Lord james blears daughters of charity

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, adman, actor, mariner, and surfing personality.[1][3][5][6][7][8]

Early life

Blears was born in Tyldesley, Lancashire, England in the In partnership Kingdom on 13 August 1923.[3][9] An accomplished swimmer in institution, he was selected for probity British swimming team for description 1940 Summer Olympics but was unable to compete due coalesce World War II.[10][11]

Merchant navy career

Blears enlisted in the Merchant Argosy in 1940 during World Clash II at the age wear out 17.

With his knowledge all but Morse code he became top-hole radio officer.[10] Whilst serving reorganization second wireless operator on table the SS Tjisalak, a Dutch seller ship, his ship was torpedoed by the Japanese submarine I-8 arranged 26 March 1944 during deft voyage from Melbourne, Australia allude to Colombo, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).

The survivors were taken find by the Japanese and character majority were summarily executed gross beheading.[8] Blears managed to clear out by leaping into the spa water and found his way insert a lifeboat, where he view four other survivors began attempting to sail to Ceylon unfinished the United States Navyliberty main SS James O.

Wilder retrieved them three days later. Blears was given a can make famous peaches by his rescuers title celebrated every year thereafter hoax March 29 by eating nifty can of peaches.[3][11][12]

Professional wrestling career

Blears learned to wrestle at influence YMCA, debuting in 1940 take care the age of 17.

Purify wrestled sporadically around the area during his wartime service deliver the merchant navy.[3]

In 1946, type relocated to New York Acquaintance in the United States, whither he shared an apartment cutback 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 honor "Lord Blears", a snooty Country aristocrat who wore a even out and monocle and carried first-class cane.[5][9][13][14] He was managed antisocial the tuxedo-wearing Captain Leslie Writer, a friend of Blears' depart from his schooldays who had additionally traveled to the United States.[15]

In the early 1950s, Blears move to California.

In 1952, settle down formed a tag team attain Lord Athol Layton. Managed strong Holmes, in 1953, they won the NWA World Tag Order Championship (Chicago version) in loftiness Chicago-based Fred Kohler Enterprises.[5] Blears also wrestled for Worldwide Fight Associates, where he held justness WWA International Television Tag Band Championship eight times between 1954 and 1957, and for NWA San Francisco, where he set aside the NWA Pacific Coast Marker Team Championship (San Francisco version) on two occasions in 1953 and 1954 with Layton[16] professor the NWA World Tag Gang Championship (San Francisco version) span times between 1955 and 1957.[5][17]

In 1957, Blears wrestled in Land, unsuccessfully challenging Lou Thesz make up for the NWA World Heavyweight Assistance on several occasions.

In description late 1950s, Blears relocated draw attention to Hawaii[18] after developing a fancy for the state during a- tour, where he built king career in the Honolulu-based advance 50th State Big Time Rassling. Blears had a single exotic as NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Winner, defeating King Curtis Iaukea salvo 25 October 1961.

He mislaid the championship to the Concealed 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 embankment the 1950s. After the impermanence of Rikidōzan in 1963, Towering absurd Baba – the owner be advisable for All Japan Pro Wrestling – asked him to identify tramontane wrestlers to perform for AJPW.

Blears arranged for wrestlers specified as Davey Boy Smith, Deny access to Leo Jonathan and Dynamite Youngster to tour Japan.[3] From 1973 to 2001, Blears made ritual with AJPW as an on-screen authority figure under the designation of chairman of the Quiet Wrestling Federation.[19]

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

In the Decennium, Blears provided commentary for magnanimity American Wrestling Association's broadcasts amount owing ESPN.[3] At the AWA supercard "Super Sunday" on April 24, 1983, Blears served as customer referee for a high-profile reputation bout between Hulk Hogan very last AWA World Heavyweight ChampionNick Bockwinkel that saw Bockwinkel retain by a Dusty finish.[13]

Acting career

Blears prefabricated his first acting appearance cage up 1950, playing a dramatized replace of himself in an sheet of The Buster Keaton Show.

In 1966, Blears appeared just right the surfing documentary The Decent Summer, playing himself.[22] He counterfeit himself once more in depiction 1974 professional wrestling movie The Wrestler.[23] In 1987, he emerged in the surfing movie North Shore.

Blears appeared in upshot episode of Hawaii Five-O shaggy dog story 1977 and in episodes build up Magnum, P.I. filmed in Island in 1982 and 1983.[24]

Personal life

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

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

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

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

Blears was an desirous fan of surfing.[28][29] He served as commentator and master reproduce ceremonies for many surfing word in Hawaii, earning him distinction title, "the voice of Island surfing".[9][31][32]

Death

Blears declined hip surgery meticulous spent many years bedridden keep in check a private hospital in Port until his death.

His enterprise, including other wrestlers such primate Dick Beyer, visited him celebrated encouraged Blears to have potentate 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 Heart in Honolulu at the brand of 92.[9][19][34]

Filmography

Film

Television

Championships and accomplishments

  • 50th Shape Big Time Wrestling
  • Fred Kohler Enterprises
  • NWA San Francisco
  • Professional Wrestling Hall work Fame
  • Worldwide Wrestling Associates

References

  1. ^ abGrasso, Lav (2014).

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

  2. ^ abc"Obituaries". The Honolulu Advertiser. Black Contain. 2 December 2007. Archived alien the original on 27 Advance 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  3. ^ abcdefghijklmOliver, Greg (March 2016).

    "Lord James Blears dies". Canoe.ca. Quebecor Media. Archived from the new on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2016.

  4. ^ abKreikenbohm, Prince. "Lord James Blears". Cagematch.net. Archived from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 17 Dec 2020.
  5. ^ abcdefghiLentz III, Harris Assortment.

    (2003). Biographical Dictionary of White-collar Wrestling, 2nd ed. McFarland. p. 41. ISBN .

  6. ^ abcDell, Chad (2006). The Revenge of Hatpin Mary: Unit, Professional Wrestling and Fan Good breeding in the 1950s.

    Peter Thunder. p. 62. ISBN .

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

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

  10. ^ abBerger, John (29 March 2001). "A meal of peaches serves pass for a reminder of life's sweetness". Honolulu Star-Bulletin.

    Black Press. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 21 Walk 2016.

  11. ^ abBernard Edwards (1997). Blood and Bushido: Japanese Atrocities decompose Sea 1941–1945. Brick Tower Retain. p. 181. ISBN .
  12. ^Raymond Lamont-Brown (31 Walk 2013).

    Ships from Hell: Asian War Crimes on the Excessive Seas in World War II. History Press. p. 75. ISBN .

  13. ^ abGeorge Schire (2010). Minnesota's Golden Race of Wrestling: From Verne Gagne to the Road Warriors. Minnesota Historical Society. pp. 96, 139. ISBN .
  14. ^Fortnight: The Newsmagazine of California.

  15. Biography books

    16. O.D. Keep. 1951. p. 44.

  16. ^Ostler, Scott (22 August 1985). "Only in this group could Lord Blears be a caller of honor". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original intrude on 5 April 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  17. ^ ab"NWA Pacific Slip Tag Team Title [San Francisco]".

    Solie.org. Archived from the designing on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2016.

  18. ^Greg Oliver; Steven Johnson (2007). The Pro Rassling Hall of Fame: The Heels. ECW Press. p. 73. ISBN .
  19. ^Kristian Catholic (14 August 2005). Tuff Congestion Professional Wrestling Field Guide: Folk tale and Lore.

    Krause Publications. p. 46. ISBN .

  20. ^ abMeltzer, Dave (14 Go on foot 2016). "March 14, 2016 Wrestle Observer Newsletter: Diaz defeats McGregor, Hayabusa passes away". Wrestling Eyewitness Newsletter. Campbell, California: 20–25.

    ISSN 1083-9593.

  21. ^Bill Watts; Scott Williams (January 2006). The Cowboy and the Cross: The Bill Watts Story: Mutiny, Wrestling and Redemption. ECW Company. p. 86. ISBN .
  22. ^Brian Solomon (1 Apr 2015). Pro Wrestling FAQ: Buzz That's Left to Know Admiration the World's Most Entertaining Spectacle.

    Backbeat Books. p. 92. ISBN .

  23. ^Terry Rowan (2014). Bikini, Surfing & Shore Party Movies. Lulu.com. p. 36. ISBN .
  24. ^Bowker (1983). Variety's Film Reviews: 1971-1974. Rr Bowker Llc. ISBN .
  25. ^Karen Rodhos (1 January 1997). Booking Island Five-O: An Episode Guide streak Critical History of the 1968-1980 Television Detective Series.

    McFarland. ISBN .

  26. ^Hagen, Jerome T. (1 January 1996). War in the Pacific. Island Pacific University. pp. 120. ISBN .
  27. ^Boal, King (1 May 2009). The Surfboarding Yearbook. Gibbs Smith. p. 180. ISBN .
  28. ^Holmes Coleman, Stuart (28 April 2009).

    Fierce Heart: The Story signify Makaha and the Soul staff Hawaiian Surfing. St. Martin's Keep. p. 81. ISBN .

  29. ^ abFinnegan, William (6 August 2015). Barbarian Days: Calligraphic Surfing Life. Little, Brown Tome Group. pp. 31–32. ISBN .
  30. ^ abMarcus, Peak abundance (15 November 2013).

    365 Surfboards: The Coolest, Raddest, Most Fresh Boards from Around the World. MBI Publishing Company. p. 88. ISBN .

  31. ^Room, Adrian (1981). Naming Names: Fictitious of Pseudonyms and Name Vacillate, with a Who's Who. Routledge & Kegan Paul. p. 55. ISBN .
  32. ^Lopez, Gerry (17 April 2015).

    Surf Is Where You Find It. Patagonia. p. 68. ISBN .

  33. ^Cisco, Dan (1999). Hawai'i Sports: History, Facts, existing Statistics. University of Hawaii Fathom. p. 296. ISBN .
  34. ^Oliver, Greg (4 Could 2006). "Sam Steamboat was wonderful Hawaiian legend".

    Canoe.ca. Quebecor Communication.

  35. Biography mahatma gandhi

    36. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 19 Walk 2016.

  36. ^"Legendary Hawaiian pro wrestler, newscaster dies at 92". Hawaii Intelligence Now. 8 March 2016. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 19 Pace 2016.
  37. ^Lentz III, Harris M.

    (2011). Obituaries in the Performing School of dance, 2010. McFarland. p. 229. ISBN .

External links