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This is from the Autumn 2007 issue of The Ear, the official newsletter of the Cauliflower Alley Club. The Gasparilla Spectacular - The Wrestlemania before Wrestlemania By Scott Teal During the late 18th and early 19th century, the legendary pirate, Jose Gaspar, known as the "last of the Buccaneers," terrorized the coastal waters of West Florida. As strange as it may seem, Tampa, Florida's social and civic leaders adopted the pirate as patron rogue in 1904 and planned a city-wide celebration. Secret meetings gave birth to the first "Ye Mistic Krewe of Gasparilla," whose 40 members planned to surprise the populace with a mock pirate attack on Tampa. Masked and fully-costumed, the first krewe arrived on horseback and "captured the city" during the Festival Parade. The first invasion was so successful and well-received by the people of Tampa that a city-wide demand was voiced to make the Mystic Krewe organization permanent and to replicate the carnival each year. On February 9, 1953, thirty-three years before the first Wrestlemania was held, Cowboy Luttrall promoted the first Gasparilla wrestling show in Tampa. 4,500 fans filled the Fort Homer Hesterly Armory during Gasparilla week to see Lou Thesz get an assist from special referee Jack Dempsey, former heavyweight boxing champion, to retain his NWA world heavyweight title against the challenge of the Great Togo. The semi-final saw Mars Bennett win the Florida womenn's title from Betty Hawkins, Art Nelson and Jack Wentworth beat George and Jack Curtis, and Doran O'Hara battled to a draw with Juan Humberto in the opener. The second annual show, held on February 8, 1954, saw Lou Thesz and Baron Leone split the first two falls before the one-hour time limit expired, and Thesz returned on February 4, 1955 to draw 5,000 fans to see him defeat challenger Antonino Rocca. For wrestling fans in Tampa, Florida, the Gasparilla Wrestling Spectacular was always the most anticipated event of the year, as promoter Luttrall would bring in top names from around the country, such as Don Eagle, Dick the Bruiser, Hans Schmidt, Buddy Rogers, Wild Red Berry, Wilbur Snyder, and Danny McShain. From the research I've been able to do so far, from 1963 until 1966, the February show wasn't as heavily pushed as a Gasparilla event and the cards featured the regular crew of wrestlers who were working in the territory at the time. Each year after 1965, however, the world champion was brought in to defend hit title against a challenger. On February 14, 1967, a record crowd of 7,219 screaming fans saw NWA kingpin Gene Kiniski defend his title against Lou Thesz. This show began a standard formula for future Gasparilla events, in which every champion in the territory would defend their title. On that night, the Infernos, Johnny Weaver and Jim (George?) Becker, Fabulous Moolah, and Les Welch all defended their titles, the world tag, southern tag, women's world, and Florida heayweight titles, respectively. Also, in a special attraction, Mario Galento defeated the hated J.C. Dykes in a Texas Death Match. One of the two matches on Gasparilla shows that is probably remembered the most, however, was when Dory Funk Jr. used the spinning toe hold on February 11, 1969 to force Gene Kiniski to concede the match and relinquish the NWA world heavyweight title. The other match took place on February 8, 1972, when Eddie Graham took the show on the road to the St. Petersburg Bayfront Center. The show wasn't promoted as a Gasparilla Spectacular, but it boasted a lineup of talent never seen before in any arena at one time - Bearcat Wright vs. Mike Paidousis, Hiro Matsuda and Giant Baba vs. Bobby Duncum and Ole Anderson, The Professional (Doug Gilbert) vs. Louie Tillet, Mr. Wrestling vs. The Sheik (Ed Farhat), Bobby Shane vs. Ron Fuller, Johnny Walker, Larry O'Day, Ron Miller, and Johnny King vs. The Infernos, J.C. Dykes, and Ronnie Garvin, and Johnny Valentine vs. Bob Roop. As if that wasn't enough, Dory Funk Jr. and Jack Brisco battled to a 60-minute stalemate in a Texas Death match with Funk's world heavyweight title at stake. The show drew a full house as more than 7,000 fans paid $42,800, a record gate that wasn't broken for many years. The Gasparilla Spectaculars were held for the next couple of years, but only the regular talent was used and the cards featured only two or three title matches. For more than 20 years, Gasparilla week was a time of magic and excitement for wrestling fans in the Tampa bay area. Gasparilla Spectacular Main Events 2/9/53 NWA World Title Match, special referee Jack Dempsey; Lou Thesz beat the Great Togo 2/8/54 NWA World Title Match, special referee Jack Dempsey; Lou Thesz drew with Baron Michele Leone 2/14/55 NWA World Title Match, Lou Thesz beat Argentina Rocca 2/6/56 special referee Jack Dempsey; Chief Don Eagle beat Mr. Moto 2/4/57 NWA World Title Match, Lou Thesz beat Buddy Rogers 2/10/58 Edouard Carpentier beat Dick the Bruiser 2/7/66 NWA World Title Match, Gene Kiniski beat The Missouri Mauler 2/14/67 NWA World Title Match, Gene Kiniski beat Lou Thesz 2/13/68 NWA World Title Match, Gene Kiniski beat Joe Scarpa 2/11/69 NWA World Title Match, Dory Funk Jr. beat Gene Kiniski for the title 2/10/70 NWA World Title Match, Dory Funk Jr. beat Bob Orton 2/9/71 NWA World Title Match, Dory Funk Jr. drew with Jack Brisco 2/8/72 NWA World Title Match, Texas Death Match rules; Dory Funk Jr. drew with Jack Brisco 2/13/73 NWA World Title Match, Dory Funk Jr. beat Jack Brisco 2/12/74 NWA World Title Match, Jack Brisco beat Dusty Rhodes