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Captain Lou Albano Stories & Memories Batch #1: How Albano drew heat as a manager by eating a sandwich Oct 14, 2009 - 12:34:43 PM
We asked Torch readers to submit their most memorable memory or story of Captain Lou Albano after his death this morning. Following is the first batch of Reax from Torch readers. Submit your memory or story to pwtorch@gmail.com.
-- Steven Klein, Torch reader: I remember back in the late '70s , I was student teaching in Brooklyn and was part of a school trip to the Circle line, which goes around Manhattan. As we were walking to the pier on 42nd street, we passed this small, rinky-dink hotel. Just arriving was Lou Albano. The kids go wild and all say that this was their highlight of the trip. Of course, he was as gracious as could be with the kids and seemed to truly like being with them.
-- Greg Baumgartner of Amherst, N.Y.: My favorite Captn' Lou memory occurred during the pre-WrestleMania era at a TV taping in the old Allentown, Pa. arena. Albano, managing 'The Magnificent' Don Muraco during a squash match, was chowing down on a hero sandwich as he paced back and forth at ringside. Periodically Lou would hand his sub up to Muraco who, in complete distain for his opponent, would enjoy a few bites in between his stomping and kicking. Lou and Don must have handed that sandwich back and forth four or five times.
Don's humiliation of the poor jobber (whose name I have long forgotten) was especially sadistic, but all Vince McMahon could comment on was how completely disgusted he was by Albano, whose beard was dripping in mayonnaise and covered in lettuce shreds combined with those inexplicable but ever-present rubber bands glued to his face. Albano's outrageously arrogant, non-verbal, non-violent display of disrespect remains glued to my memory as an excellent example of how this veteran with the great promo skills could draw tremendous heat so effectively even without using a mic.
-- Rich Jones of The Pain Clinic radio show: We had Captain Lou on the Pain Clinic back in March 1999 when Lou was hocking "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Pro-Wrestling." This was in the tale-end of 'hot' era of the Monday Night Wars. Lou was great and it was truly hard to get a word in edgewise with him. We discussed the entire Rock-n-Wrestling history and he was more than happy to expound on the stories in more first-person detail.
-- Matthew M., Torch Reader: I remember Lou Albano as Mario during his time on The Super Mario Brothers Super Show. Although the show didn't last but one season, he was part of a time gone-by when children’s television was watchable and fun, even if it was goofy. Children don't have those kinds of heroes anymore. You shall be missed Lou.
Send feedback on this article to pwtorch@gmail.com and we'll regularly publish reader feedback in the "Torch Feedback" category on the Main Listing.
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