Atlanta Daily World

Wrestler Don Blackman Starred In "Santiago"

DON BLACKMAN, AN EX-WRESTLING CHAMP, HAS IMPORTANT ROLE IN "SANTIAGO"

Big, powerfully-built Don Blackman, the only Negro ever to hold a world's wrestling title, has an important role in "Santiago," a new movie set for national release on July 7. Blackman, who plays the feature role of first mate aboard a gun running ship, was known in the wrestling sport as "The Black Orchid" and once held the lightweight-heavyweight championship of the world for seven years.

"Santiago," a Warner Bros. picture that tells the thrilling story of Cuba's fight for independence and stars Alan Ladd, Rossana Podesta, Lloyd Nolan and Chill Wills is the third important Hollywood role for Don Blackman. Two years ago when he retired from canvas histrionics he won acting laurels in such pictures as "On The Waterfront" and "Black Tuesday."

During his 20 years in the grunt and groan game Blackman wrestled such all-time greats as Strangler Lewis, Jim Londos and the Dusek Brothers. He once operated a gymnasium in New Hope, Pa., near the famous Bucks County Playhouse.

Among his gym clients were writers George Kaufman, Moss Hart and Budd Schulberg who wrote the Academy Award winning "On The Waterfront." Through his association with these giants in the writing field Blackman became interested in the theatre and was soon enrolled in an acting class.

After his initial training period he played the title role in "Emperor Jones" at the Bucks County Playhouse and later did it on Broadway. He later starred in another Broadway production called "John Henry." He eventually quit the wrestling sport to devote full time to his acting career. "I finally got fed up with wrestling as it is today," he said. "It was once a great art in which the better man won. But today you can't really wrestle since your job is to put on a good show for the television audience."