Saturday, August 9, 2008

"The Gay Bit" - Who Can You Beat?



Parts 1 and 2 by Dory Funk Jr., Columnist for 1wrestling.com

1. The Gay Bit
In the late fifties Terry and I were at the Amarillo Sports arena sitting with our mother,Dorothy watching the matches. My father, Dory Funk Sr. came up to the back row of ringside on the West Side where we always sat. He leaned over to mother and said, I want your opinion of the next match.

The match was Ricky Starr against Buck Weaver.

As the lights darkened and Ricky Starr came to the ring the wrestling fans of Amarillo, Texas who were used to tough guys, Tony Morelli, Dory Funk Sr., Bob Geigel, Iron Mike Dibiase, Bulldog Plechas, Wayne Martin, Big Train Clements, Ray Gunkel, Pat Oconnor, Frankie Hill Murdoch, Lou Thesz, Dick Hutton and Cal Farley were first shocked to see this ballerina looking "Sissy."

As they watch, Ricky Starr amazed, entertained and bedazzled the fans with his antics against the befuddled Gus Johnson. The fans laughed so hard they cried. They stood on their feet and cheered and hooted and hollered throughout the match.

That was Ricky Starr's first impression on the fans in Amarillo, Texas. He did the "Gay Bit." In the fifties and it was classic entertainment.

Fifty years later, Billy and Chuck were about to be married in the ring on WWE. Somewhat less shocking in 2002 than Ricky Starr in the fifties. It's entertainment.

2. Don't Be Deceived by Appearance

A few weeks after the introduction of Ricky Starr in the Amarillo territory, the promoter at the time,Doc Sarpolis felt it was time to "convince" the wrestling fans that wrestlers were tough.

Standing in the ring was Dory Funk Sr., Bob Geigel and Ricky Starr.

The ring announcer made the invitation for anyone in the audience. They could take on any one of the three men in the ring in a wrestling match. Six fans took up the offer and they all wanted to challenge "The Sissy" Ricky Starr.

Ricky Starr went through all six in five minutes.

Little did they know he was a Big Ten Champion amateur wrestler from Purdue University.

3. What else do we know
  • Ricky Starr - real name Bernard Herman
  • 5'10" - 205 lbs
  • Ricky Starr portrayed a ballet-dancing acrobatic wrestler with gay overtones and getting it over everywhere as a babyface!
  • Ricky Starr was a legitimate ballet dancer prior to wrestling professionally.
  • Ricky Starr was managed (a real manager, not a wrestling manager) by Jack Pfefer, known for sideshow wrestling.
4. Help us find out more to honour this legend before his time


Meanwhile ..............

Ricky Starr Vs Karl Von Hess Pt 1




Ricky Starr Vs Karl Von Hess Pt 2