Sandy Barr
Encyclopedia
Ferrin Charles Barr was an American
professional wrestler
, referee, promoter and trainer who spent his career mostly in the Western United States
and Canada
. Under the name as Sandy Barr, he was best known for his presence in the Portland, Oregon
wrestling scene.
. He wrestled his first match on March 5, 1957 in Hot Springs, Idaho against Treacherous Phillips to a time limit draw. He spent his time wrestling Idaho, Utah
, Nevada
, Arizona
, Washington, Oregon and Canada.
Barr began refereeing matches for Pacific Northwest Wrestling
promoter Don Owen in the 1960s because it allowed him to spend more time at home with his family. As a promoter, Barr was known as a person who would take care of the wrestlers. Tom "The Dynamite Kid" Billington
said of Barr, "The only time he made anything was once a year when all the big names came in, like Harley Race
and André the Giant
, and then they'd do great business. Sold out every night. Sandy would be so excited about making all this money, after he'd paid the big names, he gave the rest of it to us, the wrestlers who were there every week. All year long he'd be scraping by, and, when he did make some money, he gave it away. But he was a very good, kindhearted man, a great man—especially for a promoter."
Barr spent much of his later life as a referee, promoter, and trainer, training wrestlers such as Jimmy Jack Funk (Jesse Barr), Matt Borne
(the first Doink the Clown
), Art Barr
, Velvet McIntyre
and Princess Victoria
. While largely retired from being an active wrestling performer, Barr continued to get back into the ring on occasion, wrestling his last match just a few days prior to his death.
and converted it into the Portland Sports Arena, Barr worked out a deal with Owen where he would hold a flea market
(that would become renowned in the Northwest) in the arena when it was not being used for wrestling.
He is the father of Art Barr
, who would go on to fame in Mexico
as American Love Machine, and Jesse Barr, who gained some level of fame teaming with Dory and Terry Funk as Jimmy Jack Funk.
On June 2, 2007 he died of a heart attack at his flea market. Following Sandy's death, his son Josh Barr continued running the promotion until the License expired later that year. Once the license expired, the equipment was sold and the Barr's left the Wrestling business.
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...
, referee, promoter and trainer who spent his career mostly in the Western United States
Western United States
.The Western United States, commonly referred to as the American West or simply "the West," traditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. Because the U.S. expanded westward after its founding, the meaning of the West has evolved over time...
and 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...
. Under the name as Sandy Barr, he was best known for his presence in the Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
wrestling scene.
Career
Barr got his start in wrestling working with Cliff Thiede from Idaho Falls, IdahoIdaho Falls, Idaho
Idaho Falls is a city in and the county seat of Bonneville County, Idaho, United States, and the largest city in Eastern Idaho. As of the 2010 census, the population of Idaho Falls was 56,813, with a metro population of 130,374....
. He wrestled his first match on March 5, 1957 in Hot Springs, Idaho against Treacherous Phillips to a time limit draw. He spent his time wrestling Idaho, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, Washington, Oregon and Canada.
Barr began refereeing matches for Pacific Northwest Wrestling
Pacific Northwest Wrestling
Pacific Northwest Wrestling is the common name used to refer to several different professional wrestling companies, both past and present, based in Portland, Oregon, United States. The first such company was founded by Herb Owen in 1925...
promoter Don Owen in the 1960s because it allowed him to spend more time at home with his family. As a promoter, Barr was known as a person who would take care of the wrestlers. Tom "The Dynamite Kid" Billington
Dynamite Kid
Thomas Wilton Billington , best known by the ring name Dynamite Kid, is a retired British professional wrestler who competed in the World Wrestling Federation, Stampede Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling in the mid- to late-1980s...
said of Barr, "The only time he made anything was once a year when all the big names came in, like Harley Race
Harley Race
Harley Leland Race is a retired American professional wrestler and current promoter and trainer. During his career as a wrestler, he held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship 7 times...
and André the Giant
André the Giant
André René Roussimoff , best known as André the Giant, was a French professional wrestler and actor. His best remembered acting role was that of Fezzik, the giant in the film The Princess Bride...
, and then they'd do great business. Sold out every night. Sandy would be so excited about making all this money, after he'd paid the big names, he gave the rest of it to us, the wrestlers who were there every week. All year long he'd be scraping by, and, when he did make some money, he gave it away. But he was a very good, kindhearted man, a great man—especially for a promoter."
Barr spent much of his later life as a referee, promoter, and trainer, training wrestlers such as Jimmy Jack Funk (Jesse Barr), Matt Borne
Matt Osborne
Matthew "Matt" Wade Osborne is an American semi-retired professional wrestler. Osborne is a second generation wrestler, being son of "Tough" Tony Borne, but he is best known as the first wrestler to portray the character of Doink the Clown, which he still uses to this day.-Independent...
(the first Doink the Clown
Doink the Clown
Doink the Clown is a professional wrestling gimmick, originally used by Matt Osborne in the World Wrestling Federation from 1993 to 1995. Since Osborne's departure from the WWF, the character has been played by several wrestlers, primarily on the independent circuit, as well as in sporadic special...
), Art Barr
Art Barr
Arthur Leon "Art" Barr was an American professional wrestler. While he wrestled briefly for World Championship Wrestling, he found his greatest success in Mexico's Asistencia Asesoría y Administración promotion....
, Velvet McIntyre
Velvet Mykietowich
Velvet McIntyre is a retired Irish-Canadian professional wrestler. After beginning her career in 1980, she wrestled in North American independent promotions, before joining the World Wrestling Federation . She had rivalries with both The Fabulous Moolah and Sherri Martel and held the WWF Women's...
and Princess Victoria
Vickie Otis
Vicki Otis, better known by her ring name Princess Victoria, is a retired professional wrestler.-Career:Otis was trained in Portland, Oregon by Sandy Barr. She feuded with another of Barr's trainees, Velvet McIntyre...
. While largely retired from being an active wrestling performer, Barr continued to get back into the ring on occasion, wrestling his last match just a few days prior to his death.
Personal life
After Don Owen bought an old bowling alleyBowling
Bowling Bowling Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule...
and converted it into the Portland Sports Arena, Barr worked out a deal with Owen where he would hold a flea market
Flea market
A flea market or swap meet is a type of bazaar where inexpensive or secondhand goods are sold or bartered. It may be indoors, such as in a warehouse or school gymnasium; or it may be outdoors, such as in a field or under a tent...
(that would become renowned in the Northwest) in the arena when it was not being used for wrestling.
He is the father of Art Barr
Art Barr
Arthur Leon "Art" Barr was an American professional wrestler. While he wrestled briefly for World Championship Wrestling, he found his greatest success in Mexico's Asistencia Asesoría y Administración promotion....
, who would go on to fame in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
as American Love Machine, and Jesse Barr, who gained some level of fame teaming with Dory and Terry Funk as Jimmy Jack Funk.
On June 2, 2007 he died of a heart attack at his flea market. Following Sandy's death, his son Josh Barr continued running the promotion until the License expired later that year. Once the license expired, the equipment was sold and the Barr's left the Wrestling business.