Captain Lou was a big, fat reason wrestling blew up to become the pop culture crossover phenom of the mid-80s, back when pile-driving was a fad. Wolff orchestrated a legit wrestling feud, which could only be settled by Laupers charge, Wendi Richter, wrestling Captain Lous girl, the Fabulous Moolah. The MTV masses ate up the News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. Flashback: Albano and Lauper Engage in Father-Daughter Smackdown in Pipers Pit, 6-year-old boy floats away in homemade helium balloon, Balloon Boy Gets Fresh Prince Treatment on Facebook, Balloon Boy: We did this for the show., http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65uNCLBTje0&fe. 1987 - YouTube 0:02 / 1:23 Paul E Dangerously and Captain Lou Albano face to face. His collaboration with Lauper extended beyond the professional wrestling circuit. While Captain Lou Albano was able to lose weight and get on the path to a healthier life, he wasnt able to completely avoid health problems. Spouse/Ex-: Geraldine Albano (m. 19532009), siblings: Carl Albano, Eleanor Albano, George Albano, Vincent Albano, place of death: Carmel Hamlet, New York, United States, See the events in life of Lou Albano in Chronological Order. While awarding a framed gold record to former enemy Cyndi But the injuries that he had sustained during his football days forced him to accept an honourable discharge after just eight months. Albano had at some point or is this to mirror Josh's current appearance? Instead, a distant relative, boxing promoter Lou Duva whod later appear at WrestleMania 2 introduced him to Willie Gilzenberg, another promoter who was active in the wrestling business. So, rest easy Captain Lou. Lou Albanos first success in wrestling would be as a tag team specialist, as he teamed with Tony Altomare as a duo called The Sicilians throughout the 1960s. Shortly after Albanos baptism, which was performed in the Vatican itself, Albanos parents returned to the US and began living in the Mount Vernon area. Hell, Afa and Sika got Title matches in Madison Square Garden against Bob Backlund because Albano was that over as a heel. However, following a non-wrestling injury that left a gash on his forehead, he purposefully did not let the mark heal completely and turned heel. I lean towards pre because he wasnt constantly waking from night terrors shivering and screaming about carnivorous fungi and flame belching, man-sized lizard people. NEXT:10 Wrestlers Who Had Disappointing Heel Runs. Copyright 2023 411mania.com, LLC. He then enlisted in the US Army. Bruno Sammartino mentioned to Vince McMahon that Albano wasn't a great wrestler, but he was a great talker and could become a top manager. His parents Eleanor and Carmen were of Italian ancestry but were born and raised in America. The Wild Samoans, tame. Their other kayfabe brother, Jimmy Valiant, managed them when they arrived back in WWE in 1978, but they ended up signing with Capt. They touched on his early career, his love of drinking, the reason for his rubber bands, and much more. The Valiant Brothers, unprincely. Carmen was an obstetrician while Eleanor was a pianist who later became a registered nurse. In 1983, Albano was the manager for Don "Magnificent" Muraco when the strongman beat Pedro Morales for the WWE Intercontinental Championship. He managed a lot of Islanders, so he would cut 100% of every promo. I distinctly remember getting a little too excited every time SMB came on television. Its not like Captain Lou has constantly been on my mind for the last 25 years, but his recent passing unlocked a flood of memories of being 8 years old and him being EVERYWHERE. 44,624 likes. Outside of the wrestling world, he is best-known for playing Mario (both in live-action and animated segments) on The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! They had four children together, including a son named Carl, who has been serving as a member of the Putnam County Legislature since 2011. Fair well paisano. Due to Albanos short stature, Gilzenberg advised him to enter wrestling. In 1986, Captain Lou Albano left the World Wrestling Federation to pursue other interests, but he still occasionally made appearances at ringside. Anyone else loving the sad expression on everyones face as they break out in dance? A lot of you are too young to remember Captain Lou Albano, but to us children of the late 70s and early 80s he was a pop-culture fixture. During this period, Gilzenberg introduced him to Vince McMahon Sr, who hired him for his Capitol Wrestling Corporation in Washington, DC, a predecessor of WWF/E. I actually liked the Super Mario Brothers movie. WebRightfully so, because the legendary Captain Lou Albano will always be one of a kind. Lou Albano managing the tag team champion U.S. Express (Mike Rotundo and Barry Windham) at WrestleMania I (1985). Working These were kayfabe brothers, not really related, but were still one of their generation's best tag teams. The first was the U.S. Express, which Albano managed at the original WrestleMania. He was kind of a wild and crazy guy. I was just about to comment on that myself . In his later years, Albino became a successful actor, playing numerous memorable roles in both films and television shows. This led to Albano managing two of the best babyface tag teams of the '80s. sniff why couldn't it have been John Leguizamo or Bob Hoskins?. It's too bad. Albano was arguably the best of the three. Blackjack Mulligan and Blackjack Lanza won their first WWE tag team titles in 1975 from Dominic DeNucci and Pat Barrett. Coincidentally, Captain Lou Albano got over as a heel manager by opposing the man who recommended him for the position. Albano was the manager (of Ivan Koloff)., Apter on Albano being an unofficial part of Vince McMahon Sr.s office staff: He was actually not an official part of Vince Srs office, but he was an unofficial part (of the office). When he retired from WWF in 1986, he left behind an unparalleled legacy. Lou Albano managed Andre the Giant for a short time. http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Wrestling/CaptainLouAlbano. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); No spam. OnJanuary 18, 1971,Ivan Koloff pinned Bruno Sammartino for the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship, ending his title reign at just over seven years. Broadcast live on MTV, it gave WWE the opportunity to access the coveted young adult demographic. When he first made his way back to WWE after his stint in the NWA, he signed with Capt. He soon moved with his parents back to the U.S. A buccaneer before he changed his gimmick, Albano wasn't a great wrestler, but had a couple of high visibility runs in the northeast. After the entire Rock N Wrestling Connection launched, Albano turned into a babyface. WebBorn Louis Vincent Albano on July 29, 1933 in Rome, Italy, Lou Albano began his professional wrestling career in 1953 and first rose to national prominence in the late One wouldnt have guessed this looking at Captain Lou Albano the manager, but as a young wrestler, Leaping Lou Albano was presented as a handsome babyface character as he competed in the New York wrestling scene. Lou and Wolff both deserve a huge amount of credit for the popularity of professional wrestling, but what did they get for their effort? Copyright 2010-2023 TheSmackDownHotel.com. Sadly, his ability to continue his career in entertainment wasgreatly limited during the 1990s. Leguizamo is awesome in everything he does. Captain Lou Albano guests on a 1984 segment of Pipers Pit. Web76 Lou Albano Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images Images Creative Editorial Video Editorial FILTERS CREATIVE EDITORIAL VIDEO 76 Lou Albano Premium High Res Photos Browse 76 lou albano stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 1996. As a professional wrestler, Albano won the WWWF United States Tag Team Championship with Tony Altomare on July 10, 1967. In 1971, The Blackjacks joined forces under Bobby Heenan's management, but they reached their biggest success when they arrived in WWE, and Captain Lou Albano managed the pair. This angle led to the MTV special The Brawl to End It All, wherein Wendi Richter (representing Lauper) defeated The Fabulous Moolah (representing Albano) for the WWE Womens Championship. Lou pretty much wore his Hawaiian shirt and sweatpants; that was Lous attire 99% of the time. Apter on the story behind the rubber band rings on Albanos face: He was very strong into the fight against multiple sclerosis with Cyndi Lauper. Some say it was in piercings but I think they were tied into his beard hair. Fair well paisano. Known to friends and family as Louis Albano, during the 1970s and 80s, the larger-than-life personality brought drama and fun to the world of professional wrestling. Even though Captain Lou Albanos health had been rocky for years, the wrestling community was shocked by his passing. Albano, his wife, and a family friend had to be escorted out of the arena, but the crowd followed them. WebCaptain Lou Albano was one of the dirtiest managers in WWE for a decade, but then something changed. And Im no longer buttoning my shirt. While awarding a framed gold record to former enemy Cyndi Lauper, Roddy Piper and Bob Orton interrupted, smashing the frame over Albanos head. Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? On the latest edition of VOC Nations Wrestling With History, Bill Apter and Ken Resnick discussed the career of WWE Hall of Famer Captain Lou Albano, the story behind Captain Lou Albanos face rings, some Albano drinking stories, and more. Through collaborations with pop star Cyndi Lauper, he helpedbring mainstream attention towrestling during the 1980s. He said that he would wear these Click here for our privacy policy. It was the only time that Capt. Albano led them to only one tag team title reign before Dynamite had to retire. In 1989, he was cast as the voice of Mario in The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! He would later reprise the character in The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 (1990). All rights reserved.Click here for our privacy policy. Lou got a gold record to the head, and Wolff got body slammed so hard by Rowdy Roddy Piper, it nearly broke his back. I dont know if you were a great man, or even a good one but you entertained me as a child and for that I am grateful. RELATED:The 10 Best Intercontinental Champions From The PG Era. Awesome pins and charms to express your authentic self! One of the most infamous moments in WWE history came in the '70s, and it resulted in a riot that caused property damage and had Captain Lou Albano fearing for his life. Nice touch. Why Did Captain Lou Albano Have The Rubberbands In His Face? 1987 The Vintage Wrestling Recognizable in garish outfits and rubber bands affixed to his face, Albano managed countless legends including Andre The Giant, Pat Patterson, and The British Bulldogs. In honor of such, the NRBQ lads penned this miraculous number about Lou, who intros and outros the song in maniacal fits of self-proclamations and percentages while referring to himself as the guiding light and a bitch on ball bearings, brother, a motherf***er on wheels. Im just glad I found this one early on in my writing, so as to provide the perfect soundtrack for such an important list. On that fateful plane ride, Lauper and Wolff met Captain Lou Albano. He adopted a new name, Mount Vernon Mauler, garnering a reputation in the New Yorks professional wrestling scene. Albanomanaged numerous top name competitors. 2004-2023 PWInsider.com. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. On the latest edition of Wrestling with History, Bill Apter and Ken Resnick talked about their time with WWE Hall of Famer Captain Lou Albano. Albano, ever the heel, decided to feud with Lauper on WWE television by claiming ownership over the song on Pipers Pit. Lou Albano (October 14, 1959 - June 7, 1997) Captain Lou Albano (May 22, 1972 - October 29, 1986) Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) In 1986, Andre took time off from WWE to makePrincess Bride, and a storyline was created that had WWE suspend Andre for no-showing an event. I never knew when it was on (I found out later that's because it was in syndication after only having one season), but I always enjoyed it, despite supporting the losing side in the console wars (Sega). Amazingly, he received scholarship offers from 32 colleges as a senior. He managed a great many teams to the. He wasn't wrong. In between Marios Earthbound hijinks, they would show Super Mario Bros. cartoons that seemed to be set in the universe of Super Mario Bros. 2. Bob Hoskins is a Saint! Lets take a look at Albanos career, covering the iconic parts as well as his forgotten time as a competitor himself. Singer Cyndi Lauper was there as well. The Wise Men of the East (sometimes billed as the "Triumvirate of Terror") managed the heels in Vince McMahon Sr.'s WWF. In 1969, he began the second phase of his professional wrestling career as a manager. Google image search Captain Lou Albano. Here are some highlights. WebReal Name Louis Vincent Albano Ring Names. Is your network connection unstable or browser outdated? http://www.profightdb.com/wrestlers/captain-lou-albano-945.html, http://ecwfrenchtribute.free.fr/HTLM/Photos/L/Lou_Albano.htm. You actually have to pull the face-rubber bands while theyre on your face to properly (and respectfully) launch them. He trained with Soldier Barry, one of his childhood idols, and they started doing house shows together in New York in 1952. It was impressive. You know though, those cartoons were all released on DVD a while back. We just watched the show, ate our Ninja Turtles cereal and occasionally did The Mario for hours on end. Wolff had grown up a lifelong pro wrestling fan, following the WWWF where Albano was part of a triumvirate who terrorized the New York territory for a decade. Despite being an average wrestler, it was quite apparent that he was an entertaining speaker. On the latest edition of Wrestling with History, Bill Apter and Ken Resnick talked about their time with WWE Hall of Famer Captain Lou Albano. Mario and Luigi double up on the Princess they must have made that porn already. I distinctly remember getting a little too excited every time SMB came on television. Later in the '80s, Albano once again managed Blackjack Mulligan, but he wore a mask and went by the name Big Machine. Captain Lou didnt actually voice himself in this short-lived animated ridiculousness (neither did any of the other WWF wrestlers for that matter) but I absolutely LOVED this show. Actually I have the DVDs. In remembering how Captain Lou affected my childhood, I would be remiss to leave out Hulk Hogans Rock N Wrestling cartoon. Lou Albano married Geraldine, his high school sweetheart, in 1953. He has worked as a journalist for over 20 years, first in the world of print journalism before moving to online media as the world changed. The idea that all of my favorite wrestlers were driving around in giant Cadillacs and monster trucks and having adventures and doing good deeds appealed to my gullibility. With a wardrobe of colorful Hawaiian shirts, facial piercings finished with rubber bands, and unruly hair with a beard to match Captain Lou Albano was a man you couldnt help but notice. He rattles off his list of accolades, including 14 tag team champions, two intercontinental, and one world wide federation champion. After spending several decades as a heel, Captain Lou Albano turned face in 1984 in a memorable segment. In the course of serving advertisements to this site, our third-party advertiser may place or recognize a unique cookie on your browser. Albano appeared in the early episodes of the show and appears to be back to make us laugh. He also appeared as Lauper's fictional father in the "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" video. In some fun trivia, Albano came out of retirement in 1994 to manage The Headshrinkers to the tag titles, which was Afa's son Samu and nephew Fatu (Rikishi). One of the greatest wrestling managers ever, there are a lot of things fans should know about "Captain" Lou Albano. Captain Lou portrayed what seemed to be a pre or post mushroom kingdom Mario that lived and worked as a plumber in a big city (presumably New York) with his brother-in-overalls Luigi. WebCaptain Lou Albano dead at 76. photo: wwe.com 1933-2009 (age 76) With a wardrobe of colorful Hawaiian shirts, facial piercings finished with rubber bands, and unruly hair with https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/lou-albano-12451.php. They then took shelter in a bar nearby and were bombarded with mud and objects until the police arrived. Later, Valentine moved on to Jimmy Hart as his manager, and Albano soon became a babyface. 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