Charting The Territories artwork

Charting The Territories

40 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 months ago - ★★★★★ - 18 ratings

A monthly look at wrestling's territorial era with a unique statistical bent, hosted by Al Getz and Jon Boucher

Wrestling Sports
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Episodes

Feb '24: The Ladies' Pet and Men's Regret, plus A Real-Life Vet

February 08, 2024 19:21 - 1 hour - 88.3 MB

This month's episode looks at Sam Muchnick's wrestling promotion in St. Louis in 1971. Is it or isn't it a territory? What's a territory? Al and Jon run down the roster, shining the spotlight on Dr. Big Bill Miller and Sweet Daddy Siki. Plus Jon Plays Gordon Solie's Championship Wrestling Trivia against a new challenger. All this and lots more!

Jan '24: Take Me to My City By the Bay

January 11, 2024 15:54 - 1 hour - 90.4 MB

This month's episode starts with some late-breaking news regarding the Tragos/Thesz Hall of Fame. From there, Al and Jon talk about Roy Shire's Big Time Wrestling promotion in 1971. Pat Patterson and Ray Stevens are heavily featured, plus they run down the rest of the roster, which also included Pampero Firpo and Roger Kirby. From there, Jon is challenged to a round of Gordon Solie's Championship Wrestling Trivia by Kris Zellner. All this and lots more!

Dec '23: Herc, Bock, and a new book

December 14, 2023 15:00 - 1 hour - 80.5 MB

This month, Al Getz & Jon Boucher look at the AWA in 1971. Among the topics are a look into the life and tragic death of Hercules Cortez and the slow rise up the cards of Nick Bockwinkel. Plus all the regular features and a new challenger for Jon Plays Gordon Solie's Championship Wrestling Trivia!

Nov '23: Take Off to the Great White North

November 09, 2023 15:00 - 1 hour - 81.7 MB

This month, Al Getz & Jon Boucher look at wrestling in Vancouver in 1971. Running down the full roster and discussing questions regarding Steven Little Bear's real name. It's also the debut of the version of Jon Plays Gordon Solie's Championship Wrestling Trivia, where Jon competes against a different challenger every month!

Oct '23: They Were All in Love with Rasslin', They Were Doing It in Texas

October 12, 2023 14:00 - 1 hour - 98.5 MB

This month, Al Getz & Jon Boucher look at wrestling in East Texas in 1971. They look at the differences in how Fritz, Blanchard, & Boesch ran their towns using the same crew of wrestlers. They also look at all the wrestlers who appeared in the area and take a closer look at Pepper Gomez. Plus a SHOCKING TWIST at the end of this month's trivia segment.

Sep '23: Cowboys, Kings, and Hippies

September 14, 2023 14:00 - 1 hour - 97.1 MB

This month, Al Getz & Jon Boucher look at Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling in 1971. They talk about Bobby Shane's big (but brief) run there, the first time he worked as a heel. And they dig into the life of "Hippie" Mike Boyette, one of the more colorful characters in a line of work filled with colorful characters.

Charting the Territories Aug '23: Powder Blue Tux

August 10, 2023 13:57 - 2 hours - 115 MB

This month, Al Getz & Jon Boucher look at Mike LeBell's Southern California wrestling territory in 1971. They look at the reported attendance/gate figures for the August 27th Blassie-Tolos card at the Coliseum as well as two other large L.A. crowds over the years, using multiple sources to verify and/or debunk them.

Charting the Territories Jul '23: The Freight Train and the Furious

July 13, 2023 14:56 - 1 hour - 79.7 MB

This month, Al Getz & Jon Boucher look at Heart of America (aka Central States) in 1971. They discuss various sources of attendance figures for the territory and how best to make sense of info that comes from various sources and doesn't always match up. Plus Al compares Rufus R. Jones to Vin Diesel!

Charting the Territories Jun '23: A Royal Cowboy in the Mid-Atlantic

June 08, 2023 15:00 - 1 hour - 75.6 MB

This month Al Getz & Jon Boucher look at Jim Crockett Promotions in 1971. Looking at the top stars, top teams, and top feuds, plus Nelson Royal, the unheralded team of Bill Bowman & Joe Turner, and tons more!

Charting the Territories May '23: "I Punched His Head Out of Shape"

May 11, 2023 14:00 - 1 hour - 85.2 MB

This month Al Getz & Jon Boucher look at Joe Dusek's wrestling territory in 1971. No one can stop the Claw, the untimely death of Alberto Torres, an unwrapped Mummy, a dressing room fight involving Dusek and a wrestler, and tons more!

Charting the Territories Apr '23: The Cyclone that Tore the Roof off the Sucker

April 13, 2023 14:00 - 1 hour - 78.9 MB

This month Al Getz & Jon Boucher look at the Amarillo territory in 1971. Ciclon Negro debuts and kicks off a feud with the Funk family that goes on for several years. Plus a discussion of the local promoters in the territory including "The Lawman" Don Slatton.

Charting the Territories Mar '23: So let me introduce to you ... the "scuzzier Bobby Shane"

March 16, 2023 16:16 - 1 hour - 96.8 MB

This month Al Getz & Jon Boucher discuss Georgia Championship Wrestling in 1971. Includes discussions on Fred Ward and the roles of local promoters in some territories, plus the wrestler Jon refers to as a "scuzzier Bobby Shane".

Charting the Territories Feb '23: We're a-headin' for the Calgary Stampede

February 16, 2023 15:00 - 1 hour - 95.9 MB

This month Al Getz & Jon Boucher discuss Stampede Wrestling in 1971. They also go deep on the careers and lives of Kurt Von Hess and Gil Hayes, plus talk about Les Thornton, Abdullah the Butcher, Tiger Joe Tomasso, and other top Calgary stars.

Charting the Territories Jan '23: New Year, New Site, New Stats

January 19, 2023 15:00 - 1 hour - 84.7 MB

This month Al Getz & Jon Boucher discuss the newly redesigned Charting the Territories site and look at LeRoy McGuirk's territory in 1971. They discuss Waldo Von Erich, Chris Markoff, and more, plus ... someone is Hall of Fame bound!

Charting the Territories Dec '22: No Candy on Christmas Day

December 22, 2022 15:00 - 1 hour - 97.9 MB

This month Al Getz & Jon Boucher look at the 4th quarter of 1978 in the McGuirk wrestling territory. The feud between Ray Candy and Ernie Ladd comes to a rather anti-climactic conclusion on Christmas Day at the Superdome. Plus, why Ron Slinker was nicknamed "High Heels" when he was a Tampa police officer and tons more!

Charting the Territories Nov '22: Sgt. Slaughter sings, Tom Jones wrestles, and Al & Jon vote

November 24, 2022 15:00 - 1 hour - 63.4 MB

This month Al Getz & Jon Boucher discuss the fourth quarter of 1974 in the McGuirk wrestling territory. We talk about Tom Jones and his role in breaking racial barriers in the deep south. Plus, we listen to a few cuts from Sgt. Slaughter's album (!) and we reveal our Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame ballots!

Charting the Territories Oct '22: Everything Zen(da) and a Boobie Hi Ball

October 27, 2022 14:00 - 1 hour - 60.6 MB

This month Al Getz and Jon Boucher cover the 4th quarter of 1966 in LeRoy McGuirk's wrestling territory. They discuss one wrestler who tried to launch a career in country music, and another who had a prolific post-wrestling career in the hot rod industry and was also killed (onscreen) by Michael Myers.

Charting the Territories Sep '22: Cooking Up Some Action in 1978

September 22, 2022 14:00 - 1 hour - 66.9 MB

This month Al Getz and Jon Boucher look at the 3rd quarter of 1978 in LeRoy McGuirk's OK/LA territory. Ernie Ladd and Ray Candy main event the Superdome, but how many people saw it? They also look at Eric the Red and Jerry Stubbs, plus Jon sent Al a rather unique cookbook!

Charting the Territories Aug '22: A Jailed Hot Dog and an Accidental Car Thief

August 25, 2022 14:00 - 1 hour - 64.3 MB

This month Al Getz and Jon Boucher look at the 3rd quarter of 1974 in LeRoy McGuirk's OK/LA wrestling territory. They discuss the big feud between Ken Mantell and Buck Robley, run down the rest of the roster, dive into the early lives of Robley and Stan Hansen, and tons more!

Charting the Territories Jul '22: Save a Horse (Indict a Cowboy)

July 26, 2022 23:00 - 1 hour - 62.6 MB

This month Al Getz and Jon Boucher look at the 3rd quarter of 1966 in the McGuirk OK/LA territory. We cover the little-known story of Cowboy Bob Ellis' involvement in a horse-racing scandal that led to a federal indictment, including new info never before shared. Plus we learned more about Battleship Johnson from a former martial arts student of his. We also discuss Don Kent, Hodge vs Brisco and tons more!

Charting the Territories Jun '22: The Texas Three

June 23, 2022 22:44 - 1 hour - 55.5 MB

Al Getz and Jon Boucher look at the 2nd quarter of 1978 in LeRoy McGuirk's Oklahoma/Louisiana territory. The top wrestlers, the big feuds, plus a look at three newcomers all of whom had strong ties to Texas wrestling. They also look at Bobby Shane's Gulf Coast run in '71. Plus tons more!

Charting the Territories May '22: Young Frank and Get The "L" Out

May 26, 2022 14:00 - 1 hour - 73.4 MB

Al Getz and Jon Boucher look at the 2nd quarter of 1974 in Leroy McGuirk's wrestling territory. They discuss the early life of Frank Goodish (Bruiser Brody) and reveal some information about the life of Bulldog Drummer (aka Count Drummer) that has never been part of wrestling's "historical record" until now. Plus tons more!

Charting the Territories Apr '22: How Do You Solve A Problem Like Battleship Johnson?

April 28, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 69.4 MB

Al Getz and Jon Boucher look at the 2nd quarter of 1966 in the Oklahoma/Louisiana wrestling territory. Danny Hodge, the Assassins, plus newcomers including Krusher Kowalski, Tor Kamata, and a man for whom little is known about, Battleship Johnson. Plus, Al quizzes Jon with questions from Gordon Solie's Championship Wrestling Trivia!

Stats 101: The SPOTted Amarillo

April 14, 2022 13:00 - 18 minutes - 13.5 MB

The latest episode of Stats 101 features Al Getz looks at the Amarillo territory in the first half of the 1970s and discusses a new application of the SPOT Rating, the statistic which measures a wrestlers' average position on house show lineups.

Stats 101: The Spotted Amarillo

April 14, 2022 13:00 - 18 minutes - 13.5 MB

The latest episode of Stats 101 features Al Getz looks at the Amarillo territory in the first half of the 1970s and discussing a new application of the SPOT Rating, the statistic which measures a wrestlers' average position on house show lineups.

Charting the Territories Mar '22: Brute and Ernie

March 24, 2022 14:00 - 2 hours - 76.4 MB

Al Getz and Jon Boucher look at the 1st quarter of 1978 in the Oklahoma/Louisiana wrestling territory. They discuss Ernie Ladd, Reggie Parks, and Skip Young among others. Along the way they take some interesting detours such as the scent of Kevin Nash and the Norwegian glam rock scene. As a special bonus, Al interviews the Brute (Buggsy McGraw)!

Wrestling History Mysteries: Mister Montez

March 10, 2022 15:00 - 18 minutes - 13.2 MB

Rogue wrestling historian Al Getz attempts to use research and logic to clear up a slightly confusing situation involving a wrestler (or is it wrestlers?) in Florida in the fall of 1972. It's another example of the challenges wrestling historians face when trying to verify 50-year old info.

Charting the Territories Feb '22: Shoot(ing)s and Ladders

February 24, 2022 18:00 - 1 hour - 63.3 MB

Al Getz and Jon Boucher look at the 1st quarter of 1974 in the Oklahoma/Louisiana wrestling territory. They discuss the inventor of the ladder match and the first such matches held in the U.S. From there, it's a look at a wrestler who once claimed the Olympic Auditorium discriminated against Black wrestlers. Plus Homer O'Dell liked guns. Like, a lot.

Stats 101: Will you be Johnny's Valentine?

February 10, 2022 15:00 - 22 minutes - 16.9 MB

The latest episode of Stats 101 features Al Getz taking a look at the three biggest feuds of Johnny Valentine's Mid-Atlantic run in the mid-1970s using the new FLW (Feud Length in Weeks) stat

Charting the Territories Jan '22: Irish pizza, an Alaskan cowboy, and peaceful vigilantes

January 27, 2022 15:00 - 1 hour - 73.4 MB

Al Getz and Jon Boucher look at the 1st quarter of 1966 in the McGuirk wrestling territory, looking at how a real-life car accident may have impacted the NWA World Junior Heavyweight title history and how another car accident unwittingly unmasked the Assassins. From there, they go walking in Memphis and look at 11 straight weeks of Jerry Lawler vs Bill Dundee.

Stats 101: The new FLW (Feud Length in Weeks) stat

January 13, 2022 15:00 - 36 minutes - 26.6 MB

Wrestling historian Al Getz discusses a new stat he created to measure feuds in pro wrestling in the territorial era. Along with explaining the development of the stat, he gives numerous examples of it in action, spanning multiple territories and decades.

Charting the Territories Dec '21: Moondog eats glass, the family Bass, Ty Cobb kicks a fan's ass

December 23, 2021 15:00 - 1 hour - 75.1 MB

Al Getz and Jon Boucher look at the 4th quarters of 1973 and 1965 in Leroy McGuirk's territory, discussing the Bass family, Bob Backlund, and Lorenzo Parente among others. They then head west, but not before they open their Christmas presents for one another "live". Plus Al has an intern!

Wrestling History Mysteries presents The Curious Case of Mr Szabo (Part IV)

December 09, 2021 15:00 - 37 minutes - 26.2 MB

Rogue wrestling historian Al Getz embarks on what he thought would be a simple experiment to see if he could figure out the identity of a masked wrestler from 1963. In the conclusion of this 4-part mystery, we hear from the only two wrestlers still alive who worked with Mr. Szabo and we reveal his true identity for the first time in professional wrestling history.

Charting the Territories Nov '21: Thankful for Wrestling

November 25, 2021 15:00 - 1 hour - 70.4 MB

Thunderbolt Patterson was thankful he got into pro wrestling ... Don Jardine was thankful that Gary Hart was a comic book fan ... Swede Hanson was thankful George Scott always kept him in mind ... and we are thankful for all of our listeners! Tune in as Al Getz and Jon Boucher talk turkey regarding pro wrestling in the territorial era.

Wrestling History Mysteries presents The Curious Case of Mr Szabo (Part III)

November 11, 2021 14:20 - 32 minutes - 23.3 MB

Rogue wrestling historian Al Getz embarks on what he thought would be a simple experiment to see if he could figure out the identity of a masked wrestler from 1963. In part 3 of this multi-part mystery, two respected historians offer up their beliefs on who "Mr. Szabo" was, and a skeptical Al sets about to eliminate them both as possibilities.

Charting The Territories #25: Wrestling History Mysteries presents The Curious Case of Mr Szabo (Part III)

November 11, 2021 14:20 - 32 minutes - 23.3 MB

Rogue wrestling historian Al Getz embarks on what he thought would be a simple experiment to see if he could figure out the identity of a masked wrestler from 1963. In part 3 of this multi-part mystery, two respected historians offer up their beliefs on who "Mr. Szabo" was, and a skeptical Al sets about to eliminate them both as possibilities.

Charting the Territories #24: Jack and Bobby

October 28, 2021 14:36 - 2 hours - 87.7 MB

Hosts Al Getz and Jon Boucher look at the 2nd quarter of 1965 in the McGuirk territory, the 4th quarter of 1981 in Mid-South, and the 3rd quarter of 1973 in Mid-Atlantic, plus Part 3 of Al's interview with Mississippi promoter Gil Culkin.

Charting the Territories Oct '21: Jack and Bobby

October 28, 2021 14:36 - 2 hours - 87.7 MB

Hosts Al Getz and Jon Boucher look at the 2nd quarter of 1965 in the McGuirk territory, the 4th quarter of 1981 in Mid-South, and the 3rd quarter of 1973 in Mid-Atlantic, plus Part 3 of Al's interview with Mississippi promoter Gil Culkin.

Wrestling History Mysteries presents The Curious Case of Mr Szabo (Part II)

October 17, 2021 03:57 - 23 minutes - 17 MB

Rogue wrestling historian Al Getz embarks on what he thought would be a simple experiment to see if he could figure out the identity of a masked wrestler from 1963. In part 2 of this multi-part mystery, Al identifies a prime suspect. And that’s when things take some unusual twists and turns.

Charting The Territories #23: Wrestling History Mysteries presents The Curious Case of Mr Szabo (Part II)

October 17, 2021 03:57 - 23 minutes - 17 MB

Rogue wrestling historian Al Getz embarks on what he thought would be a simple experiment to see if he could figure out the identity of a masked wrestler from 1963. In part 2 of this multi-part mystery, Al identifies a prime suspect. And that’s when things take some unusual twists and turns.