PART TEN



PART ONE

PART TWO

PART THREE

PART FOUR

PART FIVE

PART SIX

PART SEVEN

PART EIGHT

PART NINE

PART TEN


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RETURN TO THE INTERVIEW INDEX

 


 

Chappell: I guess at this point, I’d like to take you from the time of your health issues up to the present.

 

Landrum: Sure…after I got out of the business I went into business for myself. And I was working on a promotion to open an amphitheater music park, somewhere in the Richmond area. Worked on that for about a year, and then was approached by the people that were then running Water County USA…they wanted us to do it in concert with them down there. I wasn’t real anxious to do it at the time, but later we did and then sold it out to them.

 

After that, I went to Kentucky for about five years…

 

Chappell: What prompted you to go out there?

 

Landrum: I went out there, and was working for a company that was in the hearth business. That’s how I got interested in it…

 

Chappell: Oh…okay.

 

Landrum: I kind of liked the area out there, but the air pollution was killing me.

 

Chappell: What part of Kentucky?

 

Landrum: Right in the tri-states area of Summit, Kentucky…the tri-state area of Kentucky, West Virginia and Ohio.

 

The air pollution was terrible out there…I had no idea!

 

Anyway, my present wife and I had known each other for 30 years…dated on and off. We got hooked back up, got married, and came back. And started the hearth business for True Value Hardware. And it’s progressed since then into me having my own business.

 

Chappell: And this is based in Colonial Heights, right?

 

Landrum: Yes.

 

Chappell: How long have you been in the hearth business?

 

Landrum: Let’s see, I did it for True Value for about eight years. The owner retired, and I took it and opened my own business. He basically gave it all to me. He said, ‘You started it for us, you made us a LOT of money…it’s yours.’

 

Chappell: Do any of your customers still associate you with World Wide Wrestling?

 

Landrum: (laughs) Oh, I still get it…I got it the other day.

 

Chappell: It must be nice to be remembered in that capacity…that’s been over 20 years ago.

 

Landrum: It makes me feel good to a degree. It’s nice. I don’t want it to be overwhelming to the business of what I do now. I’ll stand there and talk as long as I can about wrestling…but I have a business to run too!

 

I had a City employee on the phone the other day, I was trying to get something done for my Church, and at the end of the conversation he said, ‘I gotta ask you this. Are you the Rich Landrum that used to do Mid-Atlantic Wrestling?’ I went, ‘Yeah…that’s me.’ And he showed up at the store a couple of days later!

 

Chappell: Hey, sounds like Mid-Atlantic Wrestling is good for business!

 

Landrum: (laughs)

 

Chappell: As I’m sure you’re aware, Rich, there are rumors and reports out there that you ran afoul of the law after your time in Jim Crockett Promotions. A criminal case involving your ex-wife in the late 1980s, that you served time for.

 

Do you care to address those legal issues or anything that surrounded them?

 

Landrum: Well, I had a run-in with a wiretapping charge…that goes back to my private investigator days.

 

Chappell: But there’s some stuff floating around out there involving an incident with your ex-wife…

 

Landrum: I know…I know. My issues with my ex-wife…I just couldn’t get along with the guy she dated. Or guys, I guess I should say. That’s my only issue.

 

That’s what happens when you’re out of town a lot.

 

Chappell: Did that issue you speak of lead to legal problems, and consequences, for you?

 

Landrum: Well, I’d say that Jack Mulligan and I wound up in about the same boat there for a while…and just leave it at that.

 

Jack doesn’t talk much about his, and I don’t talk much about mine. It was a learning experience for both of us. And ironically, it was about at the same time.

 

Chappell: Fair enough, Rich.

 

I think you and Blackjack are great examples for all of us, as to how one can rise above any of the hurdles that life throws up, and come through it better than ever.

 

You talked earlier about being ‘born again.’ Does that have its roots with the incident involving your ex-wife?

 

Landrum: No, actually, it happened prior to that…but that helped me a whole lot get through the whole thing.

 

It was quite an experience. It’s kind of like guys I’ve talked to who have been in the service…and been through combat. I wouldn’t take a million dollars for the experience, but I’d never do it again. And I think Jack would tell you the same thing.

 

Chappell: As we’re talking about Blackjack Mulligan, tell us the story about the Cadillac you sold him!

 

Landrum: I can’t remember what year it was, but I bought a Cadillac for my wife. It was a white Cadillac, four door…it wasn’t an El Dorado, it was a Coup Deville. It was used when I bought it, but it was in good shape.

 

I don’t know why I bought it…I guess I just wanted to own a Cadillac!

 

Chappell: Nothing wrong with that!

 

Landrum: At that point in time, we were doing very well financially. I had never had a Cadillac before, and I guess I just wanted one!

 

So, I gave it to her to drive. She drove it for a couple of weeks, but she said, ‘I can’t park this thing…it’s too big.’

 

So, I started driving it for a while…and eventually I fell out of fun with it. It just wasn’t something I wanted to keep. I got to thinking, ‘These boys like Cadillac’s.’ So one Wednesday, I said, ‘Jack…I got a car for you.’

 

Rich Landrum interviews Blackjack Mulligan

 

Chappell: Was Blackjack interested at the outset?

 

Landrum: He said, ‘I don’t need any car.’ I said, ‘Yeah, you gotta have this one. It’s a big white Cadillac…it’ll be perfect for you.’

 

He said, ‘Talk to Flair.’

 

Chappell: (laughing)

 

Landrum: I said, ‘No, no man…this is yours. I’ll make you a deal.’

 

So, we hammered around with it for a while. I kept after him! I said, ‘Jack, I need the money…buy the Cadillac!’

 

He said, ‘Alright, alright…I’ll buy it.’

 

Chappell: Your hounding of Blackjack finally paid off!

 

Landrum: (laughs) I had put baking soda in the ashtray of the car to kill the smell of cigarettes. I didn’t say anything to Jack about it; I didn’t even think about it.

 

So, we get the title switched over and everything, and we do all that, and get the deal done.

 

Next week, he comes to me kinda agitated and said, ‘Did you put cocaine in that Cadillac?’

 

Chappell: (laughing)

 

Landrum: I said, ‘WHAT?’ He said, ‘In the ashtray…there’s all this white powder in there.’ I said, ‘Jack, that’s BAKING SODA.’ (laughing)

 

Jack said, ‘Oh, thank goodness…that had me scared to death! I opened that thing, and just knew a cop was gonna stop me; what am I gonna do with it. I dumped it out.’ I said, ‘Jack, I just put baking soda in there to kill the cigarette smell!’ (laughing)

 

Chappell: (laughing) That’s too funny…whew!

 

Landrum: He kept it for a couple of weeks, and for some reason I’m thinking he sold it to Don Kernodle. And he got in the used car business after that…buying little things and then turning around and selling them! He may have found a market there! (laughing)

 

Chappell: Well, we now know the story of the famed white Cadillac!

 

Rich, as we wrap up, please tell us about your family and the wrestling show you are working on for this fall.

 

Landrum: Well, I’ve been married to my wife Pam for fourteen years…we’ve known each other for thirty years. She’s my third marriage. She’s put up with a lot! (laughs)

 

I have a grown son, who is a professional fire fighter in Petersburg. I have a wonderful grandson…

 

Chappell: Did your grandson see you on the video of the 1978 World Wide highlight show?

 

Landrum: He saw it, and I asked him, ‘Do you know who that announcer is?’ He said, ‘That’s you!’

 

Chappell: See Rich, you haven’t changed a bit!

 

Landrum: He wanted to sit and watch all the tapes! My son Corey loved the tapes too, in fact, he traveled some with me when I was doing World Wide and ring announcing…when he was probably eleven or twelve years old. This would be in the summer when he was with me for two weeks. So, he got to know the boys.

 

Chappell: Did Corey ever show an interest in getting in the business?

 

Landrum: I had really hoped that he might get interested in it, because Corey grew up as a big kid…he ended up being six foot four and lanky like Barry Windham was back then.

 

Chappell: Sounds like he had the size.

 

Landrum: He had the size. And it got to a point when he was a teenager, going to the show itself wasn’t a big deal…he’d rather sit in the dressing room. He always wanted to go if Flair was on the show.

 

Chappell: And you have two stepchildren, correct?

 

Landrum: Yes, Pam’s children. I tell you, Pam’s a great wife. She’s put up with a lot, and has gone through a lot for both of us. She is a breast cancer survivor. I’m amazed at how well she’s done, but it was her faith that got here through it.

 

I have a stepson and a stepdaughter. The daughter Carrie is the oldest…she just started her junior year at Christopher Newport University. And Benjamin is 19, and I haven’t a clue where he’s going!

 

Chappell: Hey, that’s part of being 19!

 

Landrum: (laughs)

 

Chappell: Well, we’ve gone from the State Fairgrounds in the early 1970s to the present, and lo and behold, you’re doing some wrestling announcing again!

 

Landrum: (laughs) Yeah, I did the Colonial Heights show this past August, and then Marvin Ward asked me to come up and do that show in Waynesboro. And before I did that one, I got a call from another Church that wanted to do a show, and I’m going, ‘I didn’t really plan on getting back into the business!’

 

Chappell: (laughs)

 

Landrum: But it became fun, despite all the headaches of the one in Colonial Heights…

 

Chappell: And that was really a great night with Nikita Koloff’s group. But you had all kinds of things come up that made putting that on challenging. You lost your original venue, then had to go outside and ‘Mother Nature’ wasn’t too kind! In spite of that, it was a terrific show!

 

Landrum: My wife helped me immensely with that show. She made the comment, ‘All the times I used to watch you on TV and saw the shows in Richmond, I never knew there were so many nuts and bolts of putting one together!’ I said, ‘Ohhh yeah!’

 

I think the decision for us to run the show that night, despite the weather, was that when it finally started to clear, we were watching the sunset in the west and then turned toward the football field, and there was a double rainbow over the football field. You remember that?

 

Chappell: I sure do.

 

Landrum: Pam said, ‘You wanted a sign, I think you got it.’ Nikita said, ‘You better take it!’

 

We started an hour late, but we ran the show.

 

Chappell: And if you remember at the very end of the show, right as Nikita was ending his testimony, the rain started again…lightly. It didn’t rain during the show. Some pretty powerful symbolism there!

 

Landrum: It was…it was.

 

So, after that, I said I’d try to do a couple of shows a year. But, David, the stuff I used to do for TV and the live shows, shoot, that was easy compared to putting a show together. It took me six months to put that show together in Colonial Heights. It can be laborious work.

 

Chappell: Tell us about the show you are looking to run in Richmond this fall.

 

Landrum: Well, we hope to get this one put together. This will be on October 28th I believe…a Friday night.

 

Chappell: Wrestling again in Richmond on a Friday night…sounds good to me!

 

Landrum: We originally wanted to do it at the Richmond Raceway, known as the old State Fairgrounds, in the original building. We thought, if it was going to be called the Mid-Atlantic Reunion…that’s where it’s got to be!

 

Chappell: Wow!

 

Landrum: We could still do it there, but they have no dressing room or shower facilities any longer…

 

Chappell: Ouch…

 

Landrum: Yeah, so that would mean having to bring in something to make that work.

 

We’re looking at the Arthur Ashe Center…it will hold more people.

 

Chappell: And the Ashe Center is very close to the old Richmond Arena…so there are some Mid-Atlantic tie-ins there!

 

Landrum: Yes, very close to the old Arena…

 

Chappell: And very close to the old Howard Johnson’s…now, there was a LOT of Mid-Atlantic history made there!! But this is a family website!  (laughs)

 

Landrum: (laughing) Very symbolic indeed! Now it’s a Holiday Inn…so maybe it’s better!

 

Chappell: But on a more serious note, I understand that the October show will benefit a very worthy cause.

 

Landrum: It will be for the benefit of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

 

My wife kind of talked me into doing it. She said, ‘Look, if you’re back doing this…this is a good one to do it for.’ Of course, it’s near and dear to her heart.

 

Chappell: And October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so the timing is very good.

 

Landrum: Yes, so it all adds up well. And if we can work it out, we’ll do it Friday night in Richmond, and then do it Saturday night in Waynesboro.

 

Chappell: That’s great…what a weekend!

 

Landrum: We’ll be able to use some of the same talent. We’re looking at some great names…maybe even Roddy Piper.

 

Chappell: Piper would be a great addition. A lot of great Mid-Atlantic memories with him!

 

Landrum: He was good…he was good in the Mid-Atlantic. He was hot.

 

Chappell: Please keep us up to date on this. I will be great to have a show like this coming to Richmond.

 

Landrum: I will…I will.

 

Chappell: Well, Rich, it’s been great talking with you. Anything I’ve forgotten, that you’d like to get out to your Mid-Atlantic fans?

 

Landrum: David, not that I can think of. Despite the rumor, I’m alive and well and doing great! (laughing)

 

I have no regrets about the business…I loved it when I was doing it. I’m not angry about any of it. I wish I could have stayed longer in it, but everything happens for a reason.

 

Chappell: Finally, when you look back to your announcing days, whom do you consider the best wrestling announcer of that era. And certainly include yourself in that list!

 

Landrum: (pauses) As I said before, all of us were different; we all had different styles.

 

Chappell: Again, like comparing apples and oranges…

 

Landrum: Yeah…exactly. Was I better than David Crockett? Yeah. Was I better than Schiavone? Yeah. Schivaone…without Bobby Heenan he wouldn’t have survived.

 

I would have loved to have worked with Heenan. He would have been so much fun to play off of.

 

I loved my time with Johnny, doing the show. It worked, and it worked whenever we were in a live show somewhere. People always put us together…

 

Chappell: Considered you all as a team.

 

Landrum: Yes…and it was Weaver and Becker when I first started.

 

Chappell: Full circle!

 

Landrum: That’s right.

 

Chappell: I think I speak for a lot of Mid-Atlantic fans…that we appreciate your interaction with us on the wrestling message boards. 

 

It is a unique way to get information from someone that was intricately involved in Jim Crockett Promotions, and a big part of Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling.

 

Landrum: It’s fun. I was sorry that somebody hacked into the Kayfabe Memories message board because that was always fun to go on and share stuff with the guys, and I’m sure there are some girls out there too…the fans. Now, Greg Price has put a message board up there too, and that’s doing pretty good. But hopefully Kayfabe Memories will be back up soon.

 

Some things that are asked…I can answer their questions. There are some things I just don’t want to touch! I don’t think it’s necessary…

 

Chappell: Certainly understandable!

 

Landrum: But the message boards are fun. I like being able to set the record straight sometimes!

 

Chappell: Hey, you were right in the middle of a lot of things!

 

Landrum: But some things I go, ‘I don’t remember that match!’

 

Chappell: (laughs) Did they wrestle?

 

Landrum: (laughs) Yeah, ‘Who was that?’

 

But it’s fun, and it’s really gratifying to hear people comment about the different announcers. And ones who think I was the greatest announcer!

 

It doesn’t hurt my feelings if they like me or dislike me…

 

Chappell: What’s important, I’d imagine, is that they remember you.

 

Landrum: That’s the thing.

 

(laughs) The comment I get most is, ‘You kept me up at night.’

 

Chappell: (laughs) That was definitely true for me…that late Saturday night start for World Wide on Channel 6 made for some groggy Sunday mornings for me!

 

No VCR for me then, so I couldn’t wimp out and set the timer and tape you!

 

Landrum: I get that a lot, ‘Boy, I stayed up late to watch your show.’

 

It’s gratifying to hear things like that. In a few cases, I’ve had people come up to me and tell me something I said or did during a show or live show stuck with them…or they just remember me taking time to speak with them or their kids or sign an autograph---that made all the difference in the world to them.

 

You don’t think about those things at the time you’re doing them…

 

Chappell: You touched a lot of people…and probably didn’t realize it at the time.

 

Landrum: I really have discovered that.

 

Chappell: And now through the Internet, you’re hearing from a lot of those same people…that you probably would have never had anymore contact with.

 

Landrum: It’s great…knowing that you touched them in some way. Hopefully, it was in a positive way! Even the one guy I hit that night!

 

Chappell: (laughing) And he even apologized!

 

Landrum: He even apologized, and said he deserved it!

 

David Chappell with Rich Landrum, Jan. 16, 2005

in David's wrestling room.

 

Chappell: Well, Rich, I appreciate your taking so much time with the Gateway today. I’ve really enjoyed it…and I know our readers will as well.

 

Landrum: Well, you guys got a good thing going on. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it.

 


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