I was watching thet masked French wrestler, the Human Beast, being introduced on Youtube and they also introduced a celebrity ringside-seater, French actor Roger Hanin.
So I got to thinking about our celebrity fans.
Dame Mary Rand we certainly know well.
Bessy Braddock famously photographed at the Royal Albert Hall
The Duke of Edinburgh (well, he did return for a second helping)
Geoff Hurst's involvement remains mysterious
Duke Ellington was allegedly a fan of Steve Logan.
Sir Peter Blake, well reported.
There have probably been plenty of closet fans. But who do we actually know were keen?
We need to exclude those who were merely photographed with wrestlers like Raquel Welch, The Beatles and Dickie Henderson.
Mick McManus could be the captain.The problem maybe the handshake wether the masons or the wrestler. Top secret? 🤼♀️
Well Farmers Boy Pete Ross, Tony Francis,Glitter Boy Evans & myself were or are masons, maybe we should have had a masons tag team!!! Regards Les 💪
Yes Les, hence my comment. Thanks. But I'm asking whether any wrestlers were fellow masons - to make the link.
May be Anglo, if Mick McManus was on the bill,he could have taken the H R H The Duke of Kent along. After all the Duke has been the First Grand Principal of the Freemasons for over 50 years !!!
We always get fixated on Prince Philip but what about The Duke of Kent? I don't know if we can claim him as a fan as it looks like once was enough for him. Also a bit too recent for my deep interest, but hey, an accolade for the Crabtree years to have got him there. Thank heavens to be able to say something positive!
I wonder who got him there? Were any of the wrestlers masons?
I wonder what he thought of it all? At least he's still alive. Any press anywhere of his thoughts on proceedings?
Yes, I meant that. 10 is still good and he just misses out on bronze.
That’s right Hack, Stan Ogden had a bout with Wild Ian Campbell, and did Ena Sharples jump into the ring and hit Campbell with her handbag 👜 or am I wrong? Regards Les. 💪
"...Off the wrestling topic completely, can anyone else have appeared in ten Bond films?..."
Do you mean anyone at all Anglo, Desmond Llewelyn (who played the gadget man, "Q") appeared in 17, Lois Maxwell (Miss Moneypenny), 14, Bernard Lee (as "M") in 11 of them.
I seem to think that Doug Robinson was a real wrestler, not sure he ever did the "Pro" stuff.
If I am correct, then it is Doug Robinson (standing in for Harrison Ford), who is chased by the giant stone ball, in the famous scene at the start of Raiders of the Lost Ark. I seem to recall a documentary about the film, behind the scenes, etc., and think Doug was on that.
Hey Saxonwolf, back to Bond: I have found a wrestler who appeared in no less than 10 Bond films.
On our topic here, he says that Connery was friendly with him and got his fee raised from £2,000 to £9,000 for Diamonds Are For Ever (after losing out on an earlier leading role to Robert Shaw, who had allegedly got the nod because he was Connery's golfing buddy.)
My problem was establishing that he was indeed a wrestler, in fact he's not in our A-Z, but I can do here:
The man in question is Doug Robinson, brother of Tiger Joe.
All a bit distant from the main topic here, but interesting nonetheless.
Off the wrestling topic completely, can anyone else have appeared in ten Bond films?
I remember that episode of Whickers World as well, he was a real Yorkshireman and it seemed that all the money never changed him, he liked wrestling and invited his friends and neighbours around on Sunday for tradiational Sunday roast dinner, with loads of bottles of beer!
One of the most reported celebrity wrestling fans was Percy Shaw, millionaire inventor of cat's eyes. I remember Whicker's World doing a profile of him and how he was set up never to miss ITC wrestling. I don't recall if he ever attended live shows, I'm sure he did.
Mention of Doris Speed, remember that wrestling was once a big Corrie storyline,
The Day The Soap Met The Sport
That’s fine Anglo. I think Sean Connery entered the Mr. Universe competition many many years ago. Wrestling and physical culture go hand in hand. Also, the great Jo Robinson has a superb scrap with Mr. Connery, in Diamonds are Forever.
As a regular wrestler at the spa at Scarborough,Doris Speed who played Annie Walker in Coronation St, was a front row punter on odd occasions. And would you believe that Fred Feast who played the barman Fred Gee in Corry was known to referee at the Spa (as he was quite friendly with the promoter Don Robinson) supposedly he’d wrestled when he was a para in the army . 💪
Yes, Powerlock, but Graham seems to be right as "our"wrestlers appeared in Sean Connery films, + Yuri Borienko as I mentioned. Only one appearance of one of our wrestlers in a Roger Moore film - and that was The Mighty Chang who had already worked on with Connery as Bond, so this was a return and in any case he was an actor by then.
Great to know Sean Connery is a fan, thanks Graham.
As someone who has read a lot of books on the making of the James Bond films, I have never read that Sean Connery had a hand in any of the casting. Tosh Togo (Harold Sakata) was spotted by one of the crew (although I also read that he was chosen by producers Saltzman and Broccoli). I'll grab one of my books and check again. Obviously someone in the casting department could have been a wrestling fan, although only Harold Sakata and Peter Maivia had no prior acting experience, same for Joe Cornelius although his film was not considered part of the official Bond lineage.
British or British based (at the time of filming) Wrestlers in James Bond films
Milton Reid (Mighty Chang) - DR. NO
Harold Sakata (Tosh Togo/Great Togo) GOLDFINGER
Dazzler Joe Cornelius CASINO ROYALE
Milton Reid (Mighty Chang) CASINO ROYALE
Peter Maivia YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE
Yuri Borienko ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE
Joe Robinson DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER
Sonny Calindez THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN
Milton Reid (Mighty Chang) THE SPY WHO LOVED ME
Pat Roach NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN
Blimey. Les Prest. Still alive? Only kidding Les.
Hack, you are right it was Con Cluske, he was the tall one in the middle of the Bachelors. Who owned the Warren club at Mixenden where he did a spot of promoting in the 70s
Leslie Crowther was a fan and defended the legitimate toughness of the wrestlers in TV interviews
Sean Connery’s fight with Pat Roach in Never say Never again was one of the best fight scenes. Apparently, Connery had asked for Pat Roach’s fighting skills which were very diverse.
Poor Majorie most loyal fan from the wool shops and I put Woolston.iv omitted one massive fan for obvious reasons Princess Margaret although mor a fan of a wrestler than wrestling.
That's a great list, fascinating to see Eamonn Andrews on there. I didn't have him pegged as a fan at all, I had him in the Dickie Davies category of skeptics.
Saxonwolf, I am surprised at what you wrote. The link is to Sean Connery, which is why I excluded Yuri Borienko. Beyond the four listed, I can think only of The Mighty Chang.
The point being that Graham has mentioned that Sean Connery was a fan and therefore perhaps it was Connery who was instrumental in getting wrestlers hire in his Bond films.
The most famous northern fan was Frank Randle good mates with Jack Pye did a bit if catch as can then became a tumbler then the most outrageous comedian of his time was almost sacked for attending a show in Blackpool when he should have been top of a bill in a gala night ewen arriving late he described the whole bout to his audience then did holis act.Well who do I recall attending wrestling more than occasionally, Leslie Crowther ,Eamon Andrews,Norman Wisdom,pat phoenix,Billy Butler,Ken Dodd,Frank Worthington,Hylda Baker,Russell Harty,Pete best,Ringo Starr,Billy bremner, Gordon key.Frank Skinner reckoned the visual comedy genius was Les Kellet.Oh and I forgot Majorie from the Woolston bolton and Atherton well she was famous in Bolton
Frank Skinner talked about watching Lord Bertie Topham on one of his programmes.
"...Yeah, and he tangled with Peter Maivia, The Great Togo and Tiger Joe Robinson, too. The wrestlers didn't seem to feature in other Bond films, so you are clearly onto something there, Graham...."
Anglo, you need to lay off the red wine for a few weeks pal, we have discussed this at length (and I even included it as one of the old Wrestling Heritage Quiz Questions), there were British (or British based) Wrestlers in many Bond films. Up to the mid 80's at least!
Bill. That uncalled for and unfair. The man isn’t in a position to defend himself and really doesn’t deserve to be associated with someone like that! ...so please leave Mr Blobby alone. 😁
I used to see Mr Blobby regularly at shows.......................Or was it Big D?
Yeah, and he tangled with Peter Maivia, The Great Togo and Tiger Joe Robinson, too. The wrestlers didn't seem to feature in other Bond films, so you are clearly onto something there, Graham.
Sir Sean Connery, is supposed to be a fan of wrestling. Who remembers their famous fight scene, in Never Say Never Again? Connery won, by blind side of the ref tactics..
From Ray Ellington and Duke Ellington, Powerlock supplies the best ever link: "......he worked a shift at Ellington pit on the Saturday morning......."
Jonathan Ross is a good shout Paul, he was a wrestling fan, and was also a fan of Mexican Wrestling (Lucha Libre), especially the Wrestler called El Santo (who made a series of action films in the 60's and 70's).
Jonathan Ross said he was a fan when Kendo Nagasaki appeared on 'They Think its all Over'. Not sure about Jimmy Greaves but he was involved in the publicity for All Stars TV debut and ended up in the ring with Kendo.
That's quite something, Powerlock, so many professional sportsmen to be attracted. Important point to remind us just how serious wrestling was in the sixties.
Right you are, Ian, I mangled my Ellingtons. I wouldn't know either if they were seated next to me!
Jackie Milburn , was a regular attendee at St James along with other Newcastle United players .
The comedian Jimmy Edwards was playing caberet for a week at Newcastle's La Dolce Vita in 1965 and he came to the wrestling on the Saturday night prior to going on stage.
Blimey! a fellow pro drummer in the same forum. What are the chances. Hope alls well Ian.
Hi Anglo, i see in your opening list of celebrity fans you list Duke Ellington as a fan. I think you will find thind this to be famous British coloured drummer Ray Ellington. He wad a ringside seat at St. James Hall Newcastle. Being a Pro drummer myself I had a good chat with him.
Kind regards to all.
As quoted in Simon Garfield's book, the cabinet minister Dick Crossman gave an account of a meeting with the Queen where she described with relish a bout she'd just been watching on TV. And in the same tome, Stax mentioned that Macca used to come to some shows with his son James.
Alan Freeman, Johnny Walker and a few DJs from the early years of Radio One
Aker Bilk was almost certainly a fan with tournaments for his Bowler.
One of the Bachelors, but I can't remember which one. He also promoted a few shows.
Do we include the Krays?
Paul McCartney supposed asked Haystacks to be in Give My Regards to Broadstreet, so maybe he was a fan.
Whether true or not, there was a story that Frank Sinatra bumped into Giant Haystacks, backstage at the Royal Albert Hall and told him he was a fan.
Mrs Thatcher was supposed to be a fan, and chatted once to Big D about Wrestling and her favourite wrestlers.
Tommy Cannon of Cannon and Ball fame is a wrestling fan, he was in the front row of a Nxtuk tv taping a couple of months
The Queen was said to be a fan but I take that with a pinch of salt. Tom Jones definitely was, also Adam Faith. Met Adam a few times and remember him saying he wanted to get home for the wrestling. We could also mention Jimmy Saville but maybe the less said about that vile excuse for a human being the better.