The following items are from my own collection over the years of Kent Walton, an utter professional who made our sport believable, a commentator with class who never resorted to cheapen professional wrestling by using wise cracks. He was the Reg Gutteridge/Harry Carpenter of wrestling.
From the December 1968 edition of "The Wrestler."
The late Kent Walton died on Sunday August 24th 2003 at the age of 86 years and he was the world's famous voice of Professional Wrestling on ITV Sport from Wednesday November 9th 1955 to Saturday December 17th 1988 for the last 33 years.Jackie Pallo take on Mick McManus in the infamous needle fights contests from 1962-73 with 11-12 millions of viewers more than F.A Cup Final Days and Big Daddy against Giant Haystacks at Wembley Arena London and Big Daddy won the bout.
The Great Memories of the late Kent Walton,The World's Famous Voice of Professional Wrestling on ITV from 1955-88 for the last 33 years.
Terry Christie,Sunderland.
I think they got away with it because back then professional wrestling did resemble a real sport, unlike today which is more like a soap opera with acrobats instead of wrestlers.
Not sure he could get away with saying wrestling is as reputable as any other sport sixty two years later
in those more innocent days we always took what Kent Walton told us at ringside as gospel truth, I wonder how much he would have changed his delivery and content if internet etc had been around back then.
And again from the TVTimes December 1960 this time.
Of course he never named the twenty top class wrestlers seriously injured in the ring in the last year
Here's another one i forgot i had (I haven't pinched your entry from the "Odd n Sods" thread Hack honest Guv lol) From an August 1963 edition of the TVTimes.
I would compare him to John Peel. He taught his audience how to appreciate the fine art of the scientific wrestling match just like Peel showed the country how to like good underground music, good punk and good indie,
From Ebay Australia!
And one more from a magazine called "The A to Z Of Wrestling."
Interesting point there Peter, to entertain the fans you would imagine it would involve a certain amount of theatre or showmanship, the very thing that Kent criticised many years later that was creeping more into professional wrestling. The difficulty comes trying to balance one side with the other legitimacy .v. entertainment.
Interesting that as long ago as 1968 his conclusion was that "when Professional Wrestlers enter the ring they genuinely give their best to entertain the fans".No mention of doing their best to win!
That's terrific Ost, another jigsaw piece found.
Hi alanapaily, thank you for posting all of these, they have been an interesting read. I was a big fan of Kent Walton and I am very happy to have been able to listen to his interesting commentaries again on youtube etc. I think his commenting style helped wrestling to be much more popular than it would have been otherwise.
Alan duly becomes Kent Walton's Number One Fan!
Really good collection. What a shame they can't sit in the galleries.
Great stuff!, thanks for sharing.
Peter Cockburn had a very smooth voice, from what I can remember.
Introducing a music show in the late 1950s early 60s.
Commentator on amateur wrestling the late 1950s.
Finally Kent wasn't our only ITV wrestling commentator during 1961-62 a chap called Paul Cockburn took the helm on a few occasions. The only thing i can find on IMDB about Paul Cockburn is an actor's name. Whether or not he is one and the same person is debateable as he is not listed as commentating on professional wrestling.