I wish we had been that smart and foresighted, Harry!  I honestly can say the subject just never came up, undoubtedly mostly because the technology was not developed enough.  It's funny that most of those involved, while with strong egos!, just didn't feel a need to have that type of memory.  I guess it was all in your own personal memory.  For instance, those sixty some hours I have of "Wrestling at the Chase" sat in my den for at least 15 years - I never watched one until some friends began asking me about them.

The thought of making money with it was non-existent - never crossd anyone's mind in the 1970s when I was there, so you can imagine it never was even a blip on the horizon in the 60s or before. 

Yet, when Sam was presented a copy of the raw footage from his farewell show Jan. 1, 1982, he was so pleased that he showed it to everyone he knew.  Unfoprtunately, he struggled with operating the VCR and more often than not I also had to visit him to make the doggone machine work.  Like I had a clue about mechanics!  Ha!

As to the technology, consider  this.  In the mid-70s, Jack Breisco and Dick Murdoch had a terrific battle at Kiel that we used to go to a return bout.  Mike Gratchner, a good friend and excellent photographer, had filmed the match on 8 mm.  I asked Jim Winkle, our director at Channel 11, if there was anyway we could make a copy and use it within "Wrestling at the Chase."   We got it on the air and -- don't laugh -- here is how. 

Wink got a film projected and displayed the film on a blank canvas in the studio.  At the same time, a large floor camera took the shot of the film version.  Getting it framed up was a nightmare and the quality was shaky at best.  But, somehow through Wink's expertise, it came out pretty decent and we were able to air on it on Channel 11.  Talk about time consuming though!

As to the Flair-Brody match, it would not have been preserved had it not been for Japanese television.  The cost to produce, as I recall, was over $7000.  I'm sure nobody figured there was a market to recoup that cost...except in Japan, of course!  Thank goodness, though, they did do it.

Unfortunately, I personally remember seeing little of Dick Hutton in action.  I too was a little squirt at the time.  I started going right AFTER the switch to Pat O'Connor in 1959.  I do, however, remember Sam saying that Hutton was a truly great technical wrestler, perhaps one of the best ever even, but sadly lacking in charisma. I also seem to recall Sam saying that Hutton himelf was just not all that hot on the professional product and really didn't have a deep hunger for it that others had.   

Jenni and Kara,

Trust me, ladies, my wife makes me do homework too!  Hopefully, though, I have talked her out of that 200 page research paper about major problems in the school system today.  If not, well..I'm sorry.  I do get a measure of revenge on her by having her do some proof reading on upcoming books!  See you at Imo's, Jenni!  I hope you aren't luring Kara into becoming a wrestling fan like your dad was.

Hey, Rick.  Thanks for the good questions.  Let's go in order!

1)  Last I heard Spike Huber had remarried Michele Afflis, the daughtern of Dick "the Bruiser" and Spike's first wife.  They were living in Memphis and quite removed from the wrestling business.  Yes, Spike had a run with us in St. Louis in 1983, worked several independent shots for myself and Herb Simmons, then bounced around.  Wrestling did not serve him well.

Yes, he used an airplane spin and then finished with a back body drop on top of his dizzy foe.  I've never seen anyone who did put the two moves together like Spike.  He was a good guy, had some charisma, a solid worker with energy...but a bit on the short side and poor Spike got absolutely no breaks in wrestling.

2)  The capacity at the KPLR studio was just over 300.  I can recall floor director Ollie Hofstetter counting the tickets at the tapings and mentioning the tally was "325" or "318."  So just over 300.  The dressiong room was actually on the seocnd floor in what was a conference room during the week.  There was a set of small showers upstairs, but I can just imagine what that conference room must have smelled like Monday morning after a taping!

3)  Truthfully, the studio was tight and for a brawl outside the ring, the most room was by our table and the floor camera.  Love your recollection of Mickey.  Like anything else, it became something everyone talked about and I think Mickey played up his fear just a wee bit.  But he sure didn't want some 300-pounder to land on top of him!  The 20-count was a rule of the Missouri State Athletic Commission and Sam Muchnick abided by it, actually liked it.  Other

states had commissions that said 10.  Why promotions, when there was no commission, would want 10 is surprising actually.  With a 20-count, battling outside worked better within a context of rwality if the count was 20.

Glad you have good memories of everything, Rick!

Bob, you always make me think!  Which is good.  Let's kick around some of the names you mentioned as those who perhaps should have, but never did, get the NWA title.  Wilbur Snyder pops up first to me, because I know Sam Muchnick told me the question in 1959 was whether the gold belt would go to Wilbur or Pat O'Connor.  Snyder was a hot item and great performer in the day, but apparently Pat had the edge politically.  And, in fact, O'Connor was a great poerformer and worker who is vastly underrated today for his ring work, especially in the 50s and 60s.  I think the feeling on Karl Gorch was that he was technically a great wrestler, but a poor drawing card and weak interview.  Also, some promoters found him hard to deal with, though Sam liked him.  I'm not sure Don Leo Jonathan was as hungry as some might have expected.  As much as he rates high in historical opinion, I don't recall Sam ever mentioning that he was seriously considered.

That brings up Johnny Valentine.  He drew, he was great as heel or baby face, he could intyerview, he was legitimately tough.  If Buddy Rogers could cut it on top, I'd have thought Valentine could as well in the 60s.  In the end - sadly - like in all business - it often comes down to politics.  I'd say Valentine would have been good on the throne.

And Ted DiBiase certainly had all the earmarks to be champion, although his tight relation with Bill Watts might have worked against him in the long run.  Watts never had the reputation for treating the NWA champion well.  Honestly, Watts thought it hurt local guys if the champion beat them...and perhaps didn't understand (for all his reputation) howe to book the champion and still keep local attractions strong.  The champion winning certainly never hurt other stars in St. Louis.  Plus, the business was changing in the early 80s when Ted was strong and he really wasn't a strong political player.  I'd say Ted would have done well as champion.  But the time wasn't right.

It's difficultto criticize the choices that were made for champion simply because a) the box offices were humming and b) those who had the belt certainly had great matches.       

Sharp questions as to my buddy, King Kong Brody.  He did work tight, but most guys would tell you he was "like a feather" -- generally.  St. Louis required the top guys to be very tight and stiff.  The Flair match was very physical, in part because of St. Louis and both knew how important the bout was...and in part, because it was being taped for Japan, where that type of style was also mandatory.  Afterward, Frank (Brody) told me he was sore all over for a few days after and rubbing Tiger Balm all over his muscles.  He figured Flair was the same.  A truly great match, and one that Brody felt was important to prove he could work that style and length in addition to his more usual brawling.

Funny, Brandon, that you bring up Kevin Von Erich.  Brody was close to Kevin and I've spoken with Kevin for the book Brody.  Kevin mentioned how important Frank was in teaching Kevin how to work and how to be physical.  This will be in the book, by the way...Kevin said he'd often "potato" opponents when he started, and that included Brody.  "Potato" means really landing a punch or kick - it hurts!!!!   Kevin said Frank never complained when Kevin did that to him, so he figured if Frank nailed him, Kevin couldn't complain either.  Kevin said Brody taught him that if you aren't knocked cold by it, just keep going!!

Hope you enjoy the new book, Brandon.

Hello, Curt, and thanks for the fond recollections about St. Louis.  When you mentioned outside the stage door, wow -- I have great memories of all the neat folks I met there as well.

It's ironic that Mitch Hartsey and I sprinkled the ashes of Lou Thesz on that site not long ago.

And, if you are ever around Savvis Center, go down 15th Street.  The entry is still there!

Trust me, your memories are part of mine and all the fine people who touch base on this web site.  If wrestling gave any of us some enjoyment and release from day-to-day worries and work, it was good.  From my point of view, while what I helped do hardly cured cancer or solved the budget deficit, what we provided was valuable in some small way.

Thanks for reminding me of that, Curt.  Makes a fellow feel good!