Customer Reviews

Gordon Solie ... Something Left Behind

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I consider myself unfortunate to have come along in this world too late to experience the greatness that was Gordon Solie. By the time I was introduced to anything outside of McMahon-land it was too late, Mr. Solie was pretty much retired and out of the spotlight. I heard his name many times, and read about him in magazines all the time. The stories of what he contributed to the wrestling business always made me wonder just what kind of man he really was. It seemed nobody ever had a bad thing to say about him. A few years later, through the miracle of videotape, I did get see and hear the golden voice of professional wrestling work his magic. I was so impressed by his intelligent vocabulary and undeniable ability to get a wrestler or storyline over with the fans. I quickly became a fan of Gordon Solie.

So when I found out that Gordon Solie's daughter, Pamela Allyn, had collaborated with her husband, Robert, to assemble a collection of her father's personal memoirs, short stories, poems, and photos, all laid out in scrap book form, I knew I had to add it to my collection of wrestling books. It is a brilliant journey through the life and career (several of them actually) of wrestling's most respected announcer. In the pages of this book you will learn about Gordon's childhood, his early days in radio, his stint in the Air Force, his experiences with an interesting concept known as "Thrillcade", his love of stock car racing, his career as a pro-wrestling announcer, and on top of all that you will read interesting short stories and poems written about various topics that interested Gordon at the time. One particular short story was the opening chapter of a screenplay Gordon wrote that was so suspenseful I couldn't wait to turn the page.

I would like to thank Robert & Pamela Allyn for sharing Gordon's life with me, and with anybody else who picks up this book to read it. I found it to be more than just a wrestling book, but a scrapbook about the life of a truly wonderful man who meant a lot of things to a lot of different people. Included in this book are a large number of never before seen photographs straight from the Gordon Solie collection, bringing his stories to life with illustration. Every fan of professional wrestling will have Gordon Solie's voice etched in their mind forever, and now they can own a piece of his life.....

Rating: 8/10 Recommended highly for anyone who respected Gordon Solie. That's everybody.

Reviewed by Obsessedwithwrestling.com's Brad Dykens

I have had this book for about a year now. I have found myself going back again and again, re-reading this wonderful in-site into the life of a true genius of the commentary profession. It is not what you would expect, Mr. Solie had such a full life, such diverse interests, among them of course, the wide world of wrestling. The pictures of all of his interests are riveting. His writings are poetic, intelligent, and reflect the richness of the time he spent with the passions of his life.
I cannot recommend this book too strongly. If you can manage to find a copy, you will not be disappointed. It is a real treasure.
S. Whitten

You don't have to be a wrestling or racing fan

to enjoy this book. If you are, you must have

this book. A fine concise history of the rise

of the sports and Solie's contributions. Lot's

of great photo's of celebrities. Don't just

skim through the pictures, read the insightful

and introspective writings of this remarkable

man. Great stories, poems and essays about

real life and feelings.
V. Johnson, Ocala, Fl.

This is a good, decent read. Not the greatest wrestling book out yet still it is entertaining.

This book is an insightful look into the person rather than the wrestling announcer. A lot of his inner thoughts are told through poems and short stories that he scribbled throughout his life, and the accompanying photos were perfectly placed, making this a great read. If you are looking for wrestling material, there's some, but don't go into this one expecting to come away with an education on the business. Nope - you'll come away with a better understanding of who Solie was. Highly recommended.

GeorgiaWrestlingHistory.com

This book is absolutely marvelous. The authors have included so much more than I expected from reading the reviews. The way they have artistically woven prose, philosophy, poetry and photography together makes it very difficult to put down and with every purusal I discover a new and rich insight. *Something Left Behind* will stand as a timeless tribute to the awesome breath and depth of Gordon Solie's talent and character and is an enriching companion to *Master of the Ring*.