Abe Kelmer[3] / Abba Kelmer[2] (September 20, 1905 – March 28, 2007) was a Polish professional wrestler, promoter and referee, known by the ring names Abe Coleman, Hebrew Hercules, and Jewish Tarzan.[2] At the time of his death, Coleman was believed to be the oldest professional wrestler in the world, and the only known wrestler to live past the age of 100 years.
| Abe Coleman | |
|---|---|
 Abe Coleman at his 100th birthday party on September 18, 2005 | |
| Birth name | Abe Kelmer |
| Born | September 20, 1905 Żychlin, Congress Poland, Russian Empire (now Poland) |
| Died | March 28, 2007 (aged 101)[1] Queens, New York, U.S. |
| Spouse(s) |
June Miller
(m. 1939; died 1987) |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Abe Coleman[2] Hebrew Hercules[2] Jewish Tarzan[2] Little Hercules[3] |
| Billed height | 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m)[3] |
| Billed weight | 220 lb (100 kg)[2] |
| Billed from | Los Angeles, California |
| Debut | 1927 |
| Retired | 1961 |
Early life
editKelmer was born to a Jewish family in Żychlin, Congress Poland in 1905.[3] His father was a coal-seller.[2] Kelmer had 15 older brothers and sisters, some of whom were murdered in the Holocaust.[2] In 1923, he emigrated to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and later moved to New York City in the United States.[2][3]
Professional wrestling career
editAccording to the Canadian Online Explorer's Greg Oliver, there is debate regarding Kelmer's debut in professional wrestling. In 1929, local promoter Rudy Miller offered Coleman $25 (equivalent to $440 in 2023) to wrestle after seeing him work out in a Brooklyn gym.[3] Despite this, an "Abe Coleman" wrestled to a draw with George Deslonchamps on March 19, 1928, at Madison Square Garden, but it is unknown if it was Kelmer or another wrestler with the same ring name.[3]
Credited for inventing the dropkick, Coleman claims his inspiration to create the move came from kangaroos he observed while on a tour of Australia in 1930.[2][3]
Coleman was never a champion but regarded as a solid mid-card standby.[3] In the 1930s, Coleman defeated Jim Londos in a match in a Mexico City bullring in front of 60,000 spectators.[3] During a 1936 match against Man Mountain Dean in front of 36,000 people, Coleman slammed Dean to the ground, breaking the ring mat and dropping the pair down to the arena floor.[2][3]
Following his retirement from active in-ring competition, Coleman became a professional wrestling referee.[2] He also promoted several wrestling shows with Bill Johnston.[3]
After wrestling
editFollowing his retirement from wrestling, Kelmer inspected license plates for the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles.[2]
Personal life
editKelmer met June Miller in 1936, stating he met her in Madison Square Garden when he landed in her lap after being thrown from the ring.[2] They married three years later in 1939.[2] The couple had no children and Miller died in 1987.[2] Kelmer lived in Forest Hills, New York.[3] It was in Forest Hills that Kelmer subdued two attempted muggers when he was in his 80s.[2][3]
Outside of wrestling, Kelmer's interests included poker and horse racing.[2]
In his final years, Kelmer, primarily using a wheelchair, lived at the Meadow Park Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Flushing, New York.[3] Kelmer died on March 28, 2007, in a nursing home in Queens, New York, of kidney failure.[3][4]
Championships and accomplishments
edit- Cauliflower Alley Club
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
- Class of 2012 (Pioneer category)[5]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Abe Coleman, 102, Wrestler Known as Hebrew Hercules". Classic Wrestling Articles. 9 September 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Martin, Douglas (April 2, 2007). "Abe Coleman, 101, Wrestler Known as Hebrew Hercules". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2012-09-16. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Oliver, Greg (March 28, 2011). "Depression era grappler Abe Coleman, 101, dies". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on March 10, 2016. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
- ^ "Oldest pro wrestler passes away today". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. 2007-03-28. Retrieved 2007-12-10.
- ^ Oliver, Greg (December 3, 2011). "Superfly, JYD, Samoans, Cornette among 2012 PWHF inductees". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved December 26, 2011.
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