Gotch-Hackenschmidt Match Film (lost world championship match; 1911): Difference between revisions

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{{InfoboxLost
{{InfoboxLost
|title=<center>Gotch-Hackenschmidt Match Film</center>
|title=<center>Gotch-Hackenschmidt Match (footage)</center>
|image=Gotch-hack1.jpg
|image=Gotch-hack1.jpg
|imagecaption=Poster of the Gotch-Hackenschmidt match.
|imagecaption=Poster of the Gotch-Hackenschmidt match.
|status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
|status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
}}
}}
'''''Frank Gotch vs. George Hackenschmidt''''' was a 1911 wrestling match for Frank Gotch's World Heavyweight Championship<ref>[https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2013-09-08-ct-per-flash-wrestling-0908-20130908-story.html#:~:text=Gotch%20won%20the%20match.&text=It's%20called%20one%20of%20the,The%20%22Russian%20Lion%22%20vs.&text=4%2C%201911%2C%20the%20pro%20heavyweight,wrestling%20fans%20into%20a%20headlock. Article from the Chicago Tribute on the match.] Retrieved 2/20/21</ref>, which he won from Hackenschmidt three years earlier. It is one of the most infamous matches in professional wrestling history, due to it not only being one of, if not the first big rematches, but also the controversy revolving around Hackenschmidt and his injured knee.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71552856/ Clipping showing it's infamy only a few years later.] Retrieved 2/20/21</ref>
'''''Frank Gotch vs. George Hackenschmidt''''' was a 1911 wrestling match for Frank Gotch's World Heavyweight Championship,<ref>[https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2013-09-08-ct-per-flash-wrestling-0908-20130908-story.html#:~:text=Gotch%20won%20the%20match.&text=It's%20called%20one%20of%20the,The%20%22Russian%20Lion%22%20vs.&text=4%2C%201911%2C%20the%20pro%20heavyweight,wrestling%20fans%20into%20a%20headlock. Article from the Chicago Tribute on the match.] Retrieved 20 Feb '21</ref> which he won from Hackenschmidt three years earlier. It is one of the most infamous matches in professional wrestling history, due to it not only being one of, if not the first big rematches, but also the controversy revolving around Hackenschmidt and his injured knee.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71552856/ Clipping showing it's infamy only a few years later.] Retrieved 20 Feb '21</ref>


== Background ==
==Background==
On September 4th, 1911, George Hackenschmidt would challenge then World Heavyweight champion, Frank Gotch in front of a crowd of around 30,000 spectators in the ''Chicago White Sox's'' recently opened stadium, ''Comiskey Park''. The two had met three years earlier, on April 3, 1908 at ''Dexter Park'', also in Chicago, which was also filmed.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71553046/ Clipping from 1908 about the first match.] Retrieved 2/20/21</ref> Gotch would defeat Hackenschmidt, the inaugural champion, in just over two hours, in a match where Hackenschmidt would complain to the referee about Gotch's tactics.  
On September 4th, 1911, George Hackenschmidt would challenge then World Heavyweight champion, Frank Gotch in front of a crowd of around 30,000 spectators in the ''Chicago White Sox's'' recently opened stadium, ''Comiskey Park''. The two had met three years earlier, on April 3rd, 1908 at ''Dexter Park'', also in Chicago, which was also filmed.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71553046/ Clipping from 1908 about the first match.] Retrieved 20 Feb '21</ref> Gotch would defeat Hackenschmidt, the inaugural champion, in just over two hours, in a match where Hackenschmidt would complain to the referee about Gotch's tactics.  


This rematch would be heavily publicized, after Gotch would become famous following their first bout. The two would wrestle for only twenty minutes in their second match, with Gotch targeting Hackenschmidt's injured knee early on into the match. Hackenschmidt himself would claim the injury was not major, saying he was, "fit to wrestle for my life". Wrestler Ad Santel would later claim that he was paid $5000 back supporters of Gotch to injure Hackenschmidt, making it look like an accident, though Hackenschmidt and his training partner, Dr. Roller, would both claim it was Roller who accidentally injured his knee, which already had issues prior to the accident.
This rematch would be heavily publicized, after Gotch would become famous following their first bout. The two would wrestle for only twenty minutes in their second match, with Gotch targeting Hackenschmidt's injured knee early on into the match. Hackenschmidt himself would claim the injury was not major, saying he was, "fit to wrestle for my life". Wrestler Ad Santel would later claim that he was paid $5000 back supporters of Gotch to injure Hackenschmidt, making it look like an accident, though Hackenschmidt and his training partner, Dr. Roller, would both claim it was Roller who accidentally injured his knee, which already had issues prior to the accident.


Gotch would win the rematch in short time for the time period, in an era where matches would still last hours. Gotch would retire just two years later as champion, wrestling his final match on April 1, 1913, defeating Georg Lurich.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71552677/ Clipping of the 1913 match.] Retrieved 2/20/21</ref> He would pass away just a few years afterwards, on December 16, 1917, reportedly from uremic poisoning.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71552623/obituary-for-frank-gotch-aged-41/ Obituary for Frank Gotch.] Retrieved 2/20/21</ref> Hackenschmidt would retire after this match due to his knee issues<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71553002/ Clipping about Hackenschmidt's knee in 1912.] Retrieved 2/20/21</ref>, passing away on February 19, 1968.
Gotch would win the rematch in short time for the time period, in an era where matches would still last hours. Gotch would retire just two years later as champion, wrestling his final match on April 1st, 1913, defeating Georg Lurich.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71552677/ Clipping of the 1913 match.] Retrieved 20 Feb '21</ref> He would pass away just a few years afterwards, on December 16th, 1917, reportedly from uremic poisoning.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71552623/obituary-for-frank-gotch-aged-41/ Obituary for Frank Gotch.] Retrieved 20 Feb '21</ref> Hackenschmidt would retire after this match due to his knee issues,<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71553002/ Clipping about Hackenschmidt's knee in 1912.] Retrieved 20 Feb '21</ref> passing away on February 19th, 1968.


== Footage ==
==Footage==
Due to the highly anticipated nature of the match, it was due to be filmed for distribution to other areas. Two complete reels, or 2000 feet of film<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71552421/ Clipping showing the mention of length of film.] Retreived 2/20/21</ref> would be brought to other towns in the following months, shown at theatres. Many Newspapers would claim the film to be even better than the event, for showing the two falls clearly and up close, one source even claiming the "wrinkles on the brow of Hack"<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71552498/ Clipping talking about Hack's wrinkles.] Retrieved 2/20/21</ref> were clear in the film.  
Due to the highly anticipated nature of the match, it was due to be filmed for distribution to other areas. Two complete reels, or 2000 feet of film<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71552421/ Clipping showing the mention of length of film.] Retreived 20 Feb '21</ref> would be brought to other towns in the following months, shown at theaters. Many Newspapers would claim the film to be even better than the event, for showing the two falls clearly and up close, one source even claiming the "wrinkles on the brow of Hack"<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71552498/ Clipping talking about Hack's wrinkles.] Retrieved 20 Feb '21</ref> were clear in the film.  


The film would be brought to many towns, including St. Louis<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71552524/ St. Louis clipping.] Retrieved 2/20/21</ref>, Albuquerque<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71552547/ Albuquerque clipping.] Retrieved 2/20/21</ref>, and even Sydney, Australia<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71552304/ Clipping from a Sydney paper.] Retrieved 2/20/21</ref>. The match would be shown into the next year, though seemingly fell into obscurity sometime after this, with it's last reported showing seemingly being April 1, 1912 in Sydney.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71552304/ Clipping from a Sydney paper.] Retrieved 2/20/21</ref>
The film would be brought to many towns, including St. Louis,<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71552524/ St. Louis clipping.] Retrieved 20 Feb '21</ref> Albuquerque,<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71552547/ Albuquerque clipping.] Retrieved 20 Feb '21</ref> and even Sydney, Australia.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71552304/ Clipping from a Sydney paper.] Retrieved 20 Feb '21</ref> The match would be shown into the next year, though seemingly fell into obscurity sometime after this, with it's last reported showing seemingly being April 1st, 1912 in Sydney.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71552304/ Clipping from a Sydney paper.] Retrieved 20 Feb '21</ref>


A newspaper at the time would describe the film:  
A newspaper at the time would describe the film:  
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==Gallery==
==Gallery==
===Images of the match===
===Images of the Match===
<gallery mode=packed heights=180px>
<gallery mode=packed heights=180px>
Gotch-Hack Match.jpg
Gotch-Hack Match.jpg
Gotch-Hack Match 1.jpg
Gotch-Hack Match 1.jpg
</gallery>
</gallery>
==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

Revision as of 00:35, 24 February 2021

Gotch-hack1.jpg

Poster of the Gotch-Hackenschmidt match.

Status: Lost

Frank Gotch vs. George Hackenschmidt was a 1911 wrestling match for Frank Gotch's World Heavyweight Championship,[1] which he won from Hackenschmidt three years earlier. It is one of the most infamous matches in professional wrestling history, due to it not only being one of, if not the first big rematches, but also the controversy revolving around Hackenschmidt and his injured knee.[2]

Background

On September 4th, 1911, George Hackenschmidt would challenge then World Heavyweight champion, Frank Gotch in front of a crowd of around 30,000 spectators in the Chicago White Sox's recently opened stadium, Comiskey Park. The two had met three years earlier, on April 3rd, 1908 at Dexter Park, also in Chicago, which was also filmed.[3] Gotch would defeat Hackenschmidt, the inaugural champion, in just over two hours, in a match where Hackenschmidt would complain to the referee about Gotch's tactics.

This rematch would be heavily publicized, after Gotch would become famous following their first bout. The two would wrestle for only twenty minutes in their second match, with Gotch targeting Hackenschmidt's injured knee early on into the match. Hackenschmidt himself would claim the injury was not major, saying he was, "fit to wrestle for my life". Wrestler Ad Santel would later claim that he was paid $5000 back supporters of Gotch to injure Hackenschmidt, making it look like an accident, though Hackenschmidt and his training partner, Dr. Roller, would both claim it was Roller who accidentally injured his knee, which already had issues prior to the accident.

Gotch would win the rematch in short time for the time period, in an era where matches would still last hours. Gotch would retire just two years later as champion, wrestling his final match on April 1st, 1913, defeating Georg Lurich.[4] He would pass away just a few years afterwards, on December 16th, 1917, reportedly from uremic poisoning.[5] Hackenschmidt would retire after this match due to his knee issues,[6] passing away on February 19th, 1968.

Footage

Due to the highly anticipated nature of the match, it was due to be filmed for distribution to other areas. Two complete reels, or 2000 feet of film[7] would be brought to other towns in the following months, shown at theaters. Many Newspapers would claim the film to be even better than the event, for showing the two falls clearly and up close, one source even claiming the "wrinkles on the brow of Hack"[8] were clear in the film.

The film would be brought to many towns, including St. Louis,[9] Albuquerque,[10] and even Sydney, Australia.[11] The match would be shown into the next year, though seemingly fell into obscurity sometime after this, with it's last reported showing seemingly being April 1st, 1912 in Sydney.[12]

A newspaper at the time would describe the film:

"These pictures will absolutely settle beyond any doubt every dispute which has arisen concerning this marvelous event-they show intimate, unobstructed, close up, complete views of every movement and intendent, including both falls.[13]

The whereabouts of the film is currently unknown, and is thought to be lost.

Gallery

Images of the Match

References