Lou Albano

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'Captain' Lou Albano
Statistics
Ring name(s) Lou Albano
Billed height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Billed weight 350 lb (159 kg)
Born July 29 1933
Carmel, New York
Resides Carmel, New York
Debut 1953
Retired 1995

Louis Albano (born July 29, 1933 in Carmel, New York), better known as Captain Lou, is an Italian-American professional wrestler and manager. With an over-the-top personality and a penchant for making boisterous declarations, Albano was the epitome of the antagonistic manager that raised the ire of wrestlers and incited the anger of spectators. Throughout his forty year career, Albano guided 15 different tag teams and 4 singles competitors to championship gold. A unique showman, with an elongated beard, rubberband facial piercings, and loud outfits, he was the forefather of the 1980s Rock 'n' Wrestling explosion. Collaborating with Cyndi Lauper, Albano helped usher in wrestling's crossover success with a mainstream audience. Capitalizing on his success, the Hall of Famer later ventured into Hollywood with various television, film, and music projects.

Contents

[edit] Early life

Captain Lou was born Louis Albano in Carmel, New York to Dr. Carmen and Eleanor Albano. After briefly attending the University of Tennessee on a football scholarship, Albano left school to join the Army.[1] During his tour, Albano became interested in WWWF when he was working at a bar as a bouncer when he met two WWWF performers. Albano made his professional wrestling debut by defeating Bob Lazaro in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 1953. [2]

[edit] World Wide Wrestling Federation

Albano achieved moderate success as a tag team performer with partner Tony Altimore. Dubbed The Sicilians, Altimore and Albano drew considerable heat competing as a stereotypical Italian gangster combo. Their realistic depiction of their characters caught the attention of actual mafiosi. The two were approached by local mafia members who requested that the duo tone down their act. Over the next few years, The Sicilians continued their success by winning the Midwest tag team titles and later the WWWF United States Tag Team Championship from Arnold Skaaland and Spiro Arion.

Following the encouragement of fellow wrestler Bruno Sammartino,[1] Albano transformed himself into the brash, bombastic manager Captain Lou Albano. With a quick wit and a grating personality, Albano delivered memorable promos that made him wrestling's most villainous manager. He earned the scorn of the wrestling audience as he attempted to dethrone World Wide Wrestling Federation superstar and WWWF champion Bruno Sammartino. In 1971, Albano achieved his objective when "Russian Bear" Ivan Koloff ended Sammartino's seven year reign as champion. Koloff's reign marked the only time that Albano would manage a World Heavyweight champion. For the remainder of the seventies Albano's cadre of loyal henchmen were unable to resecure the championship.

Notwithstanding, Albano guided singles wrestlers such as Pat Patterson, Don Muraco, and Greg 'The Hammer' Valentine to the Intercontinental Championship. Furthermore, Albano carved a prolific legacy that remains unmatched by guiding over a dozen teams to the WWWF World Tag Team Championships. Under his tutelage, Mr. Fuji and Mr Saito, The Valiant Brothers, Wild Samoans, The Moondogs, and The British Bulldogs were a few of many that solidified Albano as wrestling premiere tag team manager. By the end of his career, Albano managed over 50 different wrestlers that won two dozen championships.

[edit] Rock n Wrestling Connection

By the 1980s, Albano appeared in pop sensation Cyndi Lauper's wildly popular Girls Just Want To Have Fun music video. Parlaying the venture, new WWWF owner Vince McMahon devised the Rock n Wrestling storyline, a collaboration and cross-promotion between the newly renamed WWF and elements of music industry[3]. Albano was the catalyst that launched professional wrestling into the stratosphere with mainstream America.[4] During a public appearance at Madison Square Garden, the treacherous manager made sexist comments that outraged the singer and non-wrestling fans[1]. Furthermore, on WWF television, Albano made the audacious claims that he was Lauper's manager and that he was the architect of her success. The two settled their differences on the MTV/WWF special "The War To Settle The Score". Following Lauper's victory at the event, Albano apologized to Lauper and instantly became a fan favorite and the voice of Rock n Wrestling. The crossover storyline, coupled with the Hulkamania phenomenon and the first WrestleMania, triggered a period of unprecendented success for not only the WWF, but for the professional wrestling industry as a whole.[4] Moreover, Albano helped cement wrestling's place within pop culture. Following the colossal success of the Rock N Wrestling Connection, Albano left the WWF in 1986 to focus on various projects. Except for a brief return in 1994 to manage The Headshrinkers, Albano has since retired from the wrestling industry.

[edit] Hollywood crossover and semi-retirement

Capitalizing on his new found celebrity, Albano began appearing in a vast array of television and film projects. Throughout the late eighties, Albano appeared in "227", "Miami Vice", "Hey Dude", Brian De Palma's Wiseguys and the 1987 wrestling movie Body Slam. Expanding into music, Albano managed and performed with rockers NRBQ. He was immortalized in the song "Captain Lou" on their Lou and the Q album.

In 1989, on "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee", Albano shaved his trademark beard to star as the iconic video game character Mario in The Super Mario Bros. Super Show. The one-time villain hosted live action segments during interludes of the Mario cartoon, as well as provide the voice of his animated counterpart.

During the 1990s, Albano became a vegetarian and shed 150 lbs. following a health scare. [3] In May 2005, Albano suffered a heart attack, but later recovered. Despite his health issues and foray into mainstream entertainment, Albano continues to be involved in the wrestling industry. He continues to appear on independent and reunion shows. Also, Albano co-authored the book The Complete Idiot's Guide to Pro-Wrestling.[5] In 1996, Albano was enshrined into the WWF Hall of Fame.

[edit] In wrestling

  • Quotes
  • "Often imitated, never duplicated."
  • "That guy has the brain of a dehydrated BB."
  • "He's my twin brother from different mothers."
  • Wrestlers managed
  • Tag Teams managed by Albano

[edit] Championships and accomplishments

Inducted in 1996
  • PWI Manager of The Year 1974, 1981 and 1986.
  • PWI Editor's Award.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c Pro Wrestling Radio Interview
  2. ^ Gerwick Wrestling Timeline
  3. ^ a b The Wrestling Museum Hall of Fame Induction Article
  4. ^ a b WWE.com Profile
  5. ^ ISBN 0028639618 (2nd edition, 2000)

[edit] References

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