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Post by dannygoddard on Feb 17, 2010 18:05:03 GMT -5
That's right--Charlie McGowen, I think I said Jim. His son is Scrappy. I do remember Red belting out "Freddie Blassie here tonight!" He knew how to sell programs and push a wrestling card. I didn't know Benny.
I remember driving to the matches in snow. Even went out of town. I also remember when matches were occasionally at the Sports Arena. Bobby, you know where I lived on Gift Avenue off of Glenwood. My Dad and I would walk down Glenwood, passed Williams Bros Lumber Co, and walk the railroad tracks to the Sports Arena, just for fun. I was young and do recall that I kept "hearing" a train but one never appeared. It made me a little nervous walking those rails.
I was talking with an older man in my church the other day who told me he used to live in GA. I asked where and it was Griffin! I told him I used to go to the Barnsville Sports Palace, I believe it was called every Saturday night. He knew exactly what I was talking about. I remember shooting pictures of you, Bobby, wrestling in Griffin. Can we go back?
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Post by dannygoddard on Feb 17, 2010 18:27:22 GMT -5
I remember probably late 60s when the main event at the City Auditorium was a world's heavyweight championship match, Lou Thesz vs Dick the Bruiser. Lots of 2 out of 3 fall matches back then and they usually went back to the dressing room between falls. I remember watching from the balcony. Thesz left between falls but Bruiser stayed. As a matter of face, he went over to some ladies at ringside and parked himself in an empty seat between them. They nearly had a cow. Everyone was terrified of the Bruiser! He sat there and waited for the next fall.
Back in 2006 I had the honor of preaching the funeral service of Sputnik Monroe in Pineville, LA. After the service, Grizzly Adams introduced himself to me as did a few others. I had referred in my message about Sputnik beating the Bruiser at the Atlanta Raceway for the GA Championship cadillac tournament. A man approached me and told me he reffed that match then introduced himself as Ken Ramey. I would have never recognized him but then I saw it. I'm sure glad he did that. I do remember Ken Ramey, then left GA to become a manager to the Interns and others.
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Post by Bobby Simmons on Feb 18, 2010 9:27:25 GMT -5
Danny I still have those pictures you made of the match I had in Grifin against Jerry Lawler. Glad you got to meet Ken Ramey. I have gotten to know him through our reunions and him and his wife are great folks. His dad owned Ramey Tire Company here in Atlanta. You may have already been gone from here but Ken's dad is the gentleman that put up the huge billboard on his business in downtown that said:"WARNING YOU ARE ENTERING THE CITY OF ATLANTA WHERE POLICE ARE UNDERMANNED AND OUTARMED BY THE CRIMINALS". He drew a lot of heat from the local officials, but I thougt it was funny and actually truthful.
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Post by dannygoddard on Feb 18, 2010 11:05:29 GMT -5
Bobby, I'm glad to hear the fixer has held up on those photos all these years! I couldn't remember who you worked with but I do remember being proud of you that night. You've been a good friend.
After I left college, I put away all my photo equipment. My enlarger and darkroom stuff are in a box in the attic. I sold my camera, flash, etc. and haven't shot pictures in 30 years. However, I just bought a new digital SLR in January and I'm making a comeback! This time I've shot pictures at Disney World where we nearly froze and lately snow scenes around our house. As a matter of fact, a couple are in today's New Castle newspaper, one on the frontpage. I hope I can get as good as I think I was at one time.
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Post by rhodesfan on Feb 18, 2010 15:23:54 GMT -5
SO whats the story behind you vs Lawler in Griffin Mr. Simmons?
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Post by Tim Dix on Feb 18, 2010 17:37:51 GMT -5
Bobby, tell'em about the dreaded 2x2 chicken wire cage matches...
I had every poster for the Sports Palace till '83. Waterpipe busted, selah.
I saw 'em all, they greatest to ever do it performed there and I count my self as lucky.
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Post by Tim Dix on Feb 18, 2010 17:52:27 GMT -5
And just to add, any card I ever promoted or program I "Booked" I copied from what I saw as a kid at the SP.
There's nothing new ever been done in the biz, just the people doing it.
To me that's respecting the biz.
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Post by Bobby Simmons on Feb 19, 2010 10:29:14 GMT -5
As far as my match against Jerry Lawler, I filled in when there was a no show or they needed a body. Lawler was very kind to me and we had a good match. I wrestled Ronnie Garvin in Augusta when someone did not show up and the match lasted 15 seconds. Not that Ronnie wasn't fun to work with it is just what the booker wanted. The dreaded chicken wire cages..... Back in the day the cages were made from 2x2's and chicken wire. This was true for Atlanta or the smallest spot show we ran. The cages were tied to the corner posts and that was the cage. I look at the elaborate cages they have today and I will argue with anyone that in our day the matches were just as good if not better. It is not the venue or the equipment it is the workers. I have been in the ring with some that could put a mop over and make the mop look good. Tim, thanks for your kind comments and you are absolutely correct there is nothing new under the sun. The Bible even tells us that. It still just requires a booker with a sharp mind and an apptitude for looking down the road and figuring out how to make the trip. I worked for some of the best and I am eternally thankful for my breaks I got in the business.
Bobby
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Post by dannygoddard on Feb 19, 2010 12:35:16 GMT -5
I agree with Bobby. When they wired those fences to the corner posts during intermission, I was excited. Great matches. My favorite was the barbed wire matches back in the 60s. At intermission before the main event, they would wrap the ropes with barbed wire. I remember Freddie Blassie and Mario Galento really gettin after it. They would drag each other over to the ropes and rub their foreheads into the barbed wire. Later when they actually invested in a steel cage, it appeared that they used it every now and then to get their money's worth. Back in the day, those kinds of matches were few and far between, a last resort in a bitter feud. What's with the ladder matches and the tacs spilled out on the mat in recent years? I've also noticed every ring now has a table under it to pull out and break with someone's body. I still think we saw the best. I'll add that I think we had some great referees: Charlie Harbin, Ken Ramey, Charlie Smith, Eddie Smith, Bobby Simmons, and Jay West. They were great. I also liked another ref but his name escapes me. I think it was Ron and he worked in the office. He was good as well. Wondered whatever happened to these guys? I know Harbin is gone. Also, Bobby, whatever happened to Chief Little Eagle? He disappeared a long time ago.
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Post by Bobby Simmons on Feb 19, 2010 14:30:19 GMT -5
Ron West is the ref you are thinking about. Jay West was the ring announcer in Atlanta for a number of years. Charles Bryant a/k/a Chief Little Eagle passed away a number of years ago. His son who looks just like him comes to our Mobile reunion on occasion. Ron West still lives in Cleveland Tennessee and is publicity director for Cole Brothers Circus. It's the only show still traveling and performing under an actual Big Top Tent. Saw the show in Hampton, Ga. last year and really enjoyed it. Charlie Smith still lives in Loganville, Ga. and Eddie Smith lives in Gainesville, Ga. Charlie Harbin who gave me my first job in the business running errands at the ripe old age of 14 passed away about 20 years ago. His wife sold some of the land they had and there is now a subdivision called Harbin Hills on the land, She still lives in the same house where they have resided for almost 40 years. Jay West was a DJ on WPLO back in the day when AM radio was big and it was "THE" country station in Atlanta. He did the ring announcing in Atlanta, on Atlanta TV, and at various spot shows around Atlanta we would run. He lives in Morrow, Ga. and attends our get-togethers we have here every couple of months. Jay also had a band that was popular around town. Hope this triggers some happy memories....
Bobby
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Post by dannygoddard on Feb 20, 2010 11:43:47 GMT -5
Okay, I do remember Ron West, I just got his name mixed up. But there was another guy, young, maybe mid-20s, clean-cut, sometimes refereed, sometimes was backstage in a tie. Don't know what his position was but he was always at the office during the week. I thought his name was Ron. It was probably during the Jones-Gunkel era and he worked for Paul Jones. I wish I could remember his name. Slender, good build. I think he had more to do with the office than refereeing but was used at the City Auditorium and Omni. Bobby, I'm counting on you to figure this out for me!
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Post by dannygoddard on Feb 21, 2010 15:08:46 GMT -5
Hey Bobby! His name just came to me out of the blue last night while sitting at Red Lobster! I think his name was Doug Smith?
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Post by Tim Dix on Feb 21, 2010 15:59:20 GMT -5
Doug was from Griffin, our families rode horses together as part of ther Flint River Saddle Club. He built I think the Mid South Coleseum across the highway from the Sports Palace circa 1979, 80.
Rich has a few entries of wrestling events held there. I attended a couple, it to was built with wrestling in mind.
It is now a truck body manufacturing facility that has been expanded on so many times it is unrecognisible.
Griffin had become scortched earth as far as wrestling goes in that time. Doug promoted strong cards that drew poorly.
Sad to say, the building never had the magic of the Sports Palace IMO.
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Post by thadpc on Feb 21, 2010 22:18:04 GMT -5
Ron West is the ref you are thinking about. Jay West was the ring announcer in Atlanta for a number of years. Charles Bryant a/k/a Chief Little Eagle passed away a number of years ago. His son who looks just like him comes to our Mobile reunion on occasion.Ron West still lives in Cleveland Tennessee and is publicity director for Cole Brothers Circus. It's the only show still traveling and performing under an actual Big Top Tent. Saw the show in Hampton, Ga. last year and really enjoyed it. Charlie Smith still lives in Loganville, Ga. and Eddie Smith lives in Gainesville, Ga. Charlie Harbin who gave me my first job in the business running errands at the ripe old age of 14 passed away about 20 years ago. His wife sold some of the land they had and there is now a subdivision called Harbin Hills on the land, She still lives in the same house where they have resided for almost 40 years. Jay West was a DJ on WPLO back in the day when AM radio was big and it was "THE" country station in Atlanta. He did the ring announcing in Atlanta, on Atlanta TV, and at various spot shows around Atlanta we would run. He lives in Morrow, Ga. and attends our get-togethers we have here every couple of months. Jay also had a band that was popular around town. Hope this triggers some happy memories.... Bobby Bobby: Do you know any of the circumstances surrounding Chief Little Eagles death? I seem to remember reading somewhere, that the Chief was shot and killed by a homeless man he had befriended. Is this true, or is my memory playing tricks on me in my old age? Having been raised around the Columbus/Phenix City area, Little Eagle was one of my childhood wrestling heroes, but other than a few match results I can find very little information on him. Did you know the Chief, did you ever have the opportunity to work with him or had he already retired? Any information would be greatly appreciated. TJ
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Post by Bobby Simmons on Feb 22, 2010 9:50:37 GMT -5
I did get to referee several matches with Little Eagle involved. I was never close to him and know of nothing of the circumstances of his death. I will be attending The Gulf Coast Reunion next week and I will try and get some info I can post when I return. Doug Smith was the office manager for GCW when I went to work there in November of 1974. When he left to pursue other ventures which included The Sports Palace in Griffin I was promoted to his position. Doug's building was indeed built with wrestling in mind as well as concerts and other entertainment events. It just never clicked with the fans and only a short life span. Last I heard Doug was living in the Williamson, Georgia area right outside of Griffin.
Bobby
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