Has the debate ever raged on who was the best British MC ? In my day, late 70s to early 90s, some would say smooth as silk John Harris was the man. A had one to argue. Brian Crabtree ? No, not for me, he fluffed words, expressions and was too cocky as if the whole show revolved around him...my opinion, others may beg to differ. For me the best of the lot was Fred Downes. A fellow Norfolk man, lived in Attleborough where he had an antique shop apparently. Worked East Anglia for Dale Martins and was occasionally seen on TV.
His finest TV moment again in my opinion was when Mighty John Quinn took on Caswell Martin, only for Wayne Bridges to jump the ring before the bout began and set up the heat for an imminent World title match. The bout was great, one of Martin's best bouts with a villain, but the verbal exchange between Quinn and Bridges was both exceptional and rather unprecedented for the time. Big American influence there. What followed was Quinn ripping up Bridges shirt followed by Bridges ripping up Quinn's gown. It was all egged on by a very serious looking Fred Downes, who had the last word in the exchange -- 'If he did that to your cape Quinn, God only knows what he'll do to your body'....terrific stuff. So what of Fred, was he an ex wrestler, an ex referee did he have connections to Dale Martins promoters ? Any one know anything about him ?
Brilliant, Bernard! And all must have been creatively and meticulously planned to keep all concerned in constant work. Possibly repeated in other halls, too. Real pantomime stuff, but at that time all executed within a serious set of rules.
Hi Anglo, I have previously said that I did not detect any comedy in Les' refereeing.
Of course it was very different then, when wrestlers were not allowed to stay on the ropes or be tangled up in them.
If this happened, Les would clearly say " break the hold" and this was not obeyed, he would break the wrestlers up himself.
I particularly remember one time when Les disqualified Sandy Orford, the disqualified man advanced at Les threatening him with a fist. Les was straight up onto the red corner ring post, the top came off in his hand and he smiled and waved Sandy in. Offer not taken.
However he was very agile round the ring. I remember a build up where Sandy punched Dai Sullivan in the stomach on the blindside, folded him over and Les counted to three.
Sullivan and the crowd protested about the foul and Les said that he didn't see the punch, but if this was a foul then a rematch would take place in two weeks with two referees.
This would sort the matter out.
The match duly happened with Les and Ernie Lofthouse officiating. When it got to one fall each, Orford got Sullivan in a headlock, swung him round and round.
Sullivan's arm was away from his body and hit Les.
Kellett out of the ring, punch to the stomach, and Lofthouse did the 1,2,3. Uproar again.
Les climbed back into the ring, spread his arms and said something like "Well what do you expect me to do about it"
We never had the end to this saga.
Yes, I have commented previously on Charlie Fisher very conspicuously doing the headcount, conspicuously mouthing every number. If this was part of the job, why didn't we see others doing it?
Bernard, we all love your memories of early Masambula, The Ghoul, St, Norman and of course referee Les. It's hard to imagine what he was like, and of course such a remarkable career to go from referee to 15-year-long bill-topper. You have told us he was quite active in handling villains and resolving problems. Sound like he was quite a thoughtful pro. Was there any comedy in his refereeing? Did he get in the way like Referee Bryan?
Fred had what any good m c had credibility,joint insisted on that from all FOH employees the fact he was a fan was added value.Ernie was a good mc and descriptive and knowledgeable but was bloody hard work.Charlie was more worried about head counts and his reappearances when falls due was noticeable. Brian Crabtree a legend in his own lunchtime got in the way constantly. Like Max everything was about him.
Hi Anglo, Ernest Lofthouse was a good MC, but I didn't rate him as a referee.
Of course I had been spoilt with Les Kellett.
Yes, I also enjoyed Ernest Lofthouse's loud whisper on tv. And those descriptions of the moves that led to the fall, delicious. Imagine Bobby Palmer going into any detail! Not.
Wide range of (dis)abilties amongst the MCs.
That's a great post from Norfolk Snake, making his case for Fred. Being in the North I could only have seen Fred on TV, and although I remember the name I don't actually remember him. As good as you and Anglo say he was, and hardly ever mentioned these days I think it's fair enough to say he's under-rated.
I always thought Ernest Lofthouse was a good MC. He always looked the part, spoke clearly and descriptively and took it all very seriously.
Well, if he was restricted geographically, that's going to limit his tv appearnces. I thought his voice and enthusiasm were spot on.
I can't see that he was under-rated.
I do see Bobby Palmer and Frankie Blake greatly over-rated by the business as a whole and, if we are not careful, by fans too.
You're doing a great job championing one of your favourites!
Under used on TV...hence I presumed under rated ....its just my take on events and my use of words and I used a question mark. As with all my (and presumably others too) posts its to get the old wrestling community searching their memory banks and sharing stories, prompting debate and it looks like I 've succeeded on this occasion !
Found this .......But I know nothing.
Great detail, Terry!
Fred Downes made his debut as The MC at Woodville Halls Gravesend in Kent on Saturday January 10th 1976 for Professional Wrestling on ITV World of Sport.
Two years later in the summer of 1978 at Lewisham Concert Hall Catford London when Fred told the late Brian Maxine get back to his corner against Johnny Czeslaw and the referee Max Ward and the timekeeper Peter Bates-The Commentators Kent Walton & Mick McManus.
Maxine grabbed the microphone before he give it back to Fred and he is doing a great job as The MC for Dale-Martin Shows.
Terry
Yes, I liked his style too.
I have to quibble with you over the word "under-rated." I did the same many moons ago with I think Main Mask, about "under-rated" Mike Marino.
My beef is: who is doing the under-rating? Please say, otherwise the title has no context.
Thanks for sharing that story, great stuff. Fred was very earnest. Essential for an MC.
I loved Harry Roth, never on tv, I believe? He sat and watched every bout in full, enthralled alongside the timekeeper. (Unlike Fisher and Palmer who would disappear until the "appointed" rounds.)
Harry's only shortcoming was that he was very slight and far too genteel ever to get involved in verbal argy-bargy. At least Charlie would take his jacket off to threaten a baddie.
I remain the only one ever to comment on Harry Roth and would love for someone else to share some memories here. I for one lapped up his wordy intros of each wrestler.