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David McLane
David McLane
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Wrestling promoter, television producer
Years active1986-present
Known forGorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (GLOW)
Women of Wrestling (WOW)
Pro Beach Hockey
World Roller Hockey League
World Wrestling Association (WWA)
Triple Crown of Polo (TCP)

David B. McLane is an American businessman, known primarily as a wrestling promoter and television producer. He was the the creator of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling and WOW! Women of Wrestling, both nationally syndicated series. He also created the ESPN series of the World Roller Hockey League, Pro Beach Hockey and the Triple Crown of Polo. All of these programs are termed "properties" under his company banner David McLane Enterprises, Inc.[1]

Early life

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McLane grew up watching professional wrestling on television with his older brothers, and attended live events in his hometown of Indianapolis. As a teenager he launched the Dick the Bruiser Fan Club, selling photographs of the wrestling star and other local professional wrestlers through mail order.[2] Bruiser recognized the budding talent and brought McLane in to work in the office of Bruiser's Indianapolis-based wrestling promotion. There he learned the ropes of promotion and marketing, eventually became the ring announcer and match commentator for the World Wrestling Association (WWA) television broadcasts.[3] [4]

While continuing to work for the WWA, McLane started his own promotional company to promote live events and concerts throughout the Midwest, including the stadium presentation of the Budweiser Country Concert Tour and marketing of such groups as New Edition[5] in select markets.

While looking at other ideas to promote, McLane pushed serious storylines with building drama and climactic matches among the women wrestlers of the promotion centering around his star wrestlers Princess Jasmine and Candi Devine. He was derided by more seasoned professionals who felt the women were just a sideshow to the real men's wrestling, equivalent to midget wrestling. Despite the success of his promotional efforts he was chided by the prejudicial refrain "Women don't sell tickets."

"I asked the fans if they wanted me to bring 'em back for a rematch. The crowd responded with a roar. They almost brought the roof down. I realized something was missing, that there was a gap to fill."[6]

Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling

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McLane took his idea to make women the stars as a business venture, the first-ever all women's wrestling television program, the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (GLOW) (1986) was born. GLOW was a syndication ratings success, achieving superior ratings to the WWF's syndicated Superstars series, which launched at the same time and was frequently shown in adjacent timeslots on the same stations. Shot in a showroom at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, the show garnered a cult following which continues to exist today.[7][8][9][10][11] Among the stars of GLOW were Mt. Fiji and future WWE Diva Ivory, Lisa Moretti, then known as Tina Ferrari.[12] In addition to serving as the ring announcer, solo play by play announcer and owner of the company,[13] McLane appeared in two memorable sketches; one where he made business phone calls from his office, which was a phone booth littered with post-it notes; the other was Hollywood knocking on his door with Aunt Kitty, to show off her latest gourmet kitchen creation, which invariably ended up on McLane's head.[14]

Roller Hockey

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After selling GLOW, McLane partnered with ESPN for the creation of the World Roller Hockey League (1992) (WRHL); the first made-for-television roller hockey league in the United States. He arranged for these events to be sponsored by Franklin Sports and Walt Disney World where the resort staged the events from their MGM Studios grounds.[15] Following the first season which generated 68 hours of programming for ESPN,[16] McLane merged the WRHL with another roller hockey start-up, Roller Hockey International and introduced Pepsi and Taco Bell to this niche sports marketplace through a league sponsorship.[17]

In 1997, McLane again partnered with ESPN to create Pro Beach Hockey (PBH) (1997) series, with over 156 hours of original programming for ESPN. By holding the events at a beach venue with an open air vibe, he got the sport out of enclosed arenas and into a more accessible open air environment. The presentation has been compared to the X Games.[18] McLane worked in concert with ESPN sales to close deals with several major advertisers during the three year presentation managing the on-sight and television integration of all sponsorship sales.

Women of Wrestling

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Selina Majors entering among the fans at a WOW! Women of Wrestling event

In 2000, McLane ventured back to his passion of women's wrestling and created the Women of Wrestling (WOW!) television series.[19] Shot at the Great Western Forum, WOW! was syndicated in 100 markets, becoming the number one rated syndicated wrestling program in the markets of New York and Los Angeles[20] and secured the advertising support of M&M Mars, Universal Studios, the U.S. Army and endorsement of the Parents Television Council for its creating positive female characters.

McLane and his business partner, Jeanie Buss re-packaged WOW! in 2011 and aired its programs in select cities.

"My newest passion project is the resurrection of WOW (Women of Wrestling). When David invited me to attend one of the WOW matches at the Forum, I thought it would be women wrestling in mud or Jell-O, a format I had absolutely no interest in. Finally after weeks of prodding, I accepted his invitation. When I saw the event, I went wild. It wasn't what I thought at all. Instead it was a spot-on depiction of female empowerment. David's vision was to have female superheroes engaged in the age-old battle of good against evil. It was a stark contrast to other professional wrestling events that either showed women either as frail and needing a man to save them, or as conniving witches manipulating men to the point where their subsequent punishment was justified."

— Jeanie Buss[21]

The Las Vegas market aired the show each Sunday afternoon on KTNV Ch. 13.[22] Live events were staged in 2012 and 2013 in Las Vegas at the Eastside Cannery Casino and Hotel resulting a new HD programs. The series' 24 one-hour programs continue to be distributed internationally.

In December 2014, WOW! announced their launch into digital media in 2015. Marketed as "WOW Superheroes" Its characters are empowered women from all different backgrounds and professions.[23]

Polo

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David McLane with ESPN Executive James Allegro and the Triple Crown of Polo trophy
David McLane with artist Leroy Neiman and his Triple Crown of Polo mural

In 2003, McLane developed another new venture with ESPN, the Triple Crown of Polo (TCP). The championship series was broadcast domestically on ESPN2 during weekends and internationally to 196 markets in twelve different languages by the ESPN International network. The program was designed to reach an elite target demographic. In doing so, secured long-term agreements for tournament play with premier polo clubs. McLane crafted and managed the strategic partnerships with high end sponsors Tiffany & Co. and Lexus.[24][25][26]

Marketing

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In 2008, McLane played an instrumental role in the start-up of a new company for the introduction of a series of non-pharmaceutical/nutraceutical products[27]. Following the completion of clinical trials, McLane oversaw the entry of three products into the U.S. market through direct-response TV, online, and print media. The company's cornerstone product, an appetite suppressant, named Livea[28] is patent pending and was endorsed by NBC’s The Biggest Loser first female winner Kai Hibbard.[29][30]

McLane is a graduate of Indiana University with a BA in Telecommunications and a BS in Business.

Old version

[edit]

David B. McLane is a promoter who, through his David McLane Enterprises, Inc. started several moderately successful women's wrestling companies (now all defunct, except for Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling which lives on as a Las Vegas floor show). Many of his promotions were based on decidedly tongue in cheek gimmicks or parodies.[citation needed]

McLane grew up watching professional wrestling on television with his older brothers, and attended live events in his hometown of Indianapolis. McLane's professional career started as a teenager when he launched the Dick the Bruiser Fan Club, which sold photographs of the wrestling start and local professional wrestlers through mail order[citation needed]. McLane was soon brought in to work in the office of Bruiser's Indianapolis-based wrestling promotion. As he learned the ropes of promotion and marketing, McLane eventually became the ring announcer and match commentator for the World Wrestling Association (WWA) television broadcasts. At this same time, McLane started his own promotional company to promote live events and concerts throughout the Midwest, including the stadium presentation of the Budweiser Country Concert Tour and marketing of such groups as New Edition in select markets.[citation needed]

McLane is probably best known for his involvement in professional wrestling. In 1986, McLane started the first-ever all women's wrestling television program, the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (GLOW) (1986), which garnished a cult following which continues to exist today[31]. McLane arranged for the GLOW series to be sponsored by the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada[32][33].

After selling GLOW, McLane partnered with ESPN for the creation of the World Roller Hockey League (1992); the first made-for-television roller hockey league in the United States. He arranged for these events to be sponsored by Franklin Sports and Walt Disney World where the resort staged the events from their MGM Studios grounds. Following the first season which generated 68 hours of programming for ESPN[34], McLane merged the WRHL with another roller hockey start-up, Roller Hockey International and introduced Pepsi and Taco Bell to this niche sports marketplace through a league sponsorship[35].

In 1997, McLane again partnered with ESPN to create the Pro Beach Hockey (PBH) (1997) series, with over 156 hours of original programming for ESPN. McLane worked in concert with ESPN sales to close deals with several major advertisers during the three year presentation managing the on-sight and television integration of all sponsorship sales.

In 2000, McLane ventured back to his passion of wrestling and created the Women of Wrestling (WOW) television series[36]. WOW was syndicated in 100 markets, becoming the number one rated syndicated wrestling program in the markets of New York and Los Angeles and secured the advertising support of M&M Mars, Universal Studios, the U.S. Army and endorsement of the Parents Television Council for its creating positive female characters. The show was pulled from the marketplace due to the advertising turn-down in 2001-02. The series' 24 one-hour programs continue to be distributed internationally.

In 2003, McLane secured a strategic partnership with ESPN again as the cornerstone of developing another new venture, the Triple Crown of Polo (TCP) on ESPN. The championship series was broadcast domestically on ESPN2 during weekends and internationally to 196 markets in twelve different languages by the ESPN International network. The program was designed to reach an elite target demographic and, in doing so, secured long-term agreements for tournament play with premier polo clubs. McLane crafted and managed the strategic partnerships with founding sponsors Tiffany & Co. and Lexus. After four seasons of play, TCP was placed on hiatus due to the economic turn-down in the auto industry and luxury real estate market which were both key sponsors of the events[37][38][39].

In 2008, McLane played an instrumental role in the start-up of a new company for the introduction of a series of non-pharmaceutical/nutraceutical products. Scheduled to be commercially launched in the summer of 2009, the company's cornerstone product, an appetite suppressant, named Livea. McLane leads the brand initiative and his company heads the marketing campaign which will include all forms of media advertising to capture a significant segment of this ever-growing weight loss market.

McLane is a graduate of Indiana University with a BA in Telecommunications and a BS in Business.


References

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  1. ^ http://www.mclane-dme.com/properties.html
  2. ^ http://www.allbusiness.com/media-telecommunications/information-services/10617170-1.html
  3. ^ http://wrestlingclassics.com/cgi-bin/.ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=9;t=007782;p=0
  4. ^ http://fciwomenswrestling.com/princess-jasmine-star/
  5. ^ Indianapolis Review, April 16, 1984, Entertainment Section P2, “Stay in School and Strive for Good Grades”
  6. ^ http://articles.philly.com/1987-08-28/news/26166960_1_female-wrestlers-bruiser-gorgeous-ladies
  7. ^ http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-20096-glow_the_story_of_the_gorgeous_ladies_of_wrestling.html
  8. ^ http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/Gorgeous+Ladies+of+Wrestling The Free Dictionary
  9. ^ http://infao5501.ag5.mpi-sb.mpg.de:8080/topx/archive09?link=/297/2737297.xml mpi sb de
  10. ^ https://books.google.com/books?id=fhNCxJzOiFAC&pg=PA71&lpg=PA71&dq=Mclane+%22Gorgeous+Ladies+of+Wrestling%22&source=bl&ots=ZErUD_SVS6&sig=VY1SvHpDAeRUlL4w8ZLC9XOugsE&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CDgQ6AEwBDgUahUKEwiR8-vPrNXIAhXJLYgKHX8UAAw#v=onepage&q=Mclane%20%22Gorgeous%20Ladies%20of%20Wrestling%22&f=false Wrestle Radio U. S. A.: Grapplers Speak By Ed Symkus, Vinnie Carolan P71
  11. ^ https://books.google.com/books?id=chLof3We7nYC&pg=PT41&dq=David+McLane+wrestling&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAmoVChMIw_iV--LVyAIVQ8djCh1r4wi2#v=onepage&q=David%20McLane%20wrestling&f=false The Squared Circle: Life, Death, and Professional Wrestling By David Shoemaker
  12. ^ http://www.wwe.com/superstars/wherearetheynow/ivory WWE
  13. ^ http://insidepulse.com/2002/07/28/4785/
  14. ^ http://www.oowrestling.com/columns/circa/20020405.shtml
  15. ^ http://www.studioscentral.com/column/remember-when/world-roller-hockey-league
  16. ^ http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-13116023.html Encyclopedia
  17. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/1995/03/22/business/media-business-advertising-pepsico-puts-its-skates-participate-sponsor-friendly.html?pagewanted=1 NY Times
  18. ^ http://articles.latimes.com/1998/may/02/sports/sp-45685
  19. ^ http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/columns/prevost/04.html On Line World of Wrestling
  20. ^ http://self.gutenberg.org/article/whebn0003915816/women%20of%20wrestling
  21. ^ https://books.google.com/books?id=1YIvAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA253&lpg=PA253&dq=Mclane+%22Gorgeous+Ladies+of+Wrestling%22&source=bl&ots=DBzQIp-NIM&sig=KTijuvq9k0e4tqfCrxNOvd7XDRs&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CDwQ6AEwBTgUahUKEwiR8-vPrNXIAhXJLYgKHX8UAAw#v=onepage&q=Mclane%20%22Gorgeous%20Ladies%20of%20Wrestling%22&f=false Laker Girl By Jeanie Buss, Steve Springer P.253
  22. ^ "Women of Wrestling - WOWE - New Website Coming Soon". WOWE. Retrieved 2012-01-24.
  23. ^ http://finance.yahoo.com/news/the1stmovement-pins-wow-women-wrestling-150000037.html;_ylt=A0LEVyAkcJJU4DYAysFXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEzMG5kc2J0BHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMQRjb2xvA2JmMQR2dGlkA1NNRTYxMl8x
  24. ^ http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=7186308 Business Week
  25. ^ http://www.slate.com/id/2140502/ Slate
  26. ^ http://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/16394/ NY Mag
  27. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20100610005921/http://www.wellworldscience.com/executive_management.php
  28. ^ http://www.bbb.org/detroit/business-reviews/vitamins-and-food-supplements/livea-well-world-science-in-roseville-mi-90010725/
  29. ^ http://www.tampabay.com/features/media/former-biggest-loser-competitor-kai-hibbard-calls-the-show-unhealthy/1084764
  30. ^ http://www.dietsinreview.com/diets/livea/
  31. ^ http://www.wwe.com/superstars/wherearetheynow/ivory WWE
  32. ^ http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/Gorgeous+Ladies+of+Wrestling The Free Dictionary
  33. ^ http://infao5501.ag5.mpi-sb.mpg.de:8080/topx/archive09?link=/297/2737297.xml mpi sb de
  34. ^ http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-13116023.html Encyclopedia
  35. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/1995/03/22/business/media-business-advertising-pepsico-puts-its-skates-participate-sponsor-friendly.html?pagewanted=1 NY Times
  36. ^ http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/columns/prevost/04.html On Line World of Wrestling
  37. ^ http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=7186308 Business Week
  38. ^ http://www.slate.com/id/2140502/ Slate
  39. ^ http://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/16394/ NY Mag
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DEFAULTSORT:Mclane, David Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:American businesspeople Category:Professional wrestling executives Category:Indiana University alumni Category:Professional wrestling promoters

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