[Wrestling TV show]: Édouard Carpentier vs Lou Thesz (Reel 1/2)
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First half of 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. Lou Thesz from St Louis is trying to win his belt back from National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight champion Carpentier. Guest referee is boxing great Jack Dempsey. This first reel of two end with Carpentier pinning Thesz for the first fall with a Boston Crab hold. [Reel 2/2: F.2008-04-0091, Additional Copy: F.2008-04-0283 is a combination of Roll’s 1 & 2 of this Bout]
Credits
Imperial World Films (production company); Sylvia Davis (producer); Russell Davis (director); Lou Thesz (performer); Édouard Carpentier (performer); Jack Dempsey (participant); Russell Davis (commentator); Leonard Sterling (announcer)
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: 00:02 MS Wrestlers in corner between rounds, LS match restarts at 01:39 with men circling each other in ring, Thesz headlock and punching Carpentier, CU Thesz slamming C. into corner of ring, LS wrestlers trying to get hold on each other,; 04:56 scissorslock on C.’s arm, CU C. trying to break hold, LS Lou tightens hold, Davis apologizes for coughing but blames it on dust that comes off of mat,”Like sticking your head into the exhaust of a cotton gin”, LS Thesz headlock on C. into ropes, CU C. punching Thesz on the ropes, MS C. with headlock on Thesz, CU headlock on Thesz, LS hold on Thesz, Davis complaining about Dempsey walking in front of camera; 10:00 still with headlock on Thesz C. shakes Thesz violently, MS Thesz trying to break hold, LS, MS, still the ugly headlock on Thesz until Thesz flips over C. to win the second fall at 13:34, LS recuperating between rounds, 14:25-14:26 leader for ad,; 14:45 third round begins, men circling each other, exchanging holds, Thesz slapping C. infuriating C., flying mare on Thesz, men exchanging holds on mat, CU C. holding Thesz by ears on mat, Dempsey breaks hold,; 19:55 MS headlock on C., bodyslam on Thesz, LS men exchanging holds, C. jumps over Thesz shoulder and pins him, Thesz headscissors on C., C. knocks Thesz to mat. C. does backflip off of ropes but misses Thesz, flying mare on C., the bell rings and no decision, out 24:39
Cfa elements: Print, 1,080 feet, 1/2
Cfa records: https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/Detail/objects/4141
Cfa collection: Russ and Sylvia Davis Collection
Subjects: Wrestling; Wrestling matches
Places: North America > United States > Illinois > Chicago
Language: English
Shot log: 00:02 MS Wrestlers in corner between rounds, LS match restarts at 01:39 with men circling each other in ring, Thesz headlock and punching Carpentier, CU Thesz slamming C. into corner of ring, LS wrestlers trying to get hold on each other,; 04:56 scissorslock on C.’s arm, CU C. trying to break hold, LS Lou tightens hold, Davis apologizes for coughing but blames it on dust that comes off of mat,”Like sticking your head into the exhaust of a cotton gin”, LS Thesz headlock on C. into ropes, CU C. punching Thesz on the ropes, MS C. with headlock on Thesz, CU headlock on Thesz, LS hold on Thesz, Davis complaining about Dempsey walking in front of camera; 10:00 still with headlock on Thesz C. shakes Thesz violently, MS Thesz trying to break hold, LS, MS, still the ugly headlock on Thesz until Thesz flips over C. to win the second fall at 13:34, LS recuperating between rounds, 14:25-14:26 leader for ad,; 14:45 third round begins, men circling each other, exchanging holds, Thesz slapping C. infuriating C., flying mare on Thesz, men exchanging holds on mat, CU C. holding Thesz by ears on mat, Dempsey breaks hold,; 19:55 MS headlock on C., bodyslam on Thesz, LS men exchanging holds, C. jumps over Thesz shoulder and pins him, Thesz headscissors on C., C. knocks Thesz to mat. C. does backflip off of ropes but misses Thesz, flying mare on C., the bell rings and no decision, out 24:39
Cfa elements: Print, 1,080 feet, 1/2
Cfa records: https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/Detail/objects/4141
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