Fox Affliate WGHP in High Point/Greensboro Does History Feature with Gateway Contributor Wayne Brower

by Dick Bourne
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

In advance of tonight's debut of WWE Smackdown on the Fox broadcasting network, local Fox affiliate WGHP channel 8 out of the Greensboro/High Point/Winston-Salem market did a nice feature on the history of pro-wrestling at that station going back to the 1960s.

Morning anchor Brad Jones found our Gateway article on broadcast Hall-of-Famer Charlie Harville written by Gateway contributor Wayne Brower back in 2005 and had us get him in touch with Wayne for an interview for this morning's Friday morning news broadcast on WGHP. Fortunately, the video can also be found on the Fox8 website:

Walk through wrestling history ahead of WWE’s Friday evening kickoff on FOX8 

Wayne's article is one of my favorites ever submitted here, and I am thrilled WGHP came across it. Wayne did an outstanding job with them and it really takes you back to see the old photos of host Charlie Harville with wrestling legends like George Becker, Johnny Weaver, Rip Hawk, Swede Hanson, and others. Be sure to check out Wayne's article, as well as our Studio Wrestling page on wrestling at WGHP on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway Archive website.

Les Thatcher's Lost Opus: Andre the Giant arrives in the Mid-Atlantic Area (1974)

PART TWO - THE STORY
As we mentioned in Part One, Les Thatcher sent us an amazing package of memorabilia related to Andre the Giant's first visit to the Mid-Atlantic territory, including never before published photographs and a story Les wrote that has never seen the light of day. Until now.

Rarely are we fortunate enough to get such a detailed inside glimpse of a day in the life of an international star making his first tour in a territory. But that's what Les story gives us, a rare and special gift because this story was never published as originally intended, stored away for over four decades.

So now, we proudly present Les's lost article, likely originally intended for Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Magazine (which he published for Jim Crockett Promotions), rediscovered all these years later, like hidden treasure now for all of us to enjoy. Exclusive to the Mid-Atlantic Gateway, originally written in June 1974, and published for the first time.

Andre the Human
Story and Photographs by Les Thatcher
Charlotte/High Point/Raleigh NC, 1974

What do you think it would be like to be a seven-foot, four inch, four hundred plus pound Superstar in the world of wrestling? Well, I got the chance to find out. No, I didn’t have my fairy Godmother turn me into a giant. I just had the chance to spend the day with one!

Running late as usual, I bounded up the steps of Jim Crockett Promotions in downtown Charlotte, North Carolina, my friend and tag team partner, Scott Casey, right on my heels. As we entered the door and rounded the corner, I was almost knocked over by the “Great French Wall”.  Andre the Giant.  A large size smile looked down at me and an enormous right hand was extended. I put a meek smile on my face and stuck my hand into what appeared to be a flesh covered baseball glove. I muttered the only French word I knew, meaning hello, as my hand was engulfed by his. His smile was warm and the English hello came from down deep, but was soft and matched the smile.

On this beautiful June morning, Casey and I were to take Andre on a nice Tuesday drive. It would take us up to High Point, North Carolina for a television interview, and then on to the State Capital of Raleigh for still another interview and a wrestling match that night. After a few words with the promoters, I loaded my cargo into my car and we began our trip. As we sped through the North Carolina countryside, Scott and I both talked to the big man. His command of the English language was not great, but he made himself understood. In the hour it took us to reach our first stop, the three of us had become well acquainted.

Charlie Harville and Andre outside the
WGHP studios in High Point, NC.

We arrived at High Point’s WGHP, Channel 8, where we were greeted by their sports director, Charlie Harville. The TV crew was setting up their equipment in the parking lot below their studios. They weren’t quite ready for us. During the wait, Andre was patient and watched the goings on with great interest. He stood quietly off to one side until he was called before the camera. The whole affair took only about 20 minutes and then we headed across the state toward the Capital. On this second leg of our trip, Andre sat without speaking in the back seat, watching the small towns and trees roll by.

Our trip made Raleigh in time for lunch, which we were all in need of. Our meal consisted of four steak dinners.  Yes, four! One each for Scott and myself and two complete meals for our friend. The two dinners were joined in that massive body by at least seven glasses of iced tea and a couple of glasses of water. While we ate, we talked to “The Giant” and he told us of his travels around the world and how he enjoyed being in the United States. He was looking forward to a trip in the near future to Japan. We were pressed for time and had to hurry on to the TV station, but I was left with the impression that my recently made friend, Andre, was not full and could have eaten more.

As we pulled to the entrance of WRAL, Channel 5, a welcoming committee consisting of wrestling promoters, station officials and cameramen awaited us. They filmed Andre stepping from the car and talked with him briefly. It was all over until six o’clock when we were to return for an interview on the news program and another interview filmed.

WRAL Sports Director Nick Pond and Raleigh promoter Joe Murncik escort
Andre the Giant into the studios of WRAL TV for an interview.
(Pond was also the Raleigh-only host of  "Championship Wrestling" in the 1960s and early 1970s)

We had two hours to kill so we strolled off through a shopping center nearby. We window shopped and finally found ourselves in front of a movie theater. Andre said the tickets were on him, so inside we sent to settle down and watch Goldie Hawn in “Sugarland Express”. “The Giant” made himself comfortable in the theater seats and seemed to get the whole plot of the movie. The sight gags broke him up and the laughter would pour out. As we left the theater, Andre made the comment, “It was a good movie.”

Casey and I both agreed. Meanwhile, back at Channel 5, it was time for more interviews. Again, we met with news director Nick Pond and Raleigh’s family of wrestling promoters:  Joe Murnick and sons Elliott and Carl. The tapes were made in short order. Andre smiled and made the comments that he must have repeated a thousand times before. We piled back into the car and made our way to Dorton Arena.

Andre the Giant with Raleigh's First Family of Promoters: Joe, Elliot, and Carl Murnick

We were at the arena one and a half hours before bell time, but “The Giant” busied himself getting reach for his match. As other wrestlers arrived, Andre introduced himself and shook hands. He joined in the normal dressing room chatter and took a lot of good-natured kidding about his size. Around 9:30 he entered the ring and some 12 minutes later, was back in the dressing room, having wiped out two opponents!

Joe Murnick prepares to interview the Eighth Wonder of the World" Andre the Giant

On the return trip to Charlotte, the big man seemed more at ease than he had all day, laughing and telling stories about his travels. Upon our arrival in Charlotte, Andre put away another large size meal, had a few beers and said good night.

It had been a long day for me, but after talking to this friendly Frenchman, I didn’t feel too bad. Since rising to the top of the pro wrestling wars, Andre has been following this pattern seven days a week, wrestling from coast to coast. He is up early every morning appearing on TV shows, making interviews and wrestling someplace that night. It’s a tough pace and lonely life. My overall impression of the man was this:  His mind is as strong as the over-sized body in which it lives. In my day with him, I saw him happy, sad, moody, friendly and lonely. At the end of that day, he put it all together and was a fine human being. He patted the children on their curly heads, he smiled at the lovely ladies, he answered the same questions over and over, and above all, he was tolerant of his fellow man. As I dragged myself home to bed, I felt refreshed that I had a chance to spend some time with this wrestling Superstar and I had been touched to find him to be a super human as well.

[For a look at Andre's full tour of the Mid-Atlantic area in June 1974, visit PART ONE of this series.] 

ONE THOUGHT AS TO WHY THIS STORY WAS NEVER PUBLISHED

Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Magazine was the in-house publication of Jim Crockett Promotions that began in 1973 when Les Thatcher talked the office into letting him put together a "program" that could be sold at matches across the territory. Prior to that, Charlotte was the only town in the territory that had it's own program for its weekly events.

Those first issues in 1973 and early 1974 were printed in black and white and were only eight pages, but included a wealth of information for fans, including articles, photos, a station list, early t-shirts, and Les's own signature column that would be included in all the issues he would publish over a five year period - "Wrestler's Eye View."

Around the time Les wrote this story on Andre's first visit, JCP temporarily ceased production of the newsletter and instead published two photo albums during that year. This may be the reason that the Andre story didn't appear - - there was no magazine at that moment for it to appear in.

If you are a regular visitor here at the Gateway, you know of our deep respect and affection for Les Thatcher. It's hard to imagine a more versatile, multi-talented person in the history of the wrestling business. Wrestler, writer, photographer, publisher, commentator, host, producer, booker, promoter, trainer, podcaster - - he literally has done it all. We are eternally grateful to Les for sharing this lost story with us, as well as his photographs from that day in 1974.

Coming up in the third and final part of this series, we'll take a look at couple more of Les's photos, as well as put the whole day in t he context of the times. We'll highlight a few other things going on in the territory, including a famous (unrelated) confrontation on TV that took place at WGHP the very same day Andre visited there involving one of wrestling's greatest (and most brutal) rivalries.

Stay tuned for PART THREE.

Live and in Person

You Never Forget Your First Live Wrestling Event

by Wayne Brower

Special to the Mid-Atlantic Gateway

Getting to see a wrestling show in person became a priority thing for me to accomplish.  As most kids would naturally do, I started with the parents.  Dad was no wrestling fan, although he always let me watch it on television. 

Charlie Harville
Host of "Championship Wrestling" on
WGHP Channel 8 in High Point, NC

Nevertheless, my desire to experience the spectacle grew.  There were occasional matches in Winston-Salem and Greensboro, but almost always there was a card on Saturday nights in Lexington at the YMCA.  Lexington matches at the time were advertised on the Charlotte broadcasts but primarily promoted on High Point’s Channel 8 wrestling by Charlie Harville.  Charlie was outstanding in his role as announcer as he could describe the maneuvers and holds of the matches, and then further advance storylines with the wrestlers during interviews.  Lexington matches were sold as major events you must see.

The turning point occurred in the fall of 1964 when I was visiting an aunt and uncle who lived near us in Trinity.  Somehow the conversation turned to my enjoyment of wrestling.  My aunt said that they watch it, and also went to the matches in Lexington.  I didn’t have to say anything since I’m sure my facial expression spoke volumes.  She then asked me to go with them.

Wow.  It was the opportunity of a lifetime.  The chance of going to wrestling while hanging out with an aunt, uncle and cousin that I really liked.  I asked her to call the next time they planned to go.

The call came the following Saturday afternoon.  I was expecting it and had obtained prior approval to go from my Dad.  He made sure that I was taking enough money as not to be a financial burden to my hosts.  He also reminded me to “behave myself.”  I privately wondered how a person could do that at wrestling.

Shortly thereafter we were on the way.  My cousin and I rode in the back seat of her parents’ Ford Galaxie as I listened intently to her stories of previous matches.  Normally a 13 year old boy would ignore a younger girl, but I thought that she was cool and besides, she was already a Lexington veteran. 

Arriving at the YMCA was quite an experience.  The building was much larger than I had imagined, and so was the crowd.  We stood in line for a short time to buy our tickets.  My uncle told me to get one for general admission as it was cheaper than ringside and you could actually see better from the elevated stands.  He was right.

The experience began as quite a humanity lesson for me.  As the arena filled before bell time a great cross section of the community came in and began to take their seats.  All socio-economic classes appeared to be represented.  A well dressed older couple walked to the ringside chairs, taking their seats as they shook hands with fans nearby.  Sitting throughout that section and most of the general admission area were various families and groups.  Their general appearance and conduct was just like that of the majority of patrons.  Two other factions in attendance also had distinctive representation.  One could be best described as belonging to the crimson collar category.  They were very friendly, loud, full of excitement, and seemed to be really enjoying the action – even though the matches had not even started.  Then there were the others, a small but distinct clan that would now be best described as the depraved hillbilly characters in the movie Deliverance.  But no matter, everyone in the arena was a wrestling fan.

To prepare ourselves for the festivities, my cousin and I visited the concession stand.  The selections available were hotdogs, popcorn, and a choice of three drinks – Nehi Grape, Nehi Orange or Coca-Cola.  I got popcorn and a Coke and was set for the evening.

Returning to our seats we found that several people around us had also gotten refreshments and were supplementing their drinks with liquids from odd shaped bottles brought in under their coats.  Throughout the evening these fans appeared to be very thirsty and made several return trips to the concession stand for as long as their supplemental beverages held up.

Minutes before the 8:15 pm starting time the crowd had already become restless.  Boos, yells and various catcalls echoed throughout the gymnasium.  Many people began to clap and stomp their feet in unison.

The audience began to cheer as Wally Dusek came out of a side door, walked to the ring and rang the bell loudly.  Several people, mostly children, ran to the end of the building where there were two separate entrance ways for the wrestlers.  More cheers came from the crowd as Nick Kozak walked out to a rousing approval. He strolled to the ring acknowledging the fans while signing autographs for those in step with him.

The opposite scene was played out when Mike Paidousis came out of the heels’ locker room.  He motioned for fans to get away while shouting towards them and kept up the tirade all the way into the ring, eliciting much disapproval from the audience.  Mike was not to be denied as he continued to taunt individual fans at ringside during the introductions. 

The match was a tremendous spectacle.  Kozak and Paidousis really put on a show.  The noise from the grapplers’ kicks, chops and slams, especially as compared to wrestling on TV was astounding.  The fans, including my cousin and me, reacted to almost every twist and turn of the match, although not as much as some at ringside who appeared as wanting to physically involve themselves in the action.  A massive roar erupted when Kozak rolled up Paidousis for the pin.  The good guy had won my first attended match, and all was well in the world.

The next bout of the evening involved two gladiators that I had seen often on television.  Similar crowd reactions as before greeted the hero, Mike Clancy.  He was really over, and worked it during his entrance.  His opponent received the worst so far.  It was George “Two Ton” Harris.  Two Ton was a real heel at this time, not the comedy figure he became later in his career.  There was no smile on his face, especially during his ring introduction as he brushed back his hair and yelled “Shut up!”  Harris was in control for the much of the match and was eventually disqualified, giving the win to Clancy.

A fifteen minute intermission was a welcome break in the action.  We got to talk about the matches so far, while the thirsty group beside of us got up and pronounced loudly that they had to go to the restrooms.  Announcements were made to the audience thanking us for our attendance, and outlining the card for next week’s matches.  North Carolina’s agricultural economy was in full strength as the entire upper portion of the building was now full of smoke.

The semi-final pitted the popular Doug Gilbert against Mike Valentino.  Another good back and forth match of action kept the audience interest going.  Neither held a clear advantage for any length of time.  The ring announcer reported “10 minutes – 10 minutes to go in the match!”  The crowd reactions, including my cousin’s and mine, picked up.  Wanting Doug to win, we decided that if we ran down to ringside and yelled a reminder for him to use his “Victory Roll” maneuver, he could overcome Valentino.  My aunt found this idea to be rather humorous and suggested to us that Mr. Gilbert was fully capable of winning without our advice.  “5 minutes – 5 minutes remaining in the time limit!” stated the announcer forcefully.  The grapplers picked up the pace in a final flurry.  But alas, the match ended in a draw.  As typical adolescents, we decided that we were probably right all along.

The main event was figured by all to be a classic for the ages.  As hyped repeatedly on the Saturday afternoon wrestling shows, it was a return bout where Bronco Lubich, Aldo Bogni and Homer O’Dell couldn’t run from sure defeat as they did last week in Lexington.  Their opponents, tonight in a Lumberjack Match, were again George Becker and the Kentuckians – Big Boy Brown and Tiny Anderson.   

The lumberjacks were all of the combatants from the prior matches: Nozak, Paidousis, Clancy, Harris, Gilbert and Valentino.  Even before the match started these guys were arguing and shoving to the point that the referee had to restrain some of them.   

Lubich, Bogni and O’Dell were the first out from their entrance and were greeted by a monumental heel response, and it was not all vocal.  Many fans chose to share items purchased at the concession stand with them, only not in the way which one would prefer to receive those refreshments.  Quick response by the Lexington Police officers in attendance slowed down much of the aerial bombardment being given to the trio.

The Kentuckians
(Mid-Atlantic Grapplin' Greats)

Becker and the Kentuckians were hailed as the conquering heroes as they came out to a gigantic pop.  Becker was the consummate wrestler loved by fans, and the Kentuckians were huge mountain men who looked and performed the part.  They even brought along a large cow horn which they hung on the ring post during their matches.

Introductions were not even completed when the contest began as wrestlers from both teams were tossed out to the lumberjacks, and vice versa.  Once the referee got things somewhat in order Tiny Anderson won the first fall with a “bear hug” over Bogni.  The crowd reaction almost shook the building.  This was no comparison to the emotions seen on TV from a studio audience, along with this live crowd’s reaction to every punch “ooh, ooh, ooh” when the good guy was pummeling the heel.

A restart of the match for the second fall saw continued action, both in and out of the ring.  O’Dell played his cowardly persona by only tagging in when his team had a complete beat down on an opponent.  To massive heat from the crowd, he would leap in, deal out a few stomps and quickly tag out. Lubich won the second fall over Becker to even the match.  This set the crowd off to the point that some within our hearing distance were questioning the heels’ ancestry, while others had even more distinct descriptions of Lubich, Bogni and O’Dell’s mothers.

Bronco Lubich and Aldo Bogni
with manager Homer O'Dell
(WrestlingMemories.com via WCCW Memories)

The deciding fall came in a most bizarre way.  Wrestling in the ring had the usual give and take, along with both sides getting time tossing opponents to the lumberjacks.  Only this time when tossed out, Bronco Lubich defended himself by slugging Nick Kozak, and then got back into the ring on his own.  Kozak took exception and went over to the ringpost, grabbed the Kentuckian’s cow horn, leapt up on the ring apron and proceeded to clobber Lubich over the head with it while the referee’s back was turned.  Becker covered him for the victory, followed by massive celebrating throughout the arena.  Good had triumphed over evil.

There was no doubt that this spectacle was everything, plus many times more than anything I had expected.  The pomp and pageantry, seeing those in person that I had admired on television, the size and behaviors of the crowd, along with my ability to conduct myself the same way and feel normal about it were just a few of the many reasons that I had to return.

As we filed out of the YMCA with several thousand other spectators, people were commenting on the matches, about the good time they had, but most of all about the outcome of the main event.  “O’Dell’s bunch got theirs!”; “It served ‘em right!”; “I liked what Kozak did with that horn!” etc.  

Yet another wrestling lesson for my youthful mind – it must be OK to cheat, as long as those doing it are popular.

Childhood Heroes at WGHP-TV Wrestling

FROM THE GATEWAY MAILBOX:
A Letter to the Mid-Atlantic Gateway following the posting of our WGHP Television Studio feature. Michael Roach talks about meeting two special childhood heroes. 


I spent many days at the TV tapings at High Point, and I got to know a lot of the guys, at least as well as a little kid that was star struck could. Two of my earliest memories are from those tapings.

WGHP wrestling announcer Charlie Harville
interviews Johnny Weaver

I never had a dad around, and even as a very young man I was already showing signs of going down a bad road. I was fighting and telling lies. My mom saw where this kind of thing could lead. Well one day after we went to the tapings at WGHP, she went over to Johnny Weaver and talked to him for a few minutes, then she called me over. I was in awe. The studio was empty other than us. Johnny was sitting on the ring near were the seats were and I was standing there next to him looking up at my hero. My mom had let him in on my acting up, and he asked me what was going on. I really don’t remember what I said, more than likely not a lot, people that have known me for a long time would be shocked that I was ever at a loss for words, but I was then. I do remember that he asked what I wanted to do with my life, and I said with out a moments thought that I wanted to be a wrestler. He smiled and said if I acted right at home and did not give my mom problems, and did good in school, that he would one day teach me how to wrestle.

Well I thought of that many times in my life after that. I ended up only being 5'8 so I never did call him on it! But I have no doubt that it changed my life. I did stop telling lies, and tried to be a good person, and I, to this day, try my best to live a life where I help people. In Just a few minutes he became my role model, and I will never forget that.

Then one day when we went to the taping, there where no seats left. I remember being upset that we would not be able to see the show, but then the coolest thing that could have happened to a kid happened. We ended up sitting with the wrestlers.

There was a small room that led into the studio. After the people were in there seats the guys would come in and sit there waiting for their matches. The guys were talking, and sitting around. I was looking at the monitor seeing the show, and then someone sat next to me. I looked over and it was Bob Bruggers. He said hello and talked to me for a bit. I asked him about himself, and then he told me that he had played football for the Miami Dolphins. WOW! That just blew me away.

Growing up in High Point we had no teams around, and the team that I loved was the Dolphins. This was near the end of the tapings there, around 1974 I think. After a few minutes he went out and did his match. I can not even tell you how cool it was to sit there and watch him walk away and then he was on the screen in front of me. I was yelling for him to do well. I remember the guys getting a laugh watching me get so into it.

Well you know what happened in 1975 not long after that. When the plane crash happened, I was in shock. When I heard he was in that plane, I felt that my friend was gone. What a damn shame that was, but I will always remember him for the kindness he showed a little kid one day in High Point.

I have so many good memories from that point in my life, going to the shows in Greensboro, and Winston Salem, and all over really. Thank you for starting this website. It is great to have these memories, and to know I am not the only one that really misses the days when the best show in the world was in my backyard.

- Michael Roach

February 2006

Charlie Harville: Remembering His Remarkable Journey

by Wayne Brower
Exclusive to the Mid-Atlantic Gateway
from the Mid-Atlantic Gateway Archives

In the spring of 1954 Jim Crockett spoke before an audience in the City of Lexington, North Carolina to publicize the debut of professional wrestling at the local YMCA gymnasium. He announced an agreement that he had entered with the organization whereby a portion of the proceeds would go towards funding the newly constructed arena. Crockett also told the assembled group about his plans for weekly shows if the initial matches drew adequate crowds.

Marketing the wrestling matches would be through advertisements in local newspapers, along with display cards in store fronts and on utility poles at strategic intersections. Since locally affiliated wrestling was not televised in the immediate area, Crockett described the need for a strong connection with the population in the Piedmont section of the state. He then advised the attendees about his new association with a prominent sports authority who would play a significant role in providing a major event atmosphere, while drawing sports fans not previously interested in wrestling. That prominent authority was Charlie Harville.

Charles Edward Harville was born December 15, 1918 in High Point, North Carolina. From an early age he had a tremendous interest in playing various sports that progressed into his college years. Not being as successful as he had envisioned in football, Charlie turned to baseball but failed to make the High Point College team. Showing his lifelong ability to overcome setbacks through trust in his own self-reliance, he would later tell a newspaper reporter that being cut during the baseball tryouts made him strive to succeed in his second ambition – being a sports broadcaster.

So while still in college, Charlie went to his hometown WMFR radio and boldly offered his services as a substitute play-by-play announcer for the Thomasville Tommies baseball games. The station manager was impressed by the articulate young man and decided to give him an opportunity in an on-the-job audition on April 28, 1938. The next day he was hired as their full time play-by-play announcer for baseball and football games.

World War II interrupted his career, but after an honorable tour of duty in the Army Air Corps, Charlie reemerged in radio working at stations in Martinsville, Virginia, Goldsboro, North Carolina and then LaSalle, Illinois. During his time at WLPO in LaSalle he created the unique closing phrase that would always end his future sportscasts: “That’s the best in sports today.”

In 1949 WFMY Radio in Greensboro provided an opportunity for him to return to his home area. The station had made the effort to broadcast the new medium of television and obtained the license to do so later that year. Charlie was selected as host of what is believed to be the first live local sports show broadcast in North Carolina. Almost fifty years later he would tell a staff writer for the Greensboro News & Record “It was a gamble on the part of the station. I practiced by pretending I was looking at a camera during my radio broadcasts. I had no doubt I’d succeed at it, but I didn’t know if it would go over with the public. I was surprised at the speed and breadth of its acceptance. By 1953 WFMY’s venture into TV was so successful that it closed the radio station.”

However, radio continued to be a significant part of Charlie’s career. Through the late 1940s and into the 1950s, he was a part of the Tobacco State Network that broadcast big four Atlantic Coast Conference basketball. For the next three decades he was the play-by-play announcer for numerous universities’ football and baseball programs, including East Carolina, Appalachian State, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Florida State.

* * * * * * * * * *

On Saturday night, May 1, 1954 Charlie Harville walked toward the ring, through the then record setting attendance of 4,300, for the first professional wrestling matches ever held at the Lexington YMCA. Neither he nor those in the arena knew that they were a part of events that would significantly impact him and wrestling in the region for the next thirty years.