[Wrestling TV show]: Sheik of Araby vs Bill Melby
Identifier
F.2008-04-0042
Date Of Production
circa 1957
Abstract
An episode of a syndicated wrestling show shot at Chicago’s International Amphitheatre. Shot live on film with three-camera coverage, it features a witty and entertaining narration from announcer Russ Davis. The match between the crowd favorite Billy Melby and the over-the-top and disliked by the crowd Sheik of Araby ends in a draw with neither wrestler being able to get a fall on the other. Davis gets in a few racist remarks about the Sheik’s hyperbolic and cartoonish display of Arabic behavior.
Log
00:00 MS ring announcer introducing match, camera pans to each of the wrestlers in their corners, 00:22 Davis begins speaking sounding particularly disinterested, wrestlers meeting in the middle of the ring before the match, CU Sheik praying and very slowly disrobing, 03:08 match begins, armbar on Melby,
04:50 Melby breaks hold with kneelift, wristlock on Sheik, headlock on Melby to which Davis notes “sheik, um, you aren’t helping Middle East relations at all”, men exchanging punches, hammerlock on Sheik, headlock on Melby, body slam on Sheik, shoulder lock on Melby,
10:00 hammerlock on Melby, Davis on Sheik’s shouts in Arabic: “speak English”, Melby punching Sheik in the face, bodyslam on Melby, CU Sheik roughing up Melby on the ropes, MS chokehold on Melby, headlock on Melby, ref breaking up illegal chokeholds by Sheik, Melby knocking the Skeik out of the ring,
14:50 leglock on Melby, headlock on Sheik, men exchanging holds and bodyslams, headscissors on Sheik, Twice Sheik breaks out of headscissors to be brought down again in flying headscissors,
20:15 Sheik breaks hold and blocks Melby’s attempt at flying headscissor, bodyslam on Melby, headlock on Sheik, men exchanging punches, bodyslam on Sheik, crowd cheers as Melby throws Sheik into the ropes,
25:00 Sheik on the ropes from Melby’s attack, Davis has a coughing attack, headlock on Sheik, men exchange headlocks, armlock on Sheik, bodyslam and headlock on Melby, Sheil throws Melby into the ropes, men exchange punches,
30:00 Sheik knocking Melby to the mat using blows with his elbow, men running around ring avoiding each other, 31:57 match ends in no decision draw, out 32:48 as the Sheik kneels in prayer.
04:50 Melby breaks hold with kneelift, wristlock on Sheik, headlock on Melby to which Davis notes “sheik, um, you aren’t helping Middle East relations at all”, men exchanging punches, hammerlock on Sheik, headlock on Melby, body slam on Sheik, shoulder lock on Melby,
10:00 hammerlock on Melby, Davis on Sheik’s shouts in Arabic: “speak English”, Melby punching Sheik in the face, bodyslam on Melby, CU Sheik roughing up Melby on the ropes, MS chokehold on Melby, headlock on Melby, ref breaking up illegal chokeholds by Sheik, Melby knocking the Skeik out of the ring,
14:50 leglock on Melby, headlock on Sheik, men exchanging holds and bodyslams, headscissors on Sheik, Twice Sheik breaks out of headscissors to be brought down again in flying headscissors,
20:15 Sheik breaks hold and blocks Melby’s attempt at flying headscissor, bodyslam on Melby, headlock on Sheik, men exchanging punches, bodyslam on Sheik, crowd cheers as Melby throws Sheik into the ropes,
25:00 Sheik on the ropes from Melby’s attack, Davis has a coughing attack, headlock on Sheik, men exchange headlocks, armlock on Sheik, bodyslam and headlock on Melby, Sheil throws Melby into the ropes, men exchange punches,
30:00 Sheik knocking Melby to the mat using blows with his elbow, men running around ring avoiding each other, 31:57 match ends in no decision draw, out 32:48 as the Sheik kneels in prayer.
Run Time
32 min 55 sec
Format
16mm
Extent
1,185 feet
Color
B&W
Sound
Optical
Reel/Tape Number
1/1
Has Been Digitized?
Yes
Language Of Materials
English
Element
Print
Genre
Form
Subject
Related Collections
Distributor
Main Credits
Imperial World Films (is production company)
Davis, Sylvia (is producer)
Davis, Russell (is director)
Participants And Performers
Sheik of Araby (is performer)
Melby, Bill (is performer)
Davis, Russell (is commentator)
MacMillan, Dean (is participant)
Blake, Ed (is announcer)
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