“I Ain’t No Pig Farmer!”
by Dean Silverstone with Scott Teal
"I suddenly felt the earth tremble, as if we had been hit by an earthquake. I began to wonder if a natural disaster would be my savior and help me escape what I thought would be my Waterloo. But, no. It wasn’t an earthquake. It was the wild-eyed, out-ofcontrol human beings breaking the ring apart from the outside. The wrestling ring, which weighed close to 1,800 pounds, was being shaken back and forth and side to side by the angry mob. "
In an era when few people were allowed into professional wrestling’s inner circle, Dean Silverstone pitched the idea of publishing an arena program to Harry Elliott, the wrestling promoter in Seattle, Washington. Harry gave him permission and Dean’s career as a wrestling publicist began … when he was only 14 years old.
An entrepreneur in every sense of the word, Dean wrote, created, printed, and sold the programs at Seattle’s Senator Auditorium and Masonic Temple for the next 11 years. During that time, he also would promote spot shows, referee, write and handle publicity for Elliott’s promotion, act as box-office manager, and run a few towns of his own.
Dean never wanted to be in the spotlight. He simply wanted to write about, referee, and promote the superstars of wrestling. When Elliott closed shop, Dean went into business for himself and formed Super Star Championship Wrestling.
Dean tells about putting together a roster of talent and struggling to build his company, despite opposition from other promoters, who considered him to be an outlaw In the process, he faced anti-Semitism, unpredictable actions from his talent, crowd riots, warnings from the Hell’s Angels, collapsing rings, the tragic death of one of his top wrestlers, and even a Molotov cocktail. Through it all, he developed a rapport and trust between himself and the wrestlers he employed.
His story includes opening Golden Oldies Records — a retail business venture which would eventually grow to eleven stores in all parts of Washington state — hosting an annual reunion for veteran and retired wrestlers, and working on the board of directors for the Cauliflower Alley Club.
Finally, the story of Chris Colt's time in Washington is told here for the very first time. The story fills an entire chapter and contains many of the sordid details of one of wrestling's most eccentric characters
This is the story of a self-made man, who, in his own words, was "born at just the right time in history."
BONUS! For a limited time, we will include a FREE CD featuring classic interviews and match commentary with every book ordered when you mention CAC. The CD contains a full 57 minutes of the following:
Voices of CBS TV commentators Ron Forsell and Pat Hayes with Harry Elliott — April 25, 1961
Voices of Harry Elliott and Ron Forsell — March 8, 1966 • Pampero Firpo interview by Harry Elliott — April 21, 1964
Tony Borne interview by Harry Elliott — May 19, 1964
Voices of Ron Forsell and Pat Hayes calling play -by-play account of the first match between Shag Thomas versus Tony Borne
— (exact date unknown)
Voices of Seymour Koenig, Ivan Kameroff, Rocky Colombo and Kurt von Poppenheim announcing their tag team partners for a tournament — November 7, 1961
Yakima radio station KUTI interview with Dean Silverstone and Lumberjack Luke — April 1974 (The interview ends abruptly when a listener tosses a Molotov cocktail through the window of the radio station.)
Order your copy of "I Ain't No Pig Farmer!" now! Supplies of the free CD are limited and they will go quickly!
Now available from Crowbar Press!
Cauliflower Alley Club
201 NE 45th Street Seattle, WA 98105
(206) 547-2704
www.caulifloweralle yclub.org
Executive Board
Brian Blair, President / CEO
Morgan Dollar, Executive VP
Tom Drake, VP/Legal Counsel
Dean Silverstone, Secretary/Treasurer
Bob Leonard, Canadian Rep.
David Buck ler, Webmaster
Howard Brody
Board of Directors
Jason Deadrich, Board Chai rman
Royal Duncan, Benevolent Cm te.
Eric Chm iel, Newsletter Editor
Gloria Lovell, Reception Coordinato r
Dick Beyer, Scholarship Fund Chairm an
Scott Hosey, Nostalgia Licensin g
Charlie Sm ith, Merchandising
Rico Mann
Matt Riviera
Immediate Past President
Nick Bock winkel
* As with any project this size, photos are provided with no copyright or unknown photographer. We apprec iate and thank the photographers that has taking these photos
The President’s Prospectiv e
Welcome to Las Vegas and our 50th Reunion of the Caulif lower Alley Club (CAC)!
I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for supporting the CAC... and thank you for making this event, the Largest and Fastest sell out ever!
Our mission of helping those who have made their living in the Wrestling Industry one way or another... whom have fallen on difficult times has been rewarding; so many stories just this year of sad and tough times, turned into smiles and gratitude... this is why we are all here
Without your support as we ll as the wonderful people who give so much of their time and talent on our Boards, we could have never made it this far and assisted so many... we love and thank our Honorees both past, present and future, as well as the many wrestling stars that continue to support the greatest Fraternity on Earth... each and everyone of you that have contributed to the wrestling Industry including our great fans are to be commended
Our Board members work diligently with zero compensation other than the joy it brings to us all, in helping our Brethren We are one of the few 501c3 non-profit corporation’s that donate 100% of the money (minus hard costs) we bring in to help our cause and mission... for this I say thank you all so very much!
Program Publishing by:
7620 N. Hark er Drive Peoria, IL 61615 www.royalpublishing.com
Program Design/ Layout
Morgan Dollar
With my deepest sincerity, "B" Brian
Brian Blair President/CEO
Cauliflower Alley Club
“We Made ‘Em Look Good!” By Art Crews with Judy Burleigh-Crews
*Complimentary personally autographed 8 x 10 photograph of Art with purchase of hardback copy by direct purchase from Author only!
Thank you so much for your order and support! Order Your Copy Now!
Order from: Art Crews
P.O. Box 103
Port Barre, LA 7057 7
*Hardback Copy
$29.99
*Paperback Copy
$19.99
*Plus $6.00 S/H
*LA. Residents add 9.75% sales tax.
(Cash, Checks or Money Orders only, please.)
Larry “THE AXE” Hennig
Gerry Brisco
Diamond Dallas Page
HAPPY 50th CAC!
Sorr y I can not attend this year. Cong ratulations to all the Honorees! I’ ll see you at the matches!
Bill Apter
BRUISER BRODY
Ever yone at IHWE would like to congratulate the family of Bruiser Brody on this honor.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CAULIFLOWER ALLEY CLUB’S
50th ANNIVERSARY
TOM BURKE
CAC HISTORIAN HONOREE 2011 CAC MEMBER SINCE 1980
KAYFABIAN EBAY AUCTION FOR THE BEST IN WRESTLING NOSTALGIA
FACEBOOK - TOM BURKE -
SEMI NAR PRESENTER S
DR. KEN RAMEY BOWLING TOURNAMENT COORDINATOR
JOE MAURIELLO
Reel
Terry Funk
“THANK
YOU!” TO OUR KINGS OF THE BELTS
Reggie Parks, Dave Millican, 2014 belt winner Ashvin Prasad, and Rico Mann
The suspense is building, and it’s only a couple of hours now until one lucky individual steps onto the reunion stage to receive this year’s stunning 50 anniversary CAC championship be lt. th
Presenting this wonderful remembrance of our golden anniversary will be CAC’s “Kings of the Belts”, Rico Mann, Dave Millican and Reggie Parks. For the past decade, the trio has designed and created this one-of-a-kind belt to mark each reunion. Their generosity doesn’t end there, though. Rico, Dave and Reggie donate the belt to us to support the CAC Benevolent Fund.
Thus, the belt raff le accomplishes a double aim. It of course provides one of our members with a wonderful souvenir of the reunion. But more importantly, 100% of the proceeds of the raf fle go directly to our Benevolent Fund. The fund was established some years back to assist our wrestling family in time of dire financial need due to medical situations or other life challenges
Reggie Parks, the originator of the modern symbols of champions, has been designing and creating title belts for nearly a half-century. He joined up with Dave Millican some 20 years ago, and a little later with Rico Mann, to become the go-to supplier of title belts in the world. Nort h American promotions from WW E on down the list, all the major Japanese and mixed martial arts organizations, other sports promotion and show business entities are clients. Each belt is unique, and the specialized design and jewelry-like craf tsmanship shines through brightly.
Be sure to get your raf fle tickets right now, from one of our lovely lady wrestlers circulating throug h the banquet audience. Yours might be the lucky winner at the end of the night, and you’ll have the personal satisfaction of knowing that you’ve helped to assist members of the wrestling community in their time of need.
THANK YOU, RICO, DAVE AND REGGI E WE COULDN’T DO IT WITHOUT YOU!
Farewell to two special friends
CO WB OY BO B KE LLY
June 28, 1936 - Oc t obe r 12, 2014
Long- ti me me m ber and Di r ect or of CA C, Bob was re ve r ed by ev er y one he me t. He and his belov ed wi fe Ch ri s h ad a pl ace of h onor in ou r me mo r ab ilia r oom fo r m any year s, war ml y welcom i ng ev er y one and ma ki ng in st an t fr ie nds B ob’ s fi na l p ub lic appea r ance was at our 49 r eunion in Jun e 20 14. th
S HUH EI AOKI
1975 - June 23, 2014
No on e tr av ell ed fu rt her or mo re of t en to so m any over s eas r euni ons th an S huhe i, fr om hi s ho me in Japan. T he ul ti ma te sup er -f an, his r espect fu l m anner and fri endly dem eanou r m ade friends not onl y wi th wr es tli ng st ar s, bu t eve ryo ne he me t.
Anat a no y j , Sh hei , it adaki ar i gat goz ai m asu.
