Ed Whalen

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Ed Whalen (July 8, 1927 – December 4, 2001) was a Canadian television personality and journalist best known worldwide for hosting the popular professional wrestling TV series Stampede Wrestling. Whalen was also a popular sportcaster in Calgary, Alberta whose nickname "Wailin' Ed" was indicative of his famous nasal announcing voice.

[edit] Biography

Born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Ed Whalen was studying medicine at the University of Saskatchewan in 1948 when he dropped out to take a part-time job in radio broadcasting at CFQC radio. In 1955, he moved to Calgary and became the News and Sports Director for the new Calgary TV station CHCT (later popularly known as 2&7, and then Calgary 7, and later still as part of the Global Television network).

While at his CHCT job, Stu Hart asked Whalen to work for him on his new wrestling show. Whalen gained worldwide fame for being the ringside announcer of the wildly popular Stampede Wrestling from 1958 to 1983 (plus its later revival from 1985 to 1989). The show popularized several Whalen catch phrases including "It's going to be a ring-a-ding-dong dandy!" and his trademark sign-off, "In the meantime and in-between time."

After his time with Stampede Wrestling, Whalen became beloved by Calgarians as the television voice of the Calgary Flames on 2&7/Calgary 7 from 1980 (right after the city won the NHL franchise) until his retirement in 1999, and was famous for his introduction, "Hello hockey fans!", and catchphrases such as "a ring-a-ding-dong dandy". Whalen also wrote a weekly column in the Calgary Sun newspaper for many years, and even after his retirement he continued to make occasional appearances on TV and still wrote his column. He also was a regular local host of the Children's Miracle Network telethon.

Whalen died of a heart attack while on vacation in Venice, Florida in 2001. The broadcasting booth in Calgary's Pengrowth Saddledome (home of the Calgary Flames) was renamed the Ed Whalen Broadcast Booth in his honour. A year after his death, his wife released a CD of musical recordings Whalen made, with the proceeds going to charity.