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By: “DragonKingKarl” Karl Stern (Patreon / Facebook / Email)

Karl Stern is the host of the 1000 Hours Podcast Series that talks exclusively about the pioneer era (pre-1900) of professional wrestling. This article is a companion to that podcast series.

Wretched Old Thiebaud Bauer is Under the Ground… and Other Stories

Pioneer Era Pro Wrestler Thiebaud Bauer Was Not a Beloved Figure in Life or Death

At the time I am writing this article I am about to turn fifty-three years old. I have outlived Professor Thiebaud Bauer by six years, but I can only hope to have made an impact on the world to the degree the pioneer era wrestling champion did… only maybe in a better direction.

While researching my upcoming book, DragonKingKarl’s Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus (slated for release around August 2024, fingers crossed), I have come across no shortage of colorful characters, many of ill repute. There was Uzile Prickett who was once nearly murdered for staging a wrestling match against a black man in Civil War era Nashville, TN and was nearly killed for it. Then, Uzile Prickett, WAS killed later on for staging another wrestling match. Both incidents were not for the entertainment of the crowd, but rather to fleece gamblers out of their betting money. Another contemporary of theirs, John McMahon, was shot for similar reasons. Few, however, can compare to the exploits of wretched old Thiebaud Bauer. Those aren’t my words, by the way, that’s what his obituary in the January 2, 1902 edition of the Los Angeles Times said.

Cover date: January 2, 1902: The Los Angeles Times: “King Unmourned: Wretched old Thiebaud Bauer is under the ground. Bauer was known as the “King of Little Paree” and his principal resources were the earnings of fallen women. For years Bauer had been little better than an imbecile, being lead about like a child. His ill-gotten estate has been administered by Chris Buckley the “blind white devil” who bossed San Francisco politics like a despot for so long.”

When that’s what one of the largest newspapers in the United States has to say about you when you die, well, that’s quite a statement. So, how did a pro wrestler end up being one of the most hated men in California? He had to work at it, that’s how.

There are many stories that can, and probably should, be told about the life of Prof. Thiebaud Bauer, and maybe I will expound on some of them in my upcoming book. A woman, claiming to be his wife, spent her entire life savings traveling from New York to San Francisco to sue him for disappearing on her. The newspapers ran the transcripts of the highly sensational trial but, the lady herself, seemed to have a rather slim grip on reality as well, and it is hard to know where the facts ended, and fiction began in her story. (The Judge ruled they were never married and actually charged her with perjury). I had rather focus here on his various schemes perpetrated on the public than on his domestic affairs, for those too, were plentiful.

Anyone under the illusion (delusion?) that professional wrestling became “fake” (“worked” in the terms used by the wrestlers themselves, or “predetermined” if you prefer) somewhere around the 1930s as a way of making boring wrestling matches more entertaining and to sell tickets, boy have I got some news for you. Some (not all, but a lot more than people suspect) wrestling matches were being “faked” regularly in the 1800s. The matches were being pre-determined, not in order to sell tickets or make things more exciting, but rather to screw gamblers out their money. It was a scheme not exclusive to wrestling. Newspapers in the 1870s were already reporting the predetermination of horse racing, wrestling, and billiards as old news even then. But the national reputation of wrestling being a dirty, worked, faked, or pre-determined “sport” was due in no small part to Prof. Thiebaud Bauer and his clique of friends and co-conspirators like Prof. William Miller, Emile Reigner, Leopold Vandervecken, and others.

First things first. Like myself, you are probably wondering, why are all these people professors and what are they professors of? The answer is, who knows? Probably nothing that involved any sort of institutional degree. It was not uncommon for physical culturist of the day to deem themselves “Professors” of health or physical culture. Also, when the term “Greco-Roman Wrestling” is used in terms of 1800s pro wrestling, you may be picturing the Greco-Roman wrestling of the Olympic games. It was not. It was largely a form of show wrestling. I’m not saying all 1800s Greco-Roman wrestling was fake, but my research from the last few years does throw most of it into question. The king of Greco-Roman wrestling (the 1800s version) was Prof. Thiebaud Bauer and his troupe, at least until William Muldoon came along.

Prof. Thiebaud Bauer already had a reputation as a troublemaker back in his native France. Yes, the 1800s version of Greco-Roman wrestling came from neither Greece, nor Rome, but the circuses of France, but that’s a tale for another day. According to highly respected wrestling historian Phil Lions, “On the night of January 1, 1869, in Lyon, France, two wrestlers from the troupe of Rossignol-Rollin (the top French wrestling promoter at the time) got into a fight while out and about in public. The two wrestlers were "The Beast of the Jungles" Faouet and "The Muscular Apollon" (Thiebaud) Bauer. Fists were involved and it was a vicious brawl. At one point Bauer snapped Faouet's thumb and in turn Faouet tried to bite off Bauer's index finger. The commotion attracted the police and they tried to separate the two. The reports say it took about a dozen policemen to subdue Faouet. Faouet ended up in jail, but was then released, conditionally. A few days later there was a trial. The promoter Rossignol-Rollin spoke on behalf of the wrestlers, trying to appease the situation. He basically blamed the whole thing on alcohol. He described the sober Bauer as being ‘softer than a lamb’, who then turns into a tiger or a lion when he gets some wine into his system. He made a similar claim about Faouet as well, saying he turns into an idiot when he drinks. The court ended up fining Faouet 23 French francs.”

Prof. Thiebaud Bauer and his group of wrestlers set up shop in San Francisco in the 1870s and, for a while, the newspapers and the public seemed to like, or at least play along, with the production. Several successful pro wrestling matches had already been held in San Francisco, not the least of which, was American heavyweight champion Col. James H. McLaughlin defeating Michael “Corduroy” Whalen.

02-14-1874: San Francisco, CA: Platt’s Hall: Attendance: “Immense Crowd”: American Collar & Elbow champion Col. James H. McLaughlin defeated Michael “Corduroy” Whalen. McLaughlin had been largely inactive for sometime but “easily” defeated Whalen who was billed as “Champion of the Pacific Slope” or of California. The San Francisco Chronicle said that Whalen’s friends were bitterly disappointed in him. The newspaper stated that much of the rules and attire of the wrestlers were based on what had been decided upon during the Detroit 1870 tournament where McLaughlin had won the tournament championship belt. Despite the fact that multiple other wrestlers are billing themselves as some variation of “Champion of America” and the fact that McLaughlin seldom wrestles during this period, it is clear that is still the number one wrestler in the United States during this era and the true American Collar & Elbow Champion. The results of this match were reported in newspapers across the United States over the next couple of months making it a very widely circulated story. (DragonKingKarl’s Pioneer Era Wrestling Omnibus book upcoming)

03-12-1874: San Francisco, CA: An attraction at the Col. John Wilson’s Circus: French wrestlers contested under Catch-as-Catch-Can rules with Vincent defeating Perrier. Both San Francisco newspapers, The Chronicle and Examiner ran a detailed report on the match with the Examiner poking insults at the Chronicle for misunderstanding the rules. (DragonKingKarl’s Pioneer Era Wrestling Omnibus book upcoming)

Things took a bit of a turn, however, in May 1874 when a match didn’t quite live up to expectations.

05-16-1874: San Francisco, CA: Platt Hall: A heavily advertised match between Thomas Harris “Champion of Australia” and Dan Murray “of San Francisco” for a reported $2,000 takes place. The San Francisco Chronicle does not report the result but gives a scathing review calling it a “Sorry Affair” and writing, “The great wrestling match that was advertised to come off at Platt’s Hall on Saturday night was a grand fizzle. One of the principals did not know how to wrestle and the other didn’t want to.” (DragonKingKarl’s Pioneer Era Wrestling Omnibus book upcoming)

By July, however, Prof. Thiebaud Bauer had come to town bringing his version of Greco-Roman wrestling with him.

07-02-1874: San Francisco, CA: Prof. Theobaud Bauer defeated Louis Gerrichton in a mixed match. First fall French Style, second fall German style. Bauer won both falls. (DragonKingKarl’s Pioneer Era Wrestling Omnibus book upcoming)

11-14-1874: San Francisco, CA: Attendance: 200: Prof. Theobaud Bauer wrestled Prof. William Miller to a draw. Some newspapers said this was for the title of “Champion of the Pacific Coast”. (DragonKingKarl’s Pioneer Era Wrestling Omnibus book upcoming)

12-08-1874: San Francisco, CA: Platt Hall: Prof. Thiebaud Bauer defeated Prof. William Miller in Greco-Roman wrestling. Prof. William Miller complained to the newspapers that Bauer had wet his hair with oil or grease. Miller also demanded in the rematch that smoking be banned. (DragonKingKarl’s Pioneer Era Wrestling Omnibus book upcoming)

The December 1874 match between Bauer and Miller allowed Miller the opportunity to “talk up” the match. An early version of a pro wrestling “promo” for the benefit of the newspapers and the paying (and betting) public.

03-06-1875: San Francisco, CA: Platt’s Hall: Large Crowd: Prof. Theobaud Bauer defeated Leopald Vanderveken (AKA: Leopold Vandhocken).

DragonKingKarl Note: Newspapers spelled Leopald Vanderveken’s name numerous ways including Van der Rocken, Vanderrocken, and many other variations. It should also be noted that Prof. Bauer’s name is often spelled or mis-spelled in a varity of ways included “Theobaud Bauer”, “Thiebaud Bauer”, “Theo Bauer”, etc. I have elected to use a variety of spellings in order to convince Google to find this article. (LOL in modern terms).

04-13-1875: San Francisco, CA: Large attendance: Palace Amphitheater: Prof. William Miller defeated Leopold Vandervecken in two straight falls in Greco-Roman wrestling. Miller was said to have won $2,000 plus “several thousand dollars” were taken in at the door. The combination of Prof. Theobaud Bauer, Prof. William Miller, and Leopold Vandervecken have proved very popular in San Francisco and the newspapers are heavily covering each event. (DragonKingKarl’s Pioneer Era Wrestling Omnibus book upcoming)

Then, in the early summer of 1875, things took a turn for the Bauer wrestling production. It seems that in the middle of a wrestling match between Bauer and Miller, the referee decided he had enough of the con-game and shut down the match. This event resulted in a lawsuit and the San Francisco newspapers turning on the Greco-Roman matches.

05-28-1875: San Francisco, CA: Prof. William Miller went to a draw with Prof. Theobaud Bauer in a Greco-Roman match called off by the referee. The Los Angeles newspapers called the match a “put-up job” and said that the crowd almost rioted. The San Francisco Examiner, which had been covering the Bauer-Miller-Vandervecken matches in depth called the match a swindle and that the referee became so disgusted with the match he called off betting and declared the match a draw.

06-14-1875: In San Francisco, CA, Sheridan Corbyn sued Professor William Miller for $100 in fees owed for managing him in the May 28th match which was called off by the referee. Sheridan Corbyn testified in court that the match was a put-up job but, regardless, he was still owed the $100 fee for managing Miller. Miller claims he only owed Corbyn $20. Judge Pennie ruled in favor of Corbyn for the entire $100.

07-03-1875: After the debacle of the last Bauer vs Miller match in San Francisco, CA, Bauer moved his show to Carson City, NV and held two wrestling matches at the Carson Theater which was said to be “crowded”. Emil Regnier defeated Edmund Brannon in Greco-Roman and Prof. Theobaud Bauer defeated Mr. Robinson. Emil Regnier is described as “Bauer’s pupil”. (DragonKingKarl’s Pioneer Era Wrestling Omnibus book upcoming)

While wrestling in Nevada, this little gem ran in the newspaper:

07-17-1875: The Yerington, NV Times runs the following news blurb, “The ‘grand wrestling exhibition’ given at Piper’s Opera House on Sunday afternoon and evening was anything but high-toned or entertaining, the chief Roman wrestler (Prof. Theobaud) Bauer, being as drunk as the maternal ancestor of a musician’s dog. It appears to our reporter that Bauer, (William) Miller, (Emil) Reigner, and the other muscle men from the Bay have hoodooed the public sufficiently to be let severely alone.” (DragonKingKarl’s Pioneer Era Wrestling Omnibus book upcoming)

Ultimately, Theo Bauer and gang relocate to the east coast where they worked the New York area for a long time. Somewhere along the way, Bauer managed to (possibly) get married, steal a ton of money from his “wife” and flee back to the west coast where he became very ill in his 40’s, likely from the results of alcohol. By 47, Thiebaud Bauer was dead.

The Los Angeles Times summed up the life of Thiebaud Bauer with what may be the saddest epitaph ever published, “King of Little Paree Pays Wages of Sin: Thiebaud Bauer's Life Debause Ends in Asylum… the age-old adage that stated only good should be said about the dead, could not apply to Bauer, and among those who felt his cruelty the news, that he was no more, will be received with a feeling of satisfaction.”

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