I was at a local shopping centre yesterday, when my wife pointed out I was blocking the way of a lady pushing a shopping trolley. Moving out of the way, I heard my wife exclaim “wow, what a large trophy’. The two women started to chat, so I took the chance to look at the trophy, in the trolley and no, it wasn’t a wrestling trophy, but one for Irish dancing. I noticed the name of the trophy was Donlevy and I remarked to the lady that it had an appropriate name and she started to chat about the Irish (unsurprisingly she was Irish). After a couple of minutes, the time seemed to be right for me to tell my tale of my dad and I following the Donlevy brothers around Brighton a few hours before they were to appear that evening at the Brightest stadium. (Early 60s).
This made me recall, how at social gatherings in my 30s and beyond, talking to strangers:and with the conversation drying up between a group of men, I would casually say something like “ I’m taking / I took, my son to see the the wrestling at….” Without fail, the men gathering would take turns regaling all with stories about seeing particular wrestlers on the television, or attending wrestling at venues such as Working men’s clubs or different arenas. I don’t remember any dissenting voices or disparaging comments and usually the subject was discussed longer than an other was.
So, how did Heritage members bring up the subject, particularly with strangers, what sort of reaction did you receive? I’m hoping that some members will recall conversations long forgotten.
I'll try again John, see if I can make you happier. No, of course I didn't wait for complete strangers to bring up the subject. Why should I expect them to? But then I wouldn't approach a stranger and bring up the subject. Is that odd. I talked wrestling with many people, but these were usually people I knew had an interest also. I didn't see the need to open up conversations with others as a missionary quest to convert the world.
In your instance it was Ed that brought up the subject because you'd just bought a wrestling mag. If you'd bought a car magazine the conversation may well have been about cars.
I'll give you one example though. When interviewed for a place at college I was asked about interests..I said that I earned a bit of money by writing about wrestling. The panel show (or pretended) to show some interest. One lady then asked the inevitable. "Is it fixed?". The obvious and truthful answer was, "How the bloody hell would I know?"
I had no problem with talking to people of similar age about wrestling. I don't recall ever going out of my way to bring up the subject.
The reaction has changed over the last fifty years. Far back the discussion would revolve around wrestling compared with boxing and wrestling being viewed favourably
These days amongst non fans it is the infantile storylines and protracted chat that predominate.