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A SURVIVING ORIGINAL VINTAGE 1950'S PARK CENTER CHAIR!


CONTRIBUTIONS

Special Thanks to those that provided information for this feature: Carroll Hall, George South, Barry Caldwell, and Peggy Lathan

 

We need better photos of the Park Center!

WANT TO CONTRIBUTE?

We are going to be adding to this section over time. If you have photos of Charlotte Park Center (Grady Cole Center), especially from "back in the day" feel free to send them and if we can, we will use them here.

midatlanticgateway@gmail.com


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CHARLOTTE PARK CENTER & MEMORIAL STADIUM

Park Center (Grady Cole Center), Charlotte NC

Front Entrance Today, facing N. Kings Drive.

 

Where The Park Center/Grady Cole Center now stands was originally the National Guard Armory. It burned in about 1954. Jim Crockett Sr. ran many of his his wrestling events at that armory.

The first card at the Charlotte Park Center (built to replace the Armory) was held Monday July 16, 1956. The main event was Argentina Rocca vs. Skull Murphy. It was the first indoor wrestling in Charlotte since the Armory burned down two years earlier. (Newspaper Clipping)

The Park Center/Grady Cole Center sits adjacent to Charlotte War Memorial Stadium, which has also housed some big wrestling events over six decades. (See sketch below.)

The Charlotte Park Center/Grady Cole Center is under the management of the Charlotte Parks And Recreation Department. In the early to mid 2000s, the city of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County combined there efforts and its now called Mecklenburg County Parks And Recreations Department.

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As far as modern day info about the Grady Cole Center, this is from the CitySearch website:

"At first glance, Grady Cole Center looks like a glorified basketball court--and that's pretty much what it is. But it's not only the building, but what goes on there, that makes Grady Cole special.

Located in the historic Elizabeth district, the center presents a wide variety of events, from the common local high school and college basketball games to the more pleasantly unexpected music of Ani DiFranco. You might even open the door on a collection of regional church youth sharing some Christian rock. Make the minutes-long trip from Uptown to check out the current offerings."

What? No mention of Jim Crockett Promotions Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling every Monday night at the old Park Center? They have no appreciation for the real history of that building!

 

Thanks to WrestlingMemories.com for this Photograph

The sold-out Charlotte Park Center on Monday night, July 22, 1968.

In the ring are Rip Hawk, Swede Hanson, and Sailor Art Thomas preparing to battle George Harris, Bronko Lubich and Aldo Bogni in a six man tag team match.

 

 

The interior of the Park Center (Grady Cole) today set up for a wrestling show later that night.

Photo by Josh Boyd • April 10, 2009

 

 

MEMORIAL STADIUM AND THE PARK CENTER

 

Memorial Stadium, Charlotte NC

War Memorial Stadium sits adjacent to the Park Center/Grady Cole Center.

 

Memorial Stadium, Park Center, and Charlotte Skyline

The Park Center (now known as the Grady Cole Center) sits at the open end of Memorial Stadium, with the skyline of Charlotte in the background.

 

Memorial Stadium and Park Center 9Grady Cole Center

 

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Where The Park Center/Grady Cole center now stands was originally the National Guard Armory. It burned in about 1954. The Park Center replaced it

This image shows the old National Guard Armory and Memorial Stadium

as they looked circa early 1950s.

Thanks to Barry Caldwell who submitted this image and information.

A peek inside Memorial Stadium today, through the east gate. You can see the old press box sitting at top of the grand stand.

(Photo taken 4/29/08 by Dick Bourne)


 

THE FIRST WRESTLING CARD AT THE PARK CENTER

(Thanks to Barry Caldwell for this clipping.)

 

All Star Card in Charlotte – Rocca Featured

Gastonia Gazette (now Gaston Gazette), Gastonia NC

Monday, July 16, 1956

One of the most impressive cards in Jim Crockett’s 23 years as Charlotte’s wrestling promoter has been booked for the reopening of the mat game here tonight.

The headline match sends Argentina Rocca, the giant South American star, against a newcomer from Ireland, Skull Murphy, for a three-fall, one hour scuffle.

Then, taking almost as much attention, will be a tag team mach involving the midgets. The little fellows who, pound for pound, are probably wrestling’s greatest performers, will line up like this:

Tito Infante and Cowboy Bradley, totaling 184 pounds, versus Ivan the Terrible and Tiny Roe, a collectively 188 pounds. It’ll also be for two of three falls, one hour.

A pair of prelim scraps also bring in headliners: George Becker will take on Harry Lewis while Jack Witzig will battle Lou Klein.

The card will be the first event held in Charlotte’s new, half million dollar Park Center, a beautiful, air-conditioned structure erected on the site of the old burned-out Armory.

Charlotte has been without indoor wrestling since the Armory burned to its foundation two years ago.

Monday’s bouts will get underway at 8:30 o’clock and a capacity crowd of 3,500 is expected.


 

 

Have photos of the Charlotte Park Center?  E-mail us at midatlanticgateway@gmail.com


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