----I got this from www.prowrestlingpress.com and thought I would pass it along.
HBO Producing Film On Memphis Wrestling Legend
Today's edition of Variety reported that HBO Films will be producing a movie on the life of Southern professional wrestling legend Sputnik Monroe today. Julien Nitzberg has been hired to write the screenplay while Elysa Koplovitz ("Varsity Blues") and Jeff Feuerzeig ("The Devil and Daniel Johnson" documentary) will be producing the film.
The film is expected to focus on Monroe's part in the civil rights movement, with Variety noting Monroe, "refused to perform if African-Americans weren't allowed to sit in the seats of their choosing at various arenas. He also helped integrate the ring."
While "helping to integrate the ring" would likely be overstating his importance, Monroe did help to break down the color barriers in the city of Memphis. During that time period, African-American fans weren't allowed to sit anywhere but in designated areas. Monroe would get employees to lie about how many colored fans were in the building, because the venue would often limit the amounts allowed in for those sections.
Monroe would also, as a top draw, refuse to go on unless those fans were allowed to sit anywhere they chose.
While some remember Monroe for being altruistic when doing this, others have claimed Monroe was doing it to make sure no one was turned away at the door because his pay was derived from a portion of the live gates, so he wanted to insure he would make the most possible.
Monroe, who often worked as a heel, passed away in November 2006 following a bout with cancer.
Thanks to Michael Emond for his help and passing on the Variety story.
