WDBJ-7 ROANOKE VA
For the better part of the 1960's, WDBJ in Roanoke VA presented a live program called All-Star Wrestling on Saturday afternoons at 5:00 PM, in advance of the live event later that night at the Starland Arena. Local promoter Pete Apostolou (working for Jim Crockett Promotions) had the perfect set-up where the guys could come in and do the live All Star Wrestling TV and the Starland Arena house show all within hours of each other. It was one of the highest rated programs in the market on a weekly basis. The show was hosted by WDBJ television personality Hal Grant.
Johnny Weaver told us that WDBJ cancelled the show (in January of 1967) following an ugly incident between Ike Eakins and Luther Lindsay. Roughly six months later, Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling taped in Raleigh, NC, and hosted by Bob Caudle debuted on WSLS-10 in Roanoke VA, although for many years, they still ran the old All Star Wrestling logo over the Mid-Atlantic opening, which included two cartoon wrestlers and the introduction which announced the program presented by the Roanoke Sports Club. Promoter Pete Apostolou also did the inserted 30-second local promos until they began the 2:30 second spots taped in Raleigh for each local market.
| BASIC
INFORMATION |
|
| Call Letters: |
WDBJ |
| Channel Number: |
7 |
| Network
Affiliate: |
CBS |
| Began Taping: |
Early-to-Mid
1960 |
| Ceased Taping: |
January 7, 1967 |
| Play-by-play
Host: |
Hal Grant |
| Color
Commentator: |
Pete Apostolou |
| Ring Announcer:
|
Pete Aposolou |
| Night Taped: |
Saturday (Live) |
| Show Name: |
All Star
Wrestling |
 |
George Becker, George Scott, Sandy Scott and host Hal Grant in the television studio at WDBJ-7 in Roanoke VA, circa mid 1960s. (from the personal collection of Sandy Scott)
|
 |
The Voice of Roanoke Wrestling - Hal Grant (Promoter Pete Apostolou in the inset.)
|
 |
| A TV Guide clipping from January 1964, showing All-Star Wrestling in it's familiar time slot of 5 PM. Notice the designation of Roanoke VA, something rare in the TV guide listings. |
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| August 26, 1960 Danville VA Newspaper promoting an appearance by Hal Grant, "Star of Channel 7 Wrestling" |
Special thanks to Thom Brewer, Mike Weddle, Sandra Scott, and Carroll Hall for their assistance with this feature.
