[Wrestling TV show]: Mighty Atlas & Bob Orton vs Bill Melby & Billy Darnell
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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. The Tag Team championship holders Bill Melby from Salt Lake City and Billy Darnell from Camden NJ wrestle the heavies Bob Orton (aka “Cowboy” Bob Orton) from Kansas City, and Might Atlas from Hollywood. Melby and Darnell win when Atlas is disqualified in the third fall.
Credits
Imperial World Films (production company); Sylvia Davis (producer); Russell Davis (director); Morris "Mighty Atlas" Shapiro (performer); Bob Orton (performer); Bill Melby (performer); Billy Darnell (performer); Tony Hacheck (participant); Russell Davis (commentator)
Complete catalog record
Date: circa 1957
Cfa collection: Russ and Sylvia Davis Collection
Subjects: Wrestling; Wrestling matches
Places: North America > United States > Illinois > Chicago
Language: English
Shot log: 00:04 MS Ring announcer introducing wresters, crowd boos at Atlas and Orton, 01:14 Davis begins speaking, LS all wrestler meeting before match, 03:24 wrestling begins with Melby dropkick on Atlas, two grapple and exchange holds; 04:56 Arm hold extended Melby on Atlas, Atlas and Orton switch out, Orton throws Melby around ring, Melby & Darnell switch out, MS Darnell step over toehold on Orton, Davis: “a little more of this and Orton’s leg will be as useless as a blowtorch in a powder factory”, Darnell & Melby switch out, Orton body slam Melby, Orton wins first fall at 09:13,; 10:07-10:15 leader (for ad); 10:16 LS resting between falls; 11:40 match resumes Atlas and Darnell grapple, Atlas pins Darnell, Atlas and Orton switch, Orton headlocks and punches Darnell out of ring, Darnell drops kicks Orton, pins Orton, second fall to Darnell at 14:51,; Resting between falls, Davis talks about men on side of ring with white shirts with “Kohler” who are there for crowd control; 16:52 match resumes with Atlas and Darnell, Darnell headlock on Atlas, full nelson on Atlas, Atlas breaks hold, Darnell dropkicks Atlas, Atlas & Orton switch out, Orton double reverse armbar on Darnell,; 20:00 Darnell tries to break hold but can’t, Darnell reverses hold but from out of ring Atlas pulls on Darnell’s trunks, MS Darnell punching Atlas, LS Darnell & Melby switch, Melby pins Orton in step over toehold, Orton pummels Melby, Orton & Atlas switch, MS Atlas knocks down Melby, LS Orton and Atlas punching Melby, Orton comes in ring full nelson on Melby; 25:00 Atlas back in ring, full nelson on Melby with Melby other side of ring, Ref disqualifies Atlas at 25:26, MS ring announcer calling match, out 26:25
Cfa elements: Print, 950 feet
Cfa records: https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/Detail/objects/4132
Cfa collection: Russ and Sylvia Davis Collection
Subjects: Wrestling; Wrestling matches
Places: North America > United States > Illinois > Chicago
Language: English
Shot log: 00:04 MS Ring announcer introducing wresters, crowd boos at Atlas and Orton, 01:14 Davis begins speaking, LS all wrestler meeting before match, 03:24 wrestling begins with Melby dropkick on Atlas, two grapple and exchange holds; 04:56 Arm hold extended Melby on Atlas, Atlas and Orton switch out, Orton throws Melby around ring, Melby & Darnell switch out, MS Darnell step over toehold on Orton, Davis: “a little more of this and Orton’s leg will be as useless as a blowtorch in a powder factory”, Darnell & Melby switch out, Orton body slam Melby, Orton wins first fall at 09:13,; 10:07-10:15 leader (for ad); 10:16 LS resting between falls; 11:40 match resumes Atlas and Darnell grapple, Atlas pins Darnell, Atlas and Orton switch, Orton headlocks and punches Darnell out of ring, Darnell drops kicks Orton, pins Orton, second fall to Darnell at 14:51,; Resting between falls, Davis talks about men on side of ring with white shirts with “Kohler” who are there for crowd control; 16:52 match resumes with Atlas and Darnell, Darnell headlock on Atlas, full nelson on Atlas, Atlas breaks hold, Darnell dropkicks Atlas, Atlas & Orton switch out, Orton double reverse armbar on Darnell,; 20:00 Darnell tries to break hold but can’t, Darnell reverses hold but from out of ring Atlas pulls on Darnell’s trunks, MS Darnell punching Atlas, LS Darnell & Melby switch, Melby pins Orton in step over toehold, Orton pummels Melby, Orton & Atlas switch, MS Atlas knocks down Melby, LS Orton and Atlas punching Melby, Orton comes in ring full nelson on Melby; 25:00 Atlas back in ring, full nelson on Melby with Melby other side of ring, Ref disqualifies Atlas at 25:26, MS ring announcer calling match, out 26:25
Cfa elements: Print, 950 feet
Cfa records: https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/Detail/objects/4132
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