Poster: Friday Night at the Coliseum

Morgan Gieringer, University of North Texas

“Friday Night in the Coliseum,” a photo-documentary style book about professional wrestling in Houston, was published in 1971. This wildly successful book has been reprinted several times, including the 30th anniversary portfolio version published in 2018. This version of the book featured 20 signed and numbered artist’s prints and a DVD of an unreleased 16mm film about professional wrestling in Houston. The poor quality of DVD was initially disappointing, however, UNT Librarians, working directly with Winningham, scanned the original 16mm print which is now freely available for viewing on The Portal to Texas History. This obscure film short film, shot in 1972, is a fascinating glimpse of professional wrestlers, promoters and audience members who gathered every Friday night in Houston. It is also an interesting example of cinematic style represented by both still and moving images, and the dual roles of the photographer as artist and documentarian.

Poster: Friday Night at the Coliseum