James C. Melby
Encyclopedia
James C. Melby was an American
professional wrestling
historian and magazine editor
, publishing almost 100 wrestling projects since 1991.
Melby's first publication was Matmania which he started aged 15 in his home state of Minnesota
, and later joined Kietzer Publishing as an editor of numerous wrestling magazines including The Wrestling News, Wrestling Revue, Wrestling Monthly and The Ring
's Wrestling Magazine. He was also co-editor with Norman Kietzer of Major League Wrestling Programs, which was produced for nearly every major promotion including the American Wrestling Association
, World Wrestling Federation
, National Wrestling Alliance
, World Wrestling Association
, Mid-South Wrestling, Southwest Championship Wrestling
and numerous independent promotions. He would also edit the Pro Wrestling Report publication of AWA founder Verne Gagne
. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2007/02/11/3587926.html
Melby also published wrestling profiles under a Wrestling Facts banner, which were career retrospective booklets featuring many early stars such as Gagne, Bronko Nagurski, Red Bastien, Dr. Bill Miller, Whipper Billy Watson, Rikidozan and numerous others. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2007/02/11/3587926.html
Aside from periodicals, Melby also wrote two books. First was Mat Wars! in 1985, written with Gagne, profiling the AWA's roster and stars of the period. His second was Gopherland Grappling: The Early Years, a pictoral book showcasing Minnesota wrestling history, came twenty-one years later in 2006, and featured photographs he had taken over the years. The book was planned as the first of two due to the amount of material Melby has amassed, though with his death in 2007 the status of the second book is unknown.
Melby's later work included contributing to the newsletters of the Cauliflower Alley Club
, of which he was Photographical Librarian, and continued to write for Wrestling Revue. Outside of wrestling, he also published articles about music and architecture.
In 2006 the Iowa-based George Tragos/Lou Thesz Hall of Fame honored Melby with an award in his name. Melby was at the ceremony and was unaware of an award honoring wrestling historians, or that he would not only receive the inaugural awarding but that it would be called the James C. Melby Award.
His personal life included a battle with diabetes since 1971, which resulted in a kidney transplant and the amputation
of both legs. Melby was married twice, both ending in divorce.
James C. Melby was found dead beside his bed on February 11, 2007, and is survived by his mother June, daughter Michelle and son-in-law Chad. He had corresponded with friends online the night before his death. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2007/02/11/3587926.html
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional wrestling
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
historian and magazine editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
, publishing almost 100 wrestling projects since 1991.
Melby's first publication was Matmania which he started aged 15 in his home state of Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, and later joined Kietzer Publishing as an editor of numerous wrestling magazines including The Wrestling News, Wrestling Revue, Wrestling Monthly and The Ring
The Ring (magazine)
The Ring is an American boxing magazine that was first published in 1922 as a boxing and wrestling magazine. As the sporting legitimacy of professional wrestling came more into question, The Ring shifted to becoming exclusively a boxing oriented publication...
's Wrestling Magazine. He was also co-editor with Norman Kietzer of Major League Wrestling Programs, which was produced for nearly every major promotion including the American Wrestling Association
American Wrestling Association
The American Wrestling Association was an American professional wrestling promotion based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that ran from 1960 to 1991. It was owned and founded by Verne Gagne and Wally Karbo...
, World Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
, National Wrestling Alliance
National Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
, World Wrestling Association
World Wrestling Association
The World Wrestling Association is a lucha libre promotion based in the Tijuana-area of Mexico. It was founded in 1986 by Benjamin Mora, Jr....
, Mid-South Wrestling, Southwest Championship Wrestling
Southwest Championship Wrestling
Southwest Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was owned by Joseph Blanchard and based in San Antonio, Texas, from 1978 to 1985, when it was purchased by Texas All-Star Wrestling and absorbed into that company.-Venues:...
and numerous independent promotions. He would also edit the Pro Wrestling Report publication of AWA founder Verne Gagne
Verne Gagne
Laverne Clarence "Verne" Gagne , is a retired American professional wrestler, football player, and professional wrestling trainer and promoter. He was the former owner/promoter of the American Wrestling Association , based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which was the predominant promotion throughout...
. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2007/02/11/3587926.html
Melby also published wrestling profiles under a Wrestling Facts banner, which were career retrospective booklets featuring many early stars such as Gagne, Bronko Nagurski, Red Bastien, Dr. Bill Miller, Whipper Billy Watson, Rikidozan and numerous others. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2007/02/11/3587926.html
Aside from periodicals, Melby also wrote two books. First was Mat Wars! in 1985, written with Gagne, profiling the AWA's roster and stars of the period. His second was Gopherland Grappling: The Early Years, a pictoral book showcasing Minnesota wrestling history, came twenty-one years later in 2006, and featured photographs he had taken over the years. The book was planned as the first of two due to the amount of material Melby has amassed, though with his death in 2007 the status of the second book is unknown.
Melby's later work included contributing to the newsletters of the Cauliflower Alley Club
Cauliflower Alley Club
The Cauliflower Alley Club is a non-profit fraternal organization, which includes a newsletter and website, comprising both retired and active professional wrestlers and boxers in North America....
, of which he was Photographical Librarian, and continued to write for Wrestling Revue. Outside of wrestling, he also published articles about music and architecture.
In 2006 the Iowa-based George Tragos/Lou Thesz Hall of Fame honored Melby with an award in his name. Melby was at the ceremony and was unaware of an award honoring wrestling historians, or that he would not only receive the inaugural awarding but that it would be called the James C. Melby Award.
His personal life included a battle with diabetes since 1971, which resulted in a kidney transplant and the amputation
Amputation
Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma, prolonged constriction, or surgery. As a surgical measure, it is used to control pain or a disease process in the affected limb, such as malignancy or gangrene. In some cases, it is carried out on individuals as a preventative surgery for...
of both legs. Melby was married twice, both ending in divorce.
James C. Melby was found dead beside his bed on February 11, 2007, and is survived by his mother June, daughter Michelle and son-in-law Chad. He had corresponded with friends online the night before his death. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2007/02/11/3587926.html
Championships and accomplishments
- 2006 George Tragos/Lou Thesz Hall of Fame inaugeral James C. Melby Award