Georgia State University - Rampway Yearbook (Atlanta, GA)

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Only Live Atlanta Wrestling FW

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- Y --- an 1 1 I., 1 1-nun Mil r r iam lg-ne, Q ---a'A:-an.- f-----'--U Af - -Y -- - -W..--Y Alllmlii Continued BY GAYLE C. SMITH That Georgia State has an eclectic background and that some of the buildings arose from adaptations of other buildings like parking lots, is a given. But one of the more fascinating histories connected with the buildings is the history of the Georgia Championship Wrestling, held for many years in the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium, later to become the Atlanta Civic Auditorium and then Alumni Hall. The Auditorium saw its share of high brow activity such as the opera and the symphony, but it was the scene of some low brow entertainment as well. And this is where the wrestling came in. Men in trunks, slamming each other around to the tune of cheers and boos from a crosssection of spectators in the stands. l personally know of a very scholarly and dignified professor emeritus who used to be there each Friday to cheer his favorite gladiator and watch the crowds. The allure of the ring was two-fold, you understand, you could watch the wrestlers and you could watch the crowd. Paul Jones and Freddie Miller were the kings of the ring masters. They talked to and ribbed Gorgeous George, the Masked Maurader, Man Mountain Dean fa GSU studentl and El Mongol. They could probably each deliver a lecture of several hours on their favorite moments with wrestling. The sport has a history as old as time, and it has been practiced all over the world. Since the early part of this century, wrestling has taken on a new appearance. No longer do serious journalists cover these ring eventsg the matches are covered by reporters who deliver descriptions of the action with tongue in cheek, if the matches are covered at all. Fifteen years ago, there were an estimated 4 million people all over the United States who attended these spectacles. That figure has now trebled. A sport that includes theatre, dance, comic entertainment, tragic drama, religion and an element of danger remains a phenomenon with a loyal, committed following. Alumni Hall, now the location of GSLl's Child Development Center and the Communications department, was once the site of such matches. The crowds were made up of dedicated fans who lived and breathed wrestling and never missed a fight. The show has now moved up to the OMNI and the number of fans continues to grow, but the official slogan, Professional wrestling, the sport that gives you your money's worth gave an excitement to the Municipal Auditorium that rivaled the opera, symphony or circus. The blend of brutality, grace, skill, and showmanship never seemed to be diluted. The close proximity of the action, the keen sense of performance that the wrestlers themselves had and the clear didactics of the drama all contributed to the excitement. Hey, leggo my eggo . . . l didn't want to come here anyway. Twenty-six wrestlers and about 6,000 pounds 0 meat between them met in the auditorium for a Toss-themover-the-top-rope contest. f I i Gee And

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Gorgeous George, El Mongol, Man Mountain -if X Ji W' 'I l,f'They got invited and everyone Came. Twenty-six wrestlers crowded onto the arena for an all-out melee The largest was Haystack Calhoun, a 600 pounder. 2fGorgeous George musses someone else's hair for a change and refuses to release the name of his hair' dresser What a way to spend an evenmg. l2fStudent Life 4