The Spirit of Adventure Lives On
With the current wave of interest in the 1940’s, 50’s and 60’s it doesn’t take much to stimulate
conversation on home town entertainment. Wrestling was certainly one of the most talked
about and regularly attended by the local residents.
Right here in Tampa Bay there were the weekly wrestling matches at Fort Homer Hesterly
Armory and the televised matches at the Sportatorium at 106 North Albany. Everyone knew the
names Cowboy Luttrall and Eddie Graham because they were constantly in the newspapers
and on television.
The author was raised in a wrestling family right here in the Tampa Bay area and shares the
stories of his life and relationships with other Wrestlers and their families. He also shares his
own adventures which were stimulated by those relationships.
Anyone reading this book will be prompted to tell their own story of their encounter with local
Wrestler’s either in their neighborhood or at the matches.
conversation on home town entertainment. Wrestling was certainly one of the most talked
about and regularly attended by the local residents.
Right here in Tampa Bay there were the weekly wrestling matches at Fort Homer Hesterly
Armory and the televised matches at the Sportatorium at 106 North Albany. Everyone knew the
names Cowboy Luttrall and Eddie Graham because they were constantly in the newspapers
and on television.
The author was raised in a wrestling family right here in the Tampa Bay area and shares the
stories of his life and relationships with other Wrestlers and their families. He also shares his
own adventures which were stimulated by those relationships.
Anyone reading this book will be prompted to tell their own story of their encounter with local
Wrestler’s either in their neighborhood or at the matches.
| Eddie Graham |
| Come join Whitey and his family on an adventure that lasted a lifetime! |
| Whitey Whittler |
It wasn’t wrestling that made them adventuresome; it was their dreams and the
spirit of adventure. Wrestling gave them the excuse to wander, explore our country and still keep
the ties to their families.
Cowboys weren’t dead they had just changed their profession. After the war there was little
direction, but there was a lot of hope. Farmers flocked to the city and people moved west to make
a new start. Cowboys were our heroes and adventure was our dream.
It was a great time for a boy my age to have a father and mother who followed their dreams and in
so doing allowed him to live a dream. The 40’s, 50’s and 60’s held a promise for anyone who
would reach out and grab it.
Thanks to all the wonderful friends we made during our journey. I hope that you have lived your
dream. Thanks Mom and Dad for a wonderful life. Yippee Ki Yea
spirit of adventure. Wrestling gave them the excuse to wander, explore our country and still keep
the ties to their families.
Cowboys weren’t dead they had just changed their profession. After the war there was little
direction, but there was a lot of hope. Farmers flocked to the city and people moved west to make
a new start. Cowboys were our heroes and adventure was our dream.
It was a great time for a boy my age to have a father and mother who followed their dreams and in
so doing allowed him to live a dream. The 40’s, 50’s and 60’s held a promise for anyone who
would reach out and grab it.
Thanks to all the wonderful friends we made during our journey. I hope that you have lived your
dream. Thanks Mom and Dad for a wonderful life. Yippee Ki Yea
| Margaret Whittler |
| Whitey Whittler and his famous "double step-over toe hold", whose wrestling career spanned three decades, beginning in the 1930's and lasting through the 1950's |
| Whitey Whittler |
| Wrestler/That Dog Hunts This is a tribute to all the loyal fans who supported the wrestling profession and to all the wrestlers who traveled thousands of miles nightly to give their best to entertain the hundreds of fans who showed up to root for their favorite hero or boo the bad guy. To the wrestlers’ families who traveled with them showing their support by making a home away from home. To a time when wrestling matches and county fairs were the only live entertainments. The popularity of wrestling today was built on the dedication of wrestlers and fans alike that turned out week after week to watch their favorites do battle. |
| Don Whittler/Smasher Sloan |
| Dory Funk, Whitey, Don, Larry, and Paul Trudel at an amateur wrestling event in Amarillo, Texas. |
| To Order: R.A.M. Publishing House, Inc. Co/AIF 11705 Boyette Rd. Suite 221 Riverview, Fl. 33569 For Information: 866-828-1232 Toll Free Send Check or money order… 2-4 weeks for delivery A portion of the proceeds goes to the American Ideals Foundation Inc. for promotion of the arts… Book ……….. $19.95 plus S & H $4.95 DVD…………$ 9.95 plus S & H $2.95 Poster………..$ 9.95 plus S & H $2.95 Add 7% sales tax in Florida Special Offer: Receive the Book, DVD & Poster for $29.95 plus S & H $6.95 “Great Gift Idea” |
| Wrestling Programs from the 50's and 60's |
Click here to contact us.
Powered By:
| Wrestler/That Dog Hunts |
 | |  | |  | |  |
