David McLane

For the American merchant hanged as a French spy by the British, see David McLane (merchant).
David McLane

David McLane
Nationality American
Occupation Wrestling promoter, television producer
Years active 1986-present
Known for Gorgeous 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 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

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 brought McLane in to work in the office of Bruiser's Indianapolis-based wrestling promotion World Wrestling Association (WWA). There he learned the ropes of promotion and marketing, eventually became the ring announcer and match commentator.[3]

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[4] in select markets.

While looking at other ideas to promote, McLane pushed for more serious storylines among the women wrestlers of the promotion including Princess Jasmine and Candi Devine.

Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling

McLane began the first-ever all women's wrestling television program in 1986, the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (GLOW). 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.[5][6][7][8] McLane served as the ring announcer, solo play by play announcer and owner of the company.[9]

Roller Hockey

After selling GLOW, McLane partnered with ESPN for the creation of the World Roller Hockey League (WRHL) in 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.[10] 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.[11]

In 1997, McLane again partnered with ESPN to create Pro Beach Hockey (PBH), 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.[12]

Women of Wrestling

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.[13] 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.[14]

McLane and his business partner, Jeanie Buss re-packaged WOW! in 2011 and aired its programs in select cities.[15] Live events were staged in 2012 and 2013 in Las Vegas at the Eastside Cannery Casino and Hotel. In December 2014, WOW! announced their launch into digital media in 2015 marketed as "WOW Superheroes".[16]

Polo

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. It had partnerships with high end sponsors Tiffany & Co. and Lexus.[17][18][19]

Marketing

In 2008, McLane played a role in the start-up of a new company for the introduction of a series of non-pharmaceutical/nutraceutical products.[20] 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[21] is patent pending and was endorsed by NBC’s The Biggest Loser first female winner Kai Hibbard.[22][23]

References

  1. ↑ "David McLane Enterprises Properties: Content Development and Special Event Production Company". mclane-dme.com. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  2. ↑
  3. ↑ "FCI Womens Wrestling » Princess Jasmine – Star". FCI Womens Wrestling. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  4. ↑ Indianapolis Review, April 16, 1984, Entertainment Section P2, “Stay in School and Strive for Good Grades”
  5. ↑ "GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling". Willamette Week. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  6. ↑ http://infao5501.ag5.mpi-sb.mpg.de:8080/topx/archive09?link=/297/2737297.xml. Retrieved April 7, 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. ↑ Ed Symkus; Vinnie Carolan. Wrestle Radio U. S. A.: Grapplers Speak. p. 71.
  8. ↑ David Shoemaker (2013-10-31). The Squared Circle: Life, Death, and Professional Wrestling.
  9. ↑ "The SmarK Rant For The Best Of GLOW PPV". insidepulse.com. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  10. ↑ "World Roller Hockey League". studioscentral.com. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  11. ↑ Elliott, Stuart (1995-03-22). "THE MEDIA BUSINESS - Advertising - Pepsico puts on its skates to participate in the 'sponsor friendly' sport of roller hockey.". NYTimes.com. Retrieved 2015-11-07.
  12. ↑ "MELTING THE ICE : Pro Beach Hockey, which debuts today at the Huntington Beach Pier, features several gimmicks, including ramps behind the goals, but the price is right: it's free to watch". latimes. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  13. ↑ "Columns". Online World of Wrestling. 2003-05-24. Retrieved 2015-11-07.
  14. ↑ http://www.mclane-dme.com/properties-wow.html
  15. ↑ Jeanie Buss; Steve Springer. Laker Girl. p. 253.
  16. ↑ "The1stMovement Pins WOW -Women Of Wrestling". Yahoo Finance. 16 December 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  17. ↑ "David McLane Enterprises: Private Company Information - Businessweek". Investing.businessweek.com. Retrieved 2015-11-07.
  18. ↑ Patterson, Troy (2006-04-25). "Triple Crown of Polo reviewed". Slate.com. Retrieved 2015-11-07.
  19. ↑ Mechling, Lauren (2006-03-13). "Polo Comes to ESPN - New York Magazine". Nymag.com. Retrieved 2015-11-07.
  20. ↑ "WellWorldScience - Executive_management". wellworldscience.com. Archived from the original on 10 June 2010. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  21. ↑ "Livea - Well World Science". BBB serving Eastern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  22. ↑ "Former 'Biggest Loser' competitor Kai Hibbard calls the show unhealthy, misleading". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  23. ↑ "Livea". Diets in Review. Retrieved 7 November 2015.

Further reading

External links

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