Down for the count

In the years since my love of pro wrestling waned, a disturbing number of pro wrestlers have taken life's ultimate piledriver. The latest is Bad News Brown, who I best remember for his devastating finishing move called "The Ghetto Blaster."

Earlier this year, Jersey's own Bam Bam Bigelow succumbed to natural causes; natural in the sense that cocaine comes from nature. A veritable Who's Who of 80's Wrestling preceded him, from Mr. Perfect to Hercules to Junk Yard Dog to the Big Boss Man to my namesake Andre the Giant (posse still alive and well).

Many more articulate have explained why wrestlers often die before their time. I would only add this: that Bad News Brown, even in death, still scares the crap out of me. Observe:

Pizza, Pipes and Pandemonium

Anyone remember this Groton landmark? All I found online was this memory:

In Groton, CT there used to be Pizza, Pipes and Pandemonium. It survived until the mid-80's or so. I remember going there as a kid. The pizza wasn't that good but the enormous pipe-organ sure was cool. They had it set up so that you could walk around it and see all of the mechanisms moving while it was being played.

Apparently the pizzeria/organ music combo was a nationwide phenomenon. And why not? Moreso, why not now?

Update: There's now a Facebook page where people share their memories, including this (somewhat haunting) photo: