Bill Alfonso Sets Chet Tharpe's Newspaper on Fire!

This was a rib pulled on my father, Chet Tharpe, by a classic ribmaster, Bill Alfonso. However, like the Johnny Valentine inhaler rib, this one could have gone very wrong.

My father was peripherally in the wrestling business most of my youth as the ring announcer for Eddie Graham in Florida.

Most likely the reason my father was hired as the ring announcer is that he was also the Fire Marshall: On nights when there were standing-room-only crowds, my Dad would allow the promotion to pack them in!

At any rate, at the time this rib occurred, my Dad had retired from the Fire Department. But once a fireman, always a fireman, as Fonzie was about to learn.

After his retirement from the fire department, the Florida Wrestling Office hired my Dad full time to answer the phones and run the front office. This included handing out checks to the boys and screening (kayfabing) any fans who came into the wrestling office.

On this Wednesday (yes, the boys were all there shooting TV), my Dad was sitting behind his desk minding his own business, reading the newspaper, when Fonzie came up with an idea for a rib. 

Believe it or not, as my Dad was sitting there, Fonzie knelt down on the floor and quietly set the bottom of my Dad's newspaper on fire! Slowly, flames began to inch their way up my Dad's newspaper as he innocently sat there reading.

Finally, when my Dad realized his newspaper was on fire, he threw it in the air with a yell.

And again, the chase was on through the dressing room: this time Fonzie making a run for it with my Dad in hot pursuit!

My Dad (being a former firefighter) was not amused by this rib, and was seriously trying to catch Fonzie! Thank goodness for Fonzie my Dad didn't catch him!

My Dad passed away in 1993, although it seems like just yesterday. Chet Tharpe was respected by many, and to this day the Chet Tharpe Award is given to the Firefighter of the Year, an annual award in Hillsborough County, Florida.

He is much loved and deeply missed.

Pro Wrestling Home Page        Wrestling Photos        Classic Pro Wrestling Ribs