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When it comes to Jim Cornette, there are probably only two absolutes - you are going to get his opinion, unfiltered, whether you agree with it or not - and that when it comes to a deep love and passion for professional wrestling's history, he is without peer.
Although, if one person comes close to their love of Memphis Wrestling history itself, it would have to be Mark James, who has written a number of books collecting the history of wrestling in that region as well as publishing a number of autobiographies from some of the most influential personalities from that region, including Dutch Mantel and Bill Dundee.
With that Midnight Express-like tandem of wrestling passion, the pair have teamed up for their first Rags, Paper & Pins: The Merchandising of Memphis Wrestling, creating one of the most fun and unique books to ever cover any aspect of the professional wrestling genre. Originally conceived as James reprinting the Memphis Wrestling magazine that a young Cornette published before setting off to find fame and fortune as a performer, producer and booker in the wrestling world, conversations between the two sparked a book that is unlike anything that has been published about the business.
An amalgamation of history textbook, collectibles guide and reprints of classic Memphis material, the book (it's title derived from Sputnik Monroe's description of gimmicks the wrestlers would sell in the territory) catches one completely unaware of how in-depth and packed it truly is. In some chapters, Cornette recounts the history of Memphis as soon through it's merchandise sales as seen through the journey of Cornette as he goes from fan to photographer to performer.
With Cornette's ridiculously insane record-keeping, memory and attention to detail, one will feel that they are not just walking through Cornette's brain (and what a 3-D film that would make) but walking through the halls of professional wrestling history with Memphis collectibles as the prism that shines the information through. It's a time that been long-past, but in a lot of ways, while smaller, was far more beneficial to the boys than working for some of the nationally known promotions in today's era are from a financial standpoint.
Some of the facts are staggering in the face of even the big-time international merchandising of WWE. In Memphis, where they ran several towns a week, some babyfaces were making as much, if not more than their regular salary called for - all with 4x6, 5x7 and 8x10 photos sold at the venue. In fact, there were people who were running the "gimmick tables" for those workers who were bringing in steady income just for selling said photos and other assorted pieces of memorabilia that would seem prehistoric compared to talking wrestling figures and downloadable Apps - but sold they did, from calendars to bumper stickers. From cloth/felt Jerry Lawler banners to Jimmy Valiant Frisbees to T-shirts to even trash baskets for cars - it sold and became embedded not just in the DNA of pro wrestling fans, but the city of Memphis as well.
The book also pays tribute to a number of personalities from in front of and behind the scenes of the promotion would might end up lost to the sands of time outside of the immediate Memphis circles. Like a lot of their past book and DVD projects, James and Cornette insure that the culture of what once was Memphis Wrestling and the achievements and hard work of a lot of unique personalities that helped forge, build and draw money for the territory are cited and remembered for the work.
As one might expect from someone who came into the business as a fan turned photographer, there are TONS of photos - wrestlers, personalities and tons of merchandise shots. It's quite likely that if there was ever a Guinness Book of World Records listing for the most wrestling memorabilia, Cornette would be one of those in the final running, if not the final victor. His obsession with maintaining everything in as perfect a condition as possible assists the excellent of the book as lots of rare pieces and older publishing that has likely been lost or forgotten by many of those fans from old eras and soiled by the passage of time are seen in all their pristine glory.
One of the best section of Rags, Paper & Pins looks at all of the musical side-journeys that came with being a mainstay in the Memphis territory, with looks at songs performed by the likes of Jimmy Hart and the First Family, Jerry Lawler, Sputnik Monroe and more. My lone complaint is that the immortal "Wimpbusters" has somehow eluded the top of Cornette's charts, but the story of Monroe's musical adventures more than makes up for that slight at one of wrestling's strangest music video take-offs of all time.
The book also completely reprints an old photo book from the Nashville territory that is a wonderful view at the stars of that era while the gooey center in the middle of this amazing Tootise Pop are the six issues of the Memphis Slamogram that were among the first writings of Cornette published. They, like a lot of other programs and magazine for the era, are not only a window into the past but the closest thing beyond books like these at telling the history, week by week, month by month of the Memphis territory. As if all that wasn't enough, a Jerry Lawler jokebook is also reprinted, allowing you to look back at the early days of some of the great lines Lawler has jabbed opponents and fans with over the decades.
There were quite a few times during the writing of this review that I'd start flipping through the book that I'd catch a photo or a piece of a story, only to backtrack and start to read the entire chapter...and then the next, and then the next. The book, like an old friend telling favorite stories, pulls you in and makes you want to stay awhile with its company - that's the mark of a great book.
Cornette and James have made noises that they have up to six more potential books together in the planning - let's hope those books are out sooner than later, but until then, Rags, Paper and Pins is a must have for Memphis Wrestling aficionados and for anyone who loves the history of or collects anything about the pro wrestling genre.
Beyond recommended, Rags, Paper & Pins can be ordered now at this link. Autographed copies can be ordered from www.JimCornette.com while all of Mark James' excellent books on the history of professional wrestling and more can be ordered and found at www.MemphisWrestlingHistory.com.
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