Thursday, January 25, 2007

Wrestling Memories


Over at Free Conservatives one of the threads I have been following is about the death of Bam Bam Bigelow a Professional Wrestler from the 80's. He was 45 years old and at least so far they are not saying what he died from. Reading the thread and hearing the names of some of the old Wrestlers from my Youth brought back alot of old memories. Thought I would Share two old Column I wrote about the Subject.

1) Just an Old Tin Building
~ 02/23/03

As I was driving home from work the other day, I heard on the news that final approval had been given to tear down an "Old Tin Building," on the corner of Cadiz and Industrial in Dallas. They were tearing down this vacant and decrepit "Old Tin Building" to put up a new, modern drive thru liquor store. Most folks would say who cares, what's the big deal.

Let me tell you a bit about this "Old Tin Building." This building was built in 1936 for the Texas Centennial. One of the main shows put on in this "Old Tin Building" was the weekly wrestling matches, promoted by Ed McLemore. In 1940, The NWA (National Wrestling Alliance) came to Texas. Mr. McLemore was quick to align himself with the fast growing organization. For thirteen years all of the NWA matches in Dallas, Texas were held in this "Old Tin Building." In January of 1953, the NWA and Mr. McLemore parted ways, for reasons unknown. This would not spell the end of the wrestling matches held, but a mere four months later, the matches would stop. In May of 1953, this "Old Tin Building" was burned to the ground by an arsonist.

The wrestling matches moved to Fair Park for six months while the building was rebuilt. On September 22, 1953 , the door reopened and the building got a brand new name. "The Million Dollar Sportatorium." Two, of the Three, local television stations were on hand to broadcast the first matches LIVE from the Sportatorium.

The Sportatorium rejoined the NWA in November of 1953 and a young Football player began his career as a wrestler at about the same time. Jack Adkisson was destined to shape the future of Texas wrestling and the Sportatorium in ways that would not be believed, but in his first practice he broke his shoulder. His first job at the Sportatorium would be as a bookkeeper.

The Sportatorium was also home to the "Big D" Jamboree. A weekly country music show featuring performers from the "Grand Ole Opry" in Nashville. Among the many stars who played the Sportatorium were Hank Thompson, Johnny Cash, George Jones, Lefty Frizzell, a very young Elvis Presley and Hank Williams, Sr. just three days before he died in Montgomery, Alabama. These weekly, Live Music shows started in 1948 and lasted till 1966. Thousands of Country Superstars and Rock and Roll legends played their hearts out in this "Old Tin Building" for the sold out crowds of adoring fans.

In 1969 Ed McLemore died and Jack Adkisson became the owner of the Sportatorium. By this time Jack was better known by his "Professional" name as Fritz Von Erick. Fritz Von Erick and his World Class Wrestling Association would dominate Texas wrestling for many years. At one point, his wrestling promotion was almost the equal of the WWF and the NWA, televising matches all over the world. Hard times and bad decisions brought down the Von Erick family and, with their fall from the spotlight, the Sportatorium also fell.

This list of superstars both wrestling and musical that passed through the doors of this "Old Tin Building" would amaze anyone. Wrestling Superstars: Kerry Von Erik (NWA World Champion), Harly Race (NWA World Champion), Ric Flair (NWA World Champion), Steve Austin (WWF World Champion), Andre the Giant, Bruiser Brody, The Freebirds, Iceman King Parsons, Chris Adams, Buddy Rogers (NWA World Champion), Duke Keomuka, Wahoo McDaniels, Thunderbolt Patterson, Johnny Valentine, Gino Hernandez, Gary Hart, Addullah the Butcher, Kevin Von Erick, Mike Von Erick, Fritz Von Erick (AWA World Champion) and Jerry Lawler (AWA World Champion). Music Superstars: Marty Robbins, Carl Perkins, Jim Reeves, Gene Vincent, Johnny Horton, Tex Ritter, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams Sr, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Hank Snow, Lefty Frizzell, Ernest Tubb and Bill Monroe.Another Dallas Landmark gone but not forgotten.

God Bless America
Bill Hocutt

2) The Death of an Adolescent Icon
10-09-2001

This morning while driving to work, I heard the news that Gentleman Chris Adams had been murdered over the weekend. I realize that in light of recent news, the death of a professional wrestler, that never quite made it to the big time, is not earthshaking, but it shook my world.

I remember fondly the days when my father took me to see wrestling in the Sportarium in Dallas. In those days, the good guys always wore white and the bad guys always cheated. I can remember watching my "Heroes" like Fritz Von Erick, David Von Erick, Kerry Von Erick, Kevin Von Erick, Wahoo McDaniels, Thunderbolt Patterson, Brian Adidas and of course Gentleman Chris Adams beat the stuffings out of the bad guys like Black Jack Lanza, Black Jack Mullins, Gary Hart, the Great Kabuki, Killer Kowalski and of course Johnny Valentine.

All of these men seemed bigger than life to the short pudgy teenager growing up in the Pleasant Grove section of Dallas. I would watch for hours as they meted out justice to the "evil" people they wrestled against.

Unfortunately, reality eventually intruded on this orchestrated and rehearsed version of life. David Von Erick died in Japan of an "infection" that sounded a lot like a drug overdose. Gino Hernandez died in Dallas of a drug overdose. Mike Von Erick died of a staff infection. Kerry Von Erick was busted for drugs, then he got busted again. Then Kerry committed Suicide. Chris Von Erick committed suicide. The WCCW (Dallas Wrestling) went bankrupt. At some point during this list of bad news, I discovered that Professional Wrestling was just a show, the matches were staged.

This morning I heard Chris Adams was murdered by his former promoter. I also found out that he had been recently charged with Manslaughter in the overdose death of a "lady friend" at his apartment.

How I long for those days when the world was all black and white. The good guys never lied or took drugs and the bad guy's biggest crime was to use a chair in the ring. Adulthood isn't all it was cracked up to be.

God Bless America
Bill Hocutt


For More Info on the Von Ericks: Please read their "Hall of Fame" Bio at http://www.wrestlingmuseum.com/pages/bios/halloffame/vonerichbio.html
Disagree or Agree feel free to add your own comments.

Please send any feedback to UnkHiram@BHocutt.com

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