Freddie Miller
Encyclopedia
Freddie G. Miller was a broadcaster and television personality in Atlanta, Georgia
, United States
. Miller worked for Atlanta television station WXIA-TV
(then known by call letters including WLWA-TV and WQXI-TV) from the 1950s to the 1970s. His greatest exposure and notoriety came in the years following, for his role on the announcing team of professional wrestling
programs broadcast on another Atlanta station, WTBS.
Miller is best remembered by wrestling fans as Gordon Solie
's co-host on Georgia Championship Wrestling
, which was later re-named World Championship Wrestling. When Vince McMahon, Jr. bought GCW's time slot, Solie left the promotion to remain with Ole Anderson
and his renamed Championship Wresting from Georgia, but Miller stayed on until McMahon sold the promotion and time slot to Jim Crockett, Jr.
of Jim Crockett Promotions
. Miller conducted some interviews, but his primary duties were to announce upcoming house shows in the segue to commercial breaks, in much the same fashion as was done in the WWF at the time by Howard Finkel
.
Miller is also remembered for his trademark phrase "Don't miss it...BEEE THERE" (emphasis intentional) when advertising upcoming house shows. He was also the subject of ribbing by the boys for his over-enthusiastic pronunciation of "STOOOOOBENVILLE OHIO
," one of the stops on the Georgia circuit. During McMahon's ownership of Georgia Championship Wrestling, Miller served double duty as co-host of Gorilla Monsoon
and as ring announcer for in-studio matches. If there is one thing he is perhaps best remembered for as a wrestling announcer, it would be his presence on Black Saturday, July 14, 1984. Miller opened the program, and briefly described the new programming which would offered through the WWF, then introduced McMahon. This moment has been featured on numerous WWE Home Video releases, most notably The Rise and Fall of WCW.
Miller is also remembered as the host of Stars of Tomorrow and Dance Party - both locally produced shows which featured local talent. He also hosted local showings of films on the station.
After leaving GCW, he retired as an on-air personality and later did voiceovers for WCW house shows into the 1990s. Miller made a final on-camera appearance at Clash of the Champions XX: 20th Anniversary. He died from a heart attack
on November 25, 1992, at the age of 63.
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Miller worked for Atlanta television station WXIA-TV
WXIA-TV
WXIA-TV, virtual channel 11.1 , is the NBC-affiliated television station in Atlanta, Georgia. Popularly known by its 11 Alive moniker, WXIA is owned by the Gannett Company in a duopoly with MyNetworkTV affiliate WATL...
(then known by call letters including WLWA-TV and WQXI-TV) from the 1950s to the 1970s. His greatest exposure and notoriety came in the years following, for his role on the announcing team of 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...
programs broadcast on another Atlanta station, WTBS.
Miller is best remembered by wrestling fans as Gordon Solie
Gordon Solie
Jonard Frank Labiak , better known as Gordon Solie, was a Florida-based professional wrestling play-by-play announcer working for World Championship Wrestling...
's co-host on Georgia Championship Wrestling
Georgia Championship Wrestling
Georgia Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion whose self-titled TV program aired in the 1970s and 1980s on Atlanta, U.S., superstation WTBS. Though based in Atlanta, the company also ran live wrestling shows throughout its geographic "territory" of Georgia Georgia...
, which was later re-named World Championship Wrestling. When Vince McMahon, Jr. bought GCW's time slot, Solie left the promotion to remain with Ole Anderson
Ole Anderson
Alan Robert Rogowski , better known by his ring name of Ole Anderson, is a retired professional wrestler and a promoter. He held numerous NWA World Tag Team Championships with Gene Anderson, who was portrayed as his brother...
and his renamed Championship Wresting from Georgia, but Miller stayed on until McMahon sold the promotion and time slot to Jim Crockett, Jr.
Jim Crockett, Jr.
Jim Crockett, Jr. is a former professional wrestling promoter. From 1973 to 1988, he owned Jim Crockett Promotions , a wrestling company affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance...
of Jim Crockett Promotions
Jim Crockett Promotions
Jim Crockett Promotions was a professional wrestling promotion owned by Jim Crockett, Jr. until the late 1980s. It was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance and was the forerunner to World Championship Wrestling .-Early history:...
. Miller conducted some interviews, but his primary duties were to announce upcoming house shows in the segue to commercial breaks, in much the same fashion as was done in the WWF at the time by Howard Finkel
Howard Finkel
Howard Finkel is a professional wrestling ring announcer currently working with WWE in a variety of roles. Hired in 1975 by Vincent J. McMahon's World Wide Wrestling Federation, "The Fink" was the first person brought in to Vincent K...
.
Miller is also remembered for his trademark phrase "Don't miss it...BEEE THERE" (emphasis intentional) when advertising upcoming house shows. He was also the subject of ribbing by the boys for his over-enthusiastic pronunciation of "STOOOOOBENVILLE OHIO
Steubenville, Ohio
Steubenville is a city located along the Ohio River in Jefferson County, Ohio on the Ohio-West Virginia border in the United States. It is the political county seat of Jefferson County. It is also a principal city of the Weirton–Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area...
," one of the stops on the Georgia circuit. During McMahon's ownership of Georgia Championship Wrestling, Miller served double duty as co-host of Gorilla Monsoon
Gorilla Monsoon
Robert James "Gino" Marella , better known by his ring name of Gorilla Monsoon, was an American professional wrestler, play-by-play announcer, and booker...
and as ring announcer for in-studio matches. If there is one thing he is perhaps best remembered for as a wrestling announcer, it would be his presence on Black Saturday, July 14, 1984. Miller opened the program, and briefly described the new programming which would offered through the WWF, then introduced McMahon. This moment has been featured on numerous WWE Home Video releases, most notably The Rise and Fall of WCW.
Miller is also remembered as the host of Stars of Tomorrow and Dance Party - both locally produced shows which featured local talent. He also hosted local showings of films on the station.
After leaving GCW, he retired as an on-air personality and later did voiceovers for WCW house shows into the 1990s. Miller made a final on-camera appearance at Clash of the Champions XX: 20th Anniversary. He died from 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...
on November 25, 1992, at the age of 63.
External links
- YouTube Clips from Clash of the Champions XX; Miller is seen on camera briefly
- rec.sport.pro-wrestling Post of December 1, 1992 mentioning Miller's death - includes reference to his death being noted that day by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, including a quote