Bill Apter

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William Stanley "Bill" Apter (born October 22, 1945) is an American photographer and journalist specializing in professional wrestling. He was known as a member of staff editor and photographer for several magazines during the 1970s, 80s and 90s, notably Pro Wrestling Illustrated. These magazines often report wrestling in kayfabe, focusing on storylines and corners rather than reporting "backstage". Apter is so closely related to these magazines that it is often known as "Mags Apter." The effect of this publication in the days before cable television and the internet is that Apter has been credited with launching the career of many of the young wrestlers that he featured on the magazine cover.

Video Bill Apter

1970-an

Bekerja untuk Stanley Weston

Bill Apter debuted as a writer in January 1970, writing for his first company in the publication of Stanley Weston (who he also credits as his mentor). He became a reporter, writer and photographer for several wrestling and boxing magazines published by | Weston, including The Wrestler and Inside Wrestling . He was eventually promoted to senior editor's place at Weston wrestling publication.

Maps Bill Apter

1980s-1990s

Pro Wrestling illustrated

Apter publications work to be directed at general fans and are usually operated under the premise that professional wrestling is not written or predetermined. The magazine editors have the mentality that they cover wrestling by way of Sports Illustrated covering other sports. In 1991, Apter began regularly helping to compile the PWI 500, a detailed ranking of the top 500 wrestlers in the world. Pro Wrestling Illustrated has published this list every year since its inception. Apter worked for PWI until 1999, when she received the editorial of WOW Magazine. This publication was folded in 2001.

Television and video

Apter organized a television segment called PWI's Reconnaissance Report on the Jim Crockett NWA Best of World Championship Wrestling, a weekly WTBS event. He hosted several dozen other TV segments, including for the Pro Wrestling This Week syndication news magazine. In 1985, Apter was also co-hosted (with Gordon Solie) from the first commercial video of wrestling pro Wrestling Illustrated presenting Lords of the Ring: Superstars & amp; Superbouts .

Friendship with Andy Kaufman

Apter befriends actor and comedian Andy Kaufman. Kaufman has been a professional wrestling fan since childhood and visited Apter one night at his New York apartment to discuss his dream of entering the wrestling rink. Kaufman told Apter about his love for his profession and his admiration for Buddy Rogers, whom he wanted to emulate. Apter is taken by Kaufman's passion to wrestle and connect it with Jerry Lawler, who according to Apter can help set the in-ring corner. Apter called Lawler at 1 am and told him the story of Kaufman. Lawler was initially skeptical, it's hard to believe that a celebrity like Andy Kaufman was sitting in Apter's apartment at 1 am, but he finally talked to Kaufman on the phone to confirm this and collect the now famous corner. The rivalry between Kaufman and Lawler became one of the most memorable of the 1980s in professional wrestling and attained significant mainstream concern, including the notorious confrontation of the late 1982 episode with David Letterman Apter has stated that competition between Lawler and Kaufman, between reality and entertainment, "is the beginning of what we know today as sports entertainment."

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2000s-present

Internet journalism and go back to magazine writing

Apter operates 1Wrestling.com, he also works as an editor, author, and video interviewer for it. He has been a featured columnist for the Fighting Spirit magazine and contributed to an Italian wrestling magazine called "Tutto Wrestling Magazine" in a section called "Apter's Alley." In 2008, Apter made his return to Pro Wrestling Illustrated magazine as a freelancer at Volume 20 of The Wrestler with a 90-minute question and answer session with Tammy Sytch. Later, he also did an interview with Nick Bockwinkel magazine. In 2012/2013, Apter works sporadically for WWE. He appeared as a commentator on the show produced for WWE Network and wrote several articles as a staff member for WWE.com. His first article for WWE.com was in January 2014, about the day Bruno Sammartino lost his WWE Championship.

Apter's autobiography was released on October 1, 2015. Published by ECW Press, the book entitled "Is Wrestling Fixed? I Do not Know It's Broken!" and has taken Apter across the United States and to Europe for book signing and to perform a one-man show based on the book. In November 2016, Apter started podcasts using book titles. Recognition

in 2000s/10s

Apter has received praise and recognition since 2000 for his work. In December 2016, He was honored at the Pennsylvania Keystone State Wrestling Alliance of Pennsylvania with the proclamation of Governor Tom Wolf praising his lifelong work at the business of pro wrestling as well as humanitarian work at non-profit AHEDD, helping disabled people find competitive jobs. On the same day, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto declared December 3, 2016, "Bill Apter Day." She has been inducted into various professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, including the Pittsburgh Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame (the 2017 class), the St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame (class 2015) and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame (class 2018)

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Personal life and outside interests

Apter is a Jew and raised in Queens, New York. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife, Andrea. They have been married since 1982 and have two children. Together with former "Cowboy Concrete" wrestler Paul Swanger (aka "Paul Big Bear"), Apter sings and performs comedy work in the "old school" nightclub action. He also works for AHEDD nonprofit corporation in Pennsylvania as a job specialist. Companies help find jobs for people with disabilities and job training. In recent years, Bill Apter has become a regular face as a host of good pro wrestling fan conventions in the United States, Germany, and England, including WrestleReunion.

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Awards and achievements

• National Wrestling Hall of Fame
  • Class 2012
• St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame
  • Class 2015
• Pittsburgh Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame
  • Class 2017

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References

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External links

• Bill Apter on Twitter
• 1wrestling.com
• 1wrestlingvideo.com

Source of the article : Wikipedia