Casual fans may not be familiar with the name Georgiann Makropoulos, but to scores of insider fans, wrestling journalists, and those in the industry, she was an institution.
-Kevin Eck, Baltimore Sun
I first came across the name 'Georgiann Makropoulos' in the early 1990s when I started learning more about the business of professional wrestling.
It was a name that popped up quite often in the magazines and newsletters I read.
Then, when I started using the Internet to develop my interest in pro wrestling, her name would pop up even more.
I didn't know who she was. I just knew she was a fan and loved writing about this business.
It was interesting to hear Dave Meltzer talk about her life on yesterday's Wrestling Observer Radio.
From the '60's to '80's she was a key name in the fan club era where wrestling fans would start up their own fanzines and fan clubs long before there were Internet message boards and fansites.
Makropoulos ran the Bruno Sammartino fan club. Not just any Sammartino club - it was the official one. Bruno and her became friends and were still in contact until she passed the other day.
It was also intriguing to learn that she would have ringside seats for a lot of the matches at Madison Square Garden because - back then - these seats were plotted out like season tickets are today. She had her own seat.
The thing that interested me the most about this story was how Vince McMahon , when he took over from his father in the early '80s, abolished the way these tickets operated because he didn't want the crowd to look dated. He wanted to freshen the product up and the old-time fans had to go.
It was symbolic of how he changed pro wrestling. He not only stamped over long-time promoters - he also did it to the long-time fans.
Makropoulos didn't go away entirely. She continued following the 'sport' she loved all the way to her final days.
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