
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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Lewis, Burns, Jenkins and Gotch, Legendary Wrestlers of the Legitimate Era In January 1881, Edwin Bibby defeated Duncan C. Ross to establish the first American based catch wrestling title, the American Heavyweight Wrestling Championship. For the next thirty-two years, the best wrestlers in American competed for the prestigious title. Learn the true history of the first catch wrestling championship in the United States.
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Critic reviews
"A page-turning cultural history..." (Amy Reading, author of The Mark Inside)
“A meticulously detailed, gloriously colorful, continuously gripping account of a master showman and his cohorts...” (Jeff Leen, author of The Queen of the Ring)
“Langmead has crafted a history of a sport (or is it entertainment?) that feels definitive and engrossing." (Booklist)
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Rowdy
- The Roddy Piper Story: A Biography of Our Father
- By: Colt Baird Toombs, Ariel Teal Toombs, Craig Pyette - contributor
- Narrated by: Joe Hempel
- Length: 12 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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In early 2015, Roderick Toombs, aka Rowdy Roddy Piper, began researching his own autobiography with a trip through Western Canada. He was rediscovering his youth, a part of his life he never discussed during his sixty-one years, many spent as one of the greatest talents in the history of pro wrestling. Following his death due to a heart attack that July, two of his children took on the job of telling Roddy's story, separating fact from fiction in the extraordinary life of their father.
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Bravo
- By Amazon Customer on 02-14-25
By: Colt Baird Toombs, and others
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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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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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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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Amazing wrestling book
- By Roger Lofgren on 05-02-25
By: Brian R. Solomon
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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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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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Say Hello to the Bad Guys
- How Professional Wrestling's New World Order Changed America
- By: Marc Raimondi
- Narrated by: Marc Raimondi
- Length: 7 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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In 1996, professional wrestling was one of the most watched sports on cable television, with more than 5 million people tuning in every week. And in the late 1990s, pro-wrestling was the hottest thing in American pop culture, with companies making millions in action figures, video games, and simple black t-shirts emblazoned with three little letters: NWO. The NWO, or New World Order, became a business like no other, and was responsible for the explosive ratings and rabid fanbase.
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Loved the mid 90's WCW and the NWO
- By Thomas on 07-08-25
By: Marc Raimondi
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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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Kayfabe: A Mostly True History of Professional Wrestling
- By: Patrick W. Reed
- Narrated by: Virtual Voice
- Length: 19 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
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Kayfabe: A Mostly True History of Professional Wrestling is the story of how professional wrestling evolved from humble roots as a folk sport into an intricate and unique performance art, and a global billion dollar industry. It’s a history that takes in America’s Wild West, the Music Halls of Victorian London, the circuses of P.T. Barnum, the golden age of television, the genesis of Mixed Martial Arts, all the way to the dizzying heights of WWE's Wrestlemania and AEW's All-In. As befitting a story with roots in Vaudeville Theatre, it’s full of twists, turns, surprises, myth-making ...
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Amazing History of pro wrestling bogged down by this disgusting AI narrator slop.
- By Karrie L. on 06-18-25
By: Patrick W. Reed
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SABU: Scars, Silence, & Superglue
- KINDLE EDITION
- By: Terry Brunk, Kenny Casanova
- Narrated by: Virtual Voice
- Length: 12 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
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Sabu explains in his long-awaited autobiography how his actions always spoke louder than words. After training with his legendary uncle The Sheik and his big break in Japan, Sabu pioneered a new “hardcore wrestling style” on American television in the 90s. Upon his ECW debut, he immediately dazzled fans with an innovative arsenal that included breaking tables, leaping off chairs, and working highly-acrobatic moves into every match. Raising the bar, he changed the game for professional wrestlers everywhere. Discover how his SCARS from barbwire, his SILENCE on the mic, and use of ...
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the AI reading is awful
- By Amazon Customer on 07-08-25
By: Terry Brunk, 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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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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Tito Santana: Don't Call Me Chico
- Official Autobiography
- By: Tito Santana, Kenny Casanova
- Narrated by: Raul R. Holguin
- Length: 12 hrs
- Unabridged
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Governor Jesse "The Body" Ventura affectionately called him "Chico Santana" in the golden age of wrestling and in turn helped propel this WWE Hall of Famer into stardom. Tito Santana's autobiography brings you a comprehensive and historical look at one of wrestling's most legendary Latinos.
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Arriba!
- By Marshall Hodge on 06-25-25
By: Tito Santana, and others
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Is Wrestling Fixed?
- I Didn't Know It Was Broken!
- By: Bill Apter
- Narrated by: Bill Apter
- Length: 9 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
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As a kid growing up in New York in the late '50s, Bill Apter fell in love with professional wrestling, and it wasn't long before he was rubbing shoulders with the greats as a young reporter and photographer. He's since become the world's best-known wrestling magazine personality, and he's had professional and personal relationships with a who's who of the business, like Triple H, Hulk Hogan, The Rock, Sting, and Ric Flair.
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I am certain there is an audience out there somewhere...
- By wally on 08-21-16
By: Bill Apter
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Grappler
- Memoirs of a Masked Madman
- By: Lynn Denton, Joe Vithayathil
- Narrated by: Virtual Voice
- Length: 7 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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"A fun read about an underrated talent and 35 years of both good and bad luck in life... and the struggles to keep a career alive as the old territorial system was falling apart."- Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Observer "One of the best-written wrestling books I have ever read... honest and endlessly entertaining."- Jim Valley, Pro Wrestling Torch contributor "It's been a long time since I've been so pleasantly surprised by a book... a very well-written and lively read."- Dwight Jaynes, Comcast Sports Net He defeated Andre the Giant, tutored the Ultimate Warrior and helped Jake "The Snake" ...
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Great book Awful AI reading of it
- By Victoria D'Acci on 03-07-25
By: Lynn Denton, and others
Fascinating
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Listener received this title free
"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.
The evolution of professional wrestling
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Great book, boring audio
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The real history of pro wrestling.
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Informative
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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.
Great source of information; inconsistent audio production.
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Very informative
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A must read for wrestling fans and history buffs.
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