Gorgeous George
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On March 24, 1915 arguably the most influential character wrestler ever was born. Even though he'd spend the first decade or so of his career as a talented, yet bland 'good-guy' worker, he would transform himself into a flamboyant, charismatic sensation that swept the nation and with it help change the direction of wrestling forever.
The funny thing is, he was not even original. Characters had existed before him and he was directly influenced himself by another wrestler prior to him, Lord Lansdowne, and in part by Dizzy Davis. Yet it would be this man that put the two characters together at just the right time when television was becoming a major source of entertainment in America.
No other form of athletic display was really suitable to the limited television recording methods at the time, wrestling was perfect. Wagner was undoubtedly in the right place at the right time with the right idea. Well, I say it was his idea many people maintain that it was actually all the idea of his former wife, Betty. The dyed blonde hair. The golden hair pins. The over the top robes. The neat folding of the attire before the contest. Even the atomizer. Everything that twas necessary to transform George Wagner into Gorgeous George. Which one of them came up with the idea we'll probably never know for sure, it was most likely a joint effort though.
All the years of literally running down the highways behind Betty, who was driving their car, had finally paid off. Together they may even have been the first couple to get married inside of a wrestling ring in front of a live audience, and took it on kind of a tour. Of course that's just trivial compared to the big picture of what the Human Orchid did in the business though.
Although he did win a handful of titles, he never actually needed them and that is why his mantelpiece would have been relatively bare in comparison to other performers of his name value. All he ever needed was his atomizer, a valet, and of course some very special gold hair pins to throw out to the throngs of fans who loved to hate him.
There is no doubt in anyone's mind who the very first television star was. It was Gorgeous George, and I don't mean just within wrestling, Gorgeous George was THE first huge television star. People would line up outside shops that sold televisions to watch him if they couldn't afford one of their own. His name was associated with other celebrities such as Bob Hope and Lucille Ball. George and Hope actually performed together at one point for a charity show.
He would ride the wave of his unbelievable popularity right up until the end of the 1950's. Although he retired in 1959, after a series of big drawing Hair Vs. Hair matches, like most wrestlers he would come back for one more match from time-to-time. After a hard fall struggling with finances due to bad investments and arguably other worse decisions and being diagnosed with liver issues in 1962, Gorgeous George Wagner passed on December 26, 1963 following a heart attack two days prior.
As recently as 2013 an episode of the Simpsons was based around his career and often people say there will never be anyone like so and so, in this case you can't help but really believe that is true. From his early, humble beginnings as a legitimate tough man to the "sissy" who owned the infamous purple turkey farm after his retirement and everything in between, you just can't help but say, "Wow, what a character."
On March 24, 1915 arguably the most influential character wrestler ever was born. Even though he'd spend the first decade or so of his career as a talented, yet bland 'good-guy' worker, he would transform himself into a flamboyant, charismatic sensation that swept the nation and with it help change the direction of wrestling forever.
The funny thing is, he was not even original. Characters had existed before him and he was directly influenced himself by another wrestler prior to him, Lord Lansdowne, and in part by Dizzy Davis. Yet it would be this man that put the two characters together at just the right time when television was becoming a major source of entertainment in America.
No other form of athletic display was really suitable to the limited television recording methods at the time, wrestling was perfect. Wagner was undoubtedly in the right place at the right time with the right idea. Well, I say it was his idea many people maintain that it was actually all the idea of his former wife, Betty. The dyed blonde hair. The golden hair pins. The over the top robes. The neat folding of the attire before the contest. Even the atomizer. Everything that twas necessary to transform George Wagner into Gorgeous George. Which one of them came up with the idea we'll probably never know for sure, it was most likely a joint effort though.
All the years of literally running down the highways behind Betty, who was driving their car, had finally paid off. Together they may even have been the first couple to get married inside of a wrestling ring in front of a live audience, and took it on kind of a tour. Of course that's just trivial compared to the big picture of what the Human Orchid did in the business though.
Although he did win a handful of titles, he never actually needed them and that is why his mantelpiece would have been relatively bare in comparison to other performers of his name value. All he ever needed was his atomizer, a valet, and of course some very special gold hair pins to throw out to the throngs of fans who loved to hate him.
There is no doubt in anyone's mind who the very first television star was. It was Gorgeous George, and I don't mean just within wrestling, Gorgeous George was THE first huge television star. People would line up outside shops that sold televisions to watch him if they couldn't afford one of their own. His name was associated with other celebrities such as Bob Hope and Lucille Ball. George and Hope actually performed together at one point for a charity show.
He would ride the wave of his unbelievable popularity right up until the end of the 1950's. Although he retired in 1959, after a series of big drawing Hair Vs. Hair matches, like most wrestlers he would come back for one more match from time-to-time. After a hard fall struggling with finances due to bad investments and arguably other worse decisions and being diagnosed with liver issues in 1962, Gorgeous George Wagner passed on December 26, 1963 following a heart attack two days prior.
As recently as 2013 an episode of the Simpsons was based around his career and often people say there will never be anyone like so and so, in this case you can't help but really believe that is true. From his early, humble beginnings as a legitimate tough man to the "sissy" who owned the infamous purple turkey farm after his retirement and everything in between, you just can't help but say, "Wow, what a character."
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
Biography of Gorgeous George.
Author: Jimmy Wheeler.
Published: July 2014.
Biography: #59.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
Biography of Gorgeous George.
Author: Jimmy Wheeler.
Published: July 2014.
Biography: #59.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.