Jack Laskin
This page is dedicated to Golden Age wrestler,
author, playwright, public speaker, actor,
businessman and master storyteller Jack Laskin.
Born March 13, 1929 - London, Ontario, Canada
Died November 28, 2010 - Auburn, California
businessman and master storyteller Jack Laskin.
Born March 13, 1929 - London, Ontario, Canada
Died November 28, 2010 - Auburn, California
Click here to read Greg
Oliver's article and obituary
on Jack Laskin at SLAM
Wrestling.
All snapshots in the photo
gallery (right) were taken by
Duff Johnson unless
otherwise noted.
Jack Laskin
One of the Boys
One of the Boys
Wrestler Jack Laskin
Jack Laskin
Parkhurst Trading Card 1955-56 Wrestling Series
No. 67 of 121
(front)
Parkhurst Trading Card 1955-56 Wrestling Series
No. 67 of 121
(front)
Jack Laskin
Parkhurst Trading Card 1955-56 Wrestling Series
No. 67 of 121
(rear)
Parkhurst Trading Card 1955-56 Wrestling Series
No. 67 of 121
(rear)
In the article below, originally posted on Mark Nulty's WrestlingClassics.com, esteemed
wrestling historian and sports writer J Michael Kenyon sheds light on a few of wrestler Jack
Laskin's appearances in US and Canadian venues. (Laskin was known for his sojourning ways
during his wrestling career.) Kenyon also alludes to Laskin's book, One of the Boys, to The
House of Deception web site, and to the annual Cauliflower Alley Club (CAC) reunion in Las
Vegas--all in his inimitable style.
(Wrestling Classics, December 24, 2005)
By J Michael Kenyon
For the benefit of those just being introduced to Jack Laskin and Duff Johnson – both always high or at the top of the list of those erudite CAC members residing in the Pacific time zone – let me assure you, Mascara Carmesi, that only one of them (insofar as I am aware) ever wore a mask. That would have been Mr. Laskin, especially during those years when he toiled behind the scenes for the Roy Shire promotion based in northern California and, when the need arose, filled in on the occasional card as wrestling’s most generic character – the Masked Marvel.
Seriously, CM [contributor Crimson Mask], thanks for introducing the group to not only Duff’s fascinating web site (he is, as you may have surmised, a teacher) and to Jack’s excellent memoir of his days on and around the mat. It is a good thing you have done while searching for, of all people, the irrefutably nasty Senor Assirati.
If anyone should be so lucky as to encounter either or both Messrs. Laskin and Johnson, I heartily recommend that you encourage them to belly up to the bar (it shouldn’t take too much of a nudge) and share some worldly views, as time allows. Each is a devout conversationalist of the highest stripe.
Oh, and by the way, Jack wasn’t always globetrotting. He spent quite a bit of his time working in North America, and for some of the best offices. To wit, a few bookings of his, here and there:
Toronto ON: May 14, 1953
Whipper Billy Watson & Tim Geohagen drew Lord Athol Layton & Lord Blears...Nanjo Singh beat JACK LASKIN
Dundas ON: May 23, 1953
Gorgeous George beat Lord Blears (dq)...Tim Geohagen drew Red Mask...JACK LASKIN drew Steve Stanlee
Houston TX: October 7, 1955
(City Aud)...(tournament: first round) Paul DeGalles vs Greg Jarque...Pepper Gomez vs Great Scott...JACK LASKIN vs Stu Gibson...Wilbur Snyder vs Tony Martin...Rito Romero vs Doug Donovan...Duke Keomuka vs Ray Gunkel (Tiny Mills was a late sub & won the tournament)...Tiny Mills beat Pepper Gomez
Houston TX: November 25, 1955
(City Aud, att. 5,000)...Pepper Gomez beat Duke Keomuka (2-1)...Tiny Mills beat Hans Hermann...Doug Donovan beat Wilbur Snyder...Rito Romero beat Tony Morelli...Ray Gunkel beat JACK LASKIN...Larry Chene beat Paul DeGalles...NOTE: As stipulated, main-event loser Duke Keomuka was forced to ride a donkey from in front of the City Auditorium down to the Rice Hotel and back
Jacksonville FL: June 28, 1956
(Arena, att. 1,005)...(Ladies) Corine Cordero beat China Mira...Don Whittler & Whitey Whittler beat Gino (Red) Vagnone & Harry Smith...JACK LASKIN drew Benny Matta
St. Petersburg FL: July 4, 1956
(Armory)...Whitey Whittler beat Chris Zaharias (2-1, dq)...Referee: Sam Evans...JACK LASKIN drew Don Whittler...(Ladies) Jean Wright beat Dot Dotson (dq)
Tampa FL: July 9, 1956
(Muny Aud, att. 1,353)...(Boxing Match) Danny Nardico beat Whitey Whittler (DQ6)...JACK LASKIN beat Red Vagnone...(Ladies) China Mira beat Dot Dotson...Chuck Benson drew Bob Demarce
Orlando FL: July 23, 1956
(Arena, att. 519)...Ray Villmer drew Red Vagnone (nc)...Referees: Milo Steinborn, Charles (Swami) Dantos...Danny Nardico beat Bob Demarce (dq)...Benny Matta drew JACK LASKIN
Jacksonville FL: July 26, 1956
(Arena, att. 1,014)...(Midgets) Tito Infante & Cowboy Bradley beat Ivan the Terrible & Tiny Roe...Whitey Whittler beat Bob Demarce...JACK LASKIN beat Lou Klein
Charlotte NC: September 3, 1956
(Texas Royal Rules) George Becker and Jack Witzig beat Tiny Mills and Karl Von Hess...Billy Red Lyons beat Jim Laskin...Jim Austeri beat Angelo Martinelli
Fort Worth TX: November 3, 1958
Enrique Guzman vs Mr. Moto...Pepper Gomez vs Danny McShain...(Ladies) Ann Regan vs Sylvia Torres...Duke Keomuka vs Nick Kozak...Yaqui Bravo vs George Curtis...Leo Garibaldi vs JACK LASKIN...Al Costello & Roy Heffernan beat Luis Martinez & Sugi Sito
Toronto ON: December 4, 1958
(MLG, att. 4,200)...Whipper Billy Watson & Yukon Eric beat Fritz Von Erich & Hans Hermann (17:06, dq)...Gene Kiniski beat Guy Brunetti...Claude Dassary beat Joe Brunetti...Ivan Kalmikoff & Karol Kalmikoff beat Dara Singh & Al Korman...JACK LASKIN drew George Pencheff
Toronto ON: October 1, 1959
(East York Arena)...Whipper Billy Watson beat Hard Boiled Haggerty (12:51)...Don Leo Jonathan beat JACK LASKIN...Tim Geohagen beat Ken Kenneth...Pat Flanagan beat Bud Cody...Yvon Losier beat Tiger Tasker
San Antonio TX: December 16, 1959
(Muny Aud)...Pepper Gomez (sub for Mike DiBiase) beat Wild Bull Curry...(Bear vs Man) Tokyo Rose beat Maurice Vachon...Silento Rodriguez & Yaqui Bravo & Cyclone Anaya & Eddie Montemayor vs Bad Boy Hines & Billy Strong & JACK LASKIN & Ace of Spades...Eddie Montemayor beat Ace of Spades (dq)...Cyclone Anaya beat JACK LASKIN...Yaqui Bravo beat Billy Strong...Silento Rodriguez beat Bad Boy Hines
Oakland CA: March 4, 1960
(Auditorium)...Leo Nomellini & Gene (Big Daddy) Lipscomb beat Roy Heffernan & Hombre Montana...Enrique Torres beat Steve Stanlee...Don Manoukian beat JACK LASKIN
Oakland CA: March 11, 1960
(Auditorium)...Al Costello & Tom Rice w/Wild Red Berry beat Enrique Torres & Alberto Torres...Ronnie Etchison beat Ramon Cernades...JACK LASKIN drew Bud Curtis...Promoter: Ad Santel...NOTE: An Oakland Tribune story from a day earlier details how Santel, who has promoted in the Auditorium since 1932, could be in danger of losing Friday nights to Roller Derby once his current lease expires at the end of June -- but the City Council appears to be in his corner.
Oakland CA: March 25, 1960
(Auditorium)...Al Costello & Roy Heffernan beat Enrique Torres & Ronnie Etchison (2-1)...Alberto Torres beat Wild Red Berry...JACK LASKIN drew Hombre Montana
Oakland CA: July 29, 1960
(Auditorium)...Ben Sharpe & Jay York (as The Alaskan) beat Enrique Torres & Sammy Berg (2-1)...Ricky Romero beat Steve Stanlee...JACK LASKIN drew Alberto Torres
(Wrestling Classics, December 24, 2005)
By J Michael Kenyon
For the benefit of those just being introduced to Jack Laskin and Duff Johnson – both always high or at the top of the list of those erudite CAC members residing in the Pacific time zone – let me assure you, Mascara Carmesi, that only one of them (insofar as I am aware) ever wore a mask. That would have been Mr. Laskin, especially during those years when he toiled behind the scenes for the Roy Shire promotion based in northern California and, when the need arose, filled in on the occasional card as wrestling’s most generic character – the Masked Marvel.
Seriously, CM [contributor Crimson Mask], thanks for introducing the group to not only Duff’s fascinating web site (he is, as you may have surmised, a teacher) and to Jack’s excellent memoir of his days on and around the mat. It is a good thing you have done while searching for, of all people, the irrefutably nasty Senor Assirati.
If anyone should be so lucky as to encounter either or both Messrs. Laskin and Johnson, I heartily recommend that you encourage them to belly up to the bar (it shouldn’t take too much of a nudge) and share some worldly views, as time allows. Each is a devout conversationalist of the highest stripe.
Oh, and by the way, Jack wasn’t always globetrotting. He spent quite a bit of his time working in North America, and for some of the best offices. To wit, a few bookings of his, here and there:
Toronto ON: May 14, 1953
Whipper Billy Watson & Tim Geohagen drew Lord Athol Layton & Lord Blears...Nanjo Singh beat JACK LASKIN
Dundas ON: May 23, 1953
Gorgeous George beat Lord Blears (dq)...Tim Geohagen drew Red Mask...JACK LASKIN drew Steve Stanlee
Houston TX: October 7, 1955
(City Aud)...(tournament: first round) Paul DeGalles vs Greg Jarque...Pepper Gomez vs Great Scott...JACK LASKIN vs Stu Gibson...Wilbur Snyder vs Tony Martin...Rito Romero vs Doug Donovan...Duke Keomuka vs Ray Gunkel (Tiny Mills was a late sub & won the tournament)...Tiny Mills beat Pepper Gomez
Houston TX: November 25, 1955
(City Aud, att. 5,000)...Pepper Gomez beat Duke Keomuka (2-1)...Tiny Mills beat Hans Hermann...Doug Donovan beat Wilbur Snyder...Rito Romero beat Tony Morelli...Ray Gunkel beat JACK LASKIN...Larry Chene beat Paul DeGalles...NOTE: As stipulated, main-event loser Duke Keomuka was forced to ride a donkey from in front of the City Auditorium down to the Rice Hotel and back
Jacksonville FL: June 28, 1956
(Arena, att. 1,005)...(Ladies) Corine Cordero beat China Mira...Don Whittler & Whitey Whittler beat Gino (Red) Vagnone & Harry Smith...JACK LASKIN drew Benny Matta
St. Petersburg FL: July 4, 1956
(Armory)...Whitey Whittler beat Chris Zaharias (2-1, dq)...Referee: Sam Evans...JACK LASKIN drew Don Whittler...(Ladies) Jean Wright beat Dot Dotson (dq)
Tampa FL: July 9, 1956
(Muny Aud, att. 1,353)...(Boxing Match) Danny Nardico beat Whitey Whittler (DQ6)...JACK LASKIN beat Red Vagnone...(Ladies) China Mira beat Dot Dotson...Chuck Benson drew Bob Demarce
Orlando FL: July 23, 1956
(Arena, att. 519)...Ray Villmer drew Red Vagnone (nc)...Referees: Milo Steinborn, Charles (Swami) Dantos...Danny Nardico beat Bob Demarce (dq)...Benny Matta drew JACK LASKIN
Jacksonville FL: July 26, 1956
(Arena, att. 1,014)...(Midgets) Tito Infante & Cowboy Bradley beat Ivan the Terrible & Tiny Roe...Whitey Whittler beat Bob Demarce...JACK LASKIN beat Lou Klein
Charlotte NC: September 3, 1956
(Texas Royal Rules) George Becker and Jack Witzig beat Tiny Mills and Karl Von Hess...Billy Red Lyons beat Jim Laskin...Jim Austeri beat Angelo Martinelli
Fort Worth TX: November 3, 1958
Enrique Guzman vs Mr. Moto...Pepper Gomez vs Danny McShain...(Ladies) Ann Regan vs Sylvia Torres...Duke Keomuka vs Nick Kozak...Yaqui Bravo vs George Curtis...Leo Garibaldi vs JACK LASKIN...Al Costello & Roy Heffernan beat Luis Martinez & Sugi Sito
Toronto ON: December 4, 1958
(MLG, att. 4,200)...Whipper Billy Watson & Yukon Eric beat Fritz Von Erich & Hans Hermann (17:06, dq)...Gene Kiniski beat Guy Brunetti...Claude Dassary beat Joe Brunetti...Ivan Kalmikoff & Karol Kalmikoff beat Dara Singh & Al Korman...JACK LASKIN drew George Pencheff
Toronto ON: October 1, 1959
(East York Arena)...Whipper Billy Watson beat Hard Boiled Haggerty (12:51)...Don Leo Jonathan beat JACK LASKIN...Tim Geohagen beat Ken Kenneth...Pat Flanagan beat Bud Cody...Yvon Losier beat Tiger Tasker
San Antonio TX: December 16, 1959
(Muny Aud)...Pepper Gomez (sub for Mike DiBiase) beat Wild Bull Curry...(Bear vs Man) Tokyo Rose beat Maurice Vachon...Silento Rodriguez & Yaqui Bravo & Cyclone Anaya & Eddie Montemayor vs Bad Boy Hines & Billy Strong & JACK LASKIN & Ace of Spades...Eddie Montemayor beat Ace of Spades (dq)...Cyclone Anaya beat JACK LASKIN...Yaqui Bravo beat Billy Strong...Silento Rodriguez beat Bad Boy Hines
Oakland CA: March 4, 1960
(Auditorium)...Leo Nomellini & Gene (Big Daddy) Lipscomb beat Roy Heffernan & Hombre Montana...Enrique Torres beat Steve Stanlee...Don Manoukian beat JACK LASKIN
Oakland CA: March 11, 1960
(Auditorium)...Al Costello & Tom Rice w/Wild Red Berry beat Enrique Torres & Alberto Torres...Ronnie Etchison beat Ramon Cernades...JACK LASKIN drew Bud Curtis...Promoter: Ad Santel...NOTE: An Oakland Tribune story from a day earlier details how Santel, who has promoted in the Auditorium since 1932, could be in danger of losing Friday nights to Roller Derby once his current lease expires at the end of June -- but the City Council appears to be in his corner.
Oakland CA: March 25, 1960
(Auditorium)...Al Costello & Roy Heffernan beat Enrique Torres & Ronnie Etchison (2-1)...Alberto Torres beat Wild Red Berry...JACK LASKIN drew Hombre Montana
Oakland CA: July 29, 1960
(Auditorium)...Ben Sharpe & Jay York (as The Alaskan) beat Enrique Torres & Sammy Berg (2-1)...Ricky Romero beat Steve Stanlee...JACK LASKIN drew Alberto Torres
All Rights Reserved
Duff Johnson 2004-2024
No text or image may be copied or
reproduced without written permission.
Duff Johnson 2004-2024
No text or image may be copied or
reproduced without written permission.
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Jack Laskin's Self-Written Obituary
Sacramento Bee, November 30, 2010
Jack Laskin has left the world. He will not be returning. Enough is enough! He's done it all; from the shmatah business to professional wrestling all over the world, then for ten years, a successful Fuller Brush Man, then a salesman, then computer service bureau, then marriage to Audrey, then a collection agency, then a Public Speaker on the "Pro" circuit, then a move to Penryn in 1989, then retirement, then volunteer Jewish Chaplain at Folsom Prison and two major hospitals, then retirement again after he lost Audrey in 2008,and just officiating at weddings and funerals, etc. When he lost Audrey, he lost his best audience and critic. There was no one left to impress. His humor was outdated. His last creative act was writing this obituary, just to be sure all the facts were there. Jack was a member of Temple Or Rishon and doesn't want any flowers. You want to send flowers, go to somebody else's funeral. Better you should send a donation to Temple Or Rishon for the building fund or to the heart or cancer fund. Or take some kid and buy them a book and say it's from me. But you can put your name in it too. Me and you, we did something nice together. Jack was born on March 13, 1929 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and is survived by everybody. His last words to one and all: "It's been a pleasure." Friends are welcome to attend the funeral Service, Wednesday, December 1, 2010 at 1:00pm at Sunset Lawn Chapel of the Chimes, 4701 Marysville Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95838. Interment Sunset Lawn Memorial Park.
Sacramento Bee, November 30, 2010
Jack Laskin has left the world. He will not be returning. Enough is enough! He's done it all; from the shmatah business to professional wrestling all over the world, then for ten years, a successful Fuller Brush Man, then a salesman, then computer service bureau, then marriage to Audrey, then a collection agency, then a Public Speaker on the "Pro" circuit, then a move to Penryn in 1989, then retirement, then volunteer Jewish Chaplain at Folsom Prison and two major hospitals, then retirement again after he lost Audrey in 2008,and just officiating at weddings and funerals, etc. When he lost Audrey, he lost his best audience and critic. There was no one left to impress. His humor was outdated. His last creative act was writing this obituary, just to be sure all the facts were there. Jack was a member of Temple Or Rishon and doesn't want any flowers. You want to send flowers, go to somebody else's funeral. Better you should send a donation to Temple Or Rishon for the building fund or to the heart or cancer fund. Or take some kid and buy them a book and say it's from me. But you can put your name in it too. Me and you, we did something nice together. Jack was born on March 13, 1929 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and is survived by everybody. His last words to one and all: "It's been a pleasure." Friends are welcome to attend the funeral Service, Wednesday, December 1, 2010 at 1:00pm at Sunset Lawn Chapel of the Chimes, 4701 Marysville Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95838. Interment Sunset Lawn Memorial Park.
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