Constantine Romanoff
Constantine holding up brother Billy
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To start with a HUGE thank you needs to go out to Diane (Baltzer) Jestes who has sent in numerous e-mails containing documents providing us with the following correct information that had previously been inaccurate on here. Diane's father's aunt, Caroline "Lena" Jensen Baltzer was married to Romanoff.
Thanks to Diane's research into census reports and various other legal documentation, that Costantine Romanoff was born on August 21, 1881 in Dielingen, Germany. Not only that, but his real name was Friedrich William Heinrich August Meyer. He did wrestle under the name of Jack Meyer(s) and it would appear this is the name he gave to friends and family, but Jack was not his legal name.
It was on May 12, 1905 when Romanoff left Bremen, Germany aboard a ship named the Crown Prince Wilhelm. Ten days later on May 22, 1905 he arrived in the port of New York, New York. Romanoff seemingly was set on making the United States of America his new home from the get-go.
On the 1910 census he is shown to be living in Omaha, Nebraska as a roomer in the boarding home of his future wife, Caroline. His line of employment at the time was unknown, however, Diane has discovered that the hard to read writing on the aforementioned census stated he was a "blacksmith."
Exactly when he started wrestling is currently unknown. Without a shadow of a doubt though, Romanoff was most definitely wrestling in 1913 and already he was using the name he is most commonly known by outside of his family, Constantine Romanoff.
He faced Ad Santel (Adolph Ernst) on April 1, 1913 in San Antonio, Texas for the World Light Heavyweight Championship. Interestingly, Romanoff is listed as being Polish for this contest. In an article advertising Constantine Romanoff versus Pete Visser on October 31, 1916, he is listed as being 6-and-a-half foot tall. Weighing 195-pounds. With a 70-inch reach, 48-inch chest, 36-inch waist, 18-inch neck, 24-inch thigh, 15-inch calf, 14-inch forearm and 15-inch biceps.
Arguably his greatest fame on the mat came before him at the beginning of 1917 once again against Ad Santel. This time it was for an opportunity to face the World Heavyweight Champion, Joe Stecher. Santel had been building up to this match for most of 1916 and was favored especially in the San Francisco, California area as possibly the only man who could beat Stecher. It's thought Romanoff was brought in especially to face Santel in the final weeks of the build up.
A twist was added in that not only would Santel be facing an opponent who may not have been favored in the betting odds, but was quite capable of beating Santel. Romanoff had several years experience by this time and on top of that he was a good couple of inches taller than Santel and had a slight weight advantage too. Santel would win again like he did in the aforementioned meeting of the two. This time Romanoff is listed as being from Russia.
Undeterred by the loss to Santel, Romanoff ended up with a match against Joe Stecher anyway. That match took place on March 23, 1917. Romanoff lost in two straight falls in this World Heavyweight Championship encounter. Los Angeles had been the setting for the contest. It was reported that during the second fall of the bout Romanoff wrenched his arm severely.
As per his World War I Registrar Report card the mat game was his only line of work. The card from September 12, 1918 shows that Romanoff was living in Los Angeles at the time, however, he listed his employment could take him anywhere. By January 30, 1920 on his Declaration of Intention within the United States, Romanoff lists his occupation as the same. Now he was living in Boise, Idaho.
Not too long later, August 13, 1920, Romanoff relocated to Los Angeles. For the next forty-plus years this was his permanent home. Diane visited Romanoff, known to her at the time as Jack Meyer, in 1962 and can confirm he and "Lena" were still in Los Angeles during her visit.
In 1920 he was listed as six-foot-two and 197-pounds, a good sized chap for that day and age. With his rugged look from wrestling, especially when he let the stubble on his face grow out, Romanoff was a perfect fit for the blossoming Hollywood movie-making industry. It's thought that he continued wrestling for the mean time, but listings of his in the ring are few and far between unfortunately.
Part of the reason for this is due to the fact Romanoff liked to change names on occasion. We've already covered his real name, the name many knew him by, Jack Meyer. Then there's Constantine Romanoff which Diane recalls was given to him by a sports writer. Romanoff liked it, so he kept it as his main pseudonym. There were possibly others too within the professional wrestling world, but may-be we'll never know them.
Also worth pointing out is that upon arrival in the United States immigrants at the time were given the chance to alter their names. It was upon Romanoff's arrival that he shortened his name from Friedrich William Heinrich August Meyer to simply, Fred William Meyer. This became his legal name, complete with social security number.
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According to IMDB Romanoff appeared in his first movie during 1921 in an uncredited role. His first known credited role came in 1926 and from there plenty of work as an actor came rolling his way. You can check out the fullest known listing of acting appearances for Romanoff at IMDB.com.
A Kansas City, Missouri newspaper has the following to say about Romanoff on August 8, 1926:
"One of the country's greatest wrestlers has been signed by Harold Lloyd to play the role of a strong man in a medicine show, a sequence in Lloyd's forthcoming mountain story."
The excerpt was a part of a bigger article about how America's champion athletes were flopping in the cinema. Oh how Romanoff would prove them wrong. A Davenport, Iowa newspaper also looked at Lloyd's newest comedy venture and had the following to say of Romanoff:
"A favorite with wrestling audiences through-out the country, who has been devoting his recent efforts to the silent drama, has been signed to play the part of a strong man with the medicine show."
After the release of the movie, the Davenport paper stated Romanoff gave a "Splendid performance." They said it was a natural part for the wrestling championship contendor. While the Terre Haute Saturday Spectator gave the following brief review of the movie that today is considered by many as the most well known and important of Romanoff's acting career:
"The Kid Brother
Perhaps no star has a following like that of Harold Lloyd. It is certain that no comedian is liked so well. Now he will come to Terre Haute in his very latest picture which was named just recently and just as recently released.
There is no need to elaborate upon the method used by Harold Lloyd in his comedies for anyone who is familiar with pictures knows the comedian with the large shell-rimmed glasses. Always he keeps the audience in an uproar. Remember 'Safety First', 'The Freshman', and 'For Heaven's Sake'?
In this picture Harold has to overcome a menace - the strong man with a medicine show, and for that menace he has Constantine Romanoff, formerly one of the leading wrestling lights in Europe and the United States. After the denouement of the story was completely filmed and Lloyd had overcome the menace he admitted to those around him that it was a considerable menace to triumph over. Romanoff was told not to spare Lloyd, who is a well trained and sturdy athlete, and he did not for an instant. If you want to forget all yoru worry and care, then you'll see Harold Lloyd as 'The Kid Brother.'"
The Kid Brother (1927) in Full
On his naturalization document dated January 28, 1927 his occupation is listed as Actor/Showman. In 1930 he is listed as working in the moving pictures and by the 1940 census he is listed as an actor in the moving pictures. So we know from those records that he didn't wrestle past 1929, which would make sense given that he would have been 50 in 1931.
One thing we do know is that during his career he was a top claimant to the Pacific Heavyweight Championship during 1922, but other than that, there is a lot of work to be done on discovering just how much success he did achieve. His movie career is a more than worthy resume to remember anyone by though.
Through-out his acting career the fact he had been a professional wrestler was mentioned even though his movie career, given what we currently know, totally outshines his wrestling days. Normally they refer to him as a former contender to the heavyweight wrestling crown.
The 1930's and the 1940's saw consistent praise, adulation and success for Romanoff. As he was one of the most recognizable movie bad-guys in America. Other than The Kid Brother, it's often said that Romanoff's most well known film was the 1940 release of The Long Voyage Home when he played Big Frank. During the 1940's he was said to weigh in excess of 200-pounds.
We are very lucky to be able to provide the following excerpt of a letter that "Lena" sent to her family. It is dated April 21, 1942 from her's and Romanoff's Los Angeles address:
"My dearest children, Just a few lines to let you know we are all living and getting along. It has been so long since I have heard from you. Hope this finds you all well and happy. It has been raining here all day. We are having our rains late this year. Jack [Constantine Romanoff] is working now for a while. Did you see Reap the Wild Wind. That is one of the last pictures, it is very good."
In 1946 he gave a newspaper man an example of the fact he was still in shape by hitting himself on his stomach to show it rock solid. Romanoff said it was all in aid of killing those movie dames. The interview was to hype the release of Anna and the King of Siam. That same year he even appeared in one of the most well known movies of all time, It's a Wonderful Life.
As it happens, Diane recalls the following story which most definitely echos the above "stunt":
"The first time I saw him was in the late 1930's. I was about 8 years old. Jack [Constantine Romanoff] and Lena came back to Omaha, Nebraska to visit the Baltzer relatives. In my mind's eye I remember it as if it was yesterday. The relatives were gathered at one of my aunt's house and Jack invited the kids to punch him in the stomach with their fist as hard as they could. He smiled and didn't flinch. It was like hitting a block of wood. Then, he lifted a chair by one leg with a child sitting on it. We, my cousins and my brothers and sisters, never forgot it."
Diane goes on to remember that even though Romanoff was "Lena's" second husband, the whole Baltzer family treated Romanoff as one of their own, they "loved and admired him."
Friedrich William Heinrich August Meyer A.K.A. Fred William Meyer A.K.A. Jack Meyer A.K.A. Constantine Romanoff passed away on February 8, 1969. Romanoff's wife, "Lena", passed away in 1966. Her descendants have passed down through the years that both "Lena" and Romanoff were both buried in Pomona cemetery in California. Also passed down was that Romanoff was living in an "Old Actors Home" at the time of his death.
From what I can tell every single item of confusion regarding Romanoff has occurred due to the date of his passing.
It appears other sites (and we originally did) believe November 13, 1977 was his date of death. This date of death was that of George C. Romanoff. A man who served in the Russian army until around 1917 before taking up a long term residence in San Marin County, California. He was born in St. Petersburg, Russia on July 5, 1897. Diane has confirmed that this Romanoff didn't even arrive in America until 1923 after Romanoff had begun acting and wrestling. This is who was thought to be "our" Constantine Romanoff.
As Diane has proved, that is simply inaccurate. The information provided within the obituary of George C. Romanoff there is no mention of him being an actor or a wrestler which, lets face it, is strange given he found success in both fields, only his time in the Russian army was mentioned. Complete with the documentation that Diane was brought to my attention there is no doubt it was definitely the wrong man.
This is exactly the kind of myth, rumor and inaccurate information we are aiming to dispel on the website and from the beginning we have been very open that will be made, part of researching is constantly updating previously held notes as new documents, articles and sources become available. Opening our eyes wider than they ever were. In this case, without the assistance of Diane, it's likely this injustice would never have been rectified and we can not state enough how appreciative we are that she contacted us.
Constantine Romanoff most definitely deserves to be remembered accurately as he truly helped pave the way for wrestlers to successfully transition from the mat into the studios of Hollywood.
According to IMDB Romanoff appeared in his first movie during 1921 in an uncredited role. His first known credited role came in 1926 and from there plenty of work as an actor came rolling his way. You can check out the fullest known listing of acting appearances for Romanoff at IMDB.com.
A Kansas City, Missouri newspaper has the following to say about Romanoff on August 8, 1926:
"One of the country's greatest wrestlers has been signed by Harold Lloyd to play the role of a strong man in a medicine show, a sequence in Lloyd's forthcoming mountain story."
The excerpt was a part of a bigger article about how America's champion athletes were flopping in the cinema. Oh how Romanoff would prove them wrong. A Davenport, Iowa newspaper also looked at Lloyd's newest comedy venture and had the following to say of Romanoff:
"A favorite with wrestling audiences through-out the country, who has been devoting his recent efforts to the silent drama, has been signed to play the part of a strong man with the medicine show."
After the release of the movie, the Davenport paper stated Romanoff gave a "Splendid performance." They said it was a natural part for the wrestling championship contendor. While the Terre Haute Saturday Spectator gave the following brief review of the movie that today is considered by many as the most well known and important of Romanoff's acting career:
"The Kid Brother
Perhaps no star has a following like that of Harold Lloyd. It is certain that no comedian is liked so well. Now he will come to Terre Haute in his very latest picture which was named just recently and just as recently released.
There is no need to elaborate upon the method used by Harold Lloyd in his comedies for anyone who is familiar with pictures knows the comedian with the large shell-rimmed glasses. Always he keeps the audience in an uproar. Remember 'Safety First', 'The Freshman', and 'For Heaven's Sake'?
In this picture Harold has to overcome a menace - the strong man with a medicine show, and for that menace he has Constantine Romanoff, formerly one of the leading wrestling lights in Europe and the United States. After the denouement of the story was completely filmed and Lloyd had overcome the menace he admitted to those around him that it was a considerable menace to triumph over. Romanoff was told not to spare Lloyd, who is a well trained and sturdy athlete, and he did not for an instant. If you want to forget all yoru worry and care, then you'll see Harold Lloyd as 'The Kid Brother.'"
The Kid Brother (1927) in Full
On his naturalization document dated January 28, 1927 his occupation is listed as Actor/Showman. In 1930 he is listed as working in the moving pictures and by the 1940 census he is listed as an actor in the moving pictures. So we know from those records that he didn't wrestle past 1929, which would make sense given that he would have been 50 in 1931.
One thing we do know is that during his career he was a top claimant to the Pacific Heavyweight Championship during 1922, but other than that, there is a lot of work to be done on discovering just how much success he did achieve. His movie career is a more than worthy resume to remember anyone by though.
Through-out his acting career the fact he had been a professional wrestler was mentioned even though his movie career, given what we currently know, totally outshines his wrestling days. Normally they refer to him as a former contender to the heavyweight wrestling crown.
The 1930's and the 1940's saw consistent praise, adulation and success for Romanoff. As he was one of the most recognizable movie bad-guys in America. Other than The Kid Brother, it's often said that Romanoff's most well known film was the 1940 release of The Long Voyage Home when he played Big Frank. During the 1940's he was said to weigh in excess of 200-pounds.
We are very lucky to be able to provide the following excerpt of a letter that "Lena" sent to her family. It is dated April 21, 1942 from her's and Romanoff's Los Angeles address:
"My dearest children, Just a few lines to let you know we are all living and getting along. It has been so long since I have heard from you. Hope this finds you all well and happy. It has been raining here all day. We are having our rains late this year. Jack [Constantine Romanoff] is working now for a while. Did you see Reap the Wild Wind. That is one of the last pictures, it is very good."
In 1946 he gave a newspaper man an example of the fact he was still in shape by hitting himself on his stomach to show it rock solid. Romanoff said it was all in aid of killing those movie dames. The interview was to hype the release of Anna and the King of Siam. That same year he even appeared in one of the most well known movies of all time, It's a Wonderful Life.
As it happens, Diane recalls the following story which most definitely echos the above "stunt":
"The first time I saw him was in the late 1930's. I was about 8 years old. Jack [Constantine Romanoff] and Lena came back to Omaha, Nebraska to visit the Baltzer relatives. In my mind's eye I remember it as if it was yesterday. The relatives were gathered at one of my aunt's house and Jack invited the kids to punch him in the stomach with their fist as hard as they could. He smiled and didn't flinch. It was like hitting a block of wood. Then, he lifted a chair by one leg with a child sitting on it. We, my cousins and my brothers and sisters, never forgot it."
Diane goes on to remember that even though Romanoff was "Lena's" second husband, the whole Baltzer family treated Romanoff as one of their own, they "loved and admired him."
Friedrich William Heinrich August Meyer A.K.A. Fred William Meyer A.K.A. Jack Meyer A.K.A. Constantine Romanoff passed away on February 8, 1969. Romanoff's wife, "Lena", passed away in 1966. Her descendants have passed down through the years that both "Lena" and Romanoff were both buried in Pomona cemetery in California. Also passed down was that Romanoff was living in an "Old Actors Home" at the time of his death.
From what I can tell every single item of confusion regarding Romanoff has occurred due to the date of his passing.
It appears other sites (and we originally did) believe November 13, 1977 was his date of death. This date of death was that of George C. Romanoff. A man who served in the Russian army until around 1917 before taking up a long term residence in San Marin County, California. He was born in St. Petersburg, Russia on July 5, 1897. Diane has confirmed that this Romanoff didn't even arrive in America until 1923 after Romanoff had begun acting and wrestling. This is who was thought to be "our" Constantine Romanoff.
As Diane has proved, that is simply inaccurate. The information provided within the obituary of George C. Romanoff there is no mention of him being an actor or a wrestler which, lets face it, is strange given he found success in both fields, only his time in the Russian army was mentioned. Complete with the documentation that Diane was brought to my attention there is no doubt it was definitely the wrong man.
This is exactly the kind of myth, rumor and inaccurate information we are aiming to dispel on the website and from the beginning we have been very open that will be made, part of researching is constantly updating previously held notes as new documents, articles and sources become available. Opening our eyes wider than they ever were. In this case, without the assistance of Diane, it's likely this injustice would never have been rectified and we can not state enough how appreciative we are that she contacted us.
Constantine Romanoff most definitely deserves to be remembered accurately as he truly helped pave the way for wrestlers to successfully transition from the mat into the studios of Hollywood.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
Biography of Constantine Romanoff
Author: Jimmy Wheeler.
Published: November 27, 2014.
Biography: #162.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Updated: January 26, 2016.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
Biography of Constantine Romanoff
Author: Jimmy Wheeler.
Published: November 27, 2014.
Biography: #162.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Updated: January 26, 2016.