September History Hour Tells Story of Pro Wrestling's Greeley Roots

PHOTO: Learn more about Greeley’s own Toots Mondt and the impact he had on the sport of wrestling with his Slam Bang Western Style Wrestling. 

GREELEY, Colo. — The Greeley Historic Preservation Commission invites the public to a History Hour event in September.

On September 10, local historian and City of Greeley Museums Interpreter Gabe Llanas will present “Slam Bang Western Style: How Greeley Helped Give Birth to Professional Wrestling.” During the Great Depression and Dust Bowl, a man from Greeley helped change sports and entertainment by creating a new style of professional wrestling. Learn how Joseph “Toots” Mondt and his Slam Bang Western Style Wrestling created a new American mythology staged in the wrestling arena.

The presentation will be at noon at the Greeley History Museum, 714 8th Street, in the Community Room.  

Gabe Llanas 

Gabe is a lifelong resident of Greeley and a big-time fan of professional wrestling. As an historic interpreter at Centennial Village Museum, he also considers himself pretty good at telling a story.

Upcoming History Hour presentations:

• September 24: Centennial Revisited: An Oral History of the Epic TV Miniseries, by Perry Hibner
• October 15: Confluence: A History of Greeley Water, by Dr. Michael Welsh
• October 22: Out of Many Am I, by Tony Arguello 

The presentations are free and open to the public and no reservations are required.  

For more information, contact Betsy Kellums in the Historic Preservation Office at hpo@greeleygov.com or betsy.kellums@greeleygov.com or 970-350-9222.