Mozart.
Picasso. Billie Holiday. Jerry Lee Lewis. Elvis Presley. John Lennon. These
are just a few of the artists, whether visual or musical, who have passed through
history, though their bodies of work live on, to be acknowledged, enjoyed and discussed
by generations to follow. Unfortunately for fans of the art form of pro
wrestling, the histories of many pro wrestling eras, territories and
personalities have not received the level of documentation and acknowledgement
they so richly deserve, but that will soon change for the Northern California
Pro Wrestling Territory.
William Muldoon. Ad Santel. Ed “Strangler” Lewis. Ben & Mike Sharpe. Leo Nomellini.
Ray Stevens. Pat Patterson. Rocky Johnson. Peter Maivia. Moondog Mayne. The
list goes on and on for the amazing pro wrestling performers who made an impact
on the Northern California Pro Wrestling scene and the pro wrestling business
in general, performers who contributed to making the Northern California pro
wrestling territory one of the most exciting, memorable and financially
lucrative in the pre-national expansion era of professional wrestling. And now
their story and the story of the territory will be told.
With over 300 pages and nearly two hundred
photographs, some never published, When
it was Big Time: A 100-Year History of Northern California Pro Wrestling, chronicles
the evolution of pro wrestling in Northern California, including the
record-setting events and the wrestlers whose performances and larger-than-life
personalities transported those who watched them into a world; a world where
they bore witness to morality plays consisting of epic battles of good vs. evil
in intriguing storylines involving characters reminiscent of the gods of Greek
& Roman mythology.
With plans to be released in the fall of
2016, the in-depth researched book by pro wrestling research/writer Rock Rims,
includes the major events and storylines of the territory’s history as well as
interviews with some of the wrestlers, ring announcers, and photographers who
worked for San Francisco wrestling promoter Roy Shire. A pro wrestling book
unlike any other, it will also include memories of several of the wrestling
fans who witnessed firsthand many of the incredible storylines produced by
Promoter Shire and both the TV and live arena performances which produced such
fond memories for them. This will take fans back in time to the seats they
occupied when first viewing the product, and for fans who had never been privileged
to witness that product themselves, it will make them understand why it is so
fondly remembered and why people have been demanding for a book of this nature
for decades.
This book will also go behind the scenes
to discuss and reveal the truth of some of the most notorious incidents in the territory’s
history and events that led to its eventual decline. Please stay tuned for
future updates.
