2006-09-29 23:26:15 · 14 answers · asked by taff47 1 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Movies
Bombadier Billy Wells
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The first Gong Man was boxer "Bombardier" Billy Wells, and later on was depicted by both wrestler/stuntman Phil Niemanin 1947, and he in turn was replaced in the 50's by Ken Richmond, a 1952 Olympic bronze medalist."
http://www.funtrivia.com/ask.cfm?action=...
2006-09-29 23:30:09 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Did you know it wasn't a real gong?
They dubbed the sound on afterwards.
Copied from Times Online (sorry if this offends)
J. ARTHUR RANK — THE GOLDEN GONG MAN
Carl Dane, a 6ft 5in (1.96m) strongman, was the first gong-banger, starting in 1932 and banging on until 1948. Because of deteriorating film stock in the early days, the sequence had to be refilmed every three years. It was no simple task either, often taking several weeks to get right, thanks to the bronze make-up covering Dane from head to foot. “The perspiration would make it streak and we’d have to start all over again,” he remembered.
He spent his early life in the circus ring as part of an acrobatic act where he was billed as the “Boy Hercules”. As an adult he was so strong that he became the first man to pull a London double-decker bus with his teeth. But ironically the gong he pounded so impressively was made of nothing but papier- mâché.
The noise was created by the percussive genius of James Blades, also famous for the “V-for-victory” Morse code signal broadcast by the BBC during the Second World War. Blades used a Chinese instrument called a tam tam for the Rank gong noise.
Dane was superseded as the Golden Gong man by Bombardier Billy Wells in 1948. Wells was the first heavyweight to win the Lonsdale Belt (in 1911) and to have a beer named after him. But it was Dane who was considered the definitive Rank icon. “It is an extraordinary thing,” he said years afterwards. “That one episode has haunted me all my life. But I just did it for the money.”
2006-09-30 02:15:40 · answer #2 · answered by david4thelord 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
J Arthur Rank
2016-10-30 13:34:08 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Rank logo the "Gongman" was played over a period of time by 4 different men Carl Dane, Billy Wells, Phil Nieman, and Ken Richmond. Hope that helps...
2006-09-29 23:33:08 · answer #4 · answered by Dumbledore 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People who have played the Gongman:
Carl Dane
"Bombardier" Billy Wells
Phil Nieman
Ken Richmond
2006-09-29 23:38:53 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bombardier Billy Wells - Former Boxer.
2006-09-30 03:27:01 · answer #6 · answered by Taz 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they used to bang the gong 4 times at the end of the film until somebody realised it was a foregone conclusion?
2006-09-30 03:33:29 · answer #7 · answered by jonova2003 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bombardier Billy Wells used to be a btitish boxer
2006-09-29 23:35:30 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was former boxer Bombadier Billy Wells
2006-09-29 23:35:38 · answer #9 · answered by golfnut 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Charles Atlas, the strongest man in the world at the time!
2006-09-29 23:35:18 · answer #10 · answered by Wobs 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋