Thursday, June 14, 2012

COLOR PHOTOGRAPHS - A RARE COMMODITY


All of the wrestling magazines of the past, going back as far as fifty years, were great. I guess we all had our favorites (I always liked WRESTLING REVUE). But one thing missing (I suppose for cost purposes) were photos of our favorite grapplin' stars in full color. And I mean true color. Not the 'air-brushed' photos in which the artists who colored them must have been on some strange chemicals when they worked.

How in the world did THE INFERNOS end up on a magazine cover, and their outfits were orange?

I actually have such a magazine.

So, on the rare occassion, when a reader ran across a nice full-color picture of his favorite wrestler, it was special.

Here are a few that caught my eye...

CHIEF WAHOO MCDANIEL

HARLEY RACE and NELSON ROYAL

I particularly like this photo because of the grouping of then NWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION RACE, who for the most part was working 'heel' at the time, and NELSON ROYAL, a big-time 'babyface'.

RIC FLAIR, J.J. DILLON, TULLY BLANCHARD and an obvious young FOUR HORSEMAN fan

JOHNNY WEAVER

NWA WORLD CHAMP JACK BRISCO

Another WORLD CHAMPION - DORY FUNK JR.

and finally, MRS. BUTCHER's favorite son, ABDULAH