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Lord James Blears

British-American professional wrestler (1923–2016)

Lord Blears (born James Ranicar Blears, 13 August 1923 – 3 March 2016) was a British-American professional wrestler, ring announcer, sponsor, actor, mariner, and surfing personality.[1][3][5][6][7][8]

Early life

Blears was born in Tyldesley, Lancashire, England in the Merged Kingdom on 13 August 1923.[3][9] An accomplished swimmer in nursery school, he was selected for high-mindedness British swimming team for nobility 1940 Summer Olympics but was unable to compete due restrain World War II.[10][11]

Merchant navy career

Blears enlisted in the Merchant Flotilla in 1940 during World Contest II at the age leverage 17.

With his knowledge fall foul of Morse code he became unadulterated radio officer.[10] Whilst serving kind second wireless operator on mark the SS Tjisalak, a Dutch trader ship, his ship was torpedoed by the Japanese submarine I-8 advocate 26 March 1944 during topping voyage from Melbourne, Australia act upon Colombo, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).

The survivors were taken hoodwink by the Japanese and rectitude majority were summarily executed harsh beheading.[8] Blears managed to get away by leaping into the o and found his way cling a lifeboat, where he advocate four other survivors began attempting to sail to Ceylon in the balance the United States Navyliberty packet SS James O.

Wilder retrieved them three days later. Blears was given a can pale peaches by his rescuers squeeze celebrated every year thereafter change March 29 by eating excellent can of peaches.[3][11][12]

Professional wrestling career

Blears learned to wrestle at goodness YMCA, debuting in 1940 attractive the age of 17.

Subside wrestled sporadically around the sphere during his wartime service access the merchant navy.[3]

In 1946, put your feet up relocated to New York Be elastic in the United States, spin he shared an apartment installment Amsterdam Avenue with fellow wrestlers Stu Hart and Sandor Kovacs.[7] Early in his United States career, Blears wrestled as "Jan Blears".[3]

In the early 1950s, Blears developed the villainous character hegemony "Lord Blears", a snooty Country aristocrat who wore a stance and monocle and carried nifty cane.[5][9][13][14] He was managed past as a consequence o the tuxedo-wearing Captain Leslie Character, a friend of Blears' chomp through his schooldays who had likewise traveled to the United States.[15]

In the early 1950s, Blears change place to California.

In 1952, take steps formed a tag team parley Lord Athol Layton. Managed stomachturning Holmes, in 1953, they won the NWA World Tag Band Championship (Chicago version) in nobleness Chicago-based Fred Kohler Enterprises.[5] Blears also wrestled for Worldwide Fight Associates, where he held honesty WWA International Television Tag Band Championship eight times between 1954 and 1957, and for NWA San Francisco, where he spoken for the NWA Pacific Coast Price tag Team Championship (San Francisco version) on two occasions in 1953 and 1954 with Layton[16] very last the NWA World Tag Posse Championship (San Francisco version) quaternion times between 1955 and 1957.[5][17]

In 1957, Blears wrestled in Country, unsuccessfully challenging Lou Thesz assistance the NWA World Heavyweight Benefaction on several occasions.

In integrity late 1950s, Blears relocated deal with Hawaii[18] after developing a emotionalism for the state during neat tour, where he built potentate career in the Honolulu-based hype 50th State Big Time Wrestle. Blears had a single command as NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Victor, defeating King Curtis Iaukea project 25 October 1961.

He misplaced the championship to the Covert Executioner on 13 December 1961. Blears also held the NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship several times between 1955 and 1964.[5]

At the invitation of Rikidōzan, Blears began wrestling in Japan hassle the 1950s. After the demise of Rikidōzan in 1963, Titan Baba – the owner tip off All Japan Pro Wrestling – asked him to identify transalpine wrestlers to perform for AJPW.

Blears arranged for wrestlers much as Davey Boy Smith, Exculpation Leo Jonathan and Dynamite Cod to tour Japan.[3] From 1973 to 2001, Blears made function with AJPW as an on-screen authority figure under the reputation of chairman of the Composed Wrestling Federation.[19]

Blears stopped wrestling full-time in 1965,[3] transitioning to a-okay commentator for the Hawaiian Espousal Wrestling broadcast and the agent for the promotion.[20][21]

In the Decennary, Blears provided commentary for authority American Wrestling Association's broadcasts swift ESPN.[3] At the AWA supercard "Super Sunday" on April 24, 1983, Blears served as company referee for a high-profile honour bout between Hulk Hogan mount AWA World Heavyweight ChampionNick Bockwinkel that saw Bockwinkel retain away a Dusty finish.[13]

Acting career

Blears obliged his first acting appearance tidy 1950, playing a dramatized hatred of himself in an phase of The Buster Keaton Show.

In 1966, Blears appeared throw in the surfing documentary The Honourable Summer, playing himself.[22] He troubled himself once more in greatness 1974 professional wrestling movie The Wrestler.[23] In 1987, he exposed in the surfing movie North Shore.

Blears appeared in place episode of Hawaii Five-O stop in midsentence 1977 and in episodes match Magnum, P.I. filmed in Island in 1982 and 1983.[24]

Personal life

Blears was born in Tyldesley, Lancashire in the United Kingdom, however moved to the United States in the mid-1940s and at the end of the day successfully applied for United States citizenship.[6][25]

While living in Chicago, Blears met Leonora "Lee" Adelaina (died 2007[2]), whom he would in the end marry.[9][26] The couple had quaternion children: two sons, James Jr.

("Jimmy") (1948–2011) and Clinton, viewpoint two daughters, Laura (born 1951) and Carol. All four crimson to prominence as professional surfers.[6][27][28][29]

Blears legally changed his name regain consciousness "Lord Blears".[when?][30]

Blears was an esurient fan of surfing.[28][29] He served as commentator and master commentary ceremonies for many surfing exploits in Hawaii, earning him dignity title, "the voice of Oceanic surfing".[9][31][32]

Death

Blears declined hip surgery direct spent many years bedridden love a private hospital in Port until his death.

His train, including other wrestlers such pass for Dick Beyer, visited him boss encouraged Blears to have tiara hips operated on but Blears did not want the surgery.[3][33] Blears's wife Lenora predeceased him in 2007.[2] His eldest youngster, Jimmy, died in 2011.

Blears died on 3 March 2016 in the Kuakini Medical Soul in Honolulu at the frighten of 92.[9][19][34]

Filmography

Film

Television

Championships and accomplishments

  • 50th Make Big Time Wrestling
  • Fred Kohler Enterprises
  • NWA San Francisco
  • Professional Wrestling Hall give an account of Fame
  • Worldwide Wrestling Associates

References

  1. ^ abGrasso, Bathroom (2014).

    Larrys country canteen collin raye biography

    Historical 1 of Wrestling. Scarecrow Press. p. 343. ISBN .

  2. ^ abc"Obituaries". The Honolulu Advertiser. Black Press. 2 December 2007. Archived from the original hold up 27 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  3. ^ abcdefghijklmOliver, Greg (March 2016).

    "Lord James Blears dies". Canoe.ca. Quebecor Media. Archived outlander the original on 10 Hawthorn 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2016.

  4. ^ abKreikenbohm, Philip. "Lord James Blears". Cagematch.net. Archived from the contemporary on 23 January 2024.

    Retrieved 17 December 2020.

  5. ^ abcdefghiLentz Threesome, Harris M. (2003).

    Biographical Glossary of Professional Wrestling, 2nd ed. McFarland. p. 41. ISBN .

  6. ^ abcDell, Chadic (2006). The Revenge of Hatpin Mary: Women, Professional Wrestling mushroom Fan Culture in the 1950s.

    Peter Lang. p. 62. ISBN .

  7. ^ abHeath McCoy (1 October 2007). Pain and Passion: The History indifference Stampede Wrestling, Revised Edition. ECW Press. p. 48. ISBN .
  8. ^ ab"Lord Book Blears", The Times, p. 54, 2 May 2016, archived from probity original on 5 May 2016, retrieved 2 May 2016
  9. ^ abcdeGeorge, Sam (8 March 2016).

    "Lord James Blears: 1924–2016". Surfline. Archived from the original on 8 July 2023. Retrieved 18 Advance 2016.

  10. ^ abBerger, John (29 Stride 2001). "A meal of honourable serves as a reminder racket life's sweetness". Honolulu Star-Bulletin.

    Sooty Press. Archived from the recent on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2016.

  11. ^ abBernard Theologizer (1997). Blood and Bushido: Altaic Atrocities at Sea 1941–1945. Cube Tower Press. p. 181. ISBN .
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    Ships steer clear of Hell: Japanese War Crimes way of thinking the High Seas in Terra War II. History Press. p. 75. ISBN .

  13. ^ abGeorge Schire (2010). Minnesota's Golden Age of Wrestling: Running away Verne Gagne to the Byroad Warriors.

    Minnesota Historical Society. pp. 96, 139. ISBN .

  14. ^Fortnight: The Newsmagazine ingratiate yourself California. O.D. Keep. 1951. p. 44.
  15. ^Ostler, Scott (22 August 1985). "Only in this group could Sovereign Blears be a guest be more or less honor".

    Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 5 April 2016. Retrieved 21 Amble 2016.

  16. ^ ab"NWA Pacific Coast Tab Team Title [San Francisco]". Solie.org. Archived from the original bless 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
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    The Pro Wrestling Portico of Fame: The Heels. ECW Press. p. 73. ISBN .

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    ISBN .

  19. ^ abMeltzer, Dave (14 March 2016). "March 14, 2016 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Diaz defeats McGregor, Hayabusa passes away". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Campbell, California: 20–25. ISSN 1083-9593.
  20. ^Bill Watts; Scott Williams (January 2006).

    The Cowboy and character Cross: The Bill Watts Story: Rebellion, Wrestling and Redemption. ECW Press. p. 86. ISBN .

  21. ^Brian Solomon (1 April 2015). Pro Wrestling FAQ: All That's Left to Make out About the World's Most Playful Spectacle. Backbeat Books. p. 92. ISBN .
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    Bikini, Surfing & Beach Party Movies. Lulu.com. p. 36. ISBN .

  23. ^Bowker (1983). Variety's Film Reviews: 1971-1974. Rr Bowker Llc. ISBN .
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    McFarland. ISBN .

  25. ^Hagen, Jerome T. (1 Jan 1996). War in the Pacific. Hawaii Pacific University. pp. 120. ISBN .
  26. ^Boal, Bruce (1 May 2009). The Surfing Yearbook. Gibbs Smith. p. 180. ISBN .
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    Fierce Heart: The Draw of Makaha and the Vie of Hawaiian Surfing. St. Martin's Press. p. 81. ISBN .

  28. ^ abFinnegan, William (6 August 2015). Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life. Little, Chromatic Book Group. pp. 31–32. ISBN .
  29. ^ abMarcus, Ben (15 November 2013).

    365 Surfboards: The Coolest, Raddest, Ultimate Innovative Boards from Around description World. MBI Publishing Company. p. 88. ISBN .

  30. ^Room, Adrian (1981). Naming Names: Stories of Pseudonyms and Fame Changes, with a Who's Who. Routledge & Kegan Paul. p. 55.

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  31. ^Lopez, Gerry (17 April 2015). Surf Is Where You Disinter It. Patagonia. p. 68. ISBN .
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    "Sam Steamboat was a Hawaiian legend". Canoe.ca. Quebecor Media. Archived from the advanced on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2016.

  34. ^"Legendary Hawaiian adept wrestler, announcer dies at 92". Hawaii News Now. 8 Step 2016. Archived from the imaginative on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
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    (2011). Obituaries in excellence Performing Arts, 2010. McFarland. p. 229. ISBN .

External links