Yesterday, 14th January was the anniversary of that match when Peter Preston beat Mick McManus on tv. Most probably know the story, Preston took the lead and was then expected to go down to McManus. But that didn't happen, Preston refused to go down and McManus was unable to put him away and so got himself disqualified.
Now for the mystery. It's a genuine question, someone may have an answer. As was demonstrated in lengthy discussions years ago many of us watched the match reach a conclusion on television. It was certainly seen in the North West (I would assume Yorkshire too as ABC had the weekend franchise for both areas at that time). It was certainly seen in Scotland.
Yet the report in The Wrestler magazine says that the match faded from the screens in round five. If so (or was this a Wrestler 'spin' to minimise the occasion) how did they do it? Obviously straight forward enough to pull the plug in any of the ITV areas, but how did Dale Martin intervene so quickly to get the match pulled? And why only in parts of the country? Why not everywhere? Or were some of the ITV regions more co-operative than others? I'd be interested to hear from others where they were watching, and what happened?
I wouldn't believe a wrestling magazine. It's just a statement that needs proving.
woodlow
10h
From what i can see, McManus seems to have become booker around 1958 ". He is till booking losses in 1960.
That's much earlier than I imagined Woodlow. What do you mean by "What I can see" and ". He is till booking losses in 1960?"
From what i can see, McManus seems to have become booker around 1958. He is till booking losses in 1960.
Anglo Italian
2h
Was it live? We just do no know.
That's true. It's one of the million and one things we don't know. But it was you that seemed to adamantly declare it was not live.
Live would fit the pattern and I checked back results to the beginning of December and found wrestlers on that bill working every night except Sundays.
Was it live? We just do no know.
Anglo Italian "It wasn't live.
So Mick had the time/days between filming and broadcast to have the whole match pulled. Never mind just the ending in half of the country."
Why do you suggest it wasn't live Anglo Italian?
The usual pattern at that time was to record the first half of the show for mid week transmission and transmit the second half live.
This bill followed that pattern with the rest of the bill broadcast in the week.
Had the bill been recorded then that would give all the more reason for the match to be pulled all over the country and the programme re-arranged.
Morrell and Preston wanting to double cross McManus would not have been carried out on a recorded show for obvious reasons.
It wasn't live.
So Mick had the time/days between filming and broadcast to have the whole match pulled. Never mind just the ending in half of the country.
I like your The Wrestler myth theory, Hack. The Wrestler created our truth. Still plenty on here quote it as gospel. There was enough that was indisputably true to make all the nonsense come over as true, too.
This is wrestling after all. ALL, absolutely ALL, smoke and mirrors.
On the few occasions old-time wrestlers have really opened up to me about the game, it is this deception that still excites them. The risks they took, how they got away with it. And a large part related to outside-the-ring aspects. This is why they huddle at reunions.
Thanks MadMac for telling us how it could be done. It's a mystery why it wasn't done everywhere or nowhere. Your mind won't be playing tricks Ron as I definitely saw it. Preston was centre ring with Mick pounding him and Don Branch looking helpless.
The mind plays tricks , but I think I saw this match and the ultimate DQ , watching from Manchester.
Anglo is quite right in saying we know nothing.
McManus was a regular DM worker in 1955 at the ITV start but I doubt he had any influence at that time. I don't think we've ever worked out when he gained influence and when he became the booker. But let's not get sidelined here.
The questions remain:
How did DM manage to pull the programme at such short notice. Assuming the match was expected to end in round 4 that leaves less than ten minutes for DM to raise their concern, contact ITV, speak to someone high enough to make the decision, the decision to be made, the decision to be actioned.
How could a networked programme i.e. World of Sport suddenly split into two versions?
Why was the programme only pulled in the south? If damage was to be limited surely it should have been pulled everywhere?
Was the programme actually pulled anywhere? Was this a myth created by the Wrestler magazine as damage limitation for those who had not actually seen the programme.
Many read this forum every day and quite a few must have seen the match. It would help to hear which tv area you were in and whether or not the match was pulled.
The relationship seems to have been McManus with ITV from the start; Kent Walton alongside as a puppet.
Beyond that, we know nothing else.