St. Louis, MO—May 9, 2022—A new one-hour Nine PBS documentary takes a deep dive from the top of the ropes to explore how the unlikely merger of an elegant ballroom and beefy athletes made for unbeatable television on an emerging network and put St. Louis at the center of the national wrestling scene.
The broadcast premiere of Head over Heels: Remembering Wrestling at the Chase is Saturday, June 4, at 8 pm. Nine PBS is holding a screening premiere at the same time in the Public Media Commons for those who want to relive the antics of Lou Thesz, Cowboy Bob Orton, Ted DiBiase, Dick the Bruiser, King Kong Brody, and a cast of colorful characters. The event is free and open to all while tickets last; registration is required.
It started out as a chance conversation on an airplane: Sam Muchnick had wrestlers and a ring; Harold Koplar had a hotel ballroom and a brand-new TV station. It became a match made in professional wrestling heaven.
Live audiences who could afford a swanky night out sat just yards away from the action in their jewels and black ties, while viewers who tuned in to the new KPLR gathered with homemade snacks in their living rooms, feeling they were part of the glamour.
It’s been almost 40 years since Wrestling at the Chase aired, but there is no shortage of fond memories. The documentary will weave together stories from fans, former wrestlers, and their families with the history of our city to tell the larger tale of not only a beloved show, but also of an unstoppable promoter, an iconic hotel, and a visionary TV man—and how they all worked together to establish St. Louis as a heavyweight in the national wrestling arena.
Watch the trailer here.
This special is supported by the Betsy & Thomas Patterson Foundation.
Caption: Wrestling match filmed in the KPLR studio. Courtesy of Mercantile Library.
About Nine PBS
As an essential community institution, Nine PBS exists to enable access to information, knowledge, and learning opportunities for all. We tell stories that move us. We meet people where they are the most comfortable consuming content. Nine PBS’s platforms include four distinct broadcast channels (Nine PBS, Nine PBS KIDS®, Nine PBS World, and Nine PBS Create), ninepbs.org, social media, the free PBS Video App, streaming services, live and virtual events, and the Public Media Commons. Since 1954, Nine PBS has accepted the community’s invitation into their homes, schools, and businesses. Follow Nine PBS on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok.
For more information, contact:
Sarah Brandt
Director of Communications
(314) 512-9034
sbrandt@ninepbs.org