Gorgeous George by John Capouya

Author:John Capouya
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
ISBN: 9780061982637
Publisher: HarperCollins

Chapter 15

“THEY LOVED ME IN NEW YORK”

“If they don’t give this guy Gorgeous George an Oscar for the best supporting role of 1947, then Hollywood is rottener than Denmark ever was,” wrote Braven Dyer of the Los Angeles Times. “Gorgeous George is a wrestler. In fact, he’s THE Wrestler.

“And if you don’t think he had the best supporting role of the year, ask [promoters] Cal Eaton of the Olympic; Mike Hirsch of Ocean Park and Hugh Nichols of Hollywood. Gorgeous George has supported them like nobody’s business.” Dyer also decided that Gorgeous George would be known from now on as G.G. “to save wear and tear on my typewriter.” Some of George’s friends had already begun to call him that, as would his second wife, Cherie. Betty always called him George.

He’d conquered California, Texas, and most of the Midwest. To become the sensation of the nation as more than just a boastful nickname, though, George needed to extend his reach eastward. He’d already done well in Boston and Montreal and now, he told Betty, the showcase match he’d booked in New York’s Madison Square Garden would strengthen his hold: He’d be the toast of a second coast. This was in February 1949, and for the dozen years previous the Garden hadn’t hosted a single maim-and-maul event. The place held eighteen thousand and wrestling couldn’t fill that kind of space. Promoter Bill Johnston expected the Gorgeous One to change all that, counting on a crowd of twelve thousand for George’s main event with Ernie Dusek. The Ring magazine, which devoted a good many pages to “News of the Mat World” in addition to boxing, predicted a turnout of fifteen thousand. Ticket prices were scaled higher to meet the anticipated demand and ringside seats went for an unprecedented $7.50 a pop. George’s negotiated 13 percent of the gate would mean an enormous payoff.

La Guardia was no longer the mayor but newly an airport, so when George’s flight landed, it was at La Guardia Field. He was met at the bottom of the plane’s exit steps by a bevy of models with their hair dyed champagne blond to match George’s, and as he made his way across the tarmac two lines of flower girls facing each other tossed rose petals in his path. Surprisingly, George declined to be interviewed upon his arrival but had his valet, Jackson Hunter on this trip, issue a statement to the assembled press. “I am overwhelmed by the tremendous reception,” came the uncharacteristically humble proclamation. “Please assure my fans that I will do my best not to let them down Tuesday evening at the Garden.” With that the two were whisked away by limousine to the Park Sheraton.

Promoter Bill Johnston gave the match a big push, and the New York papers did their part as well. One preview showed a photo of George labeled “The Aromatic Kid Himself.” He was shown bent over deeply from the waist. “Bow…or Curtsy?” asked the caption. Dusek, a skilled worker and normally

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