February 23, 2011

Never a dull match with a Dusek

“In Boston, Rudy watched Brother Ernie wrestle an Irishman named Dan O’Mahoney. When O’Mahoney got the decision, Rudy jumped into the ring, tried to assault the referee, started a free-for-all among the seconds. In Camden, N. J., a few nights after the bout in Boston, Ernie wrestled Gino Garibaldi. A spectator in the balcony hurled down a chair which hit Ernie on the head. He was hospitalized.”

And yet they look so relaxed.

The Dusek Riot Squad, aka The Nebraska Riot Squad, aka The Dirty Duseks
early 50s, photographer Irving Penn

8 comments:

Ms. Moon said...

So wrestling has always been very odd?

That Hank said...

I think we can safely say that.

honeyluna said...

The one holding his knee in a lock is about to kill me just thinking about that bein done to my knee. But this oddly is a very tranquil photo of wrestlers. I like it.

That Hank said...

It's like they could cause each other pain at any moment, but they trust each other not to do that.

May said...

This picture is actually so beautiful it reminds me of old paintings of cherubs all rolling around together.

That Hank said...

Grown cherubs! That's exactly it!

daddy b said...

mawmaw's mama watched wrestling, and believed it, "til the day she died. i heard she also could shell peas and spit snuff while rocking in her porch chair and never miss a beat. she would have called these men sissies for their lack of sequined costuming.

That Hank said...

Heck, these men would have twisted Hulk Hogan up like a pretzel.