The Record from Hackensack, New Jersey • 114

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27. 1988 PM-18 THE RECORD OTesttSiBMCTd fosuft bh cBeam Jsflfl "Mania" is the creation of Bruce Rosenbaum, president of R.TA. Productions, a theatrical company based in Catawissa, Pa. It was Rosenbaum who gave the pre-match briefing to the night's cast of wrestlers, and his words pretty much summed up the show's mix of sports and theatrics. to Hasbrouck Heights High a week ago Saturday, and some of the students found out what it is like to spend a Saturday evening getting their faces and bodies continuously slapped into four inches of cold, lime-green Jell-O, in order to raise money for the school's athletic programs.

ing to do to your opponent, that's okay. Just keep it clean. I don't care if you tell me that you are going to rip off your opponent's head and barf down his body. That's fine with me." Clearly, this was going to be no ordinary wrestling match. "Jell-0 Wrestling Mania" came By Lorri Ballance Rtcord Staff Wrttv The mood in the Hasbrouck Heights High School locker room was tense as the wrestlers listened to the pre-match instructions.

"If you want to stop by the microphone after you are introduced and let me know what you are go WAYIX YOU 'VEGOT WE COVER It. "I am a family man," he said, "and I wanted to do something that would capture the family market We had the first lady mud wrestlers to ever tour the USA, but mud wrestling began to get a bad name. The first fund-raiser I did was for my daughter's high school in Pennsylvania, and it turned out to be the best thing I ever did." Jo Anne Volenti, president of the Parents of Athletes organization at the high school, said, "We thought it would be something different, and at the same time fun for the kids. The company takes care of everything. All we had to do was sell the tickets." R.T.A.

productions and Parents of Athletes shared the profits on a 60-40 split, Parents of Athletes raising about $1,000 from the night's proceeds. The money will go to help the school's various athletic programs. Jell-0 wrestling, as a form of entertainment, is as wholesome as mom's apple pie, Rosenbaum feels. "This makes you laugh for two hours, and there isn't really enough in America to make you laugh that is still wholesome entertainment. This is good, clean fun for the whole family," he said.

Well, maybe not "clean." Saturday night's contestants were far from that as they tried to best each other in the 12-by-12-foot ring, set up on the school's gymnasium floor. The ring, complete with three American flags posted at each corner, was filled with four inches of luscious lime-green Jell-O, made from 60 pounds of mix. A mop and bucket was positioned nearby in case of excess spillage, of which there was plenty. The show, an imitation of pro wrestling, came complete with body slams, head butts, and choker molds make that holds. And the clincher, of course, was seeing the school-society personalities, from the hunk to the nerd to your best friend's big sister, get equal treatment in the mess.

A little girl with teased hair and a denim jacket squealed to a companion: "Oh my god, your sister is wrestling. I have got to see this." At 7:45 Rosenbaum began to pump up the already eagerly anticipating audience. He invited the audience to eat as much Jell-0 as they wanted but only after the show, prompting a huge groan of disgust. Adam Mucci and Tom Lmbe, both juniors at the school, entered the gym to a lively country jingle, in an imitation of Hillbilly Jim and Uncle Elmer, two denizens of the real pro-wrestling world. It was apparent that Lamb and Mucci had studied their parts as they square danced around the gym.

The pair said later they did it because it was fun and for a good cause. But despite being such good guys, they lost to the Spanish Flies, Rob Miller and Danny Mal-danado, who entered the gym to menacing music, flexed their muscles, and made snarling sounds at their opponents. SAVE 15-40 SAVE It's Foot Locker's annual holiday sale, with big savings on the hottest styles from the best names in athletic footwear and appareL Save 15-40 on sweats from Nike, Reebok, and Adidas. Plus, local college and pro team sweats. Save 5A0 on warm-ups from Reebok, Nike and Adidas.

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