Keith Nivan Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Back before cable TV, the WWF and Hulk Hogan and friends nationalized the business, professional wrestling was an intensely regional "sport".Pro wrestling was a TV programmer's dream come true: a camera, a ring, a couple of sandlot field bleachers, a few packs of Cub Scouts and you had a show!Usually on Saturday night. Usually at dinnertime. Usually on UHF. (The channels with the big numbers.)What was the pro wrestling scene where you grew up?In Cleveland circa 1970 I recall:*** "Big Time Wrestling" was on WUAB, Channel 43*** They played "Classical Gas" as the theme music*** Johnny Powers was the ultimate good guy*** Bulldog Brauer (The Man of the Hour) was the ultimate bad guy*** Then Johnny snapped and became a REALLY Bad Guy, beat the crap out of Bulldog Brauer and they played Bulldog for sympathy*** Bobo Brazil -- he of the "Coco Butt" head butt fame*** Pampeiro Firpas -- the Wild Bull of the Pampas, and Bobo's continent neighbor, I presume*** When one of the stooge / loser wrestlers got kicked in the groin, the announcer would intone, "That's gotta hurt." Why / how I recall all this: I have no idea.What am I forgetting about Cleveland?What was the scene in your town?Wrestling was so much simpler back then . . . "Keith" 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Cartmill Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Yes, Keith! I went to the doctor and he confirmed that I am missing the gene that is able to process any ounce of redeeming value or entertainment in professional wrestling...It's called, The MORON Gene!...Cue the hilbilly music. Now, go listen to some Dan Fogelberg classics and call me in the morning! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollies65 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Jack Reynolds was the Announcer.The Love BrothersHaystacks Calhoun Moose Cholack and his "El Squasho"Flying Fred CurryThe Mighty Igor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollies65 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Fogelberg? I don't have the "sissy" gene! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Cartmill Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 "Well, Sur-prise, Sur-prise!"...Gomer made a list! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollies65 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Yeah,I was 11. I was already boxing, no soft rock or ballet for me. Nancy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollies65 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Let me reiterate...I watched wrestling when I was 11. That's different than loving weepy Fogelberg songs when you're a man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollies65 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Cartmill Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Sources tell me you STILL have a Hulk Hogan poster hanging up in your bedroom...and once those steroid wrestlin' boys grab your attention, you never outgrow their,..their..."artistry"And I guess I'm not supposed to like old sappy Eric Carmen ballads either... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollies65 Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 I much prefer Eric's rockers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris hess Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 Keith, i remember all that all so well!!!lol, Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulie Mississippi Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 Ahhh... those were the days...mid-70's "Florida Championship Wrestling"Announcer: Gordon SolieMain stars included Jack Brisco (World's Champion), his brother Jerry; Mike Graham and his father, Eddie; Steve Kiern, Dusty Rhodes (who was still a "bad guy" in the attatched video), Pak Song (part of Gary Hart's "army"), Dory Funk, Jr. and his brother Terry; Don "The Magnificent M" Morocco, Killer Karl Cox, Olie Anderson, Barry Windam... and a lot of comers and goers... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnO Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 That was Bulldog "Brower", by the way, not "Brauer". Hell, everyone watched rasslin' back in the day......except, I guess, Tony, who was busy, to use Tracy's words, knitting doilies, and (in his own words) listening to songs that actually make you feel like you're swaying back and forth in a boat.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim From Wisconsin Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 My brother and I watched wrestling every week as kids!One of the best was Milwaukee's own "The Crusher"! Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Nivan Posted August 31, 2011 Author Share Posted August 31, 2011 Tim,Boys in Action!"Keith" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackhawkpat Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 The Vachon Brothers used to claim they were cousins of hockey legend Rogie Vachon and Rogie always denied it! LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S_O_L Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 since there was no such thing as cable tv back then and only3 channels to choose from, it was roller derby, wrestling andshock theatre on saturday afternoons....oh joy what ? no mention on tojo yamamoto??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Cartmill Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 Maybe the Dems are right about these "flyover states" citizens...When you want to divert their attention and steal from them...just schedule a "Wraslin' Special" on cable.The whole world stops...kind of like a 2-hour fart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missm Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 SOL I do recall Rollerderby and Boxing at the Olympic Auditorium!! After a day of watching westerns with my Dad there was nothing better than boxing.I didn't get into Wrassling until my son did via WWF!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris hess Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 Bruno Samartino,Bobo Brasil,The Sheik,The Mighty Igor,the list goes on!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMan Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 Bruno was THE MAN! How about Argentine Apollo, Gorilla Monsoon, Killer Kowalski, George "The Animal" Steele...he of the green tongue!! lmao Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris hess Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 loved george the animal!! hes a very nice guy,met him a long time ago at a football game here!!lol, Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnO Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 Not quite sure what part of "back in the day" that Tony doesn't understand, but I can assure him - the majority of these 60s/70s wrestlers mentioned here are every bit as dead as his hero Dan Fogelstein, and are probably more fondly remembered by more people. . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lori Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 When my husband & I got married in 1985, he was a big wrestling fan, so I sat and watched it too. I soon became as excited about it as he was. However, being the naive woman I was and not understanding a lot about wrestling, I really pitied George the Animal Steele. I really thought he was the pitiful person he portrayed to be till my husband read that he had been a college professor and was the actual father of Miss Elizabeth! That just blew me away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Cartmill Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 Although the research shows that the notorious MORON gene is primarily found in MALES with sloping foreheads, Lori reminds us that in science, there are always exceptions.Now, excuse me while I go back and imagine I'm swaying back and forth on Fogelstein's boat song. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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