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WSNS Channel 44 - Rick Talley Sports, Bob Elson Sports & Comment & Wrestling Superstars (Excerpts, 197?)

This clip made possible by the donations from our generous group of "Fuzzketeers" during the Spring 2012 Tape Transfer Fundraiser.

Here's a segment from a demo reel produced by WSNS Channel 44 spotlighting some of the sports shows aired on the station at the time. Included are:

Video animated '44' graphic which started off many a promo in the 1976-77 period

Opening moments of Rick Talley Sports, with the host interviewing ABC Sports legend Howard Cosell

Excerpts from Bob Elson Sports & Comment, with opening titles, sponsor billboard for Dick McFeely Pontiac (voiceover by Don Ferris) and Elson's interview with sports columnist Dave Condon of the Chicago Tribune, in which Condon speaks of following Andre the Giant (already a legend at this point in time) on Elson's show (notice the "Veeck" button on Condon's jacket lapel - a reference to legendary two-time Chicago White Sox owner Bill Veeck), followed by another interview Elson conducted with Ed Badger who had just been named head coach of the NBA's Chicago Bulls (a post he held from 1976 to 1978)

Opening titles of Wrestling Superstars, with theme music consisting of the intro and bridge of Vicki Sue Robinson's 1976 hit "Turn the Beat Around," with credits:

Produced by Bob Luce Enterprises
"Profile" courtesy of Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (R)

This was from a demo reel which was never broadcast, but the shows in question originally aired on local Chicago TV during the 1976-77 timeframe.

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Viewer Comments

If this clip uploaded on YouTube, can I share it with my friends who are involved in the independent wrestling business?
Comment posted by ChitownTVFan on Saturday, June 16th 2012 at 6:22am.

Need to load at least one of the matches on here with commercials if it's available.
Comment posted by NuBnPrnc2k on Saturday, June 16th 2012 at 7:58am.

I tried to identify as many of the wrestlers as I could in the ending clip and the ones I recognized were Nick Bockwinkel,Ox Baker,Bobby Heenan? (in the red being whipped into the corner and landing upside down),Ernie Ladd?(footing someone off of the ropes and Bobo Brazil(?).

Was Bob Luce an independent promoter or was he connected somehow with the NWA or the AWA?
I was about 6 or 7 yrs. old when this aired and didn't really get into wrestling until the early 80's.

Kudos to the entire staff and the folks who contributed to the tape transfer fundraiser for making these clips available for all of our viewing pleasure!!

Excellent post!!

Comment posted by 69TH&STONY on Saturday, June 16th 2012 at 10:10am.

This may make me seem like I'm 12 years old....but I love the name "Dick McFeely" :)
Comment posted by LjSchultz1 on Saturday, June 16th 2012 at 10:51am.

Who else besides yours truly believes that Dave Condon, on the Elson excerpts, looks like he could make a spot in the Bob Elson look-alike contest?
Comment posted by W.B. on Saturday, June 16th 2012 at 11:03am.

Also . . . Luce was a famous Chicago wrestling promoter (1928-2007) who made stars of such wrestlers as Andre the Giant and Dick the Bruiser. The Chicago Tribune had an obituary on him describing his long career here.
Comment posted by W.B. on Saturday, June 16th 2012 at 11:07am.

Bockwinkel and Andre along with Heenan were also big stars in the AWA. Bockwinkel following the end of his career became WCW's storyline commissioner. In 1994 just before Hulk Hogan arrived and changed WCW for good (not in a good way either IMHO) WCW held it's first "Spring Stampede" show at the Rosemont Horizon were Bockwinkel was a big part of the storylines surrounding the night. The Main event was a 30 minute spectacular which saw Ric Flair and Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat wrestle to a draw. Flair and Steamboat had 2 other major encounters in Chicago prior. All 3 are considered classics. Bockwinkel also was a contestant on "The Hollywood Squares" in 1968 during it's prime time run and was a big winner that night. GSN ran that episode several years ago and I have it in my collection.

Comment posted by GalagaFleetCommander on Saturday, June 16th 2012 at 5:28pm.

The Bob Elson show was sort of a pre-pregame show before White Sox games in 1976. Elson would fill 15 minutes, then Harry Caray would do a 15-minute "On-Deck Show." Rick Talley, I think, aired on Sunday nights.
Comment posted by KBA on Sunday, June 17th 2012 at 7:38pm.

I decided to ask a friend, who is much more-versed in late-70s/early-80s professional wrestling history, to identify some of the wrestlers on the list. Here are his findings of the ones he could identify clearly:

Ox Baker
Billy Robinson
Nick Bockwinkel
Baron Von Raschke
Bobby Hennan
Ray Stevens
Sgt. Jacque Goulet
Mad Dog Vachon
Verne Gagne
The Crusher

Comment posted by Melk on Tuesday, June 19th 2012 at 5:25pm.

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This clip has been viewed 1117 times.
This clip debuted on FuzzyMemories.TV on Friday, June 15th 2012.
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Most Recent Site Comments

Comment posted in WSNS Channel 44 - The 1 O'Clock Movie - "Gulliver's Travels" (Break #1, 1979) by FuzzyMemories on Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 at 9:05pm CT

[Like]


Comment posted in Playback Stores - "Pioneer Month" (Commercial, 1979) by Detroit4Chicago on Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 at 6:36pm CT

@T.K.: "While I don't think it's exactly the same, the typeface of the Playback logo looks an awful lot like Playboy magazine, doesn't it?"

I was thinking the same thing.

@Szake: "The eye line of the man in this commercial bothers me."

@FuzzyMemories: "He's not looking at me. I feel disrespected as a customer. ;-)"

@ArmitageNLowell: "I think the cue card holder was a topless dancer."

@MotownPhilly: "what the hell is he looking at?!?"

My guess.... at a cue card, but the camera was probably positioned wrong, making him look off-kilter. Who was the technical director or stage manager who planned this out? WRITE 'EM UP!

I'm wondering if this store still in business.... ????


Comment posted in WSNS Channel 44 - The 1 O'Clock Movie - "Gulliver's Travels" (Break #1, 1979) by Pushbutton on Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 at 5:16pm CT

If you tuned in to Channel 32 at any given time in 1971-75 you stood a 75% chance of seeing the Hydro-Jet commercial.


Comment posted in Playback Stores - "Pioneer Month" (Commercial, 1979) by MotownPhilly on Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 at 11:50am CT

what the hell is he looking at?!?


Comment posted in Nelson Brothers - "Living Room Furniture With Credit Power" (Commercial, 1979) by T.K. on Tuesday, May 21st, 2013 at 8:39pm CT

The spotlight gives me the subtle impression they're covering something up... scuff marks, dings, wine stains...


Comment posted in Playback Stores - "Pioneer Month" (Commercial, 1979) by T.K. on Tuesday, May 21st, 2013 at 8:35pm CT

While I don't think it's exactly the same, the typeface of the Playback logo looks an awful lot like Playboy magazine, doesn't it?


Comment posted in WTTW Channel 11 - The Storyteller - "Pickle-Chiffon Pie" (1969) by Smctopia on Tuesday, May 21st, 2013 at 8:00pm CT

I looked this show up in Jack Mulqueen's book and was surprised to see the show aired from 1958-1961 and 1966-1969 and was also on WGN at some point.

I also thought Val Bettin's voice sounded familiar and it turns out he did voices in several Disney productions, such as The Great Mouse Detective and was also a voice in Shrek!


Comment posted in Playback Stores - "Pioneer Month" (Commercial, 1979) by VintageCanada on Tuesday, May 21st, 2013 at 6:49pm CT

A few years back, I inherited a few late '70s-era TDK audio cassettes. Beige shell. Couple of 30s, maybe a 60, maybe a 90.


Comment posted in KBHK Channel 44 - Son Of Svengoolie - "Son Of Frankenstein" (Opening, 1983) by Detroit4Chicago on Tuesday, May 21st, 2013 at 12:34pm CT

WKBD had Son of Svengoolie as part of its double-featured Chiller Movie, which aired at 11PM (10CT.) Sven aired first, weaved-in with the feature being shown, then the second feature without. Also, this block had two intros: the main one which can be seen at www.youtube.com/watch?v=0m_mwYwXB4Q, followed by the "big broadcast" as seen above.

For local flavor, there were voice overs of Sven doing "return-to-feature" announcements for his segment of the Chiller Movie. On one Saturday night, I remember him making reference to the legendary Bill Kennedy, who at the time was WKBD's midday afternoon movie host as a quick gag.

WKBD stopped airing SoS after Field sold the station to Cox in 1984.


Comment posted in WTTW Channel 11 - The Storyteller - "The Case of the Cat's Meow" (1969) by ChrisBCritter on Tuesday, May 21st, 2013 at 1:09am CT

Hopefully not Ricky the Magic Pixie Visits Daisy Bumble!

Judging by the title cards and the listings on the forum, the time slot must have been from 5:45 to 6:00 PM on a Tuesday or Thursday.


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