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Post by milliondollarknee on Jul 15, 2009 22:04:46 GMT -5
Who has memories they would like to share of 1028 Front Avenue in downtown Columbus...the Columbus Sports Arena, where Fred Ward greeted WRBL viewers each and every Saturday by saying "we hope the sick and shut-ins will be up and at 'em real soon."
As a 12-15 year old in the late 70s and early 80s, I was fascinated by the place. The lighting, the ring, the ambience. Everything about it was old school wrestling.
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Post by Bobby Simmons on Jul 16, 2009 8:15:21 GMT -5
I remember the nightmare of getting there from Atlanta TV.
With Columbus Tv being live at 4:00 Pm you were on the air whether you were ready or not. Many times I have left Atlanta after refereeing two hours under those hot Tv lights and driving to Columbus with no shower and no lunch. Running in throwing my bag up on the concession stand counter and going straight into the ring with no idea what was going on.
But you know I would do it all again......
Bobby Simmons
GCW Referee/Office Manager
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Post by milliondollarknee on Jul 16, 2009 22:21:50 GMT -5
The no-lunch part sounds like the worst deal of all. How would you know what was booked for the times when you literally had to run into the ring at the last minute? Obviously, then, there weren't earpieces for the refs.
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Post by milliondollarknee on Jul 16, 2009 22:23:09 GMT -5
What match or incident from 1028 Front Avenue do you remember the most, from the standpoint of being a major shocker, or something that drew unbelievable crowd heat, or something that was just a well-executed angle. Of course, I'm more than a little partial to MW2 stories.
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Post by Bobby Simmons on Jul 17, 2009 8:25:39 GMT -5
As far as knowing what was going on, times were very different than today. I was able to do my job communicating with the guys and knowing what the booker wanted from me. It was challenging at times but we always did what was necessary.
As far the biggest angle.....
Two and Tanaka after Twosky came back from neck surgery.
anything Gary Hart was involved in....
You may not remember but we actually ran Wednesday night cards there when the auditorium was booked for something else.
Bobby
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fan50
New Member
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Post by fan50 on Jul 17, 2009 15:23:28 GMT -5
Three things I recall seeing at the Sports Arena were the first "blood" match I saw, when Lenny Montana rammed Chief Little Eagle's head into the ringpost just in front of where I was sitting. A few years later, I forget who his opponent was, but he flipped Sputnik Monroe coming off the ropes and Sputnik's boots hit the ring lights. It was obvious that the wind was knocked out of him for real when he landed, and the referee started a count out instead of letting the other wrestler go for the pin. The other wrestler kept interfering with the count until Sputnik recovered. The third incident was after Don Carson won
over some face and as he was walking back to the dressing room, a fan hit him from the bleachers.
I enjoyed matches there because the crowd was very close to the action. Youcould also get autographs easy because the wrestlers had to go by the concession area to get to the ring area.
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Post by columbuswrestling on Jul 17, 2009 22:33:37 GMT -5
1028 Front Avenue downtown Columbus once known as Sam Cohn's mule barn brings many fond memories to me. I remember walking down the side entrance and seeing old pics hanging on the wall, then around the corner you entered into the arena. In the days when it was'nt air conditioned Mr. Ward would set huge blocks of ice in front of giant fans high on the wall to cool the air.
As Mr. Simmons said the arena was also used on some Wednesday nights when the auditorium was unavailable. One such night I have fond memories was when Mr. Wrestling #2 faced Nick Bockwinkle who had Bobby Heenan as his manager. It was a big event to be held in the Sports Arena.
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fan50
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Post by fan50 on Jul 19, 2009 16:26:44 GMT -5
I remember the old pictures. One was Gorgeous George, in a standing pose wearing one of his fancy outfits, one was Buddy Rogers sitting on a stool, and one was Jerry Graham, who was sitting down with his manager, "The Swami," standing behind his left shoulder.
I watched many Saturday shows, and a few Wednesday ones, usually sitting on the bleachers that were up on the platform or stage between the doors to the ring from the concession stand
Both Eddie Graham and Chief Little Eagle unmasked the Bat during Wednesday matches, which I thought was odd because those were the kinds of matches that I thought would be better in the larger Auditorium.
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