Ed Whalen
Encyclopedia
Ed Whalen was a Canadian
television personality and journalist best known worldwide for hosting the popular professional wrestling
TV series Stampede Wrestling
. Whalen was also a popular sportcaster in Calgary
, Alberta
whose nickname "Wailin' Ed" was indicative of his famous nasal announcing voice.
in 1948 when he dropped out to take a part-time job in radio broadcasting at CFQC radio. In 1955, he moved to Calgary and became the News and Sports Director for the new Calgary TV station CHCT
(later popularly known as 2&7, and then Calgary 7, and later still as part of the Global Television network).
While at his CHCT job, Stu Hart
asked Whalen to work for him on his new wrestling show. Whalen gained worldwide fame for being the ringside announcer of the wildly popular Stampede Wrestling
from 1958 to 1983 (plus its later revival from 1985 to 1989). The show popularized several Whalen catchphrases including "It's going to be a ring-a-ding-dong dandy!" and his trademark sign-off, "In the meantime and in-between time."
After his time with Stampede Wrestling, Whalen became beloved by Calgarians as the television voice of the Calgary Flames
on 2&7/Calgary 7 from 1980 (right after the city won the NHL
franchise) until his retirement in 1999, and was famous for his introduction, "Hello hockey fans!", and catchphrases such as "a ring-a-ding-dong dandy". Whalen also wrote a weekly column in the Calgary Sun
newspaper for many years, and even after his retirement he continued to make occasional appearances on TV and still wrote his column. He also was a regular local host of the Children's Miracle Network
telethon.
Whalen died of a heart attack
while on vacation in Venice, Florida
in 2001. The broadcasting booth in Calgary's Scotiabank Saddledome (home of the Calgary Flames) was renamed the Ed Whalen Broadcast Booth in his honour. A year after his death, his wife released a CD of musical recordings Whalen made, with the proceeds going to charity.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
television personality and journalist best known worldwide for hosting the popular professional wrestling
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
TV series Stampede Wrestling
Stampede Wrestling
Stampede Wrestling is a Canadian professional wrestling promotion based in Calgary, Alberta and was for nearly 50 years one of the main promotions in western Canada and the Canadian Prairies...
. Whalen was also a popular sportcaster in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
whose nickname "Wailin' Ed" was indicative of his famous nasal announcing voice.
Biography
Born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Ed Whalen was studying medicine at the University of SaskatchewanUniversity of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
in 1948 when he dropped out to take a part-time job in radio broadcasting at CFQC radio. In 1955, he moved to Calgary and became the News and Sports Director for the new Calgary TV station CHCT
CICT
CICT can refer to any of the following:*CICT-TV, the Global Television Network's owned-and-operated television station in Calgary, Canada*Centre for Information and Communication Technology, Eastern University of Sri Lanka...
(later popularly known as 2&7, and then Calgary 7, and later still as part of the Global Television network).
While at his CHCT job, Stu Hart
Stu Hart
Stewart Edward "Stu" Hart, CM was a Canadian amateur wrestler, professional wrestler, promoter and trainer. Hart founded Stampede Wrestling, a promotion based in Calgary, Alberta, and was the father of famous wrestlers Bret and Owen Hart...
asked Whalen to work for him on his new wrestling show. Whalen gained worldwide fame for being the ringside announcer of the wildly popular Stampede Wrestling
Stampede Wrestling
Stampede Wrestling is a Canadian professional wrestling promotion based in Calgary, Alberta and was for nearly 50 years one of the main promotions in western Canada and the Canadian Prairies...
from 1958 to 1983 (plus its later revival from 1985 to 1989). The show popularized several Whalen catchphrases including "It's going to be a ring-a-ding-dong dandy!" and his trademark sign-off, "In the meantime and in-between time."
After his time with Stampede Wrestling, Whalen became beloved by Calgarians as the television voice of the Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
on 2&7/Calgary 7 from 1980 (right after the city won the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
franchise) until his retirement in 1999, and was famous for his introduction, "Hello hockey fans!", and catchphrases such as "a ring-a-ding-dong dandy". Whalen also wrote a weekly column in the Calgary Sun
Calgary Sun
The Calgary Sun is a daily newspaper published in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It is a division of Sun Media, a Quebecor company.First published in 1980, the tabloid-format daily replaced the long-running broadsheet newspaper, The Albertan soon after it was acquired by the publishers of the Toronto...
newspaper for many years, and even after his retirement he continued to make occasional appearances on TV and still wrote his column. He also was a regular local host of the Children's Miracle Network
Children's Miracle Network
The Children's Miracle Network Hospitals is an international non-profit organization that raises funds for children's hospitals, medical research and community awareness of children's health issues. The organization, founded in 1982 by the Osmond family and John Schneider, is headquartered in...
telethon.
Whalen died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
while on vacation in Venice, Florida
Venice, Florida
Venice is a city in Sarasota County, Florida, United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2007 estimates, the city had a population of 21,015. It is noted for its large snowbird population. Its newspaper is the Venice Gondolier Sun...
in 2001. The broadcasting booth in Calgary's Scotiabank Saddledome (home of the Calgary Flames) was renamed the Ed Whalen Broadcast Booth in his honour. A year after his death, his wife released a CD of musical recordings Whalen made, with the proceeds going to charity.
External links
- SLAM! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame: Ed Whalen
- SLAM! Wrestling: Calgary honours Whalen
- SLAM! Wrestling: Calgary rink named in Whalen's honour
- SLAM! Wrestling: Whalen given fond farewell
- SLAM! Wrestling: Calgary moving fast to immortalize Whalen
- SLAM! Wrestling: Remembering the voice of Stampede Wrestling
- SLAM! Wrestling: Calgary icon's curtain call
- SLAM! Wrestling: Ed Whalen dies after heart attack