SLAM! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame: Michel Normandin
REAL NAME: Michel Normandin
DIED: November 12, 1963 in Montreal
It wasn't just one sport that made Michel Normandin the best-known
French language sportscaster in Canada in the '50s and '60s - it was
many of them, including pro wrestling.
Normandin started his broadcasting career in 1935. Here are but a few
of the highlights of his career:
- Normandin was the voice for the Montreal Canadiens for 12
years, including broadcasts of Bonsoir, Canada the Quebec-version
of Hockey Night In Canada
- He was the voice of the old Montreal Royals baseball team for 13
years
- He was the first person ever to do play-by-play of football in
French
- He served on Montreal City Council from 1944-50
- He was Executive Director of the Montreal Alouettes for a short
time
- He received the Order of the British Empire after World War II for
his sports broadcasts for French-speaking troops overseas
On top of all the 'legitimate' sports broadcasting (which he once
estimated took up 15,000 hours preparing and delivering sportscasts),
Normandin was the broadcaster for the Dow Brewery-sponsored wrestling
shows based out of Montreal during the 50s.
From his position in both the hockey and wrestling world, he saw two of
the greatest athletes ever from Quebec compete at their bests - hockey's
Maurice 'The Rocket' Richard and wrestling's Yvon Robert.
Normandin died at age 50 in Montreal on November 12, 1963 at Hotel Dieu
Hospital from a heart attack.
Memories
While doing a broadcast one Wednesday evening
he was calling a match between Wild Bull Currie, who indeed epitomised
the Wildest Look and some Pat OConnor.....Currie was ejected from the
ring and began to 'tear up' the area........Pierre Normandin, a super
person and a grand gentlemen...une homme noblese si vous voulez.....
abandoned his native french and blurted in extremely good english.....
'Get that bum the H--- out of here'.......and french TV was never the
same.
Pierre Normandin passed away and will long be remembered by all of us.
The BEAR, a.k.a. Bill Conlon
As the announcer on the French Television network, when TV first appeared
in Montreal in the 50's, He was the man to brought " La Lutte de Mecerdi
Soir" to everyone tuned and in those day with one station-Everyone was
tuned in.
The program was live from the Montreal Forum and lasted until the evenings
semi-final, every once in a while, we would be treated to a small portion of
the semi-final match.
The Canadian Wrestling Hall of Fame has some GREAT names, I saw this one
and just to recall the early days in Montreal in the 50's
David Delcloo, Kingston, ON
