I'm getting started (finally) in grad school, and I'm working on an essay on American wrestling, late 19th/early 20th Century. Any suggestions for reliable source material? I'm specifically interested on anything that might shed light on the development of works as the predominant form of pro wrestling.
Thanks, guys.
I'd suggest checking out "A Pictorial History Of Wrestling" by Graeme Kent. Make sure it's the Kent book by that name and not one of several others by the same name.
"Fall Guys" is another I'd recommend. This can be found in one of Jake's AESW volumes I believe.
"From Milo To Londos" would be another must read IMO.
Those would be the top 3 IMO. You could also get Mark Hewitt's book for a starter.
What else guys?
the catch wrestling book (http://cgi.ebay.com/EARLY-DAYS-PRO-CATCH-WRESTLING-IN-AMERICA-FIGHT-Book_W0QQitemZ190025290081QQihZ009QQcategoryZ378QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) by mark hewitt is the book you spoke of, right, scuffler?
Yes, that's the book.
I had forgotten that "From Milo To Londos" is also in one of Jake's AESW volumes. That and "Fall Guys" would be (must reads) IMO.
Wyoming's Wrestling Rancher by Hazel Odegard
Muldoon: The Solid Man of Sport by Edward Van Every
On the Mat and Off by Hjalmir Lundin
Life Work of Farmer Burns
Wrestling from Antiquity to Date by John C. Meyers
The Way to Live by George Hackenschmidt
Frank Gotch: World's Greatest Wrestler by Mike Chapman
Lion of the Punjab series by Graham Noble (in EJMAS)
From Wrestling to Rasslin' by Morton and O'Brien
Of Mats and Men by Glynn Leyshon
Wrestling's Hold on the Western World Before the Great War by Matthew Lindaman
"The Spectacle of Excess:" The Emergence of Modern Professional Wrestling in the United States and Australia by John Rickard
The Politics of Professional Wrestling by Jeffery Mondak
Magnificent Scufflers
Also, those mentioned by others on this thread.
Hope this helps!
Nathan Hatton
Awesome resources fellas!!
Thanks, guys!