If you were a fan of the local wrestling scene in the 1980s (hand raised high), you know the name Gary Hart -- man was larger than life, even when standing alongside the likes of the Fritz von Erich and his big boys. Hart was danged near responsible all by himself for the success of the World Class Championship Wrestling -- at least, that's what Hart would tell you if you asked. Alas, sad news: Hart died yesterday in Euless, at the age of 66. He'd just returned home from an autograph session in Pennsylvania. Some video of the man in action at Texas Stadium from an old wrestling show, circa 1987, below. --Robert Wilonsky
Recent Posts
- Cards to Keep Cowboys Fans Out, While FC Dallas Gets an Olympian 11:54 AM, 07/24
- Dallas is Dead? Yee. Haw. 11:01 AM, 07/24
- Dallas's Rodeo Rider Gets the Boot from Big Brother 10:10 AM, 07/24
- Sign a Petition for the Very Sporty German Olympian Dirk Nowitzki 9:03 AM, 07/24
- Lost in Dealey Plaza, "The Bermuda Triangle of Pop Culture!" 8:01 AM, 07/24
- The Blow Back 4:29 PM, 07/23
- Man, I Used to Love James Donaldson. Seattle Is Super Lucky. 3:22 PM, 07/23
- DISD Board of Trustees No Doubt Thrilled About Tomorrow's Meeting 2:30 PM, 07/23
- Now, They're Angela Hunt's Music Videos From the Safari Zoo 2:05 PM, 07/23
- But What About the Children? 1:25 PM, 07/23
Categories
- Arts (80)
- Bible Girl: The Unfair Park Religion Column (71)
- Business News for People Who Don't Read Business News (196)
- Buzz (11)
- Cool Stuff That Doesn't Fit Anywhere Else (59)
- Cover Story (52)
- Crime and Punishment (107)
- Dish (178)
- Edumication News (47)
- Famous People are Idiots, Most of the Time (41)
- Fashionable News for Fashionable Readers (106)
- Film (39)
- Free Stuff! Free Stuff! (6)
- From the RTF Department (304)
- Generally Bad Ideas (28)
- Girl on Top (62)
- It's Gettin' All Political Up in This Piece (309)
- Local Music (351)
- Media (392)
- Memo from The Boss (8)
- Music (194)
- News You Can Actually Use, Actually (1779)
- Not Navel-Gazing, Swear (56)
- People We Know Running for Office (14)
- Probably Insignificant Aviation News (90)
- Pulle (5)
- Religion and Other Assorted Blasphemies (58)
- Schutze (294)
- South by Southwest (3)
- Sports (983)
- Stage (33)
- Stuff and Nonsense (147)
- Sundance Film Fest '08 (8)
- The Unfair Park Book Club (86)
- Things About Dallas That Absolutely Suck (17)
- Things About Dallas We Would Recommend to Strangers (20)
- Things Mark Stuertz Puts In His Mouth (3)
- Ugh, More News About the "Dallas" Movie (17)
- Uh, Happy Holidays, Suckers? (21)
- Uncategorized (13)
- We Apologize in Advance for This Particular Item (4)
Archives
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
- December 2006
- November 2006
- October 2006
- September 2006
- August 2006
- July 2006
- June 2006
- May 2006
- April 2006
- March 2006
- November 1999
Search
Blogroll
The Concession Stand
- Al Dia
- Daily Campus (SMU)
- Denton Record Chronicle
- Fort Worth Star-Telegram
- McKinney Courier Gazette
- Pegasus News
- Quick
- The Dallas Examiner
- The Dallas Morning News
The Midway
Wrestling With Bad News: WCCW's Legendary Gary Hart Died Yesterday
Mon Mar 17, 2008 at 01:01:34 PM
Category: Sports
9 Comments:
Born Again Vaginally Sliced Christian says:
Awww man, that is a shame.
He was a genius "manager".
I remember when Kerry gave him "the craw" and he bled like a pig. Hey, it was real back then.
Man, I freaking loved watching that shit on Saturday nights from FtW at 10pm on my 13" B&W when I was a kid.
Then, waking up early on Sundays to watch the Sportatorium action.
Those were the days...
Pat Boyack says:
Arman Hussain who worked with Hart, died 2 months ago at Baylor. At his funeral Akbar, I was told, had some great stories the old days.
LaceyB says:
Robert, zat u? OK, was some other guy after the click. No "At the Movies with Wilonsky and Roeper" clips to post...TEASE.
Liles says:
Aw, man! The guy who used to manage Crusher Stasiak!
Gary Hart was the first "manager" who showed up on the scene, back in the days of Dan Coates as your ringside announcer and Fritz Von Erich rockin' the Iron Claw.
God I'm old. Saturday Night Wrestling was the last black-and-white show on television.
Belo Bobby says:
Sorry to hear that Gary Hart has passed. Watched him many times at the Sportatorium and on TV. Great persona as a wrestler and even better as a manager/promoter. Ahhhh... those were the days!
The TV wrestling crap (a la Vince McMahon) on these days does not even compare to the good old days at the Sportatorium.
Mickey Grant says:
I worked with Gary for many years as a producer and friend of his. I'm in shock. Gary was most recently involved with a film I made about Chris Adams and appears in it and the trailer. Here's a link to the trailer:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=59525788234266861
Besides my trailer, he has appeared in several other films such as Legends of World Class and other tapings for Vince. Armand Hussein died New Year's Eve. He and Gary were known as H and H Enterprises. Gary was one of the greatest and most humble men I've ever known. He loved and respected his profession and also it's fans. He and I had Chinese food at a place near his apartment 2 weeks ago. I will miss him so much.
Fritz says:
Everyone reading this needs to get the Heroes of World Class dvd, a much better documentary than the WWE-produced Triumph and Tragedy.
GUNNY HARTMAN says:
I loved me some Bruiser Brody back in the day.
Those were glorious days in the WCCW.
Aww man. In hindsight, I loved hating that guy. And Skandar Akbar had nothing on him.
Posted at: March 17, 2008 1:27 PM