Mike Halfacre, left, and Freddie Orange waited for referee Lanny Julian to give the signal to begin their arm-wrestling match on April 19, 1980, at Lexington’s Turfland Mall. When Julian started the match a few seconds later, Halfacre won. The men were competing in regional arm-wrestling championships, sponsored by the Kentucky Armbenders Association Inc. The contest was the second in a series of regional matches leading to a state championship tournament in Louisville, where trophies and $5,000 in cash would  go to the winners. Not to be outdone, later that year, Fayette Mall had bear wrestling during its ninth anniversary celebration. Turfland Mall, Lexington’s first mall, opened in 1967 with 560,000 square feet and 45 stores, including major tenants McAlpin’s and Montgomery Ward. The mall closed in 2008. Click here to see other images of the mall from our archives. Photo by Ron Garrison | Staff