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.
Dick Axman | |
|---|---|
| Born | Richard Theodore Axman February 28, 1891 |
| Died | December 8, 1969 (aged 78) |
| Occupation(s) | Promoter, editor |
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- ^ 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
- ^ 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
- ^ 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