Samuel Burmister

Samuel (Sam) Burmister(1897-1962) was a professional wrestler from Estonia who represented Russia in the 1912 Olympic games as a lightweight. He was also a trainer of wrestlers, and performed in vaudeville and sideshows as a strongman.

Early life

Burmister was born in Estonia in 1897 to a Jewish family. He participated in the 1912 Olympics for Russia.[1] He served as a pilot in the Imperial Russian Air Force in World War I.[1] As the situation in Russia worsened for Jews after the war, Burmister left Russia on a world tour across Asia and the Pacific and America. His tour took him to Australia in 1925, and found the local wrestling scene so receptive that he decided to return permanently. Burmister emigrated to Brisbane in 1937.[1]

Wrestling career

Burmister had an active career in professional wrestling from 1925-1934, including winning the 1929 Australian Heavyweight title.[2] He was also World Jewish Wrestling Champion several times. The press described him as "a low-set, bull-necked, heavily torsoed fellow",[3] and he was well-known and popular with audiences for his "vigorous methods"[4]

In addition to his professional wrestling career, Burmister was also a vaudeville performer and sideshow strongman, under the stage name "The Modern Samson".[5] Anecdotally, one of the highlights of his routine included driving nails into a pine board with his fists [1] and allowing a motor car to be driven across his chest.[6] He also had a small cameo role in the 1925 Australian film "Those Terrible Twins"[5] Burmister switched from competitor to trainer in the late 1940s, training Australian rugby league and rugby union star Bob McMaster when the latter made his foray into professional wrestling.

Death

He died unexpectedly on 4 October 1962 in Brisbane, and is buried in the Jewish section of the Toowong Cemetery, Brisbane.[7]

References
  1. "The Sydney Morning Herald - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  2. Saalbach, Axel. "Wrestlingdata.com - The World's Largest Wrestling Database". wrestlingdata.com. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  3. "WRESTLING. SAM BURMISTER V. GEORGE PENCHEFF". Townsville Daily Bulletin. 13 January 1931. p. 10. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  4. "To-night's Contest". Classic Wrestling Articles. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  5. "The Mystery of 'Those Terrible Twins' (1925), Part 4 - The Production". brooksiescollection.tumblr.com. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  6. "Sam Burmister, Strong Man". Barrier Miner, Broken Hill (NSW). 18 December 1925.
  7. "Samuel Burmister ( - 1962) - Find A Grave Memorial". www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
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