[Wrestling TV show]: Lou Thesz vs Hans Schmidt
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An episode of a syndicated wrestling show shot at Chicago’s International Amphitheatre. Shot live on film with three-camera coverage, it features a witty and entertaining narration from announcer Russ Davis. Davis appears particularly disinterested this match, even though it is a heavyweight title match with Thesz defending his belt. The match ends with confusion when Schmidt thinks that he has won, but the match is awarded to Thesz.
Credits
Imperial World Films (production company); Sylvia Davis (producer); Russell Davis (director); Lou Thesz (performer); Hans Schmidt (performer); Jack Dempsey (participant); Russell Davis (commentator); Ed Blake (announcer)
Complete catalog record
Date: circa 1958
Cfa collection: Russ and Sylvia Davis Collection
Subjects: Wrestling; Wrestling matches
Places: North America > United States > Illinois > Chicago
Language: English
Shot log: 00:01 CU Ring announcer, MSs of wrestlers and ref, 00:33 Davis begins talking 01:03 match begins, CU headlock on Thesz, Davis “not much use in me saying anything here, you know most of these holds I think”, MS and CU of Thesz attempting to break hold and Schmidt flipping him, MS ref breaks hold, Thesz angrily threatens to punch Schmidt, headlock on Thesz, Schmidt pulling Thesz’ hair, CU men in corner of ring,; 04:55 MS Schmidt pounding Thesz into corner of ring, Thesz fails to pin Schmidt who holds T. with a bodyscissors, CU men exchanging holds on mat, MS T. leglock on S., T. headscissor on S., men scrambling around mat; 09:50 Fullnelson on T., S. illegal choke hold on T. and kicks T. out of ring, T. responds with flying body press pinning S. to win first fall at 13:26; 14:40-14:45 yellow leader, 14:56 second round begins with S. avoiding T., hammerlock on T., CU hold on T., MS T. breaks out of hold with elbow to S.’s head, headlock on T. S. knee drop to T.’s stomach; 19:50 S. throwing T. into corners of ring, backbreaker on T., Schmidt wins second fall at 20:25; 22:00 third round starts with S. attacking T., crowd boos, S.pins T., ref gives a count of three even though T. got his shoulder off the mat, S. thinks he’s won and celebrates, they award match to T. and S. tries to pull mic out of ring announcer’s hand, out 23:44
Cfa elements: Print, 980 feet; Print, 860 feet; Print, 700 feet
Cfa records: https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/Detail/objects/4241; https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/Detail/objects/4243; https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/Detail/objects/4183
Cfa collection: Russ and Sylvia Davis Collection
Subjects: Wrestling; Wrestling matches
Places: North America > United States > Illinois > Chicago
Language: English
Shot log: 00:01 CU Ring announcer, MSs of wrestlers and ref, 00:33 Davis begins talking 01:03 match begins, CU headlock on Thesz, Davis “not much use in me saying anything here, you know most of these holds I think”, MS and CU of Thesz attempting to break hold and Schmidt flipping him, MS ref breaks hold, Thesz angrily threatens to punch Schmidt, headlock on Thesz, Schmidt pulling Thesz’ hair, CU men in corner of ring,; 04:55 MS Schmidt pounding Thesz into corner of ring, Thesz fails to pin Schmidt who holds T. with a bodyscissors, CU men exchanging holds on mat, MS T. leglock on S., T. headscissor on S., men scrambling around mat; 09:50 Fullnelson on T., S. illegal choke hold on T. and kicks T. out of ring, T. responds with flying body press pinning S. to win first fall at 13:26; 14:40-14:45 yellow leader, 14:56 second round begins with S. avoiding T., hammerlock on T., CU hold on T., MS T. breaks out of hold with elbow to S.’s head, headlock on T. S. knee drop to T.’s stomach; 19:50 S. throwing T. into corners of ring, backbreaker on T., Schmidt wins second fall at 20:25; 22:00 third round starts with S. attacking T., crowd boos, S.pins T., ref gives a count of three even though T. got his shoulder off the mat, S. thinks he’s won and celebrates, they award match to T. and S. tries to pull mic out of ring announcer’s hand, out 23:44
Cfa elements: Print, 980 feet; Print, 860 feet; Print, 700 feet
Cfa records: https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/Detail/objects/4241; https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/Detail/objects/4243; https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/Detail/objects/4183
Related films
Sources
- Chicago Film Archives · record ↗ — title, year, creator, length, format, color, sound, genre, description, credits, catalog record, video
Record added 2026-11-08 21:25:09