It's hard to get too enthusiastic because he was so damned good at keeping out of the way. But you knew he was whispering and feeding information all the time between the wrestlers.
I rememeber his eyes were less on the wrestlers - who knew their job - and always more on the ringside seaters.
I witnessed his upside down counting out a fall several times and am glad of the one filmed version that remains of that spectacle to keep my memories fresh.
All our history can seem too obvious with our dollops of hindsight. It is useful to think back and remember our feelings when our wonderful wrestling was happening before our very eyes.
So a recollection I have is the launch of The Who's Who of Wrestling in 1971. I was absolutely intrigued as to why this could have been written by the most low-profile of referees and a woman in a gaudy jumper that I had never heard of. Joe was then firmly on my radar. He signed a beautiful autograph for me in "his" book. From then on I kept an eye on him and his work. It was the beginning of my analysis, or at least Sherlock Holmes investigation, examining what was really going on inside and outside the ring.
Joe then seemed to realise I was what I believe is called "a mark." (Is that right?)
He watched me, kept distant from me. Realised that one so organised must be understanding too much.
Then I put two and two together and started to realise that this ultra low-profile approach - well, Bernard Murray's was even lower - was a sign of The Man and The Scribe's greatness and authority.
As the whole show went off the rails in the mid-seventies, Joe's serious professionalism was commensurately wasted.
With his multiple names and guises, and clearly being highly intelligent, cautious and professional, it must have been a strain keeping his whole wrestling existience legit, secret, workable. I can quite understand why he would have exited when the whole was no longer a team game but headed by a newly-arrived megalomaniac.
When I think of Joe D'Orazio I just think fo how little we still know, even collectively. He's more mysterious than any Outlaw or Dr Death.
Happy birthday Joe. Hoping yo have an enjoyable day celebrating with your family. I always enjoyed our Reunion chats where you always seemed happy to share your memories and a few secrets. It was you that solved our John Logeland mystery. Don't eat too much cakes. Oh. Go on. Do. Happy birthday.
Happy 99th birthday
A true man of mystery Anglo. Got plenty of bills with Joe for 1950 , but can I find one for 1949.....elusive.......Happy Birthday to the great man.
I saw Joe officiate countless times.
It's hard to get too enthusiastic because he was so damned good at keeping out of the way. But you knew he was whispering and feeding information all the time between the wrestlers.
I rememeber his eyes were less on the wrestlers - who knew their job - and always more on the ringside seaters.
I witnessed his upside down counting out a fall several times and am glad of the one filmed version that remains of that spectacle to keep my memories fresh.
All our history can seem too obvious with our dollops of hindsight. It is useful to think back and remember our feelings when our wonderful wrestling was happening before our very eyes.
So a recollection I have is the launch of The Who's Who of Wrestling in 1971. I was absolutely intrigued as to why this could have been written by the most low-profile of referees and a woman in a gaudy jumper that I had never heard of. Joe was then firmly on my radar. He signed a beautiful autograph for me in "his" book. From then on I kept an eye on him and his work. It was the beginning of my analysis, or at least Sherlock Holmes investigation, examining what was really going on inside and outside the ring.
Joe then seemed to realise I was what I believe is called "a mark." (Is that right?)
He watched me, kept distant from me. Realised that one so organised must be understanding too much.
Then I put two and two together and started to realise that this ultra low-profile approach - well, Bernard Murray's was even lower - was a sign of The Man and The Scribe's greatness and authority.
As the whole show went off the rails in the mid-seventies, Joe's serious professionalism was commensurately wasted.
With his multiple names and guises, and clearly being highly intelligent, cautious and professional, it must have been a strain keeping his whole wrestling existience legit, secret, workable. I can quite understand why he would have exited when the whole was no longer a team game but headed by a newly-arrived megalomaniac.
When I think of Joe D'Orazio I just think fo how little we still know, even collectively. He's more mysterious than any Outlaw or Dr Death.
Happy birthday Joe. Wow 99, what a fantastic birthday. Keep it up!
Cheers
99 and counting. Fantastic.
Happy birthday Joe D'Orazio.
Happy birthday Joe. Hoping yo have an enjoyable day celebrating with your family. I always enjoyed our Reunion chats where you always seemed happy to share your memories and a few secrets. It was you that solved our John Logeland mystery. Don't eat too much cakes. Oh. Go on. Do. Happy birthday.
Incredible, Happy Birthday, Joe!