
Ballyhoo!
The Roughhousers, Con Artists, and Wildmen Who Invented Professional Wrestling (Sports and American Culture)
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Narrated by:
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Kirk Winkler
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By:
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Jon Langmead
About this listen
Ballyhoo! The Roughhousers, Con Artists, and Wildmen Who Invented Professional Wrestling is a history of professional wrestling’s formative period in the U.S., from roughly 1874 to 1941, and the contested interplay of wrestlers and promoters who built the “sport” as we know it. During this period, the major conventions that would define wrestling to the present day were perfected and codified, as wrestling morphed from a rough sport practiced on farms and at town gatherings to melodramatic mass entertainment that reliably drew large crowds in cities across the nation.
The narrative uses the life and career of Jack Curley—a boxing promoter whose fortune took a turn for the better when he began promoting wrestling matches—as a compass as it charts the development of wrestling. By the late 1910s, Curley’s shows were selling out Madison Square Garden monthly. Ballyhoo chronicles his competition with the other promoters, as well as the lives of colorful athletes like “Strangler” Ed Lewis, Frank Gotch, the “Masked Marvel,” Jim Londos, “Gorgeous George” Wagner, “Farmer” Martin Burns, and “Dynamite” Gus Sonnenberg.
The book is published by University of Missouri Press. The audiobook is published by University Press Audiobooks.
©2023 The Curators of the University of Missouri (P)2024 Redwood AudiobooksListeners also enjoyed...
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Critic reviews
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Story
On an overcast day in 1987, the pro wrestling landscape was altered forever when a reported 93,173 fans converged on the Pontiac Silverdome outside Detroit to see Hulk Hogan defend his championship against André the Giant. For several years, Vincent Kennedy McMahon had been transforming old-time rasslin' into mainstream "sports entertainment," incorporating A-list celebrities into storylines and forcing even cynics to follow the proceedings.
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Great retrospective of WrestleMania 3
- By NelsonTorres on 04-14-25
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The Last Real World Champion
- The Legacy of "Nature Boy" Ric Flair
- By: Tim Hornbaker
- Narrated by: Joe Hempel
- Length: 11 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
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For more than a century, professional wrestling has cultivated some of the most eccentric and compelling personalities. As the embodiment of flamboyance and intensity, the "Nature Boy" Ric Flair stood at wrestling's apex for decades, cementing his place as a once-in-a-lifetime athlete and performer. When he was in the ring, fans knew they were witnessing the very best, and he not only became a multi-time world heavyweight champion in the NWA, WCW, and the WWE, but his status as a generational great has been confirmed with inductions into numerous Halls of Fame.
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Awesome story of the GOAT, WOOOO
- By Vern on 10-29-23
By: Tim Hornbaker
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Business Is About to Pick Up!
- 50 Years of Wrestling in 50 Unforgettable Calls
- By: Jim Ross
- Narrated by: Jim Ross
- Length: 9 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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For wrestling fans, Jim Ross’ voice is the soundtrack of an era. This book is your ringside ticket to wrestling’s most unforgettable moments—from the announcer who made them iconic. In the last 50 years, professional wrestling has risen up from a collection of regional territories to become a global phenomenon—and Jim Ross has been there for it all. From the grit and glory days of the 1970s with NWA, to the rise of WCW and the heyday of WWF and WWE, to signing on as on-air talent and senior advisor for wrestling’s newest chapter at AEW, Jim Ross has long had the best seat in the house.
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business is about to pick up
- By Patrick Hall on 02-13-25
By: Jim Ross
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Macho Man
- The Untamed, Unbelievable Life of Randy Savage
- By: Jon Finkel
- Narrated by: Michael Bower
- Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
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Macho Man: The Untamed, Unbelievable Life of Randy Savage is the sensational, definitive biography of the WrestleMania headlining, Spider-Man fighting, Slim Jim snapping, minor league baseball playing American original: Randy Savage. Savage, a WWE wrestling hall of famer, was an A-list celebrity who sat atop the entertainment universe for much of the '80s and '90s. His outfits were as flamboyant as anything worn by Liberace, Elton John, or Prince. His charisma surpassed Hulk Hogan's and is rivaled only by "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and The Rock.
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Fantastic story!!
- By Tasha on 09-18-24
By: Jon Finkel
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The Death of WCW
- By: R.D. Reynolds, Bryan Alvarez
- Narrated by: Bryan Alvarez
- Length: 14 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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In 1997, World Championship Wrestling was on top. It was the number-one pro wrestling company in the world, and the highest-rated show on cable television. Each week, fans tuned in to Monday Nitro, flocked to sold-out arenas, and carried home truckloads of WCW merchandise. Sting, Bill Goldberg, and the New World Order were household names. Superstars like Dennis Rodman and KISS jumped on the WCW bandwagon. It seemed the company could do no wrong.
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Like a rambling friend telling you WCW history
- By Eric Philleo on 12-18-17
By: R.D. Reynolds, and others
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Death of the Territories
- Expansion, Betrayal and the War That Changed Pro Wrestling Forever
- By: Tim Hornbaker
- Narrated by: Kyle Tait
- Length: 11 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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By creating WrestleMania, jumping into the pay-per-view field, and expanding across North America, Vince McMahon changed professional wrestling forever.
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An Enjoyable Listen
- By Casey on 03-21-19
By: Tim Hornbaker
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Blood and Fire
- The Unbelievable Real-Life Story of Wrestling's Original Sheik
- By: Brian R. Solomon
- Narrated by: Brian R. Solomon
- Length: 14 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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He was the most vicious, bloodthirsty, reviled villain in the history of the ring. During the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, he drew record crowds everywhere he went and left a trail of burned and bloody opponents in his wake. But what those legions of fans screaming for his head never knew was that The Sheik was really Eddie Farhat. The son of Arab immigrants, Farhat served his country proudly in World War II and was fulfilling the American dream. When he wasn't screaming unintelligibly and attacking his enemies, he was busy being the owner and operator of World Wide Sports.
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An amazing story!
- By Drew Mac on 08-29-24
By: Brian R. Solomon
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Terry Funk
- More than Just Hardcore
- By: Terry Funk, Scott E. Williams - contributor
- Narrated by: Jeremy Arthur
- Length: 10 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
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He’s been a fixture in professional wrestling for five decades. He helped introduce a hardcore wrestling style that you see in the WWE and Japan today. He’s made his mark in Hollywood. He’s Terry Funk, and this is his story. In this captivating look at the life of a living legend, Funk opens up about growing up in a wrestling family, working with various entertainment companies (including the ECW, WWE, and WWF), and so much more.
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Great book!
- By Tara on 04-04-16
By: Terry Funk, and others
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Wrestling with the Devil
- The True Story of a World Champion Professional Wrestler - His Reign, Ruin, and Redemption
- By: Lex Luger, John D. Hollis
- Narrated by: Johnny Heller
- Length: 6 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
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Lex Luger, wrestling mega-sensation and three-time world heavyweight champion, ruled the ring for years as "The Total Package." Yet backstage, he was wrestling with addictions to sex, drugs, and alcohol - things he clung to even when his mistress died suddenly of a drug overdose and Lex went to jail. In Wrestling with the Devil, Lex Luger reveals never-before-told stories from his career, his struggle with personal demons, and how, through unexpected faith, grace, and redemption, he overcame all odds to fight the only battle that really matters.
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good book
- By Tara on 12-05-16
By: Lex Luger, and others
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Eggshells: Pro Wrestling in the Tokyo Dome
- By: Chris Charlton
- Narrated by: Dan Lovranski
- Length: 13 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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With huge global attention and a legacy of significant moments, the Tokyo Dome is inarguably one of professional wrestling’s most iconic venues. Over three decades, 10 different wrestling promotions have staged over 60 shows in the building. Now, Chris Charlton (Lion’s Pride: The Turbulent History of New Japan Pro Wrestling) tells the story of those stories.
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Tokyo Dome comes to life
- By Anonymous User on 06-20-19
By: Chris Charlton
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Hell in Boots
- Clawing My Way Through Nine Lives
- By: Saraya-Jade Bevis
- Narrated by: Saraya-Jade Bevis
- Length: 7 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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Saraya-Jade Bevis, formerly WWE’s Paige, is one of the biggest names in the wrestling world. She is the youngest two-time WWE Divas Champion and was inaugural NXT’s Women Champion. She ranked first in Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s Female 50 and was named Diva of the Year by Rolling Stone in 2014. She was also the subject of the critically and commercially successful 2019 film Fighting with My Family, produced by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and starring Florence Pugh. But before ascending to wrestling superstardom, she was just Saraya. Hell in Boots is Saraya’s real, uncensored, story.
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Absolutely great listen!
- By Liza Reyes on 04-16-25
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The Wrestlers' Wrestlers
- The Masters of the Craft of Professional Wrestling
- By: Dan Murphy, Brian Young
- Narrated by: Joe Hempel
- Length: 11 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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The Wrestlers' Wrestlers spotlights elite performers and analyzes exactly what made them your favorite wrestler's favorite wrestlers. Authors Dan Murphy and Brian Young interviewed more than 40 in-ring veterans, historians, referees, and promoters to get a unique insider's look at the people who have made a lasting impact on the world of professional wrestling. It offers a special peek "behind the curtain" and a rare look into the top stars' thoughts on their peers, their influences, and their personal favorites.
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surprised by some mentioned
- By Amazon Customer on 02-22-24
By: Dan Murphy, and others
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There's Just One Problem...
- True Tales from the Former, One-Time, 7th Most Powerful Person in WWE
- By: Brian Gewirtz
- Narrated by: Greg Baglia
- Length: 9 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
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For decades, wrestling was shrouded in secrecy. It had larger-than-life personalities, bone-crunching physicality and jaw-dropping theatrics, but backstage, it was an industry devoid of outsiders. Then in 1999, after working together on a special for MTV, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson turned to 26-year-old television writer Brian Gewirtz and asked, “You ever consider writing for WWE?” That question, and its answer, would have a profound effect on both of their lives for years to come. There's Just One Problem is a story about perseverance, tenacity, and steel chairs.
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There's Just Obe Problem...Narration.
- By Joshua on 08-28-22
By: Brian Gewirtz
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The Stone Cold Truth
- By: Steve Austin, Dennis Brent, J. R. Ross
- Narrated by: Steve Austin
- Length: 2 hrs and 26 mins
- Abridged
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He's wrestled as "Stunning" Steve Austin, The Ringmaster, and even his own name, Steve Williams. But to fans he is and will always be Stone Cold Steve Austin. His quick wit and colorful use of language combined with his everyman character captured the hearts of fans worldwide. It was Steve's ability inside the ring and his quick-witted responses that lead to his becoming one of the most popular WWE Superstars of all time.
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Decent, but too short
- By Christopher McGuinness on 09-18-17
By: Steve Austin, and others
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The Squared Circle
- Life, Death, and Professional Wrestling
- By: David Shoemaker
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 10 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
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A breakthroughexamination of professional wrestling - its history, its fans, and its widercultural impact - that does for the sport what Chuck Klosterman did for heavymetal
The Squared Circle grows out of David Shoemaker'swriting for both Deadspin, where hestarted the column "Dead Wrestler of the Week" - a feature on the many wrestlingsuperstars who died too young because of the abuse they subjected their bodiesto - and Grantland,where he covers the pro-wrestling world and its place in the pop culturemainstream. Shoemaker's sports writing has since struck a nerve withgenerations of wrestling fans who, like him, grew up worshiping a sport oftenderided as "fake" in the wider culture. To them, these professional wrestlingsuperstars are not just heroes but an emotional outlet and the lens throughwhich they learned to see the world.
Starting in the early 1900s and exploring the path of prowrestling in America through the present day, The Squared Circle is thefirst book to acknowledge both the sport's broader significance and wrestlingfans' keen intellect and sense of irony. Divided into eras, each section offersa snapshot of the wrestling world, profiles some of the period's preeminentwrestlers, and examines the sport's influence on our broader culture. Throughthe brawling, bombast, and bloodletting, Shoemaker argues that pro wrestlingcan teach us about the nature of performance, audience, and, yes, art.
Full of unknown history, humor, and self-deprecatingreminiscence - but also offering a compelling look at the sport's rightful placein pop culture - The Squared Circle is the book that legions of wrestlingfans have been waiting for. In it, Shoemaker teaches us to look past thespandex and body slams to see an art form that can explain the world.
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Good stories, bad editing
- By Andrew B on 06-13-16
By: David Shoemaker
What listeners say about Ballyhoo!
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Robert Buckley
- 02-22-25
Fascinating
a well written and very in depth look at the formation of Professional Wrestling
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- Steven Gerweck
- 05-23-24
The evolution of professional wrestling
Jon Langmead puts the jigsaw puzzle pieces of pro wrestling history together in "Ballyhoo!" This is a highly recommended work for those that appreciate the lineage of the industry we call professional wrestling, or at times, sports entertainment. The author explains how a sport that once featured long drawn-out matches, transitioned to offering exciting, entertaining bouts.
"Ballyhoo!" documents the mark wrestling and boxing promoter Jack Curley made on the business of professional wrestling. Curley was able to establish and offer an entertaining style of wrestling for the growing audience during a boom period. Curley promoted the high-profile Frank Gotch vs. strongman Georg Hackenschmidt for the World Heavyweight title match to the delight of wrestling fans.
The book presents wrestling to today's fans as it was perceived by the media in the early days. The author also notes how promoters would shmooze with mobsters, professional athletes, and politicians to protect and grow their business interests. Curley promoted matches at the famed Madison Square Garden, before butting heads with another promoter, Tex Rickard.
The fans pay to see the stars, and "Ballyhoo!" covers the early draws of the sport, such as Ben Roller, Joe Stecher, Ed "Strangler" Lewis, former NFL star Gus Sonnenberg, Wayne Munn, polish strongman Stanislaus Zbyszko, and Jim Londos. These pioneers paved the way for the likes of Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, and The Rock.
Langmead discusses the shenanigans in and out of the ring during this golden era of wrestling. The book leads up to the next wrestling boom period, when the sport became a fixture on American television. The author does a fantastic job explaining the evolution of professional wrestling, five stars! Kirk Winkler also provides sensational narration.
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- Adam C. Wright
- 02-26-25
Great book, boring audio
Love the book, but The Voice sounds like grandpa on sleeping pills. I prefer to listen to books at normal speed, but I had to speed this up. Guy sounds like he’s reading a manual on how to fix a lawnmower.
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- Michael
- 07-16-24
The real history of pro wrestling.
If you love pro wrestling this is a must listen. It’s still real to me damn it. ✌️❤️
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1 person found this helpful
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- James D. Dunn
- 05-27-24
Informative
It’s an Early history lesson not often covered in the books from the last 20-30 years. Which makes it a good jumping off place to research several subjects covered in the book.
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- indifference84
- 06-13-24
Great source of information; inconsistent audio production.
If you're interested in the history of wrestling, from the founding pioneer days, till it begins to take the shape of what we know now, this is the book for you.
My only complaint, and it's really minor compared to the abundance of information and research provided, is the inconsistency of the audio production. It is very obvious when the audio was recorded during different sessions. It can be extremely jarring when it happens mid sentence.
Otherwise, I can't recommend this book enough.
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- Kathryn Usher
- 08-27-24
Very informative
Loved the book and the narrator. Well paced. It kept moving along even though so many decades were covered.
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1 person found this helpful