Dick Axman

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Dick Axman
Born
Richard Theodore Axman

(1891-02-28)February 28, 1891
DiedDecember 8, 1969(1969-12-08) (aged 78)
Occupation(s)Promoter, editor

Dick Axman (February 28, 1891 – December 8, 1969) was a pioneer American sports publicist, sportswriter, magazine creator and magazine editor. Dick began his career in 1927, writing a column about boxing, and is most notable for his promotion of professional wrestling.

In 1946, Dick was the co-creator of the earliest wrestling publication Wrestling As You Like It, and he was the editor from 1946 to 1955.[1][2] From 1951 to 1953, Dick was the Editor of the official magazine of the National Wrestling Alliance, N.W.A. Official Wrestling.[1][2] In 1953, Dick co-founded Wrestling Stars with Jim Barnett.[3] Dick Axman was the lead publicist for the promotional push of 1961 which resulted in record-breaking $125,000 ticket sales on June 30, 1961, for the Roger–O'Connor N.W.A. Heavyweight Championship fight at Comiskey Park—the first time ticket sales for a single match had exceeded $100,000.[3]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Dell, Chad. The Revenge of Hatpin Mary: Women, Professional Wrestling and Fan Culture in the 1950s. Peter Lang, 2006. (pg. 47-76, 138) ISBN 0-8204-7270-0
  2. ^ a b Beekman, Scott. Ringside: A History of Professional Wrestling in America. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2006. (pg. 97) ISBN 0-275-98401-X
  3. ^ a b Hornbaker, Tim. National Wrestling Alliance: The Untold Story of the Monopoly that Strangled Pro Wrestling. Toronto: ECW Press, 2007. (pp. 90, 314) ISBN 1-55022-741-6