The Day Tarzan Came Home to Iowa
Thursday, January 14th, 2010 | Columns, Iowa History Journal, Wrestling | No Comments
This is the Publisher’s Perspective column from Volume 2, Issue 1 of Iowa History Journal:
During my long career in journalism I’ve had the opportunity to meet many interesting personalities … from President Ronald Reagan to boxing legend Muhammad Ali, from actors like Robert Redford and Lou Ferrigno (“The Incredible Hulk” of TV fame) to super athletes like Dick Butkus and Bob Mathias.
But one of the most memorable moments came when Tarzan visited Iowa City.
I was editor of the Voice of the Hawkeyes newspaper in 1985 when Dan Gable, Iowa’s wrestling coach at the time, called me and asked if I had any ideas on who he could get to be an “honorary coach” at the upcoming wrestling match between the Hawkeyes and the Cyclones. The meet was already a very big deal back then, but he was trying to put a little extra excitement into the event and thought it would be fun to have someone special with his team on the bench.
I said, “How about a former movie Tarzan?”
“That sounds interesting,” he replied, “but what’s the connection with Iowa?”
Iowa History Journal Volume 2, Issue 1 Now Available
Tuesday, January 12th, 2010 | Iowa History Journal | No Comments
The January, 2010, issue features articles on the great career of Iowa basketball legend Murray Wier, former movie Tarzan Jock Mahoney of Davenport, the Younkers store dynasty, the Iowa Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame and the Spirit Lake Massacre of 1857!
Also columns by regulars Mike Chapman, Arvid Huisman and John McNeer; Iowa History Quiz, and a book review on the best-selling book “The Girls of Ames.”
The feature article in the issue is about the great Corn Palaces of Iowa.
Inside the Issue:
- The Day Tarzan came to Iowa
- Natural Royalty, Iowa’s Palaces – by Bill Sherman
- Murray Wier, the Magic Man – by Buck Turnbull
- Iowa Country Roads – Memories live on in farmhouses – by Arvid Huisman
- Rock ‘n Roll Museum … Here to stay – by Michael Swanger
- Jock Mahoney, King of the Jungle – by Mike Chapman
- Iowa Book Review on “Girls from Ames” – by Jessica Lowe
- The Way We Were – Phones once shared by everyone – by John McNeer
- Memory of the Spirit Lake Massacre – by Pete Hussmann
- Younkers’ 150-Year Heritage – by Staff Writers
- When Sleighs took over Council Bluffs – by Frank Heath
- What’s in a Name: Waverly & Bremer County
- Iowa History Quiz
- Nile Kinnick Quotes: The Power of the Bible
- Letters to the Editor
Visit IowaHistoryJournal.com to subscribe!
The Day Gable Wrestled ‘Goober’
Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009 | Columns, WIN Magazine, Wrestling | No Comments
There have been many great wrestling showdowns through the decades, such as Caruso-Fehrs, Behm- Sanders, Lewis-Smith, Fraser-Houck, Perry-Hendricks. They were all classic matches, to be sure.
But one match that never makes the list is Gable-Goober.
And for good reason. It was a pure mismatch from the outset, and there was nothing important about the match at all.
But it surely was the funniest wrestling match of all time!
Iowa History Journal Issue 6 Now Available
Monday, December 7th, 2009 | Iowa History Journal | No Comments
Issue number 6, December 2009, of the Iowa History Journal is now available.
Inside the issue:
- USS Iowa Firepower Still Felt Today
- The Borlaug Legacy
- Bump Elliot: Hawkeye Leader
- Historic Blacksmith Shop
- The Day the Pope Came
- Heisman Trophy Contenders
- Honoring Columbus in Iowa
- Columns by Iowans
Visit IowaHistoryJournal.com to subscribe!
Mike Retires from the Wrestling Museum
Sunday, December 6th, 2009 | Wrestling | No Comments
Mike retired on October 31st from the Wrestling Museum. After founding the museum, he spent 11 years as the Executive Director. Here is a press release from the Museum:
The executive director of the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum (DGIWIM) is stepping down after leading the organization for over a decade. Mike Chapman founded the museum in 1998 following a successful career in journalism that spanned three decades to become the museum’s full-time executive director in 2002.
“I have devoted a large part of my life to preserving the history of wrestling at all levels, amateur and professional, and the museum was the culmination of that effort,” said Chapman.
Iowa History Journal Issue 5 Now Available
Tuesday, October 13th, 2009 | Iowa History Journal | No Comments
Issue number 5, October 2009, of the Iowa History Journal is now available.
Inside the issue:
- Saga of the USS Iowa
- Old Chapel Resurrected
- Rocky Marciano’s Fatal Trip
- Three Baseball Books
- Recalling the Big Peach
- Iowa History Quiz
- Columns by Iowans
Visit IowaHistoryJournal.com to subscribe!
IHJ Featured in Tuesday’s Des Moines Register
Wednesday, October 7th, 2009 | Iowa History Journal, Newspaper | No Comments
The Des Moines Register did a short piece on the Iowa History Journal in its Biz Buzz section on Tuesday. The blurb reads:
Iowa writer and promoter Mike Chapman has a new venture, Iowa History Journal, which he began publishing with a soft launch last winter and which is now promoting its fifth issue.
The inaugural issue in January featured University of Iowa football legend Nile Kinnick. Subsequent covers featured former Iowans Herbert Hoover, Donna Reed and actor George “Superman” Reeves.
The October issue features Fred Becker, the first U of I football player to win All-American status. He died on a World War I battlefield.
Chapman is a former publisher of the Newton Daily News and founder of the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum.
The Iowa History Journal is distributed to high schools and libraries. The October issue will be available soon in some bookstores, said publicist Donna Johnson. For subscription information, call (641) 792-0920 or go to IowaHistoryJournal.com.
(Source: www.desmoinesregister.com)
First Ever Alan Rice Hall of Fame Inductions to Take Place October 16 and 17 at the Wrestling Museum
Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009 | Wrestling | No Comments
From the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum’s website:
Five of the greatest stars in Greco-Roman history and one of the most important political figures of the past decade – along with an Iowa family with a sensational wrestling background – will be honored on Oct. 16-17, 2009, at the inaugural inductions into the Alan and Gloria Rice Greco-Roman Hall of Champions.
The hall is located in the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum here, and is named for Alan and Gloria Rice, a husband-and wife team that has been one of the most influential forces in American wrestling history. Greco-Roman wrestling is a style that allows only holds above the waist, and Alan Rice has been one of its staunchest advocates for half a century.
Continue reading for more details on the event as well as the featured guests and inductees…
Mike to be on WHO Radio September 29th
Thursday, September 17th, 2009 | Iowa History Journal, Radio | No Comments
Mike is scheduled to be interviewed on the Van & Bonnie show on WHO Radio on Tuesday, Sept 29 at 8:30 am. He will be talking about the Iowa History Journal.
You can listen to the broadcast live on whoradio.com or by clicking below
Subscribe to Iowa History Journal
Monday, August 31st, 2009 | Iowa History Journal | No Comments
Subscribe to Iowa History Journal today! You can now subscribe to Iowa History Journal either by printing off a subscription form and mailing it or by paying online with a credit card or PayPal account. It’s as easy as a few clicks away to get started receiving the magazine.
Check out Iowa History Journal’s subscription page at www.IowaHistoryJournal.com
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