These are the men who became heroes of the ring as Midget Wrestlers during the 1960s and 1970s. Out of traveling carnivals, circus acts and sheer ambition, these wrestlers started a sport that was followed by hundreds of thousands across America, Canada and England.
The best wrestlers (Sky Low Low, Little Beaver, Lord Littlebrook, Little Tokyo) mixed great physical prowess with acrobatic skills to give their fans edge-of-the-seat thrills and entertainment, with just a hint of comedy. Wrestlers fell in two categories—the goodies and the baddies, who would either seek the cheers or loud disapprobation of the audience by skill or pantomime cheating.
Sadly, many of the biographies and details of these wrestling heroes (and villains) have either been lost or passively excised due to political correctness—which is a shame, for these men (and and a few women) were athletes and acrobats who excelled at the sport.
Thankfully, during a golden age of wrestling, photographer David Maciejewski documented the legends of the ring from 1966 to 1974—from which some these pictures have been culled. More of Maciejewski’s superb photography can be seen (and purchased) here.
Little Bruiser ready for a bout in Chicago, September 1 1972. Born Murray Downs in Wallaceburg, Ontario, Little Bruiser was the only son among four sisters. His father was an alcoholic and his abusive and violent behavior towards his son led the teenage Murray to run away from home. He joined the carnival and started wrestling. His powerhouse antics made him popular and he quickly became a star. He fought as part of a tag team and was often picked to fight 6ft 10in 350lbs wrestler Blackjack Mulligan who would wallop Bruiser onto the canvas. Little Bruiser was a demon in the ring, but a gentleman outside. He later quit because of back pain and died in a auto accident in 1995.
Tag team: Little Bruiser and Billy the Kid, September 23 1972.
Little Bruiser in action against Bobo Johnson in Chicago, September 1972.
Bobo Johnson also wrestled under the name the ‘Brown Panther.’ Best known for his tag performances with Louie Louie and later Rocky Johnson, Bobo was one of the earliest Black midget wrestlers alongside Haiti Kid. However, like many of his colleagues, his career and achievements have been sadly overlooked.
The legendary Lord Littlebrook (aka Eric Tovey), in Milwaukee July 7, 1968. A major star of ‘Midget Wrestling’ Littlebrook was born in England in 1929. He started his career as a circus acrobat before taking up wrestling in the 1950s. He moved to the US in the early 1960s, where he became NWA World Midget Champion—winning a record three times (tied with Little Tokyo). He continued wrestling until the late 1980s, when he was enshrined into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame. Now retired, Lord Littlebrook resides with his son in Saint Joseph, Missouri.
Little Tokyo (aka Shigeri Akabane) who was inspired to quit homeland and join Lord Littlebrook and his troupe after they visited Japan in the 1960s. Little Tokyo went on to win the NWA World Midget Champion three times equaling Lord Littlebrook’s achievement.
Billy the Kid born John William Guillot in Waco, Texas in 1936. Billy started his career in the 1950s, where he established himself as a wrestling ‘bad guy’. He was a clever and wily opponent who brought considerable showmanship to the arena. Though he never won a title, he was a firm favorite with fans. He died aged 76 in January 2013.
Billy the Kid with Cowboy Bob Bradley (aka Robert Bradley).
Cowboy Bob Bradley was born Robert Claton Bradley in Dickens County, TX, in February 1935. He dropped out of West Texas State College in 1953 to take up the fight game. He toured across America with fellow wrestlers and held several championship titles. He retired in 1970 and moved to Las Vegas where he became a blackjack dealer. He died aged 75 on June 24, 2010 in Amarillo, Texas.
Cowboy Bob Bradley and Joey Russell, February 23 1968.
Farmer Pete and Cowboy Lang backstage in Milwaukee, February 3, 1972.
Farmer Pete wrestling in Milwaukee, December 3, 1972. Due to the lack of complete records, it is believed that Farmer Pete was World Champion for seven days in 1957, after beating Sonny Boy Cassidy, who won the title back in a rematch in October the same year.
Cowboy Lang was born Harry Lang in Saskatchewan, Canada on August 28, 1950. He started wrestling at the age of fifteen and went on to become one the world’s top midget wrestler over a 30 year period, during which time he won the NWA World Midget Championship twice. He sadly died at the age of 56 in January 2007.
A wrestler called ‘Jack Cassidy’ ready to rumble in 1968.
Referee George Gadaski talks to the legendary Little Beaver (back to camera) with tag partner Jamaica Kid to his left, and rivals Billy the Kid and Cowboy Bradley to his right.
Jamaica Kid and Little Beaver backstage at a wrestling arena April 25, 1969. Little Beaver was born Lionel Giroux in Saint-Jérôme, Quebec in 1935. he began his wrestling career at the age of fifteen and teamed up with fellow Canadian Sky Low Low, the pair going on to become two of the most famous wrestlers in history. He went on to win a clutch of wrestling awards including the NWA Midget Wrestling Championship twice and was a firm favorite with fans.
Sky Low Low (outside ring) in a tag team with Little Beaver (nearside) versus Mighty Atom, May 5, 1967.
Jamaica Kid in a publicity shot.
Frenchy Lamonte heading for the ring in Tampa 1970. Frenchy Lamonte was also known as Rolly the Rocket, the Little Hawk, and Little Evilborn. He was born Roland Barriault in Sudbury, Ontario on July 22, 1946. From an early age, Lamonte had a great interest in wrestling deciding at eight to become a wrestler, telling his mother ‘I’m gonna be a dirty one.’ Trained by Lord Littlebrook, Lamonte made his debut in 1963. He went on to win one world title. He became good friends with fellow wrestler Andre the Giant and has a career as a movie actor. He was also credited by the ‘Guinness Book of Records’ as the ‘World’s Strongest Midget.’
H/T Buzzfeed and Vintage Everyday.