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The Catalina Comet
Let’s face it. In 1960s Britain 99% of the wrestling audience would have no idea where Catalina Island was. But it sure sounded good, and if this man was to come from somewhere then that could well be real. We’ve no idea if it was.
Our distant memories of George Drake are that he looked just as you would expect a visiting Californian superstar to look. Mind you, if he had used his real name of Roland McGarel Hogg the image may not have been quite as effective. Bronzen, handsome and looking the part of the nice boy next door we do recall him upsetting fans with his rugged style on occasions. Wrestling enthusiast Ballymoss recalled, “The ‘Catalina Comet’ George Drake was a first rate heel, typical of his era- good looking in the then traditional American style, and very quick to upset his opponent and the crowd with his rule bending tactics which usually commenced right at the start.”
George Drake came to Britain in the winter of 1963, in November tackling Garfield, Kumali, Szakacs and Cornelius, going on to draw with John Da Silva in the main event at the Royal Albert Hall. This was just two weeks after going down to DaSilva in a low key affair at Eltham Baths. In a professional wrestling world where results were decided by promotional politics and the matchmakers pen a draw against an established international star at the Royal Albert Hall illustrates the promoters had confidence in their visitor. Less surprising was the result when George returned to the Royal Albert Hall in November, 1965, using a Japanese leg lock to secure the winning submission over John Cox. Dale Martin Promotions were more willing to sacrifice a northern rock to the Catalina Comet than their own adopted Maori, Da Silva.
Prior to his British visit George had worked much of the 1950s in Arizona with opponents that included Juan & Roberto Garcia, Enrique Romero and Don Arnold.His career was certainly not limited to the American southwest, fhe travelled all ove rthe USA. American Heritage reader Dale Pierce told us, “Drake had all the makings of a true star. He had a great build, handsome face and charismatic personality. He was very much in demand and hop scotched from territory to territory pretty much at whim.”
He certainly did travel. Wrestling enthusiast John Shelvey remebers him in Australia, “Going over our guys as if he was Lou Thesz or Ed Carpentier. I could never figure that out! “
George Drake worked in Britain, on and off, until December, 1965. He wrestled the best we had – Gordienko, Robinson, Joyce, with mixed results that on occasions saw him beating the best.
It was a life which ended in tragedy shortly after a visit to Japan when he committed suicide on 28th December, 1967, aged just 39.
Page added 17/12/2023
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