Memories
Chapter One: Army Men Toys To a Nationally Sold Wrestling Game
#PWHS #Article #Memories #ArmyMen
Part One: Army Men
Yours truly has been a Pro Wrestling Fan since 1963; over 50 years. This would lead you to conclude that Pro Wrestling has played such a valuable part in my unique life. It has entertained me, inspired me, and kept my brain involved in productive choices more than I could ever put in words.
At my first contact, Wrestling was “Good vs Evil”. This was well before I would question the validity of Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny logistics, or that the ending to my TV wrestling matches was dared predetermined.
I was a one sport kid in my pre-teen years, so when it wasn’t baseball season I had a lot of free hours to fill. This was especially true during the summer hours. The days I wasn’t playing pick-up baseball all day, or being involved in organized baseball, I had to find something to do. This led to a many year hobby involvement with sports cards, and finally even led to re-enacting Pro Wrestling.
I don’t mean Backyard Wrestling, though a few hours were spent fun re-enacting with neighbors what we had seen on tv the past few weeks. It was fun to feel the adrenalin of playing the part of the villain one night and then the good guy the next one. Somehow wisdom told us that this experience would be short-lived though. The first broken arm would lead to a “hardcore” match with our Moms being declared the winner after she used her patented move, “Belt to the Butt”.
So, imagination took me to the next step. I ended up using a shoebox lid as my wrestling ring. Next, my wrestlers came from my cowboy, Indian, army men, and any other plastic male toys I had accumulated over my short lifespan. My desk light became a perfect spotlight over my ring. It seems almost unbelievable as I share this, but this kept me entertained for tens (possibly 100’s) of hours. Even though the plastic figures were limited what they could do in reality, but yet somehow in my matches they performed any and every move I had heard Bob Caudle say on TV week-in and week-out.
There came a time when my Mid-Atlantic TV show had to progress. Instead of thinking of the moves happening in the ring, I became the BEST wrestling announcer of All Time! For hours I would perfect my talent as the hours of enjoyment continued. Belts were added. No disqualification matches appeared. Masking tape was perfect to add to imitate my favorite wrestlers from “Parts Unknown”. White masking tape could easily become a Gordon Solie “crimson mask”, especially during those “No Dq, No Time Limit” matches. All you needed was a red crayon. Night after night their face would almost be revealed, but somehow 95% of the time they would escape just in time. Then in their next match they would appear with a brand new mask! Sometimes the good guys would don masks to surprise their bitter enemies.
At my first contact, Wrestling was “Good vs Evil”. This was well before I would question the validity of Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny logistics, or that the ending to my TV wrestling matches was dared predetermined.
I was a one sport kid in my pre-teen years, so when it wasn’t baseball season I had a lot of free hours to fill. This was especially true during the summer hours. The days I wasn’t playing pick-up baseball all day, or being involved in organized baseball, I had to find something to do. This led to a many year hobby involvement with sports cards, and finally even led to re-enacting Pro Wrestling.
I don’t mean Backyard Wrestling, though a few hours were spent fun re-enacting with neighbors what we had seen on tv the past few weeks. It was fun to feel the adrenalin of playing the part of the villain one night and then the good guy the next one. Somehow wisdom told us that this experience would be short-lived though. The first broken arm would lead to a “hardcore” match with our Moms being declared the winner after she used her patented move, “Belt to the Butt”.
So, imagination took me to the next step. I ended up using a shoebox lid as my wrestling ring. Next, my wrestlers came from my cowboy, Indian, army men, and any other plastic male toys I had accumulated over my short lifespan. My desk light became a perfect spotlight over my ring. It seems almost unbelievable as I share this, but this kept me entertained for tens (possibly 100’s) of hours. Even though the plastic figures were limited what they could do in reality, but yet somehow in my matches they performed any and every move I had heard Bob Caudle say on TV week-in and week-out.
There came a time when my Mid-Atlantic TV show had to progress. Instead of thinking of the moves happening in the ring, I became the BEST wrestling announcer of All Time! For hours I would perfect my talent as the hours of enjoyment continued. Belts were added. No disqualification matches appeared. Masking tape was perfect to add to imitate my favorite wrestlers from “Parts Unknown”. White masking tape could easily become a Gordon Solie “crimson mask”, especially during those “No Dq, No Time Limit” matches. All you needed was a red crayon. Night after night their face would almost be revealed, but somehow 95% of the time they would escape just in time. Then in their next match they would appear with a brand new mask! Sometimes the good guys would don masks to surprise their bitter enemies.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
Memories: Chapter One - Part One.
Author: Terry Kent.
Published: October 20, 2015.
Article: #122.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Memories: Chapter One - Part One.
Author: Terry Kent.
Published: October 20, 2015.
Article: #122.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Memories: Chapter One - Part Two - Read Here.
Other articles by Terry can be Read Here.