GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling is a documentary film about professional wrestling. Released in 2012, it tells the story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (abbreviated G.L.O.W. or GLOW), a women's wrestling promotion that staged live events which were filmed and then shown on American television for four seasons in the late 1980s.
The film was directed by Brett Whitcomb and written by Bradford Thomason. It premiered on April 27, 2012, at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival. It won the Best Documentary award at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con film festival. It was released on DVD in the United States on March 26, 2013.
The Origins of GLOW
Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling was the first women's professional wrestling TV show. It was created by David McLane and directed by Matt Cimber. Mando Guerrero trained the wrestlers, most of whom were aspiring actors and models with no previous experience in professional wrestling. The production was financed by Meshulam Riklis, who at the time was the principal owner of the Riviera hotel and casino in Las Vegas and was married to Pia Zadora.
As usual in professional wrestling, the women of GLOW portrayed campy, flamboyant characters who were either "good" or "bad". The TV series also included comedy sketches and rap music performed by the wrestlers. Everything about G.L.O.W. was '80s excess: the makeup, high-cut leotards and even higher hair. For 500 matches, girls with un-P.C. and mildly offensive names like Spanish Red, Cheyenne Cher, Little Egypt and Palestina head-locked each other in staged cat fights in Vegas interspersed with cheesy comedy sketches and even worse rap songs...
GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling combines footage from the television series with interviews of some of the wrestlers, done about 15 years after the TV show ended. Towards the end of the movie, the women of GLOW have a reunion party in Orange County, California.
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The original GLOW is the personification of '80s camp.... An eclectic blend of sketch comedy, singing, and grappling, the series was heavy on variety as it combined elements of Laugh-In, MTV, Saturday Night Live, and the WWF (now referred to as the WWE) to create a wholly original viewing experience.
In The New Yorker, Sarah Larson wrote, "If a show like [the GLOW TV series] were made today, it might be self-consciously or ostensibly feminist - a celebration of fortitude and athleticism, like roller derby or American Ninja Warrior. G.L.O.W. was aesthetically about as feminist as Charlie's Angels - yet it was empowering. It created a bizarre new realm in which women could be strong and aggressive and reveal a raw id." The G.L.O.W. alums in the documentary, though blunt about G.L.O.W.'s management and working conditions, speak about their time on the show with pride. In its own weird way, G.L.O.W.
In The Village Voice, Araceli Cruz said, "Yes, GLOW... was a groundbreaking television show that... featured female wrestlers who, we now learn, were actresses, models, dancers, and/or stunt women hoping to break into show business any way they could."
GLOW: The Story Of The Gorgeous Ladies Of Wrestling (2012) Movie Review
The Legacy of GLOW
On Toronto Film Scene, William Brownridge wrote, "Although GLOW... didn't last very long on television, the fan following was immense. How could you not fall in love with something so campy and fun? With the big hair, neon colours, gorgeous ladies, and some impressive wrestling skills, the women of GLOW enjoyed huge popularity. At what was probably the height of their success, the money was pulled out of the show, forcing everything to shut down."
On RogerEbert.com, Jana Monji said, "Director Brett Whitcomb and writer Bradford Thomason take us back to the disco era of big hair, glitter and Spandex to look at how three men, David McLane, Matt Cimber and Steve Blance with money from Pia Zadora's then-husband Meshulam Riklis, created a TV faux-reality show and peopled it with wanna-be stars.... Clips from the original broadcasts and interviews with former members paint a picture of innocence, fun and folly, but the reunion that resulted from the making of this documentary is touching."
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In LA Weekly, Siran Babayan wrote, "The film's where-are-they-now interviews are made all the more touching thanks to a cast reunion recently organized in O.C. that included the elusive [Matt] Cimber, who, by most accounts, was a temperamental taskmaster."
David McLane and the Birth of GLOW in Indianapolis
The story of summer Netflix hit "GLOW" only could happen in Los Angeles in the 1980s. Unlimited spandex, an out-of-work soap actress and music from the Go-Go's highlight the 10-episode series based on pro-wrestling franchise Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling. But Southern California isn't where GLOW was born. Park Tudor High School alum David McLane first tried to make it happen in Indianapolis.
"I went to several workout gyms up on Keystone Avenue to put up posters to look for women wrestlers," said McLane, recalling his hometown in the '80s. "They immediately threw me out. A family friend said, ‘If you want to start this, you have to go west to L.A.’ He was right.”
After making the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling a reality in 1986, McLane landed roller hockey and polo on ESPN's schedule. Today, he has returned to the dream of mainstream success for women's wrestling. "It's my favorite occupation," he said.
McLane always knew the male version of pro wrestling worked in Indianapolis. As teenagers, he and Scott Romer launched a Dick the Bruiser fan club to celebrate the iconic tough guy who grew up in Lafayette. Romer and McLane eventually worked for the World Wrestling Association co-owned by the Bruiser, also known as former NFL player William Afflis. Romer portrayed pot-stirring manager Saul Creatchman, and McLane served as TV host and announcer.
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A match between Candi Devine and Princess Jasmine at Tyndall Armory, 711 N. Pennsylvania St., inspired McLane to suggest a women's league within the WWA.
The modern-day WOW follows McLane's founding of GLOW, POWW (a 1987 Indianapolis-based franchise formally known as the Powerful Women of Wrestling) and a version of WOW that debuted in 2000. His partners in WOW are Los Angeles Lakers President Jeanie Buss and the MGM Television and Digital Group, which plans a "WOW" TV show in 2018.
"The vision was always to see women’s wrestling treated as well as, if not better than, men’s wrestling," McLane said. "The drive now is still to see that. It hasn’t happened yet, but I think we’re on the verge of finally doing it."
The original "GLOW" TV series, described by McLane as "loud, bold and in your face," became an unexpected hit in syndication. The show aired in 200 cities, and cast members appeared on "Married With Children," "Donahue," "Family Feud" and in the pages of Playboy magazine.
Documentary filmmakers Brett Whitcomb and Bradford Thomason remembered the "GLOW" series and made the 2012 film "GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling." Jenji Kohan and Tara Herrmann, creators of the "GLOW" Netflix series, have credited the 2012 documentary for sparking their interest in McLane's brainchild.
By focusing on camaraderie among cast members, the film earned McLane's approval. A segment devoted to the health struggles of GLOW star Emily "Mt. Fiji" Dole made the movie "a touching story," McLane said. "It gave it the breadth it really needed," he said. "I loved it. I thought it was well done.”
McLane's enthusiasm for wrestling isn't forgotten by Lauri "Susie Spirit" Thompson and Angelina "Little Egypt" Altishin - Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling who acted/competed in the show's first two seasons.
"David's the straight man, but he’s ever the optimist who doesn’t even realize the chaos going on around him," said Thompson, who became a Las Vegas-based entertainment attorney after her wrestling career. "That’s the character he played. In real life, he’s that way, too."
McLane, known for wearing a tuxedo on camera, recalls being bodyslammed more than once by Mt. Fiji. "You can tell by talking to Dave that he’s an honest guy," said Altishin, now a real-estate agent in Atlanta. "He was one of the girls. And I don’t mean that in a bad way. He was in the ring with us. He was taking bumps if he had to take bumps. He was doing skits. We loved David."
Thompson's introduction to the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling is similar to what's experienced by characters on the Netflix series. Then a dancer in the "Folies Bergere" revue at the Tropicana casino in Las Vegas, Thompson showed up for an audition and was confused when McLane and Cimber showed a video of women wrestlers from Japan.
"I got up to leave and said, ‘I’m sorry. I’m an actress, not a wrestler,’" Thompson said. "They chased me to the elevator and convinced me to come back."
The original "GLOW" series featured comedy, dancing and rapping as key elements, which were not necessarily part of McLane's vision for the show. His commitment to athleticism is reflected in an anecdote about the first cast member hired as a Gorgeous Lady of Wrestling: Jeanne "Hollywood" Basone.
At an early training session, a veteran wrestler asked, "Can anyone ram your head into the second turnbuckle and then flip onto your back?" Basone, who continues to make headlines as a hotel "session wrestler" for hire, raised her hand to volunteer. “To my shock, she did it on the first try," McLane said. "I slapped the mat and said, ‘You’re hired!’“
McLane said he's happy the roster of WOW employees includes two Indianapolis natives: writer/announcer Stephen Dickey and cast member Samantha Smart, a combative librarian. And he expresses no misgivings about being left out of the "GLOW" story at Netflix. "It’s great for the performers," McLane said. "It’s great to pay homage to GLOW as the starter of the revolution of women’s wrestling. I’m very fortunate to still be friends with most of the original cast."
Where Are They Now?
Many of the GLOW girls have gone on to diverse and successful careers after their time in the wrestling ring. Here's a glimpse into what some of them are doing now:
- Jeanne “Hollywood” Basone sells hand-made soaps and published her memoir, Hooray For Hollywood!: The True Story Of The Original GLOW Girl.
- Nadine Kadmiri, who played the rich socialite Ashley Cartier, is a successful real estate agent.
- Lauri Thompson, who was Suzie Spirit, is a lawyer.
- Justice (Norniece Norment) is an ordained minister.
- Godiva (Dawn Rice) works in animal rescue.
- Jayne Adams, who was the California Doll, is a school teacher.
- “Sunny the California Girl” Patricia Summerland is a nurse.
Tyffany Million: From GLOW to Bounty Hunter
Tyffany Million, known as Tiffany Mellon in GLOW, has led a very interesting and diverse life. She was part of the tag team of the Park Avenue Knockouts, alongside Roxy Astor. Noelle Rose, aka Major Tanya, described Mellon as "quite different from her character. A very bright, intelligent and strong woman."
Million's journey took her from private Catholic schools to the world of wrestling, and eventually to a career as a licensed private investigator and bounty hunter. She even had her own reality TV show, Wife, Mom, Bounty Hunter, which aired in 2007 on the WE Channel.
Before GLOW, Million was a stripper at the Mitchell Brothers O’Farrell Theatre in San Francisco. After GLOW ended, she eventually went back to stripping. She also ventured into the world of adult films, working with legendary porn star Nina Hartley.
Currently, Million is working on a fictional graphic novel series with Marvel comic book artist Rusty Gilligan called The Recruiters. The stories are based on real life in regards to EMS, military, and law enforcement. Her character will be a law enforcement persona. The goal for the series is to educate people in fire safety, drug abuse awareness, first aid, and to help recruit people to be involved with EMS, law enforcement and the military.
GLOW Cast
GLOW's Impact
GLOW's impact on women's wrestling and popular culture is undeniable. It paved the way for future generations of female wrestlers and inspired the Netflix series of the same name. The show's blend of campy humor, over-the-top characters, and genuine athleticism made it a unique and memorable viewing experience.
The success of GLOW also highlights the importance of recognizing and celebrating the contributions of women in entertainment and sports. The women of GLOW were not just wrestlers; they were actresses, dancers, and performers who brought their unique talents and personalities to the ring.
Even now, years after the show ended, the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling continue to inspire and entertain audiences around the world.
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