kylerickards
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|  | New Zealand Archives and Wrestling
« Thread Started on Apr 19, 2012, 5:28pm » | |
Apart from Doctor Who, I have other interests and just came across this in the Wrestling Observer, which may interest historians... New Zealand - truly a treasure trove!
"The oldest pro wrestling footage believed to exist was found in the New Zealand Film Archives, featuring George Hackenschmidt. They have two reels of old nitrate film which can no longer be projected because of decomposition, lasting about 20 minutes. It is unclear the year, the country or the opponent, but the title on the film can reads “Winner is Hackenschmidt,” which means it is likely not either Frank Gotch match. Both Gotch vs. Hackenschmidt matches were filmed and shown at a later date in movie theaters during their time (both in the U.S. and also in Europe and Argentina), but no known copies of those films have been found. The opponent may have been a man named Rogers, which could make it a sold out 1908 match in London against Joe Rogers, which was a match known to have been filmed. Because the New Zealand Film Archives was alerted by a wrestling historian about the rarity of the film and being the oldest found pro wrestling clip in the world, they are working at restoring it. Before Hackenschmidt came to the U.S. and when he was champion in Europe, there was film of him dating back as early as 1904."
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George D
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| | Re: New Zealand Archives and Wrestling
« Reply #1 on Apr 20, 2012, 3:33am » | |
sounds like a great find.
good things do come out of new zealand. I was reading about some missing silent films that were found in new zeland recently also.
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Ray Langstone (was saintsray)
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| | Re: New Zealand Archives and Wrestling
« Reply #2 on Apr 20, 2012, 7:47am » | |
I've also found some footage there!
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Simon Smith
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| | Re: New Zealand Archives and Wrestling
« Reply #3 on Apr 20, 2012, 1:31pm » | |
How many stars did Meltzer give it? 
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