Was Pro Wrestling covered by local radio in the Golden Age of Radio?

[David67]

I've been wondering about that. Was Pro Wrestling covered on radio or did it burst on the scene with the emergence of television?

 

[majicjim]

Never ever heard a play by play radio rasslin' broadcast...TV hit on it big time!

I remember "Big Time Wrestling" in the late 60s sydnicated from Michigan ...the show where you loved to hate "The Sheik" and "The California Hell's Angels."

Thunderbolt Patterson taught me how to speak jive.

 

[Ultimajock]

...Verne Gagne claims to have heard pro wrestling matches on radio in his childhood, so I guess the question now becomes whether Verne is telling the truth or still kayfabing it? ;-) ...

 

[hrhwebmaster]

Why not? Horse racing, football, baseball, boxing, you name it, sports was covered live by radio.

Paul Boesch (bosh) was the man in Houston. According to both his Hall of Fame and Wikipedia entries he started announcing on radio, and though I never heard it (before my time), I can't imagine that's a reference to booth announcing, djing or anything other than calling wrestling matches.

http://www.pwhf.org/halloffamers/bios/boesch.asp

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Boesch

 

[oldvnewschool]

Some did, some didn't I remeber reading on kayfabememories.com (A website contributed to old school wrestling) that Atlanta had local matches on the radio.

WQXI to be exact until 1954 when it switch to Saturday Night TV (The birthplace

of WCW Saturday Night before Turner bought it in December 1971.)