One of the Cow Palace’s Major Attractions…
On Saturday, September6 join us as the Courthouse Docket continues with One of the Cow Palace’s Major Attractions… Promoter Roy Shire’s All-Star Wrestling/Big Time Wrestling. Jim Fitzpatrick will discuss the history of professional wrestling in Northern California, with the primary focus on promoter Roy Shire‘s promotion which ran from 1960 to 1981. Shire, a former top professional wrestler, held his major events monthly at the Cow Palace.
Jim will not only give insights into the business but also the wrestling stars who became household names, such as 7’4” tall Andre the Giant, Pat Patterson, Ray Stevens, Pepper Gomez, 601 lb Haystacks Calhoun, 600 lb Man Mountain Mike, Don Muraco, Kenji Shibuya, Mr Saito, The Shiek, Rocky Johnson (the father of Dwayne The Rock Johnson), Peter Maivia (an actual Samoan, high chief and grandfather of Dwayne The Rock Johnson), Terrible Ted, the 7 foot tall, 600 lb wrestling bear, and more…
Jim Fitzpatrick is a former professional Roller Derby skater with the World Champion San Francisco Bay Bombers, and a former firefighter. Prior to his skating career, Jim was the ring photographer for promoter Roy Shire’s Cow Palace events. Many years later, after his career with Roller Derby became to an end, Jim got back into shooting pictures at various, local independent wrestling shows. Missing performing and being a part of the action, with the help of the wrestling promoter, Jim created an evil, cowardly butler character, Mr. Goldsworth, who would accompany several of the evil wrestlers to the ring. Frequently, “unbeknownst” the referees, Mr. Goldsworth, would interfere in the matches, to help his “employers“ win. He performed twice at the Cow Palace during major All Pro Wrestling events. For one, he was honored to be able to perform in the ring with his all-time favorite wrestler growing up, legendary champion Pat Patterson.
Jim is an award-winning artist and photographer. He is married and has two grown children. He hopes to inspire other suffering with chronic pain or other obstacles in their life to “fight on.“
Previously on the Courthouse Docket
On April 26, 2025, the Courthouse Docket featured Patricia McDaniel discussing The Amelia Vollers House: An 1891 Queen Anne Victorian in San Mateo.
If you have questions about previous Courthouse Dockets, please email education@historysmc.org.
The Courthouse Docket is a series of presentations held in the History Museum’s Historic Courtroom A. The Courthouse Docket Series is sponsored by Cypress Lawn Heritage Foundation.
