Anton BRUEHL
Australia 1900 – United States of America 1982
United States from 1919

not titled [Wrestler, Jim Londos] 1934
gelatin silver photograph
Recto, signed in pencil on support, lower right, 'Anton Bruehl'.
image 42.6 (h) x 35.2 (w) cm
Gift of American Friends of the National Gallery of Australia, Inc., New York, NY, USA, made possible with the generous support of Anton Bruehl Jr, 2006.
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
NGA 2006.157

Jim Londos (1897–1975) was born Christos Theofilou in Greece. Known as ‘The Golden Greek’, he was a popular professional wrestler during the depression period. While working as a catcher in a carnival acrobatic act he came into contact with the world of professional wrestling. He held various heavyweight wrestling titles during the thirties and forties and was known as much for his good looks as for his ‘unconscious hold’ or ‘Japanese arm-bar’ moves. He retired from the ring in 1946 and worked for charitable organisations, particularly for Second World War orphans in Greece. He was honoured for his philanthropy by President Nixon and from King Paul of Greece received the Cross of the Golden Phoenix, a rarely presented award.