Hot Shots and High Spots George Napolitano's Amazing Pictorial History of Wrestling's Greatest Stars

by Napolitano, George

• ISBN13: 9781550229967
• ISBN10: 1550229966
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-10-01
• Publisher: Ecw Press

Summary

Bringing the best of professional wrestling into focus, from the glare of the spotlights to rare, behind-the-scenes candid photos, George Napolitano has created the most far-reaching and beautiful visual history of its kind. For five decades he has been ringside, documenting wrestling's biggest main events, photographing its most famous--and infamous--stars. His images have captured the blood, sweat, and tears spilled in the squared circle. In the process, they have become as iconic as the men and women in them. Covering those who have made professional wrestling one of America's great passions and pastimes--Bruno Sammartino and Classy Freddie Blassie, Gorilla Monsoon battling Muhammad Ali, Andre the Giant and Mil Mascaras thrilling crowds all over North America, and Cyndi Lauper and Captain Lou Albano bringing wrestling to MTV--this chronicle shows it all. For the fans of the nWo or ECW's hardcore revolution, those who love the attitudes of DX, The Rock, and Stone Cold Steve Austin, and those who still tune in every Monday night for Cena, Triple H, and Orton, this compilation is the ultimate pictorial of the glories and humiliations of the wrestling world.

Author Biography

George Napolitano is widely known as one of the world’s premiere wrestling photographers. He lives in New York City.

Excerpts

I became addicted to professional wrestling in the early ’60s. Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, you could watch it three nights a week on channel five. Tuesday’s matches were broadcast from Sunnyside Gardens in Queens. On Wednesday they came from the Bridgeport Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Thursday’s action came from the Capital Centre in Washington, D.C.

My heroes at the time were Bruno Sammartino, “Cowboy” Bob Ellis and the Bastien Brothers. As far as I was concerned they could do no wrong. The champion was “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers, and no matter who he faced, he would always find a way to win — despite the best efforts of men like Dory Dixon, Bearcat Wright, and Johnny Valentine. It wasn’t until May 17, 1963, that Buddy Rogers finally met defeat — and in a mere 47 seconds no less — to my hero, Bruno Sammartino, in Madison Square Garden. What made it even more special was that I was there in person, sitting in the balcony watching as Bruno was crowned the new champion of the world.

After Sammartino’s victory I continued to watch wrestling and root on my favorites, but as 1964 rolled in and a group of “lads from Liverpool” known as the Beatles took the world by storm, my interest changed from wrestling to music and girls. Like so many boys my age I picked up the guitar, learned how to play, and started a band, called the Creations, with my childhood friends. Soon we were practicing every night, and eventually playing every weekend. There was no time to watch wrestling, or any other sport for that matter. In 1965 the Creations became a local Brooklyn favorite, and Mercury Records eventually signed us to a recording contract. For a variety of reasons we didn’t release our first record until 1968, when we were known as the Ox–Bow Incident. We went on to release three 45s, none of which became hits — though all are hanging on my wall. It was an experience I will never forget.

Around this time I was fortunate to get a Nikon camera and I began photographing the band and the various people and places we’d encounter on our travels. In June of 1970 while reading theNew York Daily News, I noticed an ad for a wrestling show at Madison Square Garden. I asked Jackie, my girlfriend at the time (we were later married and have been happy for 40 years), if she wanted to go. I hadn’t watched wrestling in years, and she had never watched a match on TV or in person. She readily agreed, saying it would be a fun thing to do. On July 10, 1970, we watched Chief Jay Strongbow, Victor Rivera, Mario Milano and my all–time childhood favorite, Bruno Sammartino (who was wrestling Crusher Verdu). We sat in Section 108 in the Loge and during the matches I would run down the aisle with my trusty Nikon in hand, trying to take photographs. During the evening the MC announced that there was going to be another card the following Saturday afternoon at Sunnyside Garden in Queens. When Saturday came we went to Sunnyside to see the action up close and personal. Once again I took my camera, and during the matches I ran down the aisle to try to get a better shot. At some point, a man sitting ringside said, “You must be getting great pictures; you have a great camera.” When the matches were over the gentleman introduced himself as J.F. Sanchez–Acosta and said that he worked forRingmagazine. He told me that if I ever came back to Sunnyside Gardens to bring some photos with me. Needless to say we went again the following month, and I brought some of the pictures I took. The man looked at the photos and must have liked what he saw, because he asked me if I wanted to work forRingmagazine.

I had no idea what I was getting myself into!