Ever since I first came to work in the wrestling industry some 20 years ago (gasp!), I've been fascinated by the Cauliflower Alley Club, that venerable fraternity/sorority of grappling veterans and industry insiders first established in the 1960s by iconic wrestler/movie tough guy Mike Mazurki. The CAC does admirable charity work, has a scholarship fund, and puts out a very nifty newsletter, but it's most known for the annual CAC Reunion, which started out in Los Angeles but in recent years has relocated to that desert stop-over created by Bugsy Siegel, Las Vagas, Nevada. Each year, the Reunion allows folks from the industry, as well as fans, to get together and schmooze, catch up, and have an all-around good time. Plus, it's just a damn good excuse to spend a few days in Vegas.
Especially since I've been doing so much work writing about wrestling history, it's an organization I've felt it was important for me to be a part of, and others have echoed that sentiment, encouraging me to take the plunge and join. So a year ago, my lovely wife did it for me, signing me up for a CAC membership as a Christmas present. And this coming April, she and I will finally be making our way to Sin City for the 55th Annual Cauliflower Alley Club Reunion.
As the author of WWE Legends and Pro Wrestling FAQ, and the future author of Blood & Fire: The Unbelievable True Story of Wrestling's Original Sheik, I'm looking forward to getting together with like-minded individuals, some of whom I've worked with/hung out with before, and many of whom I've only gotten to know through the miracle of cyberspace. I'll be checking out the vendor room, attending the Bockwinkel Blowout, as well as the highlight of the week, the awards dinner and banquet. I may even set up a table for myself and try and sell some books. Depends on how much fun I plan to have.
So maybe I'll see some of you there come April, and for those I don't, you can look forward to a full report! Stay tuned.