This month I am taking a look at the TV enhancement talent that appeared on Pittsburgh’s Studio Wrestling.  These jobbers put over the stars each week and rarely if ever did we see an upset from their ranks.  They traveled from Canada, Detroit, and Indianapolis or even from the surrounding towns of Pittsburgh.  Some would never be heard from again, some would have long careers in the independents, or minor roles in the territories of the day.  However, some of these jobbers would go on to become Ivan Koloff, Kurt Von Hess, and J.J. Dillon.  I would like to thank in particular one of these wrestlers, Jim Lancaster, for taking the time to share his stories and experiences with me for this month’s article.  Thanks Big Jim!!

Many of Pittsburgh’s TV jobbers would stretch across the life of this promotion.  Guys like Frank Holtz, Jim Grabmire, Frank Durso, Bobby “Hurricane” Hunt, Joe Abbey, Ron Romano and Chuck Martino would spend 10+ years on Studio wrestling putting over Bruno Sammartino, Baron Scicluna, George Steele and Dominic DeNucci.  This core group would be the upper echelon core group and would get a push from time to time.  Grabmire would even get an occasional main event on a house show, and was a trooper in working several matches if needed or stretching out time if wrestlers were running late. 

In the 1960’s the jobbers included many that would work for Capitol Wrestling (WWWF) on the Washington, DC tapings with Ray Morgan as commentator.  Pittsburgh guys like Frank Holtz, Frank Durso and Ron Romano would work both. Guys like Frank Hickey (pre Spaceman days), Bob Nandor, Johnny Carr (who would job for years in Pittsburgh), Jim Montenaro, Arnold Skaaland, Orwell Parris (who would go on to become Ivan Koloff), John Quinn, Wes Hutchins, Dewey Robertson and Bill Terry (who would go onto be Kurt Von Hess) were all frequent jobbers on TV.

 In the late 1960’s and into the 1970’s a traveling group of guys would travel from Canada and Detroit.  Guys like Doc Beach, Rujeck Woods, Cowboy Boy Hondo and Jerry Novak (who would go on to become the Bounty Hunters and were stars in places like Tennessee or the WWA), Rick O’Toole and one Big Jim Lancaster.  Jim was gracious enough to give me a trip down memory lane of some of his more memorable experiences at Pittsburgh’s Studio Wrestling. Jim remembered usually traveling with Tom Reesman, Cowboy Hondo, Jerry Novak, Rick O’Toole, Greg Lake, Emanuel Beach, Walter “Rujeck” Woods, Bob Ritchie (Richards) and others.  He also remembered guys named Al Johnson, Rick Luka and Bruce Roberts also came in from Klein’s Gym in Detroit. 

They would usually leave by car around 4 a.m. to make the TV tapings. Most times they were able to get back in time to get to the Cobo show in case they needed extra guys. It would be an extremely long day.  The dressing room at the Pittsburgh TV Station (Channel 11), when leaving the ring they went through a small door near the ring steps. An immediate right turn took you down a long hallway.  But, usually they kept walking straight through the door and turned left into a warehouse-like storage area.  There used to be TV props in there such as fake backgrounds and phone booths and the like. It was a large room and they just set out folding chairs in there. No shower facilities. Jim found it interesting to go around the station. The main reception area had a large window overlooking the city. 

”It was really a neat sight.”  When I asked Jim about what the feeling was in the dressing room, he told me “The atmosphere of the dressing room seemed to one of controlled chaos. People running around putting their ideas in play. We guys from Detroit really knew nothing of what programs were being planned. Who was turning baby face or heel, new guys coming in, etc? We were there to put the stars over and we were never invited to the Civic Arena show.”  When I asked him about some of the wrestlers that were the regulars he told me “I remember DeFazio and worked with him once. Holtz I seem to recall.   I recall Donn Lewin being the nicest guy of the bunch only because he was sincere. He was doing The Executioner gimmick and was easy to work with. I’m sure these guys were the cornerstones to the territory. Looking over the old Civic Arena clips, you can see a pattern of how these guys were worked in.”