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Binding: HardcoverDewey Decimal Number: 796.812092 EAN: 9780061173035 ISBN: 0061173037 Label: HarperEntertainment Manufacturer: HarperEntertainment Number Of Items: 1 Number Of Pages: 304 Publication Date: September 01, 2008 Publisher: HarperEntertainment Release Date: September 02, 2008 Studio: HarperEntertainment Editorial Review: Product Description:
The ideal American male used to be stoic, quiet, and dignified. But for a young couple struggling to make ends meet, in the desperation born of the lingering Depression and wartime rationing, an idea was hatched that changed the face of American popular culture, an idea so bold, so over-the-top and absurd, that it was perfect. That idea transformed journeyman wrestler George Wagner from a dark-haired, clean-cut good guy to a peroxide-blond braggart who blatantly cheated every chance he got. Crowds were stunned—they had never seen anything like this before—and they came from miles around to witness it for themselves. Suddenly George—guided by Betty, his pistol of a wife—was a draw. With his golden tresses grown long and styled in a marcel, George went from handsome to . . . well . . . gorgeous overnight, the small, dank wrestling venues giving way to major arenas. As if the hair wasn't enough, his robes—unmanly things of silk, lace, and chiffon in pale pinks, sunny yellows, and rich mauves—were but a prelude to the act: the regal entrance, the tailcoat-clad valet spraying the mat with perfume, the haughty looks and sneers for the "peasants" who paid to watch this outrageously prissy hulk prance around the ring. How they loved to see his glorious mane mussed up by his manly opponents. And how they loved that alluringly alliterative name . . . Gorgeous George . . . the self-proclaimed Toast of the Coast, the Sensation of the Nation! All this was timed to the arrival of that new invention everyone was talking about—television. In its early days, professional wrestling and its larger-than-life characters dominated prime-time broadcasts—none more so than Gorgeous George, who sold as many sets as Uncle Miltie. Fans came in droves—to boo him, to stick him with hatpins, to ogle his gowns, and to rejoice in his comeuppance. He was the man they loved to hate, and his provocative, gender-bending act took him to the top of the entertainment world. America would never be the same again. Average Rating:
 Rating:  - The Human OrchidGorgeous George was the biggest star in wrestling from the late 1940s to the late 1950s. This is the first biography written about him, as far as I know. It does a pretty good job of covering the events of his life. But I felt like the author did a bit too much speculating about what was going through George's head, when he has no way of knowing that. He also spends too much time talking about famous people who were influenced by George, in an attempt to make George seem relevent to today's world. ... Read More Rating: - Orchids and hammerlocksIn the late 1940s and early 1950s, professional wrestling and Gorgeous George went hand in perfumed hand. It was the ultimate "match made in heaven" and the budding television industry couldn't get enough of this bender of rules and purveyor of sniff. Due to his enormous success, Gorgeous George may have had imitators along the way, but he remained always, the original thing. John Capouya largely captures the ups and downs of George Wagner's life and career...its many triumphs inside the ring ... Read More Rating: - Memories of times passedIn the early days of TV in my life, I remember my aged aunt sitting in her mohair chair screaming in Swedish at the small, black and white image of Gorgeous George prancing across the screen. What she said, I'd not wish to repeat, but it did have some reflections on his parents and some mention of bodily functions. Otherwise, my aunt was prim and proper... we kids would sit out stunned at what we were hearing. This book does some justice to George, but doesn't quite get ot the impact on small town middle ... Read More Rating:  - Gorgeous George...Ulitmate wrestler....Ultimate Book!Today's fans of the WWE's "entertainment" version of Professional Wrestling now have a chance to read about how the kayfabe era of the business was. For fans of that generation, mention Gorgeous George, and the stories start to unfold. Author John Capouya absolutely reveals the way it was, and shows all of us a Gorgeous George that even the most rabid fans did not know. His account of George's career is chronicled in a way that is easy to follow, and he end's up giving us a book that is hard ... Read More Rating: - Long Overdue And Well DoneWrestling fans have been blessed over the last 10 years or so with some wonderful books.I'm pleased to say "Gorgeous George" enriches the genre.George was an absolute icon and one of the first stars on American television.The author deftly works in chapters as to how GG influenced James Brown ,(the singer)Muhammad Ali and Bob Dylan (who knew ?) George's outrageous costumes,hair and effeminate mannerisms enraged/delighted wrestling fans all across the country.Read,laugh,learn and enjoy what wrestling was in ... Read More |
