Kinnick Documentary to Play in Newton with Q&A Session

Thursday, September 15th, 2022 | Other, Speaking | No Comments

Dawn and Paul Bleeker, owners of the Capitol II Theater in Newton, have announced that Mike will be a special guest for two showings of the Kinnick documentary on Wednesday, September 21, and will hold a question-and-answer session after each of the two showings. The first showing is at 6:30 pm and is open to the public, with the Q&A to follow. The second showing is just for members of the Newton High School football program, and starts at 7 p.m. with the Q&A session to follow.  Scott Siepker, known as the “Iowa Nice Guy”, is the producer of the documentary and will also be at the Q&A sessions.

In addition, Mike will have some rare Nile Kinnick items on display in the lobby prior to the showings, beginning at 5:30 pm.

Tags: Nile Kinnick, nile kinnick documentary

Mike Featured Guest at Oklahoma Alliance of Fans (OAF) Conference – September 17/18

Wednesday, September 7th, 2022 | Speaking | No Comments

Mike will be the featured guest at The Oklahoma Alliance of Fans (OAF) annual OAFCon event Saturday, September 17^th, and Sunday, September 18th at the Embassy Suites in Norman, Oklahoma.

The convention is renowned nationwide as an outstanding “old school” vintage collectibles show, where attendees can explore an incredible selection of comic books, and also vintage toys, movie posters, and other collectibles one is unlikely to see anywhere else, with over 60 different exhibitors covering almost 100 booths! OAF is also known for bringing together old and new friends with an emphasis on building a community of fandoms.   

Attendees will also have the opportunity to view and purchase works by regional comic artists, experience an Original Art presentation, hear readings of upcoming books on comic fandoms, witness the presentation of a forthcoming OAF Legends statue that celebrates longtime members, and partake in a live collectibles auction! 

This year’s featured guest is Mike Chapman, the author of 32 books and who has interviewed such people as Ronald Reagan, Muhammad Ali, Robert Redford, Lou (the Incredible Hulk) Ferrigno, Edd “Kookie” Byrnes and four movie Tarzans. Mike is also a recognized authority on wrestling and wrote the biography of Oklahoma Sooner legend Dan Hodge. Mike will discuss his times spent with the four movie Tarzans and hold a Q&A session as well.

Other guests include Anthony Tollin, professional comic colorist whose work includes hit DC stories like Crisis on Infinite Earths and Batman’s A Death in the Family, and J. David Spurlock, renowned comic book historian and Director of the Wally Wood Estate. 

Tickets are only $5 at the door, and kids 12 and under are free, Show hours are Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 10am-4pm. For more information, visit www.oafcon.net or Facebook (www.facebook.com/oafcon).

Tags: OAFcon, Oklahoma Alliance of Fans

Mike and Nile Kinnick

Wednesday, September 7th, 2022 | Other | No Comments

A very professional film group in Iowa has made a stunning documentary about Nile Kinnick, Iowa’s 1939 Heisman Trophy winner who lost has life in World War II at the age of 24, and Mike was honored to play a key role in the production.

It has been getting rave reviews and sellout crowds at  a huge movie theater in Des Moines. In fact,  it drew the largest audiences of any movie playing in all the movie houses in the Des Moines area over the August 26-27 weekend.

Bev and Mike went with his son Jason and his wife Mindy on the opening night and were greeted by producer Scott Siepker, and given the red carpet treatment.

The film begins with Mike telling the story of what Ronald Reagan told him in a face to face meeting in 1990, about Nile Kinnick. President Reagan had worked at WHO radio station in Des Moines in 1937, broadcasting Iowa football  games,when Nile was a sophomore., and he is seen throughout the film.

“It’s a wonderful tribe to a great man, and takes us back to a time in America that we should all know about,” said Mike. It is available on Vimeo right now.

The trailer is viewable below:

https://player.vimeo.com/video/737322694?h=7554cd1fa4

Tags: Kinnick Documentary, Nile Kinnick, Scott Siepker

Waterloo Hall of Famers

Thursday, July 7th, 2022 | Wrestling | No Comments

 Recently, these four men, all natives of Waterloo, Iowa, got together for a photo session. They are (from right to left):

• Jim Duschen, an All-American at Iowa State, two-time Greco-Roman national champion, 1973 World team member, and a legendary high school coach in Henderson, Nevada;
• Dan Gable, the single most publicized figure in the history of American amateur wrestling, two-time NCAA champion at Iowa State, 1971 World champion, 1972 Olympic champion, coach of 15 NCAA championship teams at the University of Iowa, and 2021 Medal of Freedom honoree;
• Bob Buzzard, two-time All-American at Iowa State, national freestyle champion, 1972 Olympic team, 1969 World team, and a legendary high school coach in Oregon;
• Mike Chapman, author of 32 books, 17 about wrestling, national Wrestling Writer of the Year five times, and created WIN magazine, WIN Memorabilia Show, the Dan Gable Museum, and the Dan Hodge Trophy, called “the Heisman Trophy of wrestling”.

All four are members of the Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame of Iowa in Waterloo, the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in Cresco, and the Battle of Waterloo Hall of Fame in their hometown, as well as many other halls of fame.

Dan is from West High while the other three went to East High. They are all members of their high school halls of fame, as well.

Tags: Bob Buzzard, Dan Gable, Jim Duschen