the match after 30 minutes of grappling with his opponent.
Wrestler Dean Detton supported by the referee during his match with wrestler/football player Bronko Nagurski at Olympic Auditorium. Nagurski injured Detton's left arm during the match and eventually emerged victorious, thus retaining his World Heavyweight title.
Sandor Szabo and "Big Ben" Morgan wrestle downtown in Los Angeles' Grand Olympic stadium on June 30, 1937. Szabo won the match in 18 minutes in 52 seconds.
Wrestling match between Italian newcomer Vincent Austeri and Salt Lake City native Del Kunkel at Olympic Auditorium. It Austeri's first time at the Auditorium and he was victorious.
Wrestling match between Dean Detton and Gino Garibaldi at Olympic Auditorium. Detton was the winner of the match, he won the second and third falls after Garibaldi bested him in the first. Both wrestlers appealed for foul claims during the match and both were denied.
Wrestler and Chicago Bears fullback Bronko Nagurski flipping opponent Vincent Lopez during their wrestling match at Wrigley field. Nagurski won the match in front of 20,000 fans to defend his title as world heavyweight champion
Wrestler and Chicago Bears fullback Bronko Nagurski getting his thigh measured before his wrestling match against Vincent Lopez at Wrigley Field. Nagurski won the match in front of 20,000 fans to defend his title as world heavyweight champion
Trainers and referees check on Vincent Lopez after he was body slammed by Bronko Nagurski during a wrestling match at Wrigley field. Nagurski won the match in front of 20,000 fans to defend his title as world heavyweight champion
Wrestling match between Italian newcomer Vincent Austeri and Salt Lake City native Del Kunkel at Olympic Auditorium. It Austeri's first time at the Auditorium and he was victorious.
Wrestler Man Mountain Dean laying down in the ring at a wrestling match against Sandor Szabo at the Olympic Arena. Szabo and Dean were frequent opponents.
Prince Bhu Pinder pins Sandor Szabo against the ropes during a mud wrestling match at Olympic Auditorium. This type of wrestling was considered "Hindu style" and it has slightly different rules than regular wrestling, including prohibiting holds beneath the waist. During the match, the first three rows were roped off and the press and referees wore rubber wear to protect from mud splatter. Szabo eventually won the match in front of more than 8000 spectators
Wrestler and Chicago Bears fullback Bronko Nagurski smiling on the scale before his wrestling match against Vincent Lopez at Wrigley Field. Nagurski won the match in front of 20,000 fans to defend his title as world heavyweight champion
Chief Little Wolf holding El Pulpo in a headlock during a wrestling match. The referee tries to separate them. The two wrestlers met in the ring several times during the late 1930s.
Kentuckian "Daniel Boone" Savage, left, and German Hans Steinke, right, wrestle in a summer match at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in downtown Los Angeles. June 16, 1937.
Kentuckian "Daniel Boone" Savage, left, and German Hans Steinke, right, wrestle in a summer match at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in downtown Los Angeles. June 16, 1937.
Kentuckian "Daniel Boone" Savage, left, and German Hans Steinke, right, wrestle in a summer match at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in downtown Los Angeles. June 16, 1937.
Kentuckian "Daniel Boone" Savage, left, and German Hans Steinke, right, wrestle in a summer match at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in downtown Los Angeles. June 16, 1937.
Wrestler Dean Detton at the side of the ring during a match against Bronko Nagurski. Detton and Nagurski met in the ring several times between 1937 and 1938, Nagurski was usually the victor in these matches
Former wrestlers Pat McKee (left) and Joe Varga holding hands and showing off their muscles. Both became wrestling referees or judges later in their careers.
Wrestler Dean Detton fallen out of the ring during his match against wrestler/football player Bronko Nagurski at Olympic Auditorium. Nagurski injured Detton's left arm during the match and eventually emerged victorious, thus retaining his World Heavyweight title.
Sandor Szabo and Prince Bhu Pinder shaking hands in the ring after their mud wrestling match at Olympic Auditorium. This type of wrestling is considered "Hindu style" and it has slightly different rules than regular wrestling, including prohibiting holds beneath the waist. During the match, the first three rows were roped off and the press and referees wore rubber wear to protect from mud splatter. Szabo won the match in front of more than 8000 spectators
Kentuckian "Daniel Boone" Savage, left, and German Hans Steinke, right, wrestle in a summer match at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in downtown Los Angeles. June 16, 1937.
Kentuckian "Daniel Boone" Savage, right, and German Hans Steinke, left, wrestle in a summer match at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in downtown Los Angeles. June 16, 1937.
Kentuckian "Daniel Boone" Savage, left, and German Hans Steinke, right, wrestle in a summer match at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in downtown Los Angeles. June 16, 1937.
Wrestler Dean Detton at the side of the ring during a match against Bronko Nagurski at Olympic Auditorium. Detton and Nagurski met in the ring several times between 1937 and 1938, Nagurski was usually the victor in these matchesPhoto was probably in the wrong sleeve, or mislabeled
Gino Garibaldi looks down at Sandor Szabo from the wrestling ring in Olympic Auditorium. Szabo won this match, which ended Garibaldi's march toward heavyweight wrestling champion.
Hungarian wrestler Sandor Szabo making his way through the crowd before a match against American wrestler George Zaharias. The two athletes faced each other several times in the late 1930s.
Wrestling match between Italian newcomer Vincent Austeri and Salt Lake City native Del Kunkel at Olympic Auditorium. It Austeri's first time at the Auditorium and he was victorious.