Abe Coleman
Encyclopedia
Abe Coleman, born Abbe Kelmer, (September 20, 1905 – March 28, 2007) was a Polish
-American
professional wrestler
who was, at the time of his death, believed to be the oldest member of his profession in the world. His wife, June Miller, who he married in 1939, died in 1987. Coleman says he landed in Miller's lap after being thrown from the ring in Madison Square Garden
.
Coleman was born in Żychlin
, Poland
, and moved to the United States in 1923, by way of Winnipeg
, Canada
. Coleman had 15 older brothers and sisters, some of whom perished in the Holocaust. His father sold coal in Poland.
Coleman's first match took place in 1928 in Brooklyn
at Ridgewood Grove, when local promoter Rudy Miller offered Coleman $25 to wrestle after seeing him work out in a Brooklyn
gym.
Coleman's notability comes from claims that he invented the dropkick
. He claimed the move was inspired by kangaroo
s he saw on a tour of Australia
in 1930.
Coleman's nicknames included Hebrew Hercules and Jewish Tarzan. A Jewish man, he wrestled at a time when there were few Jewish athletes, and he endured fair amounts of anti-semitism. But was greatly praised within his own community, The Jewish Daily Bulletin hailed him in 1934 as a "past master of the art of grunts, groans and grimaces".
Although never a Champion, but rather a middlecard standby, he still wrestled in over 2,000 matches. One of the most notable took place in the 1930s against Jim Londos
, this match was said to be in front of 60,000 spectators in a Mexico City
bullring. In another match, he raised Man Mountain Dean
(all 210 kilograms of him) over his head and 'slammed' him, in turn breaking through the mat and onto the auditorium floor.
Coleman retired from wrestling in 1958, after which he served as a wrestling judge, and inspected license plates
for the New York State
Department of Motor Vehicles
. Outside of wrestling, Coleman's interests included poker
and horse racing
.
Still feisty in his old age, Coleman is said to have responded to his nephews call to wrestle him on his 100th birthday with, "Get my tights and Jock-strap". Coleman told the story of how he fought off two muggers while he was in his 80's to anyone who would listen.
Coleman died on March 28, 2007 in a nursing home in Queens, New York of kidney failure.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
-American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional wrestler
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
who was, at the time of his death, believed to be the oldest member of his profession in the world. His wife, June Miller, who he married in 1939, died in 1987. Coleman says he landed in Miller's lap after being thrown from the ring in Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
.
Coleman was born in Żychlin
Zychlin
Żychlin is a town in Kutno County, Łódź Voivodeship, Poland, about 50 north of Łódź and 90 km west of Warsaw. It has 9,021 inhabitants .-History:...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, and moved to the United States in 1923, by way of Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Coleman had 15 older brothers and sisters, some of whom perished in the Holocaust. His father sold coal in Poland.
Coleman's first match took place in 1928 in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
at Ridgewood Grove, when local promoter Rudy Miller offered Coleman $25 to wrestle after seeing him work out in a Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
gym.
Coleman's notability comes from claims that he invented the dropkick
Dropkick
A dropkick is an attacking maneuver in professional wrestling. It is defined as an attack where the wrestler jumps up and kicks the opponent with the soles of both feet; this sees the wrestler twist as he or she jumps so that when the feet connect with the opponent one foot is raised higher than...
. He claimed the move was inspired by kangaroo
Kangaroo
A kangaroo is a marsupial from the family Macropodidae . In common use the term is used to describe the largest species from this family, especially those of the genus Macropus, Red Kangaroo, Antilopine Kangaroo, Eastern Grey Kangaroo and Western Grey Kangaroo. Kangaroos are endemic to the country...
s he saw on a tour of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1930.
Coleman's nicknames included Hebrew Hercules and Jewish Tarzan. A Jewish man, he wrestled at a time when there were few Jewish athletes, and he endured fair amounts of anti-semitism. But was greatly praised within his own community, The Jewish Daily Bulletin hailed him in 1934 as a "past master of the art of grunts, groans and grimaces".
Although never a Champion, but rather a middlecard standby, he still wrestled in over 2,000 matches. One of the most notable took place in the 1930s against Jim Londos
Jim Londos
Christos Theofilou or Christopher Theophelus better known as "The Golden Greek" Jim Londos, was a professional wrestler who was one of the most popular stars wrestling offered during the Great Depression.-Career:Jim Londos was born Christos Theofilou in 1897 in Argos, Greece. as the youngest of...
, this match was said to be in front of 60,000 spectators in a Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
bullring. In another match, he raised Man Mountain Dean
Man Mountain Dean
Man Mountain Dean , born Frank Simmons Leavitt, was a professional wrestler of the early 1900s.He was born in New York City, the son of John McKenney and Henrietta N. Leavitt. From childhood, Frank Leavitt was remarkably large in stature...
(all 210 kilograms of him) over his head and 'slammed' him, in turn breaking through the mat and onto the auditorium floor.
Coleman retired from wrestling in 1958, after which he served as a wrestling judge, and inspected license plates
Vehicle registration plate
A vehicle registration plate is a metal or plastic plate attached to a motor vehicle or trailer for official identification purposes. The registration identifier is a numeric or alphanumeric code that uniquely identifies the vehicle within the issuing region's database...
for the New York State
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
Department of Motor Vehicles
Department of Motor Vehicles
In the United States of America, a Department of Motor Vehicles is a state-level government agency that administers vehicle registration and driver licensing. Similar departments exist in Canada...
. Outside of wrestling, Coleman's interests included poker
Poker
Poker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
and horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
.
Still feisty in his old age, Coleman is said to have responded to his nephews call to wrestle him on his 100th birthday with, "Get my tights and Jock-strap". Coleman told the story of how he fought off two muggers while he was in his 80's to anyone who would listen.
Coleman died on March 28, 2007 in a nursing home in Queens, New York of kidney failure.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- DropkickDropkickA dropkick is an attacking maneuver in professional wrestling. It is defined as an attack where the wrestler jumps up and kicks the opponent with the soles of both feet; this sees the wrestler twist as he or she jumps so that when the feet connect with the opponent one foot is raised higher than...
– innovated
- Dropkick
- Signature moves
- Airplane spin
- Leaping tackleTackle (football move)Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
- Mule kick
Championships and accomplishments
- Cauliflower Alley ClubCauliflower Alley ClubThe Cauliflower Alley Club is a non-profit fraternal organization, which includes a newsletter and website, comprising both retired and active professional wrestlers and boxers in North America....
- Other honoree (1995)