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Tiger Tales: DuMont TV And Gorgeous George

Tiger Tales: DuMont TV And Gorgeous George

Posted: Aug 27th 2013 By: CMBurnham

The DuMont Television Network was one of the world?s pioneer television networks in the late 1940s and early 1950s that rivaled NBC and CBS. It was founded in 1946 and by 1949 had expanded its coverage to 32 cities from coast to coast. Its founder, Dr. Alan DuMont and his company were credited with inventing the first all-electronic TV set in 1938 and conceived the idea of selling TV time ads to many different companies instead of just one company. In the early days, Doctor DuMont and his fledgling company were looking for different forms of entertainment to fill their time slots. In those days NBC, CBS and DuMont would have substantial off-air time because of the lack of available programming.


Pro wrestling and its superstar the outrageous and flamboyant Gorgeous George became a life saver for Doctor DuMont.

Professional wrestling was cheap to produce and it was the first TV programming to make a profit for the DuMont Network. Other programming, featuring stars such as ?Mr. TV? Milton Berle and Jackie Gleason were expensive and couldn?t be utilized more than once or twice a week. Not so with pro wrestling. It was sometimes scheduled nightly and on weekends for up to three hours at a time.

But the newest TV craze still lacked something, a superstar who would ensure that people would always stay glued to their sets each and every evening to watch grown men in black tights and boots parading around a ring getting hot and sweaty.

As I wrote in last week?s column, Gorgeous George Wagner in his early days had realized the untapped potential of professional wrestling and the medium of TV. His theatrics and character performance pushed pro wrestling to the forefront of TV entertainment and propelled him to the top as TV?s ultimate superstar.

He won many titles in his illustrious and famed career, including the AWA World?s Heavyweight title on May 26th, 1950. Even in his waning days when alcoholism was beginning to take its toll on his body, George was always thinking of a new gimmick to bring in more money. He approached the promoters and offered to shave his beautiful, blond and curly locks if one of his opponents in his last few matches actually beat him. The promoters jumped at the idea so the first ?Hair Match? was tossed into the pro wrestling mixture of promotional zaniness. Gorgeous George won his first two hair matches but in his last bout he lost to Whipper Billy Watson before a sellout crowd at Comiskey Park and had to sit through the indignity of having Watson and the barber shear him bald. He soon retired in November of 1962 as his battle with alcoholism got worse and went into turkey farming and the restaurant business. Unfortunately he died December 26th, 1963.

Take a look at professional wrestling today, especially Vince McMahon?s WWE. The bleached blonde grapplers, elaborate entrance music, fancy robes, valets and managers, pre-bout theatrics, boisterous and catchy interviews. All these mainstays of the sport, including the hair matches, trace their origins back to Gorgeous George.

Even Las Vegas? iconic ?Mr. Showman? Liberace credited George with influencing his outrageous outfits and theatrics as he banged out tunes on his famed piano. The influence of one George Raymond Wagner are definitely intertwined throughout modern television today, especially in the sports world.

COMMENT

Speaking of wrestling, the mainstream media was gaga last week over the announcement by WWE wrestler Darren Young that he was gay. It?s no big deal. That act is getting so pass? now that I virtually ignore such pronouncements. Young, like the Boston Celtics? Jason Collins, was a small fish in his prospective sports organization so I imagine this was as much about publicity as ?coming out.? Until one of the top-tier pro stars come out, then it?s a ho-hum headline to me.

Finally, in researching next week?s column about the so-called dangerous world of football, I came upon some interesting statistics from 2012 about participation in a sport that finds itself squarely in the bull?s eye of the concussion crusaders and liberal activists.

In youth football, there are 2.8-million players. There are 1.1-million kids playing high school football and 68,000 ?student-athletes? competed in college. Of those 68,000 college players, 32,000 were on scholarships.

In the NFL there were 1,696 players, each averaging $1.96-million a year in salary witth the average career lasting three and a half years.

As of this writing, there are 4,000 former NFL players suing the league while there are a large number of former collegiate players going after the NCAA. I knew the colleges would be next. Then it will be the high schools and the youth leagues? turn next.

 

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Spotlight in History

  • 1954 Johnny Valentine def. Joe Christie for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 2002 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Title
  • 2012 Tim Storm became the NWA-TXO Heavyweight Champion
  • 2012 Kyra Maya became the NWA-TXO Rose Champion
  • 2013 Nasty Swag (Robert Lee & Ace Archuleta) became the UWE Tag Team Champions
  • 2019 Slice & Kill (Skylar Slice & Killista) def. The Proclamation (Ethan Cole & Reed) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 2024 Brandon Warhawk def. Seth Daniels for the UWE Apex Title
  • 2024 Fuel def. Killbane for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 2024 Party Bird Crew (Smitty & Birdman) def. Black Flag Rising (Anarchy [2nd] & Faded Ghoul) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 2024 Super Crash Brothers (Badger James & Trench Blythe) def. Party Bird Crew (Smitty & Birdman) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 2026 T. J. Spade def. Will Chambers for the CAPW Heavyweight Title

Week of Sun 09-20 to Sat: 09-26

  • 09-20 1978 Jose Lothario def. Assassin 1 for the TSW Louisiana Title
  • 09-20 1985 The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) def. The Dynamic Duo (Gino Hernandez & Chris Adams) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 09-20 2008 Michael Barry def. Angel Williams for the IZW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-20 2008 New Canada (The Canadian Red Devil & The Canadian Luchadore) became the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 09-20 2008 The Gentlemen Thugs (Cast-Iron Cothern & Shane Morbid) def. New Canada (The Canadian Red Devil & The Canadian Luchadore) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 09-20 2009 Jermaine Johnson def. Ky-ote Joe for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
  • 09-20 2013 Mike Foxx def. Tim Storm for the NWA-TXO Heavyweight Title
  • 09-20 2013 Genesis (Carrion Arcane & Kristopher Haiden) def. The Rock Star Mafia (Dane Griffin & Armani) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
  • 09-20 2013 The Rock Star Mafia (Dane Griffin & Armani) def. Genesis (Carrion Arcane & Kristopher Haiden) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
  • 09-20 2014 Kevin Morgan & became the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 09-20 2014 Jordan Jacobs def. Drake Gallows for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 09-20 2014 Claudia def. Bree Ann for the NWA-TXO Rose Title
  • 09-20 2014 The Brotherhood (Kyng Benjamin & Akuma Jones) def. A. C. Slaughter (Aaron Anders & Clint Cassidy) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 09-20 2014 Fuel def. Tim Rockwell for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 09-20 2025 Gideon Vane became the EPW International Champion
  • 09-20 2025 Miles Bane became the NAW Openweight Champion
  • 09-20 2026 Neo Genesis def. T. J. Spade for the ASP WTF Title
  • 09-21 1954 Johnny Valentine def. Joe Christie for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-21 2002 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Title
  • 09-21 2012 Tim Storm became the NWA-TXO Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-21 2012 Kyra Maya became the NWA-TXO Rose Champion
  • 09-21 2013 Nasty Swag (Robert Lee & Ace Archuleta) became the UWE Tag Team Champions
  • 09-21 2019 Slice & Kill (Skylar Slice & Killista) def. The Proclamation (Ethan Cole & Reed) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 09-21 2024 Brandon Warhawk def. Seth Daniels for the UWE Apex Title
  • 09-21 2024 Fuel def. Killbane for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 09-21 2024 Party Bird Crew (Smitty & Birdman) def. Black Flag Rising (Anarchy [2nd] & Faded Ghoul) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 09-21 2024 Super Crash Brothers (Badger James & Trench Blythe) def. Party Bird Crew (Smitty & Birdman) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 09-21 2026 T. J. Spade def. Will Chambers for the CAPW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-22 1971 Bill Watts def. Dusty Rhodes for the TSW North American Title
  • 09-22 2001 Jenna Love became the OPW Oklahoma Womens Champion
  • 09-22 2001 Justin Lee def. Dexter Hardaway for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
  • 09-22 2012 Crossfire Morrison def. Drake Gallows for the SWCW Hardcore Title
  • 09-22 2012 Kareem Sadat def. Crossfire Morrison for the SWCW Hardcore Title
  • 09-22 2023 Tommy Prince became the TexPro Dynasty Champion
  • 09-22 2023 Nashoba became the MajCW 24/7 On Call Champion
  • 09-22 2023 Skidz def. Nashoba for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
  • 09-22 2023 Oscar Amazing def. Skidz for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
  • 09-23 1974 Tex McKenzie & Johnny Valentine def. The Blackjacks (Blackjack Mulligan & Blackjack Lanza) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 09-23 1975 Jose Lothario def. Billy Graham for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-23 2000 Grenade def. Ichiban [2nd] for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
  • 09-23 2016 Xavior became the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
  • 09-23 2016 Nikki Knight def. Skylar Slice for the MSWA Ladies Title
  • 09-23 2016 Psycho Mike def. Brock Landers for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
  • 09-23 2017 Kikutaro def. Ryan Davidson for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 09-23 2017 Dusty Gold def. Randy Price for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 09-23 2017 Erica def. Paige Turner for the IZW Womens Title
  • 09-23 2017 Double D def. Kevin Morgan for the IZW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-23 2017 Drake Gallows def. Sam Stackhouse for the BCW Buzzsaw Title
  • 09-23 2017 Xavior def. C. J. Ward for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
  • 09-23 2017 The Omega (O’Brien & O’Malley) def. The Cursed (Blade [2nd] & Kuda) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 09-23 2023 Skidz def. Oscar Amazing for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
  • 09-23 2023 Koko def. Dan Webber for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 09-23 2023 Sweetness (Cappuccino Jones & Romeo Reese) def. Southern Aristocracy (Eddie LeVaughn & Anthony Wild) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 09-23 2023 Killbane def. Leo Fox for the UWE Apex Title
  • 09-24 2002 The Professionals (John Zorthos & Julian Wolfenbarger) became the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 09-24 2016 Ricky Starks def. Ky-Ote for the IWR Revolutionary Title
  • 09-24 2022 London Calling (Dutch Hagen & Richie Adams) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
  • 09-24 2022 Martin Justice def. Tyler Watts for the EPW International Title
  • 09-24 2022 Logan Knight def. Kareem Sadat for the EPW All-American Title
  • 09-24 2022 Olivier Vegos def. Danni Bee for the NCWO Women's Title
  • 09-25 1965 Don Kent def. Red McKim for the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 09-25 1981 The Great Kabuki def. Kerry Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 09-25 1999 Big Daddy Moore def. Rocco Valentino for the OPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
  • 09-25 1999 The Casualties of War (Malice & Shrapnel) def. Red Eagle & Night Hawk for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
  • 09-25 1999 Kid Flash def. Tarantula for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
  • 09-25 2004 Michael Barry def. Brandon Groom for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
  • 09-25 2010 Wage def. Bernie D for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 09-26 1978 Terry Latham & Ricky Fields def. Seigfried Stanke & Kurt Von Hess for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
  • 09-26 1984 Adrian Street def. Terry Taylor for the MSW Television Title
  • 09-26 2004 John O'Malley def. Mr. Brown for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 09-26 2009 Jeremy Quinn III became the ACW Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-26 2014 Paul Puertorico def. Matt Majestic for the SRPW United States Title
  • 09-26 2020 Brian Dixon def. Ethan Cole for the BPW Lion Heart Title
  • 09-26 2020 The Ritual (Samedi & Shadow Gemini) became the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
  • 09-26 2025 Riley Grinn def. Tommy Dean for the BUW No Pressure Title
09-21
  • Connor Jones Sep 21st Today!
  • Ricky Morton Sep 21st Today!
  • Jack Brisco Sep 21st Today!
  • Mike Chacoma Sep 22nd
  • Doug Somers Sep 22nd
  • Harley D Sep 22nd
  • Satine Sep 22nd
  • Red River Brawler Sep 22nd
  • Rocco Valentino Sep 23rd
  • Cole Crittenden Sep 23rd
  • O'Malley Sep 23rd
  • John J. Bishop Sep 24th
  • Kai Fayden Sep 24th
  • Jason Bruce Sep 24th
  • Joe Jones Sep 24th
  • Len Rossi Sep 24th
  • Clayton Bloodstone Sep 24th
  • Connor Crunk Sep 24th
  • Chief Mike Sep 25th
  • Jimmy Garvin Sep 25th
  • Toots Estes Sep 25th
  • Angel [2nd] Sep 25th
  • BB Sep 26th
  • Kendo Nagasaki Sep 26th
  • Chris Matthews Sep 26th
  • Lone Eagle Sep 26th
  • Jhamil O$Neal Sep 26th
  • Clifton Clinstock Sep 26th
  • Ka$haNova Sep 26th
  • Ben Miller Sep 27th
  • Tyler Cordingley Sep 27th
  • Angel Camacho Sep 27th
  • Alec Bisogno Sep 27th
  • Scott Lee Sep 28th
  • Rip Tyler Sep 28th
  • Tommy Prince Sep 28th
  • Billy Ray [2nd] Sep 28th
  • Kamille Sep 28th
  • Trey Count Sep 28th
  • Skandar Akbar Sep 29th
  • Ann Casey Sep 29th
  • David Sammartino Sep 29th
  • Bang Bang Bennett Sep 29th
  • Raymon Downey Sep 30th
  • Marlboro Slim Sep 30th
  • Kidd Riggs Sep 30th
  • Fred Urban Sep 30th
  • Lady Starwind Sep 30th
  • Seth Coburn Sep 30th
  • Hector Guerrero Oct 1st
  • Cold Blooded Chris Oct 2nd
  • Abilene Maverick Oct 2nd
  • Waldo Von Erich Oct 2nd
  • Funnybone Oct 2nd
  • James Southard Oct 2nd
  • Mike Foxx Oct 2nd
  • Abilene Maverick Oct 2nd
  • Don Fargo Oct 3rd
  • Johnny TV Oct 3rd
  • Crystal White Oct 3rd
  • Bobby Fulton Oct 4th
  • T-Arsenal Oct 4th
  • Studd Lee Oct 4th
  • Abyss Oct 4th
  • Jay Strongbow, Sr. Oct 4th
  • P. Y. Chu-Hi Oct 4th
  • Dick Hutton Oct 4th
  • Violent V Oct 4th
  • Tim Geohagen Oct 4th

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