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.
interesting subject. thank you. I was the only known to me person who watched pro wrestling and was interested in its history in my community which is that of ballroom dancing, and that was my only reality for many years, socially awkward, for sure, that is how my hobby was predominantly seen by my peers my dance mates. Facebook and internet didn't exist back then when I was younger. and I lived in the former Eastern bloc countries where pro wrestling was always seen as something culturally foreign, one of the evils of the capitalistic world if you will internet changed this for me. with emerging of the internet life changed world became smaller and I found friends among the the foreigners who also just like me were pro wrestling fans. after I moved to the US obviously situation has changed for me, here in America pro wrestling is an essential part of the mainstream culture. But still, it is, but it is not so much for the ballroom dancers. I know only one other ballroom dancer in Ohio where I live who loves and watches pro wrestling.
Here below I am attaching the cover of the old Soviet propaganda book about the pointlessness and stupidity of the joys of life after the capitalistic fashions, you see it shows pro wrestling among them.