By Frank Dusek

Once, when I was working for Bill Watts, there was a discussion as to how over the Fantastics were over with the people of Louisiana. Watts contended that it was the music, Z.Z. Topps' "Sharp Dressed Man," that set the stage in the fans' minds for Bobby Fulton and Tommy Rogers' legendary ring intros.

When the music left the speakers,suddenly, fans from all over the arena would rush to the ringside rail. When The Fantastics came in, they would travel around the ringside shaking (or touching) as many of the fans' hands as they could before entering the ring to wrestle.

To prove his point, one night in a small show in St. Bernard Parish, Bill had the announcer cut the music just as The Fantastics entered the ringside area and started their tour around the ring.

Just as Watts had predicted, the fans almost immediately sat down in the chairs in effect, killing The Fantastics' intro.

In a way that sounds strikingly similar to what happens on TV today. Once the glamour of the intro is over, the fans just sit down.

I don't think Bill Watts ever realized how over The Fantastics really were. However, one night in Houston, I was returning to my room. In the hallway, there were a bevy of ladies, all beautiful and dressed to the nines.

I was wondering what was going on when a room door opened. There was one of The Fantastics escorting two smiling girls to the door. Once they had left, he asked two more to come in.

Now that's over!