World Champ compared to ape
World champion wrestler Stanislaus Zbyszko sues New York American, Inc. after his likeness is compared to that of a gorilla
By: Karl Stern
Legendary wrestler Stanislaus Zbyszko (Stanislaw Jan Cyganiewicz) was a world heavyweight champion in the 1920's. He and his brother
Wladek were among the most accomplished wrestlers of any era. During his childhood,
Harley Race worked on the Zbyszko brothers ranch and was taught shooting holds and hooks. Stanislaus also had some movie roles, most famously in the wrestling movie
Night and the City.
In 1929 the New York Supreme Court heard the case Stanislaus Zbyszko verses New York American, Inc. which alleged that the defendant published an educational article setting forth the scientific theory of evolution (~!), in which it discussed that theory from the standpoint of science and called attention to the structural resemblance between man and the gorilla; that in connection with the article there was published a photograph of the Zbyszko in a wrestling pose which bore beneath it the "Stanislaus Zbyszko, the Wrestler, Not Fundamentally Different from the Gorilla in Physique;" and that in close proximity to plaintiff's photograph there was a photograph of a gorilla with a statement that it was a picture of a mounted specimen from a private museum in England.
The mighty sum of money over which they were fighting was a whopping- TEN DOLLARS~!
Zbyszko lost the case after the court ruled that the comparison was "ambiguous and capable of an innocent as well as of a disgraceful meaning".
Zbyszko died in 1967 after having wrestled well into his 60's. On September 23, 1967, Stanislaus Zbyszko died of a heart attack at age 89.
Larry Zbyszko took the Zbyszko brothers last name as a tribute to them.
The entire case summary can be viewed at
the awesome Wrestling Perspective website. I hope everyone is enjoying my classic wrestling articles. I appreciate the feedback I have gotten so far. Please continue to send me emails to
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