Gary Hart Did the Little Things

By Frank Dusek

Long before the days as a manager of The Great Kabuki, Mark Lewin, the Spoiler, and Bruiser Brody, Playboy Gary Hart went to Australia where he manager one of the true characters of all time, Brute Bernard.

As a kid, I had the chance to see Gary cutting interviews for their upcoming tour. After the WBTV-3 television taping in Charlotte, I was a part of the ring crew, so we had to wait (keeping quiet) while they cut several interviews.

With no time constrains on KTVT-11 in Ft. Worth, Gary had a tendency to ramble on, sometimes for up to 20 minute, but in the 1960’s, he was a lot sharper and to the point.

He was also a master of "the little things" that it takes to get your character over.

On this occasion, Gary was talking about how much money Brute was making winning all his matches in the States. In his hand, Gary held a wad of $20 bills that would have choked a horse. At the time, the $20 bill, largest denomination circulation in Australia, would really impress the fans "down under."

As he talked, he was slowing handing Brute one bill at a time. At first, Brute’s facial expression never changed. He just stared at his hand as the pile of $20’s grew. After he had a few bills in his hand, Brute began to smile. Seeing that, Gary took back the last bill he had given Brute. He put the rest of the money in his pocket.

He did something like that on every interview and by the time they got to Australia, the fans were convinced that Gary was "using" Brute to make him money, severely under paying the man.

Gary said that the heat on them was incredible from the first night, thanks in no small part to one of "the little things" he had done before the plane ever landed in Australia.

Frank Dusek is a second-generation wrestler from one of the most famous wrestling families ever. He had a solid career as a wrestler and later managed several wrestlers to major titles. He also spent time as a broadcaster, promoter and matchmaker. His first memories of the wrestling business are selling programs for his father when he was 4 years old.

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