fabulous moolah
me:
the other night i caught the tail end of a
documentary
on the independent film channel
about lady wrestlers from the 40's and 50's...
really knocked me out.
keith:
i think i know the one you're talking about...
me:
this bizarre community of athletic, glamorous gals
making their way in the world,
earning their own money, fucking
whenever they pleased,
and beating the hell out of each other...
keith:
HA!
me:
way, way ahead of their time...
ahead of ours infact...
keith:
oh boy...
me:
think bettie page with a busted lip,
cauliflower ear, 12 extra pounds of muscle
and a bad, bad attitude...
keith:
you like that, do you?
me:
bettie page was nifty but
ultimately a dumbass...
but those wrestling bitches knew the score...
keith:
bettie page was stupid?
me:
well..maybe...just niave.
keith:
i had no idea.
me:
those lady wrestlers were
role models each and every one..
not a boring beauty queen in the bunch...
somewhat lumpy in their heels
and lipstick but
BUFF, tough and cool as shit...
TIMELESS!
bettie page had a short shelf life
but as a lady wrestler you can be
80 and still walk
with a HOT! bitchin' boss swagger...
keith:
so you suddenly want to kick ass...
me:
gosh no...
i don't want to hit
or be hit...
i just dig the look...
the lifestyle...
i don't want to actually fight.
GROSS!
keith:
amanda, you know that stuff wasn't real?
me:
yu-huh! was so!
keith:
fake! all of it!
me:
today it's fake maybe... back then it wasn't...
one girl even died...
keith:
ten years ago a guy in the WWF broke his neck...
things go wrong..
choreography gets botched...
me:
say it ain't so...
those fights were phony?
keith:
bogus...
totally
me:
suddenly i feel bettie page stupid.
keith:
well...maybe..just niave...
.....Fabulous Moolah action figure!
HEIGHT / WEIGHT: 5' 5'' 138 lbs
REAL NAME: Lillian Ellison
BIRTHDAY: July 22nd 1923
FROM: Columbia South Carolina
TRAINED BY: Mildred Burke & Mae Young
PROFESSIONAL DEBUT: 1949
PREVIOUS IDENTITIES: Spider Lady
FINISHING MOVE: School Girl Roll Up
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
7-Time WWE Women's Champion
3-Time NWA Women's Champion
WWE Hall Of Fame Inductee
2002 Wrestling Informer Female Hall Of Fame Inductee
2003 Professional Wrestling Hall Of Fame Lady Inductee
1991 PWI Editor's Award Winner
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Amazon.com synopsis:
Lipstick & Dynamite shines a spotlight on the forgotten first ladies of the ring. Gladys 'Killem' Gillem wrestled women, men, alligators, and bears. At 18, Ida May Martinez took to the road to flash the only thing she knew - how to kick, punch, and defend herself. Narrowly escaping a date rape at 16, Penny Banner trained for survival. Still kicking butt at 80, The Fabulous Moolah and Johnnie Mae Young live together with midget wrestler sidekick Diamond 'Lil, and continue to take bumps with World Wrestling Entertainment.
Each woman reflects on her own remarkable life with fond and bitter memories, reconciling a wild, flamboyant youth with the reality of getting older and fading away. Lipstick & Dynamite follows Moolah, Johnnie Mae and the girls 60 years, many bumps and falls later as they discuss the money, the old days and what it's like to be a 'lady' in today's favorite guilty pleasure: spectator sport.