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PART TWO
RETURN TO THE MID-ATLANTIC GATEWAY
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PART TWO
Karl von Hess
had reached his desired all time low. Making his way down the aisle
through the thrown debris and vocal displeasure of the fans, von Hess was
cut across his leg by an elderly woman sitting on the end of a row. As he
sat in the dressing room and received stitches needed to close the wound,
all involved knew that the angle had worked. When the wrestlers commented
Charlie was so admired by Crockett that during one of their many conversations the artful announcer talked about his desire to purchase a particular home that was large enough for his growing family. As with many young people of that era, possessing funds for an adequate down payment was often out of reach. After hearing the story of his friend wanting to improve the family’s standard of living, Crockett handed over to the surprised broadcaster several thousand dollars with the comments “…go buy your house…let me know when you’ve worked for me enough to pay this back…then I’ll start paying you again…”.
On November 23, 1961 professional wrestling debuted at the newly constructed Greensboro Coliseum. On that Thanksgiving evening a tradition of wrestling at the Coliseum began which continued throughout the years, often setting attendance records for all types of events held at the site. As in the Lexington opening during the previous decade, Crockett arranged for the large enthusiastic crowd to be greeted by Charlie Harville. The audience then, and for many years to come, gave him ovations which he enjoyed to a level only known by family and a few of his close friends.
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A conglomerate in the City of High Point had for many years petitioned to be granted a television broadcast license. Upon approval WGHP-TV Channel 8 was created and signed on the air on Monday October 14, 1963. In a major power play, they had been able to recruit the biggest name in regional television to join their new operation. Full page ads in area newspapers the weekend before sign-on had spelled out the program lineups for the new channel, but only one personality was highlighted. With the caption “Mr. Sports” above his picture, the text stated: Charlie Harville, for years the top name in sports in the area, will host the news and sports shows twice daily Monday through Friday. Join Charlie for reports from the regional, national and international scenes each weekday evening at 7 and 11 o’clock.
Charlie hosted Championship Wrestling in a format of two to three matches that normally featured wrestlers scheduled to appear on major cards in the region’s larger venues. Charlie’s storytelling abilities were never better as he vividly described the wrestling holds and maneuvers to the new audience. His knowledge of wrestling, from covering high school, collegiate and professional matches allowed him to relate the similarities and differences in the bouts whether the viewers were appreciative or skeptical of what they were watching. He placed emphasis on the wrestlers’ athletic skills, often describing their backgrounds in competitive sports along with the on-going training regimens required to enhance their ring performance.
Interaction between Charlie and the grapplers was an integral part of advancing wrestling storylines for current matches and future feuds. He worked with the participants during their interviews by presenting them as the focus of the show, and would only ask a question or raise a point when doing so would make the interviewee look good, or “bad”, if that were the case.
A Scott brothers’ interview often ended with all smiling as George would say “Before we go, I would like to say hello to all of our sick and shut-in friends.” Charlie kept a serious expression when the heel wrestlers made threatening remarks towards him or their opponents. Using his eloquent communications skills, he would often engage them with an appropriate statement or question to advance the storyline, but never in a way to insult the viewer’s intelligence.
Unknown to
most of the viewers was the level of admiration that wrestlers had for
Charlie. Nelson Royal so valued their friendship that he gave one of
Charlie’s daughters a saddle from his western store. The significance was
that Royal was quite a frugal businessman and not known for giving
potential profits away. George Becker was a good friend for over thirty
years. Becker enjoyed working with him in the studio and at appearances
throughout the area. Charlie had
Rip Hawk reveled in their relationship and often played tricks designed to throw off Charlie’s delivery. Hawk was one of the top heel wrestlers to appear in the territory, but in real life was acknowledged for his goodwill to others. He was also known for his traditional crew-cut hairstyle. Returning to the area after working outside of the Carolinas for a few months, he arrived at the Channel 8 studios with uncharacteristic longer hair. An interview touting upcoming matches was almost complete when Charlie unexpectedly asked about the new style. Rip looked at him and said in a matter of fact way “I just wanted to show you old men that I could turn it on and turn it off whenever I choose.” After the show they both had a good laugh about it.
Charlie’s own
sense of humor came through in another angle involving Hawk and partner
Swede Hanson. Rip and Swede were standing with him beside the ring as Rip
began cutting a promo on arch rival Weaver. The popular Weaver stormed
into the studio and leapt into the ring while
In a recent conversation, Rip Hawk talked about working with Charlie Harville in the 1960s and early 1970s. “He was so good. We never planned anything before we went on.” Hawk told of his and Charlie’s friendship in another example. “Charlie let me know about an interview that he was going to do with Bob Hope’s son, Tony, and asked if I wanted to come by the studio and meet him. I arrived for the taping and as a rib involved myself in their discussion. I took up all of the time that had been scheduled for them. Hope thought that it was funny, and Charlie did too – after he calmed down and they had re-shot the interview.”
Two of the more bizarre characters in wrestling were The Missouri Mauler and Brute Bernard. Mauler was a huge burly man with the voice and cadence of a stereotypical camp meeting preacher. Bernard’s persona was that of a demented soul who never talked, and usually strutted around in circles making incomprehensible shouts. This team of rowdies carried out an angle that became known as the closest to making Charlie break from his professional demeanor during a broadcast of Championship Wrestling.
Mauler and Brute were in the last match of the evening and, after defeating their foes, came to ringside for an interview. With Charlie holding the microphone as Mauler ranted and raved, Brute repeatedly circled them making the guttural sounds of “Uh Uh Uh Ah Ah Ah Oh Oh Oh.” He got closer and closer with every lap and eventually began to bump into his partner and the host. “Can’t you control him?” Charlie finally asked Mauler. In a drawn-out quivering voice that would have impressed Jimmy Swaggart, Mauler looked directly at Charlie and proclaimed “Let me tell you something Mister Har…rrr…ville. If I, the great Missouri Mauler ever had a son, I would want him to be just like this man!” Mauler points downward and the camera shows Brute on the floor at Charlie’s feet tearing up and eating a wrestling card that had been on display.
With only a few seconds of time remaining Charlie calmly did his normal show ending. A moment later the signal was given that taping had ended. Brute looked up at him and said “Do you think they bought that?” Charlie, the wrestlers, the studio crew, and all on the set broke into loud, long and hearty laughter.
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CONTINUED IN THE FINAL PART THREE
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on how well the ring antics had looked, Charlie told the guys that he and
von Hess’ shouting back and forth had actually consisted of them asking
how each others’ families were doing.
In the same
advertisement, program schedules were listed for each day of the week.
Saturday’s lineup foretold the future. The 6:30 pm show was the Bowery
Boys, but beside that title in parentheses were the words:
(“Wrestling” soon). Four months later, on February 15, 1964
Championship Wrestling became part of the lineup on Channel 8. It was
an arrangement that would benefit WGHP and Jim Crockett Promotions for the
next decade. Channel 8 was able to film the show in its own studio,
providing much needed new programming for the fledgling station. Crockett
received extensive new viewership and advertising of its matches
throughout the area.
tremendous respect for Becker
personally, and highly regarded his ability to stay in top physical
condition throughout his career. Promotional photographs that Charlie
distributed where often those featuring him interviewing Becker and his
tag team partner Johnny Weaver.
shouting at Hawk. Rip
initially ignored him but Johnny was relentless. Looking over at his
adversary Hawk stated “Weaver, I’d like to challenge you to a five minute
match”, but didn’t enter the ring, and only continued talking. The
audience and Weaver got louder and louder, giving Charlie his
opportunity: “You challenged him, now get in there.” Rip’s surprised
facial expression spoke volumes. He paused; then shouted “Go get him
Swede!” Hanson - joined moments later by Hawk - attacked Weaver and left
him lying in the ring, then returned to the interview area. “Now”
exclaimed Rip “Back to what I was saying before he, and you
[looking at Charlie] so rudely interrupted me.”