I always thought George Drake was a cut above the usual American wrestlers that visited the UK during the 1960's. He mostly played the heel. but was far from devoid of wrestliing skills and his bouts always provided excellent entertainment. It was sad he died so young.
A popular baby face, he was often in the 50s and 60s wrestling magazines, as well as the Boxing mags. that also carried wrestling). Mostly a mid carder, I was surprised when I read in the 'Wrestler' that he remained undefeated in the U.K. despite meeting some of our top guys. Is their any evidence of a loss?
Always a good guy in the States, I wonder if it was his idea to go heel in the U.K. I remember the Wrestler saying that he beat the Zebra Kid on that trip. Nothing like making the visitors look good, at the home wrestlers' expense!
Some years ago, I read on the internet, the suspect circumstances of Frankie's drowning. After 'falling' overboard from a yacht at night, the suspicion was that Frank, a strong swimmer, was knocked unconscious and then quietly put in the water, because he had been having an affair with the boats skipper's wife.
George Drake and Dave Cameron, clowning around for the camera:
I always thought George Drake was a cut above the usual American wrestlers that visited the UK during the 1960's. He mostly played the heel. but was far from devoid of wrestliing skills and his bouts always provided excellent entertainment. It was sad he died so young.
A popular baby face, he was often in the 50s and 60s wrestling magazines, as well as the Boxing mags. that also carried wrestling). Mostly a mid carder, I was surprised when I read in the 'Wrestler' that he remained undefeated in the U.K. despite meeting some of our top guys. Is their any evidence of a loss?
I remember seeing him on TV in 1963 and seem to think his appointment was Johnny Yearsley.
I would have really liked seeing his compatriot Frankie Townsend, when he toured The UK a year or two earlier.
Probable debut 1948. A couple of biils of him here.
And below