|
|
| |
|
|
Topics: 885
Replies: 3496
Member
Post: #720804
PT: #17/39
|
This message was edited by oldsoutherwrestlingfan on August 06th, 2012 22:39 GMT
What did Pittsburgh and Baltimore have for venues? Since Pittsburgh was Bruno's hometown, those had to be sellouts most of the time I would imagine. Did Maine and Rhode Island and the other New England states get big cards or more spot shows? Was the Philly Spectrum on par with MSG for being comfortable?
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Topics: 91
Replies: 3559
Member
Post: #720811
PT: #18/39
|
Since we've talked about the Boston Garden, I feel obliged to mention the Boston Arena. Like the GAH-den, it was a dilapidated dump, but it was a more intimate dump (capacity around 4,000 if memory serves). In the 1950's, Paul Bowser would run small weekly shows there and then a big monthly show at the Garden. In the 1960's, Tony Santos ran weekly shows with Frank Scarpa as his main attraction. You heard me right: the dude ran weekly shows with no television to support him!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 louie.d |
August 07th, 2012 16:00 GMT |
 
|
|
Topics: 40
Replies: 1923
Member
Post: #720868
PT: #19/39
|
Since my family weren't willing to drive a lot, the Scranton CYC was my only chance to see live shows
Scranton was a great arena for Boxing and Wrestling. It was primarily a baskeball arena and the balcony overhang was VERY close to the ring. Front row balcony at the CYC may have been the single best seats I ever sat at in any arena. Conversely, ringside stunk because you had seats spread out flat on the floor and you were looking 'up." Terrible seats. But oh those balcony seats!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Topics: 30
Replies: 907
Member
Post: #720952
PT: #20/39
|
The first venue I attended a WWWF card at in March 1967.....the "old" Madison Square Garden .
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
Topics: 18
Replies: 229
Member
Post: #720965
PT: #22/39
|
I saw many shows at the Spectrum and one at the Hershey Arena, which was very small in person but looked huge on TV the following month when they taped SNME there. But my Dad had some great stories from the old Channel 48 studio in Philly from back in the late '60s. Apparently it was a really small studio. One time, Bruno was catching some sun on a beach chair out in the parking lot and didn't hear his name called for his match. He came running in about 5 minutes late. My Dad would also see Johnny Rodz walking to the airport a lot afterwards. They would offer Rodz a ride, but Johnny always wanted to walk.
There was another time where a segment of the Monkees was being filmed in the studio and the crowd were allows to stay and watch it being filmed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| glaz |
August 08th, 2012 15:31 GMT |
|
|
Topics: 72
Replies: 6249
Member
Post: #720970
PT: #23/39
|
This message was edited by glaz on August 08th, 2012 15:32 GMT
Quoted from: Mark Smart, August 06th, 2012 22:59 GMTSince we've talked about the Boston Garden, I feel obliged to mention the Boston Arena. Like the GAH-den, it was a dilapidated dump, but it was a more intimate dump (capacity around 4,000 if memory serves). In the 1950's, Paul Bowser would run small weekly shows there and then a big monthly show at the Garden. In the 1960's, Tony Santos ran weekly shows with Frank Scarpa as his main attraction. You heard me right: the dude ran weekly shows with no television to support him!
My dad used to drive past that place on trips into Boston with me. There was always "WRESTLING" on the marquee and I always wondered what kind of wrestling was going on there, since all that got mentioned on Channel 56 on Saturday morning were the upcoming Garden shows. Never got a chance to find out by going to a show, unfortunately.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Topics: 7
Replies: 94
Member
Post: #721541
PT: #24/39
|
Without a doubt, Witschi's. I spent many a Friday night in the front row with my Aunt Mary. The wrestling wasn't always the best, you never saw a title change or a major angle, but with the exception of Bruno and Dusty, everybody came through there. Hey, I can say I saw Pedro, Andre, Backlund, Hanson, Hennig, Kowalski, Blassie, Moolah, and countless other greats in person from about five feet away.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| glaz |
August 12th, 2012 22:34 GMT |
|
|
Topics: 72
Replies: 6249
Member
Post: #721546
PT: #25/39
|
Quoted from: workjobb, August 12th, 2012 21:57 GMTWithout a doubt, Witschi's. I spent many a Friday night in the front row with my Aunt Mary. The wrestling wasn't always the best, you never saw a title change or a major angle, but with the exception of Bruno and Dusty, everybody came through there. Hey, I can say I saw Pedro, Andre, Backlund, Hanson, Hennig, Kowalski, Blassie, Moolah, and countless other greats in person from about five feet away.
I had a couple of friends in junior high who used to put out a newsletter called Boston Ring News. They went to Witschi's a lot and always had interesting stories to tell about who they'd seen. As you say, the cards weren't great, and they saw more of Vincente Pommetti and Juan Caruso than anyone should have had to see, but it still sounded like a great way to spend a Friday night.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Topics: 52
Replies: 1072
Member
Post: #721603
PT: #26/39
|
Quoted from: oldsoutherwrestlingfan, August 06th, 2012 22:37 GMTWhat did Pittsburgh and Baltimore have for venues? Since Pittsburgh was Bruno's hometown, those had to be sellouts most of the time I would imagine.
Pittsburgh was the Civic Arena, which opened in 1961 and was just demolished in the last few months.
Sellouts were rare in Bruno's first title run. They consistently drew about 8,000 in a building that held about 13,000 at that time for wrestling. They ran one show per month from September to June, usually taking July and August off.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Topics: 53
Replies: 1095
Member
Post: #1063817
PT: #27/39
|
Quoted from: TheMagnificentOne, August 05th, 2012 19:57 GMTI went to Muhlenberg College in Allentown PA which is right down the road from Agricultural Hall, the home of WWF tv tapings for years. I saw many tapings there every third Tuesday between Sept & May but don't have any of the broadcast shows on DVD or VCR. The last shows I attended were early 1984 and that's when my family got our first VCR.
It was a great place to see wrestling. First time in there I couldn't believe how small it was after watching midnight wrestling on Channel 9 NYC for years. It looked much bigger on TV.
I agree.
It's just an empty floor expo hall. Bleachers were kept outside, and pulled in for events.
But WWF did their best to make it look like an arena with lightning, pipe-and-drape, and wide camera angles.
They made Hamburg look good too.
In fact, Hamburg had a big convention today. I'm sure people commented on how small it is.
I can see "Legends of Ag Hall" coming.
Madison Square Garden is my favorite despite it's many flaws.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Merc |
September 17th, 2023 02:09 GMT |
|
|
Topics: 21
Replies: 393
Member
Post: #1063822
PT: #28/39
|
Worcester Memorial Auditorium.
Greg Valentine called it out in a shoot, saying he hated it because the fans were on top of you (balcony) and packed in for a small (3500) venue.
Wrestlers came from behind the stage curtain, hot matches or loud crowds you could see some sneaking looks.
Fitchburg civic center was solid too.
Boston got the premier match ups so the big arena was a necessary evil to see Bruno during his second title run.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Topics: 53
Replies: 1095
Member
Post: #1063828
PT: #29/39
|
Quoted from: Merc, September 17th, 2023 02:09 GMTWorcester Memorial Auditorium.
Greg Valentine called it out in a shoot, saying he hated it because the fans were on top of you (balcony) and packed in for a small (3500) venue.
Wrestlers came from behind the stage curtain, hot matches or loud crowds you could see some sneaking looks.
Fitchburg civic center was solid too.
Boston got the premier match ups so the big arena was a necessary evil to see Bruno during his second title run.
I remember Valentine saying that on WSI with Muraco and James.
Backlund mentioned Worcester in his book as being a great building.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Topics: 1098
Replies: 14352
Member
Post: #1063860
PT: #30/39
|
Quoted from: Mark Smart, August 06th, 2012 01:19 GMTQuoted from: glaz, August 05th, 2012 20:29 GMTBoston Garden was built for boxing, so it's no surprise that it was a fantastic venue for wrestling.
Unless you were seated behind a pole.
LOL I attended an Aerosmith concert at the Boston Garden once and was seated right behind a pole. LOL.
I attended my first ever wrestling card at the Boston Garden though oddly it was a NWA show.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Subscriptions disabled ]