My father played in the house band at WXYZ in Detroit. As a kid I'd get to go there occasionally and next door they would be shooting "Big Time Wrestling".
La Bestia, Dick the Bruiser, Haystack Calhoon....they were all there...My dad had to inform me about the fake blood because I was very shocked and thought it was real!!
But I got to meet the good guy, Leaping Larry Chene!...I think my dad said he also played piano! But all the wrestlers were good guys back stage....Good thing ! :)
I grew up watching Larry Chene. I looked forward to watching "rasslin" on Saturday afternoon as a child. This was the "Golden Age" of wrestling. I was saddened by his untimely death in October of 1964. For me, I never viewed professional same after his passing. Thanks for this clip, it took me back to a wonderful time in Americana.
This was cool to see. Leapin' Larry was my dad's cousin and I grew up hearing my dad talk about his wrestling uncle. It was neat to see him wrestle. I wish my dad was still here to see it. (My dad was the only one in his family to move away from Detroit.)
He was my mother's uncle. She is big in working on the Family Tree if anyone else is related, give me a bump, I can put u in touch with her. The Beauchene's weren't a very big family.
I saw Larry in Albion, Mi at the Albion National Guard Armory in the early 60's. I was lucky enough to meet him and get an autographed picture. He was a total gentleman. He defeated Purcival Pringle.
This guy was my grandpa! his daughter Donna Bauchene (now fletcher) is my ma! He was incredible, although he and Red Kelly were neighbors! My uncle mike was born with red hair and started the running joke about who was the REAL dad!!
His real name is Arthur L. Bauchene and I remember when he died in 1964. I believe it was an auto accident in Illinois where he fell asleep at the wheel. He was a real favorite in Michigan and always was a big draw. I got his autograph at the old Lansing Civic Center when he wrestled there. He was very nice to the kids and signed an autograph for everyone who waited for him. Classy.
I have heard alot about this guy but this was the first time I ever got to see him wrestle. I have to say I was impressed. Although Chene did not look like much of a high flyer he had some moves that would be considered innovative & impressive even today. A decent ,low key, but enjoyable interview as well.
Larry Beauchene A.K.A. Larry Chene lived on the east side of Detroit during his wrestling career in the Gratiot-E.Outer Drive area. His kids attended St.David grade school.
As a child I saw Larry wrestle live in Battle Creek,Mich. to many times to count.He was my hero,I had his autograph and he once rubbed my head as we always sat in the 1st row.Thanks for bringing back those memories
First of all, he was Leapin' Larry Chene in Michigan.He wrestled for the promotor Bert Ruby. I noticed he mentioned knowing Al Kaline and Harvey Keane, two popular Tigers in the late 50's and early 60's.
Occasionally he would take the bus. My grandfather sold him a bus ticket a few times at the Greyhound bus station in Detroit. Larry also lived on the east side of Detroit and belonged to same parish (St. David) as my grandparents & dad.
Chene went on to become a wrestling promoter and even "invented" the Larry Chene patented shirt to protect wrestlers against the stomach claw of the evil Duke Keomuka.
Has anyone else noticed that Larry Chene has sort of a nervous "tick"? Watch him closely and how he touches his head off and on... Maybe he's fixing his hair but, he doesn't seem like the type of man to care about those things.
I like Larry Chene's humility. That's something you don't see in wrestling anymore.
jkenney2 3 months ago
My father played in the house band at WXYZ in Detroit. As a kid I'd get to go there occasionally and next door they would be shooting "Big Time Wrestling".
La Bestia, Dick the Bruiser, Haystack Calhoon....they were all there...My dad had to inform me about the fake blood because I was very shocked and thought it was real!!
But I got to meet the good guy, Leaping Larry Chene!...I think my dad said he also played piano! But all the wrestlers were good guys back stage....Good thing ! :)
funkymusic2k1 5 months ago
@funkymusic2k1 There wasn't any fake blood in wrestling.
wwahc1964 1 week ago
I grew up watching Larry Chene. I looked forward to watching "rasslin" on Saturday afternoon as a child. This was the "Golden Age" of wrestling. I was saddened by his untimely death in October of 1964. For me, I never viewed professional same after his passing. Thanks for this clip, it took me back to a wonderful time in Americana.
VERTIS2008 6 months ago
he look like Del Rio
nightmetal7 8 months ago
those are some stiff punches he's throwing
guitarace82 10 months ago
my grandmas cousin was "leaping" larry chene. She meat all the wrestlers in Detroit Motorcity wrestlers
1996mami 10 months ago
watched larry chene as a kid, what an athlete
chucknchar 1 year ago
this is a "MASTERPIECE" of REAL PRO-WRESTLING!.thx so much for the video! =o]
tornmask 1 year ago
This was cool to see. Leapin' Larry was my dad's cousin and I grew up hearing my dad talk about his wrestling uncle. It was neat to see him wrestle. I wish my dad was still here to see it. (My dad was the only one in his family to move away from Detroit.)
snydesb 1 year ago
He was my mother's uncle. She is big in working on the Family Tree if anyone else is related, give me a bump, I can put u in touch with her. The Beauchene's weren't a very big family.
ramonatooey 1 year ago
@ramonatooey he was my grandma's cousin
Emily00msu 1 year ago
@ramonatooey - is your mom Marti?
snydesb 1 year ago
I saw Larry in Albion, Mi at the Albion National Guard Armory in the early 60's. I was lucky enough to meet him and get an autographed picture. He was a total gentleman. He defeated Purcival Pringle.
jrb112263 1 year ago
This guy was my grandpa! his daughter Donna Bauchene (now fletcher) is my ma! He was incredible, although he and Red Kelly were neighbors! My uncle mike was born with red hair and started the running joke about who was the REAL dad!!
MunkeySpunk92 2 years ago
It's pretty amazing how a lot of this stuff has aged so well... it is still quite watchable... wish ESPN Classic would still air this.
emeraldorange 2 years ago
I used to see wrestling like this when I was in 1st grade. On the other hand, it's so much different from wrestling today.
author 2 years ago
He was always the 'good guy,' unlike Dick the Bruiser or The Sheik, and he was billed as Leaping Larry Chene the 'Scientific Wrestler.'
chuckroast7 2 years ago
Comment removed
MunkeySpunk92 2 years ago
His real name is Arthur L. Bauchene and I remember when he died in 1964. I believe it was an auto accident in Illinois where he fell asleep at the wheel. He was a real favorite in Michigan and always was a big draw. I got his autograph at the old Lansing Civic Center when he wrestled there. He was very nice to the kids and signed an autograph for everyone who waited for him. Classy.
newhotman1001 2 years ago
I have heard alot about this guy but this was the first time I ever got to see him wrestle. I have to say I was impressed. Although Chene did not look like much of a high flyer he had some moves that would be considered innovative & impressive even today. A decent ,low key, but enjoyable interview as well.
Lfdjake91 3 years ago
Larry Beauchene A.K.A. Larry Chene lived on the east side of Detroit during his wrestling career in the Gratiot-E.Outer Drive area. His kids attended St.David grade school.
mcparla1 3 years ago
As a child I saw Larry wrestle live in Battle Creek,Mich. to many times to count.He was my hero,I had his autograph and he once rubbed my head as we always sat in the 1st row.Thanks for bringing back those memories
overkill3356 3 years ago
First of all, he was Leapin' Larry Chene in Michigan.He wrestled for the promotor Bert Ruby. I noticed he mentioned knowing Al Kaline and Harvey Keane, two popular Tigers in the late 50's and early 60's.
Oldbluehere 3 years ago
Larry Chene died in an auto accident, 10/2/64.
billgraham77 3 years ago
Chene would often wrestle 5 or 6 nights a week in Michigan, driving quickly from one small town to another. I believe he fell asleep at the wheel.
Oldbluehere 3 years ago
Occasionally he would take the bus. My grandfather sold him a bus ticket a few times at the Greyhound bus station in Detroit. Larry also lived on the east side of Detroit and belonged to same parish (St. David) as my grandparents & dad.
mcparla1 3 years ago
good shit
cja2k8 3 years ago
Chene went on to become a wrestling promoter and even "invented" the Larry Chene patented shirt to protect wrestlers against the stomach claw of the evil Duke Keomuka.
coconutsavage 3 years ago
Good video thanks for posting.
kevindwb 3 years ago
That leapfrog dropkick really was a creative spot. Wow.
larrystarstruck 3 years ago
That drop kick from the leapfrog over the ref made me POP!!
hendrix7981 3 years ago 2
I have never seen anyone else use that manoeuver. Tremendous! That is why he was called Leapin Larry Chene.
Oldbluehere 3 years ago
Has anyone else noticed that Larry Chene has sort of a nervous "tick"? Watch him closely and how he touches his head off and on... Maybe he's fixing his hair but, he doesn't seem like the type of man to care about those things.
Muscle61 3 years ago
Someone should use that finisher.
Pretty sure that's baseball HOF Jack Brickhouse on the call.
zaius316 3 years ago