On Thursday, August 4, 1955, professional wrestling debut at the DuMont Telecenter in New York City. This marked the first time wrestling was broadcast from a studio (Studio Five) instead of an arena, similar to what producers had done in Cincinnati on WLW. The facility was at 205 East 67th Street. During the initial show, Al Galento beat Lou Abrams and Hassan Bey beat Joe Gagliano. Don Leo Jonathan also wrestled George Babich. A special interview was done with Virginia Gray. In attendance was New York State Athletic Deputy Commissioner Jack Dauberstein and the show was directed by Jimmy Saunders. The show would be featured locally on the DuMont's New York affiliate, WABD, and was shown for two hours, from 9-11 p.m. The Associated Press (3/18/56, Syracuse Herald-American) stated that Haskell Cohen was the "official of an outfit that produces weekly studio wrestling shows over DuMont's local outlet" in New York City. Cohen was also the publicity director of teh National Basketball Association, and worked with Manny Heicklen, owner of the Sunnyside Arena, to promote boxing matches. Vincent McMahon, the successful promoter in Washington, D.C., announced on June 8, 1956 that beginning on June 21, his local TV show was going to be shown in New York City on WABD, replacing the cancelled DuMont Telecenter studio show. Research by Tim Hornbaker November 17, 2010 |
| New York Wrestling Television History |
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