Trivia

"Gorgeous George" became so famous that, in the early days of television-- when most families didn't have one--stores would place a television in their window display tuned to the station running professional wrestling. Groups of people would gather outside these stores to watch the programs.

In the early days of television, professional wrestling was one of the biggest successes on the new medium. Wagner's character, "Gorgeous George," is generally regarded as one of the first "superstars" of that new medium.

A major part of his performance was the elaborate pre-match rituals. It would start off with the playing of Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance" as he entered the arena and moved toward the ring. He was the first professional wrestler to use entrance music.

Was the inspiration for the glitzy, effeminate wrestler character Ravishing Ronald, "The De-Natured Boy," in the 1951 Bugs Bunny cartoon Bunny Hugged (1951).

Prior to entering the sport of professional wrestling, he had trained to be a psychiatrist.

What many people considered long overdue, "Gorgeous George" was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2010. The award was accepted by his 97 year old first wife, Betty.

Was classified as being "4-F" for Military Service during World War II. This was due to an incident in one of his prewar wrestling matches. After taking an unusually hard fall, George was left unconscious. While he was being attended to, someone brought in a bottle of smelling salts, which someone, instead of holding under his nostrils, poured into his nose. The result was George's sinus passages were severely and permanently damaged. (from WHATEVER HAPPENED TO GORGEOUS GEORGE ? , book by Joe Jares, 1973.

"To Tell the Truth" Occupation (1961): Hairdresser and Wrestler.

Bob Hope worked the corner of Gorgeous George for one of his matches in California.

His "Gorgeous George" character is believed to be the first professional wrestler to use an effeminate persona. This included the use of elaborate robes which were deliberately tailored to resemble dresses.

As part of his eleborate pre-match ritual, he would be preceded into the ring by his valet who would squirt the ring with perfume (or disinfectant). The opponent would also get a few squirts which would usually send him into a rage. To the delight of the audience, the referee would also wind up on the receiving end of a squirt.

2002: Inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (charter class).

Former Pacific Coast Light Heavyweight Champion.

Gorgeous George was a professional wrestler from 1932 to 1962.

In his last wrestling match at age 46, Gorgeous George in a " Hair verses Mask" bout, he was defeated by # 1 world contender, The Destroyer, at the Olympic Auditorium on November 11,1962. Again, George had his famous blonde hair shaved off.

In 1950, Gorgeous George was defeated by Wrestling Hall of Famer, Lou Thesz.

In one of his last wrestling matches, Gorgeous George lost to future world heavyweight wrestling champion and Wrestling Hall of Famer, Bruno Sammartino.

On March 12, 1959, Gorgeous George lost to "Whipper" Billy Watson before a crowd of 20,000 fans at the Toronto Maple Leaf Garden Auditorium. George had his head of wavy, blonde hair, shaved in the ring following the defeat.

Suffering from liver trouble, Gorgeous George retired in 1962, following his defeat to The Destroyer.

On March 26, 1947, Gorgeous George defeated Enrique Torres to win the Los Angeles Wrestling Heavyweight Championship.

On May 26, 1950, Gorgeous George defeated Don Eagle to win the AWA World Heavyweight Championship. He held the title for 6-months.

On November 3, 1950 in a television match, Gorgeous George won by disqualification over 240 pound Hans Schnabel at the Chicago International Amphitheatre.

Gorgeous George's funeral cost ten thousand dollars and he was buried in one of his glamorous ring robes.

In a unique match, Gorgeous George defeated Jesse James; the two grew up together.

Gorgeous George was credited with having over 3,000 professional wrestling matches from 1932 to 1962.

Gorgeous George lost to Ilio DiPaolo in 17-seconds on January 16, 1959 in Buffalo, New York in a televised match.

Gorgeous George fought Frankie Talaber to a one hour draw in a televised match on April 14, 1950 in Chicago with former world heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey as the referee.

Gorgeous George lost by pin to actor/wrestler Woody Strode in a one hour wrestling match in Los Angeles, California in 1951.

Gorgeous George scored his last career win on August 31, 1961 in Denver, Colorado by defeating Dan Miller.

On July 3, 1953, Gorgeous George defeated Don McIntyre to win NWA Georgia Southern Heavyweight Title at the City Auditorium in Atlanta, Georgia.

In a1959 comeback match, Gorgeous George won by disqualification over Chief Big Heart at Uline Arena in Washington, DC. According to an article in Boxing Illustrated, George received a flat fee of $10,000 for the match.

In 1950 at Buffalo, New York, Gorgeous George won his biggest victory by defeating French Angel. Their match set a box-office record at the time.

In 1949, Gorgeous George defeated "hated foe", Ernie Dusek at Madison Square Garden in New York.

He has been cited not only as one of the first stars of professional wrestling but one of the first major celebrities in pop culture in general, someone whose influence and notoriety went far beyond his medium.

He grew up in Waterloo, Iowa and Sioux City before his family settled in Houston, Texas.

He dropped out of high school at age fourteen.

He was one of the first major stars of television with many people buying sets in the 1940's simply to watch his matches and many arguing that George played a major role in making television the popular medium it became.

He was a major inspiration for Muhammad Ali who adopted his own famous boastful personality and calling himself "pretty" after seeing George promote himself.

In creating his "Gorgeous George" character, he became the first professional wrestler to grow his hair long and bleach it blonde.

WWE Hall of Famer.

More than 50 years after his death, his wrestling moniker, "Gorgeous George," remains one of the most famous names in professional wrestling history.