Posted on by bdamage1
Brian Damage
Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling AKA GLOW was a pro wrestling show that was definitely ahead of its time in the 1980’s. With such colorful and outrageous characters like Matilda the Hun, Roxy Astor, Queenie, Tiffany Mellon, Mount Fiji, Little Egypt and Tina Ferrari…GLOW was a hit with fans and left a mark in pro wrestling history. Netflix created a fictional series based on the once popular 80’s show. One wrestler that stood out during the original series and is still very much in the public eye today is Jeanne Basone better known as ‘Hollywood’ during her GLOW days. Today on the blog, we had the opportunity to ask Jeanne a few questions about her career and her new autobiography ‘Hooray for Hollywood’ a Memoir.
Ring the Damn Bell: What was your inspiration for writing your autobiography?
Hollywood: My inspiration for writing this memoir was something that I’d always wanted to do. It was a bucket list and since I had done the pilot, and all four seasons of the show, I thought I would be the perfect person to write this memoir and name the title the way I did.
RTDB: Who in professional wrestling did you admire and look up to?
Hollywood: At the time, I didn’t know any wrestlers at all, so people to look up to in the 80s was Wonder Woman, Cat woman and Isis. But we could never forget the legends before us like Mildred Burke and Penny Banner. Their stories are so amazing.
RTBD: I’ve heard stories about the GLOW versus WCW Family Feud episodes being a nightmare for the GLOW girls with the WCW wrestlers misbehaving. Any truth to those rumors?
Hollywood: I’ve actually heard nothing but positive things about working with them on the show, and I had a blast; I was team captain when Sting was team captain. And I also did 15 of those shows and had no issues with the men of WCW at all.
RTDB: Did any major wrestling promotions like WWE or WCW try signing you? If so, who and why didn’t you go?
Hollywood: In 1999, I auditioned for WWE in Los Angeles, but I was recovering from a broken leg and didn’t want to hide my injury, which ended my chances despite their initial interest.
RTDB: Some fans might not be completely aware of what GLOW was and what it meant for women in wrestling. Can you share how impactful it was for the time?
Hollywood: Gorgeous ladies of wrestling Glow) was an all Female Wrestling show that was directed by Matt Cimber. It aired in 100 major markets in the US and was broadcast around the world in the mid to late 80s. It has been said that GLOW brought the glitz and glamour of Vegas to professional wrestling and TV.
RTDB: We all know that in the 80’s and 90’s wrestling had a lot of sex drugs and rock n roll vibe to it. Any personal experiences you care to share during this time?
Hollywood: The 80s were a fantastic time to be alive, especially if you were a fan of 80s rock ‘n’ roll like me, and GLOW had strict rules, including immediate termination for anyone caught using drugs.
RTDB: What else can we anticipate reading your memoir?
Hollywood: My favorite moments and memories from my days with GLOW. My thoughts about the Netflix version of GLOW and if it was true to life. So much is covered in my memoir.
RTDB: Please tell our readers the best way to purchase your book.
Hollywood: They can get the book at Hollywoodbotanika.com or my Etsy site which is GlowHollywoodmerch.etsy.com
RTDB: Thank you for your time, you were an absolute delight to speak with!