John Cosper
Create Space Independent Publishing, 2017
Paperback, Ebook
When one thinks of the hotbeds of professional wrestling history, Louisville, Kentucky does not immediately jump to mind. While it may not have the profile of New York or The Carolinas, the emotional roller coaster of Dallas or the Game of Thrones like political backdrop of Tennessee, the history of professional wrestling in and around Louisville is no less intriguing. What makes the history of Louisville wrestling so interesting is that it is the story of a continuous ebb and flow of success and failure. It is filled with stories of professional and personal strife and conflict. It features a eclectic mix of history's biggest names at various stages of their careers and personalities who, through choice or fate, are not known to the average wrestling fan. In many ways Louisville could be considered the Everyman of wrestling territories.
While Louisville is often mentioned in works concerning the Memphis territory and by "local boy" Jim Cornette, John Cosper has proven to be the true champion for chronicling the city's grappling history. His 2014 books Bluegrass Brawlers is a sweeping history of wrestling in Louisville and Eat, Sleep, Wrestle tells the stories of several wrestlers working on the indy scene. In 2015 he co-authored the autobiography of Louisville wrestling manager and colourful personality Kenny "Starmaker" Bolin. This year has seen the release of not only Louisville's Greatest Show, but a re-printing of Herb Welch's instructional manual How To Become A Champion and Lord Carlton, a biography of the classic wrestling personality, co-written with the wrestler's daughter. Cosper's work can be read at his Eat, Sleep, Wrestle blog.
Louisville's Greatest Show is a year by year account of the Allen Athletic Club. The Club was the main source for professional wrestling in the city for over twenty years. Founded by Heywood Allen, and later managed by Francis and Betty McDonough, the Allen Athletic Club was a Tuesday night institution in Louisville. Cosper does a great job giving the reader a true inside look into the club, its history and its major and minor players. The chronological structure of the book makes it easy for readers to keep tabs on not only the promotion's history and the activity of the players. While it would have been a much easier task for the author to focus on many of the big names who plied their trade with the Allan Athletic Club (i.e. Fred Blassie, Lou Thesz, Buddy Rogers, etc) he wisely keeps the focus of the book on the Club itself. Each chapter features a spotlight on one of the company's mainstays and are well written and researched regardless of the degree of fame the subject attained during his or her time in the professional wrestling business.
As with many books that feature a "niche" person, place or time in wrestling history, there may be some reluctance from readers to pick up a book like Louisville's Greatest Show. This is unfortunate as the information contained in this work is extremely informative and is far less known than that of other territories. This, along with Cosper's writing style and research, makes the book a true treasure trove of information. This book is highly recommended for readers looking for some "new" history. Those with an interest in Kentucky and/or Memphis wrestling history will have an extra level of appreciation for Louisville's Greatest Show: The History of the Allen Athletic Club.
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