For decades, “The Sheik†ruled Big Time Wrestling. Its home was the beautiful, air-conditioned Cobo Arena in Detroit. Before the nationalization of professional wrestling in the 1980s, local organizations hewed regional boundaries, mostly by television market. The Detroit enterprise was an industry leader in pandemonium. Farhat, not only a multiple and long-time champion, was also the owner and CEO. His longtime nemesis was “Bobo Brazil†aka Houston Harris. They wrestled hundreds of times. In later decades. Farhat worked for various national and international wrestling organizations.
In 1944, Farhat enlisted in the U.S. military. He began his wrestling career in 1950, taking his shtick as a bloodthirsty Syrian aristocrat across state lines, doing shows as far away as Japan. There he became an icon. Known for matches in barbed wire wrapped ring ropes and spewing fire in opponent’s faces, his last match was in Japan in 1998. He is credited for mentoring and influencing the style of many current professional wrestlers.
Some criticism has surfaced regarding his portrayal of Middle Eastern peoples. It is unclear what demographic is portrayed positively in this craft.
An undocumented online memorial to him describes an incident in Texas.
In a Texas arena, during those pre-civil rights era days, black fans were seated in a balcony behind chicken wire. Farhat got to the ring, and saw this seating setup. A very real-life Edward Farhat got very upset, and in full Sheik gimmick, he climbed up 15 feet and ripped down the wire.
He got back in the ring and locked up with a shocked Brazil, who asked Farhat, ‘What the hell did you do?’ Sheik told Brazil that the local promoters were racist @$#$@$#s, and to hell with them. So the ‘hated enemies’ were in a clinch in the corner laughing at what a real-life Edward Farhat had done, and could get away with in the segregated South…simply because he did it as ‘The Sheik.’
When died in January 18, 2003, he was survived by his wife Joyce, two sons and four grandchildren. They were married for 53 years. The home they built on N. Williamston Road is now a Bed and Breakfast.
——-
Lost Lansing is a feature of the Capital Area District Library (CADL).
David,
Loved the Sheik as a kid. I was more partial to Tex McKenzie though. I remember watching them wrestle at the armory in Ionia when I was a kid. Thanks for the trip down memory lane…
r.
Thanks Randy.
One of two celebrity autographs I have ever requested is Dick the Bruiser. That tells you where my head is at. This was an inscribed, autographed picture. I got two that day, one for me, and one for my dad who taught to me appreciate this subtle art. We had them framed.
V
The Sheik was tremendous! I remember his signature move, the “Camel Clutch”, in which he would grab his opponents face with one of his hands and squeeze until they passed out. And his outrageous facial expressions and wild eyes had me convinced that that he was totally nuts.
He stood out as the best in a field filled with great entertainer/athletes like Dick the Bruiser, Bobo Brazil, Leaping Larry Shane, Haystacks Calhoun, La Beastia, Cry Baby McCarthy and so many more. But it was the Sheik, more than any other, who created the prototype of the big time wrestlers we see today.
I had the pleasure of working for The Shiek during in the mid 70′s as an attendant at Cobo Arena in Detroit. It was my job set up and up and tear the ring before and after shows, as well as collect ring garb to take back to the dressing room. I also had the opportunity to work a couple of stretcher matches (You Old Time Fans Will Remember What Those Were). Considering the fact that I only had to work a couple hours a night, sit ring side at the announcers table, and get paid for it, it wasn’t a bad gig.
My fondest memory of The Shiek was very shortly after I graduated from college, I was in the dressing room one night after a show and had the opportunity to briefly chat with The Man Himself, and he told me that me that if I had any trouble getting a job to let him know, and he would use his connections to see what he could do.
Here’s this man that I watched as a kid growing up with this bigger than life personna of The Shiek, and got to know him as he stepped out of character, and found him to be one of the warmest people I had ever met. A memory I will treasure forever.
R.I.P. Shiek
BION I’m imressped! Cool post!