Gentleman Ed Francis Presents 50th State Big Time Wrestling! - Hardcover

Edmund C. Francis; Sr.; Larry Fleece

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1935690248 ISBN 13: 9781935690245

Publisher: Watermark Publishing, 2012

Synopsis

Gentleman Ed Francis' 50th State Big Time Wrestling, a wild and wacky extravaganza, took Hawaii by storm and dominated local sports entertainment throughout the 1960s and '70s. Young Edmund Francis learned the ropes of wrestling in Depression-era Chicago, touring with the local weightlifting club in gyms and German taverns. In Hawaii, Gentleman Ed found a new calling, as a promoter offering a unique brand of sport and showmanship tailored exclusively to Island fans. Now, Francis reveals the behind-the-scenes stories of building his Aloha State wrestling empire in his book, Gentleman Ed Francis Presents 50th State Big Time Wrestling!

The hardcover edition of Gentleman Ed Francis Presents 50th State Big Time Wrestling! is a fan must-have documenting Francis' humble beginnings, the negotiations to bring wresting to Hawaii's television screens and the ups-and-downs of managing an enterprise built on big men boasting larger-than-life personalities. With his wrestler-announcer-referee-promoter partner Lord Tally Ho Blears at his side, Francis built a huge fan following for his wrestlers—Hard-Boiled Haggerty, Tosh Togo, Handsome Johnny Barend, Andre the Giant, Freddie Blassie, Nick Bockwinkel, Neff Maiava, The Missing Link, Mad Dog Mayne and scores of others—all captured here in over 100 images chronicling two decades of Island wrestling mania.

About this title

About the Author

In addition to his storied wrestling career, author Edmund C. Francis has been a cattle rancher in Oregon, an air show promoter and aerial tour guide in California and Nevada, and a sports agent who managed the professional football career of his son Russ. He now lives in Overland Park, Kansas.

The book's co-writer, Larry Fleece, grew up in Hawaii and attended Kalani High School, Stanford University and the University of California at Los Angeles before pursuing a career in television production. At KGMB-TV in Honolulu he produced many popular TV specials, among them "All in the Ohana" starring Andy Bumatai and "Rap's Hawaii" starring Rap Reiplinger. For the past three decades he has worked in the television industry in Los Angeles.

Edition details

• Publisher: Watermark Publishing
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1935690248
• ISBN 13: 9781935690245
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 162