|
|
|
If hearing this telephone number doesn't make neurons flicker deep in your brain -- say it aloud, Richmond 9-5171 -- you might want to move on and skip this item. But for many Angelenos who watched television here in the 1960s and '70s, those digits are permanently loaded in memory.
It was the box office number for the Olympic Auditorium, repeated over and over -- and over and over, incessantly -- on broadcasts of wrestling, boxing and roller derby. 
I watched my share of the latter and almost none of the formers -- and have yet to see the inside of the Olympic, so never bought tickets -- but no matter. RI 9-5171 is the only phone number from my childhood that I remember other than my own, and I'm not alone.
Blame my neighbor, Jeff Walton, at least partly. He was a wrestling fan and friend of legendary L.A. wrestler Freddie Blassie (above), then worked as the publicist of matches at the Olympic. He was also a manager, promoter and announcer. Now Jeff has self-published his account of that time as Richmond 9-5171, A Wrestling Story.
He had a big signing last Sunday at Hollywood Book and Poster.
ESPN Classic occasionally has old Roller Games tapes from the '70's at the Olympic...what an era !!
Posted by: Steve Smith at February 25, 2004 12:13 PMOK, I'll say it: "Whoa, Nellie!"
That was the phrase that Roller Games announcer Dick Lane said whenever the action got furious. I assume he used it on the wrestling telecasts too. Good catch, Steve, on Roller Games. That was, I believe, the proper brand name of the competitor to "roller derby" that played at the Olympic.
Posted by: Kevin Roderick at February 25, 2004 12:49 PMAhhh, the T-Birds... Big John Johnson... Danny Reilly... Ralphie Valladares out on the jam... Honey Sanchez... Judy Sowinsky... Shirley Hardman...
Nothing better than kicking back on a Saturday morning in front of a snowy black-and-white TV watching the T-Birds kick ass.
Posted by: Jammer at February 25, 2004 04:02 PMOK, now you've done it.
Ralphie Valladares tribute page
Posted by: Kevin Roderick at February 25, 2004 04:54 PMThese are nice digits from across the universe, but the set of digits I most fondly recall from my childhood here is "five-four-six-seven, Wilshire Boulevard...that's five-four-six-seven Wilshire Boulevard. No suit for over $58..." Zachery All, of course. Zappa himself later recorded a masterpiece devoted to these commercials, "Eddie Are You Kidding?"...
http://www.seeklyrics.com/lyrics/Frank-Zappa/Eddie-Are-You-Kidding.html
Now while reading Proust and recapturing the past, I only wonder why nobody ever went for my beautiful, onomatapoeic, zeitgeist-riddled name for the renaming the once prospective new Valley city: "Zappazana".
Posted by: joseph at February 25, 2004 05:27 PMKevin, I have two words for you:
Black. Gordman.
Posted by: Steve Smith at February 25, 2004 07:13 PMI used to go to the Olympic all the time to watch Roller Derby and Wrestling.
Some where are they now stuff: Ronnie "Pyscho" Rains the man who was prominently featured in Kansas City Bomber and a T-Bird legend owns and operates several restaurants in the Pacific Northwest ...
and as far as wrestling goes ... The L.A. legacy continues ... Eddie Guerrero, youngest of the famed Guerrero Brothers, Chavo, Mando and Hector. Recently won the WWE (Formerly WWF) title.
Posted by: Olympicfan at February 26, 2004 11:51 AMNot sure that I lived here in the days of RIchmond 9-5171, so for me no competitor with MAdison 5-2345. Naturally neither one equal to BUtterfield-8.
Posted by: David Crawley at February 26, 2004 07:54 PMI am Shirley Hardman's niece and have lots of pictures and memories to share. Very nice to read how many people still remember and loved Shirley.
Posted by: Lori Hardman at March 25, 2004 08:46 PMWow! It's great to see other Roller Derby fans from way back. My brother, sister and I used to go to the Olympic Auditorium so much, that we used to buy tickets for the next week game and sit in the same seats.
We found where we could sit and always be on camera when the games were show.
I have taped many historical LA T-Bird shows from ESPN Classic over the past few years when they were showing the old games. Memories - Ah the good old days.
I see Tony Trujillo every other week or so. He isn't one of the old classic players like Ralphie, Big John, Danny Reilly, Shirley Hardman, Ronnie Raines, Sally Vega, Honey Sanchez, etc. etc. but it's still nice to see him.
My co-worker here knows Gina Valladeras - Ralphie's daughter.
I have T-Bird group pics with autographs and still have my old banner and poster I used to take to the games along with my T-Bird t-shirt.
I guess I'm a true fan.
It's great to find this site - just found it a few minutes ago.
GO - GO - GO T-Birds.
Posted by: Silver Veloz at April 8, 2004 11:39 AMI was hoping that someone had information regarding a former LA-T-Bird and Detroit Devil - Cheryl Jackson. She is my mother. She skated in the 60's. Some of her team mates were Jan Vallo, Shirley Hardman, John Hall, Jan Kassmurski - I would appreciate anyones help.
Posted by: Samantha Peterson at June 25, 2004 10:21 PMI don't remember the telephone number of the Olympic, but I do recall one of the sponsors of those great wrestling shows on KTLA: Lou's Garage. Dick Lane always told viewers to remember that "You trust Lou, and Lou trusts you." Good times.
Posted by: K. Leber at July 14, 2004 03:41 PM
Monica Almeida has the perspective of a native Angeleno who photographs Los Angeles for an East Coast newspaper: the New York Times.
of LA Observed
"El Monte Legion Stadium--be there or be square!"
Posted by: John Shannon at February 25, 2004 10:10 AM