i I Books 36 I LGBT 66 5 Clubs 39 I Music 67 l Comedy 46 I Theatre 86 I Kids 48 I TV 92 I Film 49 I Visual Art 93
Never mind the spandex
As a new All Star Wrestling Tour hits Edinburgh, Neil Cooper looks back on the
glory days of a great British institution
nce upon a time. before the well-oiled ogres of WWE ruled the world in day-glo spandex. The Wrestling was a national institution.
Every Saturday afternoon in the l97()s and 1980s. everything stopped at 4pm. to watch end-of—the-picr
Greek tragedies fought between leotard-clad tubs of
lard with cartoon names. On TV screens as black and white as the struggles between good and evil they highlighted. the legends of Big Daddy. Giant Haystacks and Kendo Nagasaki were played out just before the football scores on World of Sport. It was only when Greg Dyke. then head of [TV Sport. pulled the plug in 1988 on the grounds of it being too low-brow. that The Wrestling appeared to have died.
Now. for one night only. The Wrestling is back. albeit in a slightly different guise. The All Star Wrestling that arrives in Edinburgh as part of a 60- date tour may have its roots in old time spit-and- sawdust grunt‘n‘groan. but with modern day stars such as Robbie Brookside and James Mason. as well as ladies‘ contests and the return of pint-sized grappler Little Legs. it‘s savvy enough to take on board the American revolution that so captivates the kids today.
‘When British wrestling came off television. we thought that would be it.‘ says promoter Brian Dixon. ‘but it was the opposite. People couldn‘t see it. so
they started coming to live events more. In the i
meantime. Sky started showing American wrestling.’ At wrestling‘s lowest ebb. Dixon diverted into promoting l97()s tribute bands. and on the back of
The Full Monty. male strippers. He‘s reaping the j rewards of his graft now. though: ‘It’s been hard 3
work. but wrestling’s now the most popular it’s been for years.‘
ASW‘s arrival accidentally ties in with a new edition of Simon Garfield’s book. The Wrestling. Originally published in 1996, Garfield’s oral history told a heartbreaking tale of a hidden part of British popular culture’s decline. Its roll-call of heroes included Jimmy Saville and champion show-jumper Harvey Smith. both of whom had spent time in the
squared circle. Then there’s Auf Wiedersehn Pet star :
Pat Roach. Brian Glover (who once wrote a TV play
for masked villain Kendo Nagasaki) and ladies’
champion Mitzi Mueller. who Dixon married.
“l was once interviewed on the radio and said that wrestling was finished.‘ says Dixon. ‘That statement still haunts me. I don’t know how long it’ll last. but we're booked up till 2010. so we’ve got a few years left yet.‘
All Star Wrestling American Supersiam, Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, Fri 20 Jun, 7.30pm.
www.list.co.uklaroundtown
llSi
llie‘iii'S liltil 'v Milt I"! 1'38
art: A“ .
* Gissgovv Revisited with Charles Kennedy The former Lib Dem leader shares his memories of Glasgow University life, as he takes up the position of Rector there. Hil/head Library, Glasgow, Fri 20 Jun.
* Discover the Hidden Lsne Spend a day tucked away in one of Glasgow’s most exciting creative communities. There will be music, barbeques. sculpture and photography exhibitions while hip boutique Che Camille put on a fashion show. The Hidden Lane, Glasgow, Sat 27 Jun.
Iii Midsummer‘s Ive Do the longest day of the year outdoors: the gardens are open ‘til 11pm for live performance, storytelling and guided walks. Try not to anger the fairies, though — we hear the donkey ears are a bugger to get off. Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, Sat 21 Jun.
* Lobey Dosser Day Celebrate Glasgow's finest legendary cartoon sheriff (pictured). and his creator Bud Neill, with an exhibition, readings, and a specially-composed trumpet piece by John Maxwell Geddes. Lobey's Statue, Opposite the Halt Bar, Glasgow, Sat 21 Jun.
3!: The Kelvlnomve indie Street Party Yes. it’s an indie street party to close the West End Festival this year, although we suspect emo kids and pop tarts are still welcome. Firebird and The Goat supply food. Carnival happens. Bands play. Sun shines. Damn. now we’ve jinxed it. Ovemewton Street and Black/e Street, Glasgow, Sun 29 Jun.
19 Jun—3 Jul 2008 TH. HOT 33