It had been a long run for the Italian-American from New Jersey by way of South Philly named Joe Scarpa, later known as the Native American character Chief Jay Strongbow. He lived the gimmick for decades. When pressed on the subject, he rarely budged from his story of being an Indian from Oklahoma, although fans of an earlier generation had cheered for him as Joe Scarpa.

When challenged, the faux Indian with strong Italian features would retort, “I’m Jay, not Joe,” adding that his mother was “a full-blooded Cherokee,” a claim that was never verified. Tom Stephenson recalls his friend-to-be attempting to “kayfabe” (present a stage character as genuine) him when the two first met.