|
|
Post by Baltimore Jack on Jan 23, 2005 21:12:05 GMT -5
 A promotional photo for TV wrestling from WGHP channel 8 in 1963 featuring George Becker, Charlie Harville, and Johnny Weaver. (Thanks go to Patsy Hughes again for this great photo.) I am working on a section for the Gateway dedicated to the various studio locations television was produced in the Crockett territory. As part of that section, along with the help of Carroll Hall and Wayne Brower, we will pay special tribute to the voice of wrestling out of High Point NC, the late Charlie Harville. Look for this section to debut in March. Parts of it may go up earlier than that. You can keep an eye on this page for further updates about this developing section: Mid-Atlantic TV History |
|
|
|
Post by cwh47 on Jan 23, 2005 22:10:23 GMT -5
Wow! This is a great shot.Thanks for posting this Jack.
This shot was probably taken right before the audience
came in and before the ring crew had finished because
the ropes had not been tightened yet.
|
|
|
|
Post by bobbyryates on Jan 23, 2005 22:30:26 GMT -5
man this is great!!! keep them coming.
|
|
|
|
Post by miamiwrestling1968 on Jan 23, 2005 22:48:01 GMT -5
Hi, Another Great Picture Shot from 1963. I have never see that picture before. Great Shot. I know Pasty has some more classic 1960`s North Carolina Wrestling Pictures in the wrestling collection and I hope Patsy will have the pictures on this website and Mid-Atlantic Gateway again so every wrestling fans of old-school can look at them. I love 1960`s Pro Wrestling and It was the greatest. Thank you. Hope to see more different pictures of 1960`s Mid-Atlantic Wrestlers again on this website and maybe Mid-Atlantic Gateway too. Take Care. Sincerely, MiamiWrestling1968.
|
|
|
|
Post by ncringfan on Jan 24, 2005 10:23:09 GMT -5
That really is a great photo. I wish so much that some tapes still existed from WGHP. Great to see Weaver and Becker.
cwh47, that is a great observation about the ropes. I never would have noticed that unless it had been pointed out to me.
That studio looks so small in that picture and in the one Hardcore put up on anotehr post. How many people could watch wrestling in there?
|
|
|
|
Post by cwh47 on Jan 24, 2005 12:40:09 GMT -5
I could be wrong but if that studio seated more than
75 fans I would be surprised and that figure may be
high.The advantage of the small studio was great for
tv viewers though.This show had the best closeup
shots of the action as any I have ever seen.When the
local shows came to an end this is the show I missed
the most.
|
|
|
|
Post by Baltimore Jack on Jan 24, 2005 16:11:27 GMT -5
CWH I agree - I miss the old studio shows. I only saw the WGHP show a time or two. I grew up watching the show out of Raleigh on WRAL with Bob Caudle, David Crockett, Ed Capral, and Rich Landrum, and Johnny Weaver.
The studio shows were just special. In many ways, I enjoyed Crockett wrestling more in the TBS studio when they got there in 1985 than I did the arena tapings that had begun in 1983 for Mid-Atlantic and World Wide shows.
|
|
|
|
Post by cwh47 on Jan 24, 2005 20:20:53 GMT -5
I liked the TBS studio show too Baltimore Jack.
|
|
|
|
Post by rlb147 on Jan 26, 2005 7:55:34 GMT -5
MAN this is great,that brings back a lot of memories.
thanks rlb 147
|
|
|
|
Post by weaverlock on Jan 26, 2005 18:02:14 GMT -5
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Great pic and it brings back many, many fond memories for me.
|
|
|
|
Post by rlb147 on Jan 31, 2005 23:18:57 GMT -5
;D WELL said WEAVERLOCK ; ;D ;D ;D
thanks rlb 147
|
|
|
|
Post by weaverlock on Feb 4, 2005 19:45:23 GMT -5
Looking back on it now, how was Weaver able to do it so well for so long? It's amazing!
|
|
|
|
Post by Baltimore Jack on Feb 5, 2005 21:30:05 GMT -5
It is amazing. And the guy keeps getting in some great moments. Recently on the Gateway, there was a summary of everything Johnny had been doing in 2004: 2004 was a big year for Johnny Weaver. It began in January when he was one of the featured legends at the Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Legends Fanfest in Charlotte. He spent hours signing autographs and taking photos with fans, far beyond his contracted time at the event.
In February, he made a special appearance at Miss South Carolina's first annual Wrestling Night of Legends at the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium, and even hit the ring to defend Miss Teen South Carolina from the Masked Superstar and George South during the main event. The historic old wrestling arena shook on its foundation when he applied his famous sleeper hold on South, the near capacity crowd on its feet, awash in memories of years gone by.
In August, CWF Mid-Atlantic held the inaugural Johnny Weaver Cup tournament in Thomasville, NC, with Weaver in attendance presenting the trophy to the tournament winner Cory Edsel. Mid-Atlantic legend Don Kernodle and brother Rocky Kernodle presented a special award to Johnny Weaver that night as well.
In November, the Mid-Atlantic Gateway facilitated a reunion of Weaver with long time rival Rip Hawk during Fanfest weekend in Charlotte. Weaver was unable to participate in Fanfest due to work commitments, but jumped at the opportunity to have breakfast with his long time friend who he not seen in nearly 30 years.
The article then went on with a report by APW's Blake Arledge of how Weaver welcomed the New Year: New Years night always signals big events for American Pro Wrestling in Spartanburg, SC. APW was proud to have the legendary Johnny Weaver as our guest. Our faithful fans were in attendance along with many new faces that traveled just to see Johnny. The night would be different from any other regular show for APW, as we had the inaugural "Johnny Weaver Iron Man Tournament."
APW President Bill Hazelwood entered the ring with the trophy and introduced Johnny to the fans. Johnny was at great ease in the ring, it was as though he could enter the tournament himself. Johnny said that the Spartanburg and Greenville areas were always favorites of his to work.
The tournament was fairly simple, two men enter to begin, the winner must immediately face another opponent. All together it was 28 singles matches and 29 stars from the APW roster. No titles were on the line, just the honor of being the first winner of the trophy. During the intermission, fellow legend Chief Jay Eagle thanked Johnny for coming to the show.
The last match between Mickey Richards and Dirty was ended when Richards crashed a wrapped up chain across the head of Dirty. Johnny strode to the ring with a sour look on his face. President Hazelwood entered the ring to award Richards with the trophy. Johnny told Bill and the crowd that he saw the chain that was used and there is no way he was awarding a trophy with his name to someone who wins in such a manner. Hazelwood snatched the microphone out of Johnny’s hand and goes on a tirade about the mistake he made in bringing in a "washed-up has been" into APW. "You are just supposed to give out the trophy! Let me run the show!" he screamed into Johnny's face.
Do I really need to say what happened next? Wham - Bam - Weaver Lock. After exiting the ring, Johnny serenades Hazelwood with "Turn out the lights, the party’s over!"
Afterwards, Hazelwood was sat up and awakened from his blood depleted haze and started his tantrum once again. Johnny helped APW have a great show, and was a true gentleman to the other wrestlers and all the fans who wanted to speak with him. Thank you Mr. Weaver.
Can't wait to see what "the dean of professional wrestling" has in store for us in 2005 (42 years after that photo with George Becker and Charlie Harville was taken.) |
|
|
|
Post by acezappa on Apr 6, 2005 16:43:15 GMT -5
It is amazing. And the guy keeps getting in some great moments. Can't wait to see what "the dean of professional wrestling" has in store for us in 2005 (42 years after that photo with George Becker and Charlie Harville was taken.) Hello there! Just joined the board. My name is Chris, and I've been a wrestling fan since the early to mid 80's. I fell out of it for many years, but thanks to a friend of mine at work I've gotten back into it somewhat. Anyway, when I saw that Johnny Weaver was being discussed I had to jump in. Thanks to my job, I get to see Mr. Weaver on a regular basis. I work in the Admitting Office at Broughton Hospital (a state mental hospital in NC) and he is a sheriff's deputy in Mecklenburg County and brings patients to us on occasion. He is a tremendous individual and it's so wonderful to see that he still gets so much recognition. My friend and I have gotten to talk to him many times now about the good old days. He's always willing to talk to us, and is a fantastic guy. Anyway, I thought I'd just jump right in with both feet. We're talking about maybe coming to the fanfest thing in August. Just depends on the funds. I'm just so glad to see that there is still so much interest in the old school wrestling. It takes me back.  |
|
|
|
Post by ncringfan on Apr 6, 2005 23:12:54 GMT -5
Welcome to the board, Ace! Tell "the Dean" we all miss him!
|
|
