Wrestling Highlites Endorsement

Duration: 0:37

Year Published: 1960s

Format: 16mm

Sound: sound

Description: Wrestling Highlites was a local television program broadcast every Sunday on Austin’s KTBC, hosted by former professional wrestler Leo Garibaldi. At the time, wresting events took place at the Austin City Coliseum, a former World War II airplane hanger. (The venue was demolished in 2002.) This promotional spot, shot by KTBC cameraman Gordon Wilkison in the 1960s, shows Garibaldi endorsing one of the show’s sponsors, Pearl Beer. Established in 1883, the Pearl Brewing Company was based in San Antonio and distributed across the state. In 1977, Pearl was acquired by what is now known as the Pabst Brewing Company. While the Pearl Brewery in San Antonio closed in 2001, the beer is still in production at Miller Brewing’s Fort Worth facility.