Billy Sandow
Encyclopedia
Wilhelm Baumann, better known as Billy Sandow (c. 1884 - September 15, 1972), was the manager
of professional wrestler
Ed "Strangler" Lewis
and a subsequent member of the famed Gold Dust Trio
promotion that changed the face of the industry during the 1920s (along with Lewis and Joseph "Toots" Mondt
). He may have taken his ring name
from Sandow, a professional wrestler and strongman in the late 19th century. Sandow also served as manager for such wrestling champions as Billy Jenkins
, Marin Plestina, and Everett Marshall
, and also used the ring name The Zebra Kid
in 1951. He was a charter inductee of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame
in 1996.
Sandow and his brother, Max Baumann, traveled together to promote wrestling events. They also promoted events in Georgia. Sandow met his star attraction Lewis during World War I
, when Sandow was teaching recruits hand-to-hand fighting techniques. Sandow was credited with helping to develop Lewis' famed headlock. The two men were linked in the public eye, and in 1926, Sandow and Lewis published an eight-volume collection of preferred training and fighting techniques, which they dubbed "kinetic stress."
As the 1920s dawned, the popularity of professional wrestling was dimming, mostly due to the slow-paced "mat wrestling" style which had become dominant. Promoters like Sandow and Toots Mondt were eager to liven up their exhibitions with a more crowd-pleasing style. Time limits were instituted, and events were held in more major arenas. They took control of all aspects of the pseudo-sport, by booking, training, managing and promoting. Along with Lewis, the threesome swiftly took the lead in promoting wrestling around the country, signing some of the top wrestlers to exclusive contracts. The partnership dissolved in the mid-1930s.
Sandow died on September 15, 1972, at age 88.
, further declaring, "My personal wager of $5,000 still stands that Lewis can beat Dempsey inside of 20 minutes in any ring in the world." Dempsey's manager Jack Kearns
issued a response, and the matter cooled. But by the end of the year, Sandow's offer was receiving renewed coverage by the press, including the Chicago Tribune
, which published the speculative results of a Lewis-Dempsey match. Lewis won in 38 minutes.
In December, Dempsey told a reporter, "I think I'd be mighty tempted to try to beat that wrestler at his own game. I've done a lot of wrestling as part of my preliminary training and I think I've got the old toehold and headlock down close to perfection. If I can win the first fall from him, I'll begin to use my fists. But I've got a funny little hunch that maybe I can dump him without rapping him on the chin." Lewis thought that he would have the advantage: "You must understand that in such a contest I would be allowed to use my feet and legs... In doing so, I believe I could break the leg of a man like Dempsey, who is not used to wrestling... Of course there is one chance in a thousand that he might hit me with a punch hard enough to knock me out before I could get hold of him, but that is only one chance. I am sincere about the match, and will put up $25,000 in real money to bet that I can beat him." At one point, negotiations for the match appeared sincere. Sandow met with Dempsey's manager in Los Angeles, and reports of a contract emerged. But the match was never officially scheduled. Decades later, Sports Illustrated
postulated that Kearns was happy to keep the talk alive for publicity purposes, but never had any intention of putting Dempsey into a uncontrolled environment with a "shooting" wrestler.
Manager (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
of 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...
Ed "Strangler" Lewis
Ed Lewis (wrestler)
Robert Herman Julius Friedrich , was a professional wrestler best known by his ring name Ed "Strangler" Lewis, whose career spanned four decades.-Wrestling career:...
and a subsequent member of the famed Gold Dust Trio
Gold Dust Trio
The Gold Dust Trio was a group of promoters who controlled the world of professional wrestling during the 1920s while also making several fundamental changes to the industry's business model and operations that would ultimately change the direction of the sport towards a more pseudo-competitive...
promotion that changed the face of the industry during the 1920s (along with Lewis and Joseph "Toots" Mondt
Toots Mondt
Joseph Raymond "Toots" Mondt was a former wrestling promoter who revolutionized the wrestling industry in the early to mid 1920s and co-promoted the World Wide Wrestling Federation...
). He may have taken his ring name
Ring name
A ring name is a stage name used by a professional wrestler, martial artist, or boxer. While some ring names may have a fictitious first name and surname, others may simply be a nickname, such as The Undertaker.-Wrestling:...
from Sandow, a professional wrestler and strongman in the late 19th century. Sandow also served as manager for such wrestling champions as Billy Jenkins
Billy Jenkins
Billy Jenkins is an English blues guitarist, composer, and bandleader.Initially Jenkins became famous as a member of Burlesque, then as part of Trimmer & Jenkins. A short period he followed as a member of Ginger Baker's Nutters. For several years, he ran Wood Wharf Studios...
, Marin Plestina, and Everett Marshall
Everett Marshall
Everett Marshall was an American professional wrestler who was best known for his work in the late 1930s with what is now National Wrestling Alliance.- Biography :...
, and also used the ring name The Zebra Kid
The Zebra Kid
The Zebra Kid is a ring name used by several professional wrestlers, who would often wear zebra print tights and sometimes masks to the ring.Users of the ring name and gimmick include:...
in 1951. He was a charter inductee of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame
Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame is a professional wrestling hall of fame that recognizes people who make significant contributions to the sport. It was founded in 1996 by Dave Meltzer, editor of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame is not...
in 1996.
Sandow and his brother, Max Baumann, traveled together to promote wrestling events. They also promoted events in Georgia. Sandow met his star attraction Lewis during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, when Sandow was teaching recruits hand-to-hand fighting techniques. Sandow was credited with helping to develop Lewis' famed headlock. The two men were linked in the public eye, and in 1926, Sandow and Lewis published an eight-volume collection of preferred training and fighting techniques, which they dubbed "kinetic stress."
As the 1920s dawned, the popularity of professional wrestling was dimming, mostly due to the slow-paced "mat wrestling" style which had become dominant. Promoters like Sandow and Toots Mondt were eager to liven up their exhibitions with a more crowd-pleasing style. Time limits were instituted, and events were held in more major arenas. They took control of all aspects of the pseudo-sport, by booking, training, managing and promoting. Along with Lewis, the threesome swiftly took the lead in promoting wrestling around the country, signing some of the top wrestlers to exclusive contracts. The partnership dissolved in the mid-1930s.
Sandow died on September 15, 1972, at age 88.
Dempsey challenge
In 1922, Sandow issued a public $10,000 challenge to the heavyweight champion boxer of the world, Jack DempseyJack Dempsey
William Harrison "Jack" Dempsey was an American boxer who held the world heavyweight title from 1919 to 1926. Dempsey's aggressive style and exceptional punching power made him one of the most popular boxers in history. Many of his fights set financial and attendance records, including the first...
, further declaring, "My personal wager of $5,000 still stands that Lewis can beat Dempsey inside of 20 minutes in any ring in the world." Dempsey's manager Jack Kearns
Jack Kearns
Jack "Doc" Kearns was an American boxing manager from the state of Washington. He is most famous for managing Jack Dempsey, who was World Heavyweight Champion from 1919 to 1926. He also managed Mickey Walker, Joey Maxim, and Archie Moore. He was given the nickname "Doc" from Dempsey....
issued a response, and the matter cooled. But by the end of the year, Sandow's offer was receiving renewed coverage by the press, including the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
, which published the speculative results of a Lewis-Dempsey match. Lewis won in 38 minutes.
In December, Dempsey told a reporter, "I think I'd be mighty tempted to try to beat that wrestler at his own game. I've done a lot of wrestling as part of my preliminary training and I think I've got the old toehold and headlock down close to perfection. If I can win the first fall from him, I'll begin to use my fists. But I've got a funny little hunch that maybe I can dump him without rapping him on the chin." Lewis thought that he would have the advantage: "You must understand that in such a contest I would be allowed to use my feet and legs... In doing so, I believe I could break the leg of a man like Dempsey, who is not used to wrestling... Of course there is one chance in a thousand that he might hit me with a punch hard enough to knock me out before I could get hold of him, but that is only one chance. I am sincere about the match, and will put up $25,000 in real money to bet that I can beat him." At one point, negotiations for the match appeared sincere. Sandow met with Dempsey's manager in Los Angeles, and reports of a contract emerged. But the match was never officially scheduled. Decades later, Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
postulated that Kearns was happy to keep the talk alive for publicity purposes, but never had any intention of putting Dempsey into a uncontrolled environment with a "shooting" wrestler.