In 1967 Beau went to Portland Oregon to
work with NWA promoter Don Owen.

Owen's promotion was highly respected in
the world of professional wrestling for his
fairness and willingness to give anyone a
chance to prove themselves.

Many big league promoters would send
their new talent to Don in Portland to learn
the ropes and to refine their TV character
in front of KPTV's live cameras.

Don Owen's Portland Wrestling helped
start the careers of some of the most
famous names in the industry.

Gorgeous George
Gorilla monsoon
Mil Mascaras
Jimmy Snuka
Jesse Ventura
Roddy Piper
Playboy Buddy Rose
Moondog Mayne
Super Star Billy Gram
Ric Martel
Jay Youngblood
Steve Regal
Curt Henning
Pedro Morales
Stan Stasiak
Mad Dog Vachon
To name a few, got their start on KPTV's
Portland Wrestling.

Don Owen's focus was to build strong
TV characters using KPTV's cameras.
Don understood the power of comic chaos
during the live TV interviews.

Portland turned out some of the best witted
TV wrestling characters
in the industry.

Ventura entered Portland Wrestling in 1976 as a rookie
and became a star 3 years later with the WWF.
(See more on Beauregarde's DVD)

 

Roddy Piper was another homegrown
Portland resident to turn pro.
(See more on Beauregarde's DVD)

 

Moondog Lonnie Mayne was Beauregarde's tag team
partner in 1968-69 (see their story on Beau's DVD)
Special thanks to "Alexander Earle" for supplying this photo

 

Jimmy Snuka got his start in Portland with Don Owen Promotions
in 1975

 

Beauregarde does a number on Stan (the Crusher) Stasiak 
Portland 1971

 

Within a few months of wrestling on
KPTV's Portland Wrestling, Beauregarde
became a main event draw in the
Pacific Northwest.

 

  Beauregarde with one half of the NWA
Heavyweight Championship Belts he and Lonnie Mayne
won from Pat Patterson and Ray Stevens at the
Glass Palace Portland, Oregon 1969

 

Beau's TV approach to his character
was so advanced that promoter Don Owen
instantly encouraged Beau's creativity by
giving him more TV air time.

Many wrestlers were good in the ring,
but only a few could master the ability to
create a powerful and convincing character
on live TV interviews with no re-takes
or modern day video editing.

Being good in interviews was the main way
to raise the blood pressure of people
watching at home to the point of getting
them to go to live matches.