Post by Swarm on May 29, 2007 19:16:59 GMT -5
lwpd said:
I recently started reading the National Wrestling Alliance: The Untold Story of the Monopoly that Strangled Pro Wrestling by Tim Hornbaker. I'll warn at the outset that this is definitely not the typical pro wres 'popcorn book'. It's a scholarly historical study of the formation and operation of the NWA at it's deepest levels. I rarely endorse products...but I'd highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys exploring pro wres history comprehensively. A very worthy read.Provide a bit more info for the curious...posted below are two blurbs along with the Table of Contents:
Beginning in 1948, a nationwide cartel of sports promoters united to streamline their wrestling interests and organized a system to both share talent and recognize champions. They came to a central agreement that would benefit all parties, and promised not to invade the territory of their fellow associates or act outside the official By-Laws. The union these bold individuals formed was the National Wrestling Alliance, an organization that would soon capture the heart of the professional wrestling world, and condemn anyone not affiliated.
Professional wrestling was a $25 million-a-year industry and the members of the NWA wanted to control every aspect of the sport, from television outlets to big name performers. As they expanded and devised novel ways to constrict opposition or tame unruly grapplers, the Alliance was met with harsh criticism, eventually drawing the attention of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Backed into a corner, NWA members relied on political connections to ease out of the bind, but signed a decree stating they would adhere to the rules of law. In the years that followed, the crafty promoters tested the will of the Justice Department, while Sam Muchnick, the NWA's staunchest supporter, tried his best to keep the coalition alive.
National Wrestling Alliance: The Untold Story of the Monopoly that Strangled Pro Wrestling examines the NWA's overwhelming success and looks at how members protected their territories for over 50 years. Breaking the façade of sports production, it shows how promoters actually twisted arms to edge out their opponents.
Tim Hornbaker documents the life of the NWA, from its humble beginnings in the Midwest after World War II, to its worldwide expansion. He chronicles the complete Department of Justice’s investigation, providing sports fans with a never-before-told side of wrestling’s legacy.
The most noteworthy exploits of the National Wrestling Alliance were behind locked doors. Now, the conspiracies of a century-old brand of entertainment will finally be revealed.
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National Wrestling Alliance: The Untold Story of the Monopoly that Strangled Pro Wrestling offers the first ever full explanation of how wrestling's largest worldwide conglomerate got off the ground during the 1940s and expanded internationally. It gives credit where it's due and doesn't rehash the same old information that has been printed in books and on websites for years. Dispelling many myths and rumors, this book paints a detailed picture of the NWA before and after the U.S. Government reportedly ended it's member's monopolistic practices.
Tim Hornbaker's book explains, in detail, the full scope of the Department of Justice investigation beginning in 1953 and is the first book to thoroughly do so. It offers a comprehensive look at the major players on both sides of the case, the steps taken in the Government's inquiry, explains who was interviewed, how the NWA actually survived the prosecution, and what was the outcome. It also elaborates on the aftermath of the investigation, which was almost as harrowing as the inquest itself.
This book offers biographical information on many of pro wrestling's most important people to include Sam Muchnick, Lou Thesz, Buddy Rogers, Ed "Strangler" Lewis, Vincent J. McMahon, Joe "Toots" Mondt, Pinkie George, Fred Kohler, Verne Gagne, Jim Barnett, Johnny Doyle, Eddie Quinn, Frank Tunney, Richard Hutton, Jack Brisco, Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, Al Haft, Jack Pfefer, Eddie Graham, Paul Jones, Bob Geigel, and many more. This information was all independently researched, and not based on data already floating around the internet or published elsewhere.
As the first ever outlet for the official By-Laws, readers will be able to get a sense of the codebook members utilized in their following of the organization statutes.
It details key promotional wars in Chicago, Texas, and California and the moves promoters made to gain the upper hand against their adversaries.
Altogether, this book offers a unique look at the Alliance from it's meager beginnings to a time in which all key aspects of the business were handled by a specific member. North America was broken into territories and a system was devised that ran according to their whims for several decades. Only in the 1980s, when cable television began erasing territorial boundaries, did the Alliance lose a majority of their power.
Priding himself on pure research and interviews, the author went to great lengths to meet a high standard for a historical book on professional wrestling, one that he hopes all fans of wrestling will enjoy.
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Table of Contents:
1. The Origins of a Wrestling Monopoly
2. International Expansion
3. The Undisputed Champ: Lou Thesz
4. The Backbone of the Alliance: Sam Muchnick
5. The Nekoosa Strangler: Ed “Strangler” Lewis
6. Chicago Consummate Entrepreneur: Fred Kohler
7. The Red Haired Shooter: Joe “Toots” Mondt
8. Wrestling’s First $100,000 Gate: Thesz vs. Leone
9. United States v. The National Wrestling Alliance
10. Sonny Myers vs. The NWA
11. The Founding Father Resigns
12. The Expansion of Capitol Wrestling
13. NWA World Heavyweight Champions (1948-1975)
14. Distinguished Wrestling Champions
15. Promotional Wars
16. Booking Wrestling’s Future: The Members of the NWA
17. NWA World Heavyweight Champions (1975-Present)
18. NWA History (1975-Present)
Thought I would pass this on. Looks pretty sweet.
Swarm
