"The History Hour" Series: Slam Bang Western Style: Greeley's Birth of Professional Wrestling

In a world defined by the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, a man from Greeley helped reinvent the worlds of both sports and entertainment by redefining what professional wrestling is. By looking at the man and the cultural landscape of the United States, we can see how Joseph "Toots" Mondt and his Slam Bang Western Style Wrestling took over the whole world becoming the tellers of a uniquely American mythology through staged but brutal combat.
About Presenter:
Gabe Llanas is a life-long resident of Greeley and a big-time fan of professional wrestling. As a Museum Aide and Historic Interpreter at Centennial Village Museum, he also considers himself pretty good at telling a story.