|
|
|
|||
|
PART THREE
RETURN TO THE MID-ATLANTIC GATEWAY
|
PART THREE
The 1970s brought about many changes. Jim Crockett passed away on April 1, 1973. Championship Wrestling ended as Jim Crockett Promotions began taping all of their television shows at WRAL for distribution in the southeastern markets.
Charlie Harville left WGHP in January 1975. He continued his career as a freelance broadcaster for various sports teams and auto racing programs. He began research and became the author of a book titled Sports in North Carolina: A Photographic History. It was the only published account involving the full range of amateur, collegiate and professional sports history in the state. Among the hundreds of major personalities and events featured, Charlie paid tribute to Jim Crockett. Under a photograph of the famed promoter he wrote: Jim Crockett of Charlotte was one of the original owners of the Charlotte Checkers ice hockey team and a longtime sports promoter of events throughout the state. He pioneered in televised wrestling in North Carolina, and promoted matches for many years in Charlotte, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Raleigh and other cities.
Charlie returned to WFMY in 1977 as sports director, and remained with Channel 2 until his retirement in 1988. On April 29 of that year the station produced a live special program titled Charlie Harville: 50 Years In Broadcasting. The studio was filled with dozens of admirers, including sports personalities, political figures, business leaders and broadcasters who had been associated with him throughout his career. Accolades and honors from numerous institutions were presented, and Charlie graciously described his experiences with each.
In his overall comments on broadcasting, he talked about the importance of preparation. He told of the preparations that he made before every event, except one – wrestling. Before continuing his comments, Charlie introduced two members of the audience: “David Crockett, the son of my dear friend Jim Crockett, and Sandy Scott.” He thanked them for being there and resumed with “I didn’t need to prepare with wrestling. I didn’t need to know what was going to happen. I knew the wrestlers, and I knew that there would always be action. It was delightful to broadcast wrestling.”
* * * * *
One evening in the early 1990s a professional wrestling card was being held at the Greensboro Coliseum. Charlie was on the way home from a formal event that he had attended, and decided to stop by the arena to see a friend that had become a ring announcer. A match was underway as he entered the building, and seeing his friend at the timekeeper’s table, walked down the aisle to visit. Although not involved with wrestling in several years, and unannounced to the audience, people along the way recognized him and began to applaud his appearance.
In a scene reminiscent of almost forty years before at the Lexington YMCA, Charlie Harville – the prominent sports authority, wearing what was likely his very best suit and trying not to bring attention to himself – was again celebrated by a wrestling crowd. His journey had come full circle.
Wayne Brower March 2005
Comments or questions about this article or about Charlie Harville's contributions to wrestling are welcome. Contact Wayne Brower at cwbrower@earthlink.net.
© 2005 Wayne Brower and The Mid-Atlantic Gateway All Photos and Memorabilia from the Personal Collection of Wayne Brower
This article is part of a larger feature on the history of Mid-Atlantic Wrestling in the television studios by Dick Bourne.
RETURN TO THE MID-ATLANTIC GATEWAY
|
