The Royal Stud Part Two

This past week, I was informed of the passing of Mrs. "Moose" Cholak in suburban south Chicago. This is the story done on her in the local newspaper, The Daily Southtown.

The woman behind the 'Moose'

A Life Story

Sunday, June 12, 2005

By Lauren FitzPatrick Staff writer

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The lady who was Mrs. Golden Moose for 45 years was a behind-the-scenes kind of girl who held down the homefront while her man wrestled with the heavyweights.

Mary "Arlene" Cholak, of Chicago's East Side community, stood faithfully by her husband, Edward, who in the world of professional wrestling 30 years ago was better known as "Moose" Cholak.

She was a great fan and very supportive of him competing, said their son, Steve.

And she knew all the tricks of her gigantic husband, who carried 450 pounds on his 6-foot, 4-inch frame.

"His move was the 'el squasho,' where he would just fall on top of the guy, and there was nothing the guy could do," she told the Southtown when Moose died in 2002.

But she was the rock of the family, said Paul "Golden Boy" Christy, Moose's longtime friend and tag-team partner.

"It takes a certain type of person to be able to put up with it," he said of the hoopla surrounding wrestling. "She backed his play 100 percent."

Mrs. Cholak (nee Miller) died June 1. She was 70.

Born in Chicago on Christmas Day 1934, Mrs. Cholak spent her childhood in the neighborhood now known as Avalon Park, near East 77th Street and South Blackstone Avenue. She liked having a holiday birthday, Cholak said, because that meant extra presents.

She graduated from Loretto Academy High School in nearby Woodlawn.

Mrs. Cholak and her friends would go to a local tavern - the Calumet Beach Inn - for Friday night fish fry. There she met Edward Cholak, a wrestler from his high school days just back from the Navy. His father owned the Calumet Beach Inn.

After a five-year courtship, the Cholaks were married in 1957 and bought a house in the East Side community. There Mrs. Cholak would spend the rest of her life.

While he worked days as an engineer for the city of Chicago and was recruited to wrestle professionally at night, she held down the fort, taking care of their two children, their son said.

"She was a great mom," he said. "She gave me a great childhood, just a normal, great life."

Daughter Kathleen, who is developmentally disabled, required special attention growing up, he said.

"She took her time and really worked hard with her," he said of his mother. "She liked to teach her."

In her later years, she was very dedicated to her garden, changing the costume on a concrete goose in the yard for each holiday.

Moose's popularity peaked in the 1970s, when he and Christy won the tag-team championship. He would enter the ring with a moosehead and antlers over his own head. Mrs. Cholak's patience with wrestling fans held fast.

She was so good with the fans, Steve Cholak said - "crazy stuff with the fans, having to duck out of places, getting into the car."

People knew where the Cholaks lived, and would drive by the house or stop for autographs, Christy said. Mrs. Cholak wasn't fazed, even by his lady fans.

"They made a good team," Christy said. "He was the outward type of guy, and she was a passive type of person. (Moose) would say how loyal she was, and how dedicated she was."

Her son echoed his sentiment.

"She was really a selfless person," Cholak said. "She really cared more about other people than herself."

Mrs. Cholak also is survived by daughter Kathleen; a sister, Barbara "Bonnie" Caudle; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Arrangements were by Kompare Funeral Home, (773) 768-8800.

Suggestions for A Life Story, which appears every Sunday, may be sent to Laren FitzPatrick at [email protected] or (708) 633-5964.

Rest in Peace Mr. and Mrs. Edward "Moose" Cholak--Percival

When I left you last, I had been chatting on my private cell phone with Adam Windsor, "The Royal Stud." He had called me asking for some advice and also to tell me that he broke away from the grips of FUNKISM in Ocala, Florida.

I have to give the guy some credit; he did what no other student of Dory Funk Jr.‘s wrestling academy had done. He stayed with the school for nearly six years, won every title there was to have except for the Ladies championship, and carried his head high despite being held back.

Adam had been to the WWE and WCW tapings and had wrestled in dark matches for them. He impressed the trainers with his vast knowledge of catch as catch can tactics. He also impressed them with his manners of being a gentleman and only speaking when spoken to.

Adam asked when I could come and maybe give him some sound advice on the wrestling business. He suggested me coming to Ocala and making the trip a combined effort and visit with my Uncle Basil. I then told him what it would cost him for me to make that trip.

Ocala does not have an airfield that commercial aircraft can land at. As a matter of fact, the closest is some 30 miles to the north at Gainesville or 50 miles southeast in Sanford. The other major airports are Tampa, 100 miles to the south, Orlando, 80 miles to the southeast, or Jacksonville, 120 miles to the northeast. It must be heck living on the edge of nowhere and the only industry is horse farms and flea markets.

We continued the talk for some 30 miles more, and I found out that Adam now has his own website, www.adamwindsor.com. Please make it a point to visit and read some of his statements and hear from others on his message board. I have also found out that he now is a sole distributor for many films of his illustrious career. He also is organizing a group of talent for matches he will be promoting in Ocala and other cities in Florida. He is also doing some personal training in various health clubs.

He went on to tell me that his close friends have encouraged him in what he is doing and that they will support his every effort. It is a great honor to have people think so well of you.

Then again, as I told him, people loved to hate me and paid dearly to come and see me get the stuffings beaten out of me on a nightly basis. I was a household word in the Midwest the entire time I was there.

As I pulled into the driveway of the auditorium in Indiana where I had business to attend to, I cut Adam off by telling him that I would take his offer on good advice and see what I could do to help him out.

He then asked me if I could fly to Denver the following Thursday and meet with him. I told him to call me on Tuesday afternoon, and we would talk further.

I can only tell you fans in central Florida this … I will be making every effort to come and be a part of Royal Stud Promotions, even if it is only in the background capacity. It is wonderful to be thought of, the way Adam is doing on my behalf.

As with ALL of my business dealings … I only travel FIRST CLASS, I only stay at the best places, and I keep company with only a few selected people. Watch out Ocala, Florida … Disney World might just have to take a back seat to The Royal Stud.

Percival A. Friend, Retired
The Epitome of Wrestling Managers
2004 CAC Honoree