American journalist and announcer (1936–2011)
Frank Talent (né Tallett ; 1936 – September 8, 2011) was a former political figure and journalist in the Philadelphia area, best known for his time as a Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission representative who oversaw boxing and professional wrestling .
Early life
Francis R. Tallett was an orphan born in 1936 in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania who attended school at St. Joseph's House for Homeless Industrious Boys .[ 1]
Politics
Talent unsuccessfully challenged Harry Jannotti for the vacant 7th District Philadelphia City Council seat in 1969.[ 1] He worked as an officer for Philadelphia Municipal Court , and later as a public relations representative of Mayor Frank Rizzo .[ 1] William J. Lederer of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives commended Talent for his charitable work in a 1973 proclamation.[ 2]
The Public Record featured a regular gossip column where Talent would publish political news under his pseudonym of "The Snooper".[ 3]
Athletic commission
In the 1980s, Talent was appointed acting representative of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission.[ 4] A fan of professional wrestling , he enjoyed being part of the shows and served as ring announcer for World Wrestling Federation events at the Spectrum .[ 4]
Talent was seen as an ally of hardcore wrestling , as he willingly turned a blind eye to many things Extreme Championship Wrestling did at ECW Arena that violated state regulations, including their excessive use of blood.[ 5]
Talent hosted a weekly radio program called Frank Talent's Pro Wrestling and Pro Boxing Radio Show on WNJC in 2005.[ 6] [ 7]
Following his death, Combat Zone Wrestling held a ten-bell salute for Talent before their show at the former ECW Arena on September 10, 2011.[ 8]
References
^ a b c "Frank Talent, 75, publicist and promoter" . Inquirer . September 12, 2011. Retrieved August 1, 2023 .
^ "Commending Mr. Frank Talent" (PDF) . Pennsylvania State Legislature . January 23, 1973. Retrieved August 1, 2023 .
^ "We'll Miss You, Snooper" . Issuu . September 15, 2011. Retrieved August 1, 2023 .
^ a b "PHILADELPHIA WRESTLING ERA COMES TO AN END WITH PASSING OF PA COMMISSION'S FRANK TALENT" . PWInsider.com . September 8, 2011. Retrieved August 1, 2023 .
^ "The View From Down Here – Learning About ECW – Inside Pulse" . Inside Pulse . May 27, 2013. Retrieved August 1, 2023 .
^ "InsidePULSE Indy Report – Week of 7.6.5 – Inside Pulse" . Inside Pulse . July 6, 2005. Retrieved August 1, 2023 .
^ "AS I SEE IT 8/9: Not "sanitized for your protection"...in Delaware, that is..." pwbts.com . Retrieved August 1, 2023 .
^ Nemer, Paul (September 11, 2011). "CZW 9/10 ECW Arena results: MASADA vs Ryuji Ito" . Wrestleview . Retrieved August 1, 2023 .
External links