Friday, November 3, 2023

Harlem Globetrotters Come to Lorain – November 1973

Fifty years ago, the famous Harlem Globetrotters brought their inimitable brand of exhibition basketball entertainment to Lorain to the delight of their fans.

Above is the ad that ran in the Journal on November 3, 1973.

As noted on the eve of their appearance, an article in the Journal noted, "The biggest basketball package on the market today will roll into the Admiral King Gymnasium tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. as the Lorain Catholic Athletic Booster Club presents, for the enjoyment of area sports enthusiasts, the 1974 edition of the Harlem Globetrotters.

"The Globetrotters are coming off their finest season in 1973 and things promise to be even better in '74. Trotter fans attending tomorrow night's program will also enjoy an all-new edition of the all-star variety show presented at the halftime of every Globetrotter game.

"The 1974 edition of the Globetrotters will highlight the on-court antics of famed Globetrotter star Bob "Showboat" Hall, Hubert "Geese" Ausbie and the dribbling skill of Trotter player - coach Marques Haynes. The three will be joined in the Globetrotter lineup by former Loyola of Chicago star Pablo Robertson and 6-8 forward Theodis "Wolfman" Lee."

Apparently there were/are different touring units of the Globetrotters, which is why some of the well-known, popular players (such as "Curly" Neal and Meadowlark Lemon) didn't seem to have made the Lorain trip.

The Globetrotter show in Lorain that night included a game in which the Globetrotters took on a team composed of 10 area Catholic Youth Organization all-star players.

From the November 6, 1973 Journal

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Click here to visit the current Harlem Globetrotters website. This link will take you to the page on the site spotlighting all of their legendary players with photos. And this page on History.com reveals "10 Things You May Not Know About the Harlem Globetrotters."

And here's a 1956 promotional film of the Globetrotters, courtesy of Jon Jones and YouTube.



2 comments:

  1. I think this was the year I saw them over in Pennsyltucky. I was never a basketball fan, but it was the Globetrotters, man. I recall not even being able to follow the ball. Sometimes it seemed like there was more than one ball on the court. Sometimes there were!

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  2. A great act. I never saw them live, but many times on TV. I've even seen that film before.

    The Globetrotters song is "Sweet Georgia Brown" by Brother Bones, who plays the spoons on the record. It's from the late 40s. I think I have a copy of it around here somewhere.

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