Russ and Sylvia Davis Collection
The 208 wrestling matches in the collection were recorded in the 1950s but the prints were distributed throughout the 1960s. Precise dates of the matches are uncertain. Also contained in this collection are prints for a short run syndicated show Raymond Massey Reads the Bible, a print for a sponsored film Arapahoe, and a print and production elements for a film on hunting and taxidermy called Indoor/Outdoor.
Series II comprises one folder of materials containing magazines with articles on the Davises, clippings of newspaper articles on the Davises, business documents for IWF including a contract with a TV station renting their wrestling show, and seven photos promoting their 1951-52 daily talk show on WGN and behind the scenes at IWF.
September 11, 2014: Over 100 wrestling titles from the Sylvia & Russ Davis Collection are now streaming on Youtube: "Chicago Film Archives presents "Wrestling from Chicago"
Collection Items
- [Wrestling TV show]: Tiny Roe vs Ivan the Terrible and Gagne, Rocca & Snyder vs. Lisowski Bros. & Dick the Bruiser (Reel 1/2)
- [Wrestling TV show]: Verne Gagne, Wilbur Snyder & Anotiono Rocca vs Lisowski Brothers & Dick the Bruiser (Reel 2/2)
- [Wrestling TV show]: Paul Anderson vs Bozo Brown, Bronco Lubich vs Jack Allen, Dick the Bruiser & Hans Schmidt vs Boris & Nicoli Volkoff
- [Wrestling TV show]: Baron Arena vs Sonny Meyers, Cowboy Carlson vs Vincent Lopez, Hans Schmidt vs Killer Kowalski
- [Wrestling TV show]: Ivan Rasputin, “Chest” Bernard & Fritz Von Schacht vs Don Beitelman, Farmer Don Marlin & Pat O’Connor
- [Wrestling TV show]: Angelo Poffo & The Sheik of Araby vs Roy McClarity & Seymour Koenig (cont.), Lorraine Johnson vs Shirley Strimple (Reel 2/2)
- [Wrestling TV show]: Rose Roman & Lorraine Johnson vs Shirley Strimple & Ramona Teselle (cont), Wilbur Snyder vs Mighty Atlas
- [Wrestling TV show]: Pat O’Connor vs Sky Hi Lee, Benito Gardini & Bobby Nelson vs Great Balblo & Billy Parks
- [Wrestling TV show]: Pat O’Connor vs Sky Hi Lee, Benito Gardini & Bobby Nelson vs Great Balblo & Billy Parks
- Raymond Massey Reads the Bible: The Greatness and Divinity of Man, The Returned of the Ransomed, On the Bible
- [Wrestling TV show]: Vittorio Apollo vs Miguel Torres, Haystacks Calhoun vs Buddy Rogers, Sweet Daddy Siki & Art Thomas vs The Sicilians (Lou Albano & Tony Altimore)
- [Wrestling TV show]: Ivan Rasputin, “Chest” Bernard & Fritz Von Schacht vs Don Beitelman, Don Marlin & Pat O’Connor
- [Wrestling TV show]: Pat O’Connor vs Ivan Rasputin, Rudy Kay & Sky Hi Lee vs Sheik of Araby & Reggie Lisowski
- [Wrestling TV show]: Benito Gardini vs Al Warshawski, Yukon Eric & Pat O’Connor vs Art Neilson & Reggie Lisowski
- [Wrestling TV show]: Sky Hi Lee vs Bobby Nelson, Mighty Atlas & Bob Orton vs Billy Darnell & Bill Melby
- [Wrestling TV show]: Billy Darnell vs Hans Hermann, Dick Atlas vs Ivan Rasputin, Len Rossie vs Great Yamato
- [Wrestling TV show]: Benito Gardini vs Al Warshawski, Yukon Eric & Pat O’Connor vs Art Neilson & Reggie Lisowski
- [Wrestling TV show]: Verne Gagne & Bobby Bruns vs Al Williams & Rudy Kay, Lou Thesz vs Bronco Nagurski
- [Wrestling TV show]: Pat O’Connor vs Sky Hi Lee, Benito Gardini & Bobby Nelson vs Great Balbo & Billy Parks
- [Wrestling TV show]: Don Leo Jonathan vs Roy McClarity, Lou Newman & Hans Schnable vs Benito Gardini & Rudy Kay
- [Wrestling TV show]: Little Beaver vs Tom Thumb, “Chest” Bernard vs Tarzan White, Angelo Poffo vs Mighty Atlas
- [Wrestling TV show]: Benito Gardini & Gypsy Joe vs Great Balbo & Billy Goelz, Jerry Woods & Billy Hickson vs Hans Schmidt & Bob Orton
- [Wrestling TV show]: Benito Gardini vs Al Warshawski, Yukon Eric & Pat O’Connor vs Art Nelson & Reggie Lisowski
- [Wrestling TV show]: Angelo Poffo vs Bud Fisher, Argentine Rocca & Roy McClarity vs Don Leo Jonathan & Hans Schnable
- Arapahoe, The
- Color Reject on Wrestling, (SMPTE) Special Society
- I-O Corn Creek
- Raymond Massey Reads the Bible: Man’s Choice, David & Bathsheba & Rules of Living
- [Wrestling TV show]: Al Williams & Rudy Kay vs Walter Palmer & Billy Goelz
- [Wrestling TV show]: Angelo Poffo & The Sheik of Araby vs Roy McClarity & Seymour Koenig (Reel 1/2)
- [Wrestling TV show]: Angelo Poffo vs Bobby Managoff
- [Wrestling TV show]: Angelo Poffo vs Buddy Fisher
- [Wrestling TV show]: Angelo Poffo vs Jack Allen
- [Wrestling TV show]: Angelo Poffo vs Jerry Christie, Pat O’Connor vs Legs Langevin
- [Wrestling TV show]: Angelo Poffo vs Jerry Christie, Pat O’Connor vs Legs Langevin
- [Wrestling TV show]: Angelo Poffo vs Roberts, June Byers vs Penny Banner
- [Wrestling TV show]: Angelo Poffo vs Roberts, June Byers vs Penny Banner
- [Wrestling TV show]: Argentine Rocca & Roy McClarity vs Don Leo Jonathan & Hans Schnable
- [Wrestling TV show]: Art Neilson & Reggie Lisowski vs Mighty Atlas & Billy Goelz
- [Wrestling TV show]: Atlas Strong Man Exhibition, Mighty Atlas vs Great Moto
- [Wrestling TV show]: Baron Arena vs Sonny Meyers, Cowboy Carlson vs Vincent Lopez
- [Wrestling TV show]: Benito Gardini & Rudy Kay vs Art Neilson & Reggie Lisowski
- [Wrestling TV show]: Benito Gardini & Rudy Kay vs Art Nelson & Reggie Lisowski
- [Wrestling TV show]: Benito Gardini vs Al Warshawski
- [Wrestling TV show]: Benito Gardini vs Bobby Bruns, Mighty Atlas vs Chief Lone Eagle
- [Wrestling TV show]: Benito Gardini vs Bobby Bruns, The Great Moto vs Tarzan White
- [Wrestling TV show]: Bill Melby vs Gypsy Joe
- [Wrestling TV show]: Billy Goelz & Great Balbo vs Rudy Kay & Bobby Nelson
- [Wrestling TV show]: Billy Goelz & Larry Chene vs Art Neilson & Sheik of Araby
- [Wrestling TV show]: Billy Goelz vs Juan Hernandez
- [Wrestling TV show]: Billy Goelz vs Juan Hernandez
- [Wrestling TV show]: Billy Goelz vs Juan Hernandez, Verne Gagne vs Yukon Eric
- [Wrestling TV show]: Billy Goelz vs Zack Malkov, Wilber Snyder vs Dick the Bruiser
- [Wrestling TV show]: Billy Hickson vs Bob Orton - Mighty Atlas Strong Man Exhibition
- [Wrestling TV show]: Bob Geigel vs Buck Weaver, Bozo Brown vs Johnny Balbo
- [Wrestling TV show]: Bob Geigle vs Buck Weaver, Walter Palmer vs Bobby Nelson
- [Wrestling TV show]: Bob Orton vs Hans Schmidt
- [Wrestling TV show]: Bob Orton vs Harry Lewis
- [Wrestling TV show]: Bob Orton vs Harry Lewis, Zaharias Brothers vs Rudy Kay & Al William (Tag)
- [Wrestling TV show]: Bobby Managoff vs Killer Kowalski (Reel 1/2)
- [Wrestling TV show]: Buddy Rogers vs Lou Thesz
- [Wrestling TV show]: Carl Engstrom vs Zack Malkov, Porfirio Longoria vs La Grande Zuma
- [Wrestling TV show]: Carl Meyer vs Alo Leilani, Wilbur Snyder vs Angelo Poffo
- [Wrestling TV show]: Carl Meyer vs Verne Gagne, Jack Carter & Balk Estes vs Hans Schmidt & Bob Orton
- [Wrestling TV show]: Chief Lone Eagle vs Great Jojo
- [Wrestling TV show]: Chief Lone Eagle vs Great Jojo
- [Wrestling TV show]: Chief Lone Eagle vs Great Jojo
- [Wrestling TV show]: Cyclone Anaya vs Buddy Rogers
- [Wrestling TV show]: Dick the Bruiser vs Bill Melby, Yukon Eric vs Hans Schmidt
- [Wrestling TV show]: Don Beitelman vs Dick Hatcher
- [Wrestling TV show]: Don Evans vs Ronnie Etchison, Yukon Eric vs Hans Schmidt
- [Wrestling TV show]: Don Leo Jonathan vs Tiger Moore, Verne Gagne vs Roy McClarity
- [Wrestling TV show]: Don Leo Jonathan vs Tiger Moore, Verne Gagne vs Roy McClarity
- [Wrestling TV show]: Edouard Carpentier vs Verne Gagne
- [Wrestling TV show]: Edouard Carpentier vs Verne Gagne
- [Wrestling TV show]: Edouard Carpentier vs Verne Gagne
- [Wrestling TV show]: Édouard Carpentier vs Lou Thesz
- [Wrestling TV show]: Édouard Carpentier vs Lou Thesz (Reel 1/2)
- [Wrestling TV show]: Édouard Carpentier vs Lou Thesz (Reel 2/2)
- [Wrestling TV show]: Frank Stojack vs Dutch Hefner
- [Wrestling TV show]: Fritz Von Schacht vs Farmer Don Marlin
- [Wrestling TV show]: Gorgeous George vs Cyclone Anaya
- [Wrestling TV show]: Gorgeous George vs Cyclone Anaya
- [Wrestling TV show]: Gorgeous George vs Hans Schnabel
- [Wrestling TV show]: Gorgeous George vs Hans Schnabel
- [Wrestling TV show]: Grahm vs Bobby Nelson, Chief Lone Eagle vs Jo-Jo
- [Wrestling TV show]: Great Atlas vs Carl Engstrom
- [Wrestling TV show]: Great Balbo vs George Dussette, Humphries vs “Chest” Bernard, Rudy Kay vs Pete Managoff
- [Wrestling TV show]: Great Karpozilos vs Great Yamato
- [Wrestling TV show]: Great Moto vs Ivan Rasputin
- [Wrestling TV show]: Great Moto vs Ivan Rasputin
- [Wrestling TV show]: Great Togo, Mighty Atlas & Ivan Rasputin vs Bill Longson, Walter Palmer & Ronnie Etchison
- [Wrestling TV show]: Great Yamato vs Billy Darnell
- [Wrestling TV show]: Great Yamato vs Billy Goelz (Judo Match)
- [Wrestling TV show]: Great Yamato vs Billy Goelz (Judo Match)
- [Wrestling TV show]: Gypsy Joe vs Leon Karilanko, Al Williams & Rudy Kay vs Walter Palmer & Billy Goelz
- [Wrestling TV show]: Gypsy Joe vs Leon Kirilenko
- [Wrestling TV show]: Haile Selassie vs Fuzzy Cupid
- [Wrestling TV show]: Haile Selassie vs Fuzzy Cupid
- [Wrestling TV show]: Haile Selassievs Fuzzy Cupid
- [Wrestling TV show]: Hans Schmidt & Angelo Poffo vs Bob Konovsky & Pat O’Connor
- [Wrestling TV show]: Hans Schmidt & Ivan Rasputin vs Rudy Kay & Farmer Don Marlin
- [Wrestling TV show]: Hans Schmidt vs Killer Kowalski
- [Wrestling TV show]: Hans Schmidt vs Lou Newman, Great Balbo vs Bozo Brown
- [Wrestling TV show]: Hans Schmidt vs Roy McClarity
- [Wrestling TV show]: Hans Schmidt vs Roy McClarity
- [Wrestling TV show]: Hombre Montana & Ramon Cernados vs Al Williams & Rudy Kay
- [Wrestling TV show]: Hombre Montana & Roman Zernados vs Al Williams & Rudy Kay
- [Wrestling TV show]: Humphries vs The “Chest” Bernard, Rudy Kay vs Bobby Managoff
- [Wrestling TV show]: Jack Desek vs Fritz Von Schacht
- [Wrestling TV show]: Jerry Woods & Billy Hickson vs Schmidt & Bob Orton
- [Wrestling TV show]: Jim Dobie vs Lou Britton
- [Wrestling TV show]: Jim Dobie vs Lou Britton
- [Wrestling TV show]: Jim Graham vs Bozo Brown,Verne Gagne vs Red Bastien
- [Wrestling TV show]: Joan Ballard vs Jean Noble
- [Wrestling TV show]: Johnny Balbo vs George Dusette
- [Wrestling TV show]: Johnny Balbo vs George Dusette
- [Wrestling TV show]: Johnny Gilbert vs Jack Terry, Bearcat Wright vs Big Moose Cholak
- [Wrestling TV show]: Killer Kowalski vs Yukon Eric
- [Wrestling TV show]: Larry Chene vs Gordon Hessel
- [Wrestling TV show]: Larry Chene vs Gordon Hessel
- [Wrestling TV show]: Legs Langevin vs Bobby Managoff
- [Wrestling TV show]: Legs Langevin vs Bobby Managoff
- [Wrestling TV show]: Legs Langevin vs Bobby Managoff
- [Wrestling TV show]: Lou Thesz vs Buddy Rogers
- [Wrestling TV show]: Lou Thesz vs Buddy Rogers (Reel 1/2)
- [Wrestling TV show]: Lou Thesz vs Buddy Rogers (Reel 2/2)
- [Wrestling TV show]: Lou Thesz vs Don Leo Jonathan
- [Wrestling TV show]: Lou Thesz vs Don Leo Jonathan
- [Wrestling TV show]: Lou Thesz vs Don Leo Jonathon
- [Wrestling TV show]: Lou Thesz vs Hans Schmidt
- [Wrestling TV show]: Lou Thesz vs Hans Schmidt
- [Wrestling TV show]: Lou Thesz vs Hans Schmidt
- [Wrestling TV show]: Lou Thesz vs Ruffy Silverstein
- [Wrestling TV show]: Lou Thesz vs The Mighty Atlas
- [Wrestling TV show]: Lou Thesz vs Verne Gagne
- [Wrestling TV show]: Mighty Atlas & Bob Orton vs Bill Melby & Billy Darnell
- [Wrestling TV show]: Mighty Atlas vs Chief Lone Eagle
- [Wrestling TV show]: Mighty Atlas vs Pat O’Connor
- [Wrestling TV show]: Mighty Atlas vs Pat O’Connor
- [Wrestling TV show]: Mighty Atlas vs Pat O’Connor
- [Wrestling TV show]: Mighty Atlas vs Pat O’Connor
- [Wrestling TV show]: Mighty Atlas vs Verne Gagne
- [Wrestling TV show]: Mighty Titan vs Chief Lone Eagle
- [Wrestling TV show]: Ned Taylor vs Bobo Brazil, Jon Pollack vs Benito Gardini
- [Wrestling TV show]: Ned Taylor vs Chuck Rodney, “Chest” Bernard vs “Tarzan” White
- [Wrestling TV show]: Ned Taylor vs Rafael Alvarez, Jackie Nichols vs Billy Goelz
- [Wrestling TV show]: Ned Taylor vs Rafael Alvarez, Jackie Nichols vs Billy Goelz
- [Wrestling TV show]: Olivia & Rococo vs Bruckman & Zack Malkov, Pat O’ Connor vs Mighty Atlas
- [Wrestling TV show outtakes]
- [Wrestling TV show]: Pat O’Connor vs Ivan Rasputin
- [Wrestling TV show]: Pat O’Connor vs Ivan Rasputin, Great Togo vs Great Balbo
- [Wrestling TV show]: Ramona Teselle vs Sharon Lass, Verne Gagne & Edouard Carpentier vs The Lisowski Brothers
- [Wrestling TV show]: Ramona Teselle vs Sharon Lass, Verne Gagne & Edouard Carpentier vs The Lisowski Brothers
- [Wrestling TV show]: Ray Gunkel vs Hans Schmidt
- [Wrestling TV show]: Red Bastien vs Mighty Atlas, Kostos Devails vs Sonny Meyers
- [Wrestling TV show]: Rocky Columbo vs Larry Chene
- [Wrestling TV show]: Rose Roman & Loraine Johnson vs Shirley Strimple & Ramona TeSelle, Wilbur Snyder vs Mighty Atlas
- [Wrestling TV show]: Rose Roman & Lorraine Johnson vs Shirley Strimple & Ramona Teselle
- [Wrestling TV show]: Rose Roman vs Ramona TeSelle
- [Wrestling TV show]: Roy McClarity & Pat O’Connor vs Reggie Lisowski & “Chest” Bernard
- [Wrestling TV show]: Rudy Kay & Sky Hi Lee vs Sheik of Araby & Reggie Lisowski
- [Wrestling TV show]: Rudy Kay & Sky Hi Lee vs Sheik of Araby & Reggie Lisowski
- [Wrestling TV show]: Rudy Kay vs Jack Bauer, Dick the Bruiser vs “Chest” Bernard
- [Wrestling TV show]: Rudy Kay vs Jack Bauer, Dick the Bruiser vs “Chest” Bernard
- [Wrestling TV show]: Rudy Kay vs Sonny Myers, Bobby Nelson vs Billy Parks
- [Wrestling TV show]: Schnable Brothers vs El Hombre Montaña & Ramón Cernades
- [Wrestling TV show]: Sheik of Araby vs Bill Melby
- [Wrestling TV show]: Sheik of Araby vs Bill Melby
- [Wrestling TV show]: Sheik of Araby vs Harry Lewis
- [Wrestling TV show]: Sheik of Araby vs Roy McClarity
- [Wrestling TV show]: Sheik of Araby vs Roy McClarity
- [Wrestling TV show]: Sheik of Araby vs Roy McClarity
- [Wrestling TV show]: Sheik of Araby vs Roy McClarity
- [Wrestling TV show]: Sky Lo & Irish Jackie vs Hallie Selassie & Peewee James
- [Wrestling TV show]: Tiny Roe vs Ivan the Terrible, Nelson vs Neilsen, Schmidt vs Poffo
- [Wrestling TV show]: Tiny Roe vs Ivan the Terrible, Walter Palmer vs Benito Gardini
- [Wrestling TV show]: Tiny York vs Johnny Gilbert - Ricki Starr vs Hans Herman
- [Wrestling TV show]: Tiny York vs Johnny Gilbert, Ricky Starr vs Hans Herman
- [Wrestling TV show title sequence]
- [Wrestling TV show]: Tony Oliva & Jumping Rococco vs George Bruckman & Zack Malkov
- [Wrestling TV show]: Verne Gagne vs Billy Goelz
- [Wrestling TV show]: Verne Gagne vs Dick the Bruiser
- [Wrestling TV show]: Verne Gagne vs Dick the Bruiser
- [Wrestling TV show]: Verne Gagne vs Don Leo Jonathan
- [Wrestling TV show]: Verne Gagne vs Great Togo
- [Wrestling TV show]: Verne Gagne vs Roy McClarity
- [Wrestling TV show]: Verne Gagne vs Roy McClarity
- [Wrestling TV show]: Verne Gagne vs The Mighty Atlas
- [Wrestling TV show]: Verne Gagne vs Wilbur Snyder
- [Wrestling TV show]: Verne Gagne vs Yukon Eric
- [Wrestling TV show]: Verne Gange vs Don Leo Jonathan
- [Wrestling TV show]: Violet Viann vs June Byers
- [Wrestling TV show]: Violet Viann vs June Byers
- [Wrestling TV show]: Violet Viann vs June Byers, Skylo & Tom Thumb vs Mighty Fritz & Peewee James
- [Wrestling TV show]: Walter Palmer vs Chief Little Fox
- [Wrestling TV show]: Wilber Snyder vs Hans Schmidt, Dick the Bruiser vs Bob Orton
- [Wrestling TV show]: Wilbur Snyder & Verne Gagne vs Dick the Bruiser & Cowboy Carlson
- [Wrestling TV show]: Wilbur Snyder & Verne Gagne vs Dick the Bruiser & Carl Carlson
- [Wrestling TV show]: Yukon Eric vs Hans Schmidt
- [Wrestling TV show]: Yukon Eric vs Hans Schmidt
- [Wrestling TV show]: Yulie Brynner vs Rose Roman
- [Wrestling TV show]: Yulie Brynner vs Rose Roman, Edouard Carpentier vs Verne Gagne
- [Wrestling TV show]: Zack Malkov vs Hans Schmidt, Jan Blears vs Walter Palmer
Russell W. Davis was born in Kansas City, Missouri on September 15, 1909. After graduating high school in 1927 he worked at Kansas City radio stations until he left the city in 1931. From 1931 to 1940 he worked at a number of radio stations around the country including KOA in Denver and KWTO in Springfield, Missouri. Starting in 1941 he began working at the CBS radio affiliate in Chicago.
In 1946 he made the switch to television at WBKB, which was Chicago’s first commercial television station. He worked on a variety of shows including two different wrestling shows from the Rainbo and Midway arenas, boxing matches, and Christmas and New Year’s Eve specials. He provided commentary for a women’s baseball league, hosted a short-lived but popular amateur show The Knickerbocker Hours, was the emcee for a man-on-the-street show Off the Cuff, and was the announcer for The Jane Foster Show in which Foster and Davis advised housewives on their domestic problems. No copies of these shows are known to exist.
He left the station in 1949 to co-found IWF, Inc. with his wife Sylvia, who he married in 1946. IWF stood for both Imperial World Films and International Wrestling Films. The company primarily released syndicated wrestling shows that Russ announced. The show was leased to over 160 stations nationwide. Due to its success Russ Davis was considered a television pioneer amongst wrestling fans in the 1950s. The company also made sponsored films and a few other TV series including Raymond Massey Reads the Bible (1951).
From the summer of 1951 to May 1952 Russ and Sylvia hosted a daily talk show on WGN called alternately The Davises or The Russ Davis Show. In the show the Davises attempted to enlighten and entertain the viewers (mostly housewives) by interviewing guests from the world of high culture – opera singers, art critics, ballet dancers, musicians – in a welcoming, yet slightly irreverent tone.
He worked on the IWF wrestling TV shows until his death on March 14, 1969. He died of a heart attack, but had been battling alcohol addiction for decades.
Sylvia H. Carlson, was born in Goteberg, Sweden around the mid teens of the Twentieth century. She moved with her family to San Francisco in 1930. By 1937 she was in charge of the beauty shop in the Russ Building. She met her future husband, Russ Davis, there in 1946. They were quickly married and she moved to Chicago where Russ had lived since the late 1930s.
Sylvia began to work behind the scenes on Russ’ television shows. In 1948 she was co-producer of his amateur talent show on WBKB, The Knickerbocker Hour. In 1949 Russ and Sylvia started IWF, Inc, a television film production company, with Sylvia acting as president. The company, called both International Wrestling Films and Imperial World Films, mainly created a syndicated wrestling show, but also made sponsored films and a short run TV series with Raymond Massey. From the summer of 1951 to May of 1952 Sylvia was the co-host with Russ of a daily talk show on WGN-TV, The Russ Davis Show.
The couple divorced in 1954 and was remarried in 1957. By 1957, Sylvia and the company were based in Sonoma, California. After Russ’ death in 1969, Sylvia lived by herself until her death in 2005.