Marcus Griffin’s Fall Guys (1937) was the best book available on the history of professional …
Ninety-eight percent of those who pay their money to witness these gymnastic dramas and comedies believe it's on the level.
— Fall Guys: The Barnums of Bounce by Marcus Griffin (Page 15)
In a book full of great stories, insights, behind the scenes journalism and folksy tales, this line stood out to me as the sum of what was early 20th century professional wrestling. Eighty-nine years later it is hard to wrap my head around a Madison Square Garden of 19,000 fans had less than 40 of them who understood the matches were predetermined. Clearly it had to be that way at some point if they didn't come out and say it until my lifetime, but "everyone" knew it way before then.
In a book full of great stories, insights, behind the scenes journalism and folksy tales, this line stood out to me as the sum of what was early 20th century professional wrestling. Eighty-nine years later it is hard to wrap my head around a Madison Square Garden of 19,000 fans had less than 40 of them who understood the matches were predetermined. Clearly it had to be that way at some point if they didn't come out and say it until my lifetime, but "everyone" knew it way before then.
