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Lipstick & Dynamite Review
By Brett Schwan
Lipstick & Dynamite, Piss & Vinegar, directed by Ruth Leitman premiered at the Angelika Film Center on Friday, March 25th. Leitman took on the daunting task of making a documentary about ladies wrestling. Interviewing many female legends of the mat, while primarily focusing on six of them and their stories, and combining those interviews with extremely rare wrestling footage, photos, clippings, and scenes from the 1951 movie "Racket Girls" makes for a wrestling fans dream on the big screen.
The six women who are the main focus of this film are:
The
Fabulous Moolah - Lillian Ellison (1949-Present): Moolah is probably the
most "recognizable" women in professional wrestling. Ellison
began her career in the 1950's as a valet and manager. (For wrestlers
like The Elephant Man and Buddy Rogers). Moolah worked for Vince McMahon
Sr. and continues to work for the WWE today.
The Great Mae Young (1940-Present): These days you rarely see Lillian
without Mae Young at her side. Ed “Strangler" Lewis (who was
a friend of the family) taught Mae how to wrestle while she was on hiatus
from kicking field goals for the high school men's football team. Young
has wrestled in eight decades, and was the first to train The Fabulous
Moolah.
Gladys "Killem" Gillem (1942-1962): The oldest wrestler of her generation (and still proud of that fact today), Gladys “Killem” Gillem claims to have never won a match. At nineteen years old she left home and found work at local carnivals. In addition to wrestling (both men and women), Gillem also wrestled bears, alligators and trailed lions for a living.
Ida
May Martinez (1952-1959) : Ida May Martinez was introduced to wrestling
by promoter Billy Wolfe. She traveled all over North America in the 1950's.
After retiring from the sport in 1959, Ms. Martinez went on to become
a nurse and was a pioneer in helping AIDS patients and their families.
She has also become a star in western yodeling (where she's known as "The
Yodeling Lady").
Ella Waldek (1952-1971): Ella Waldek (real name Elsie Schevchenko) changed her name because “who could stand in a ring and autograph an eleven letter last name?” Waldek was introduced to wrestling while performing at the local Roller Derby. As a roller derby jammer, Ella was offered the chance to watch a wrestling match. Waldek soon began training and made her way to the top of the ranks. After leaving wrestling, Waldek became a private detective and opened her own security agency.
Penny Banner (1954-1977): With the looks of a glamour model, Penny Banner earned a reputation as a powerful and strong athlete with the looks of a Hollywood star. Billy Wolfe made her an offer to begin wrestling, and Penny Banner was born. Penny won many titles and championships and was the first AWA Women's Champion. Penny Banner is currently a Senior Olympian (who by the way, recently had knee replacement surgery but is making incredible progress with her rehabilitation). Penny remains one of the sports most popular and beloved women. In July of 2004 Penny released her book "Banner Days". For more information check out her interview with WrestlingClothesline.com or go to her website at www.bannerdays.com.
To hear these women speak about their careers is captivating. The interviews take place in the women's homes as well as on the road (on the way to a reunion).
All of the ladies started out working for promoter Billy
Wolfe, who forced them give him 50 percent of their earnings and pay their
own expenses. Moolah eventually started up her own school and began promoting
(only charging her wrestlers 25% of their earnings) Even so, the other
women seem to resent Moolah and her cutthroat business dealings and control
over the Women’s Championship during the 1960’s and 70’s.
(In fact, many state that the only person who declared Moolah champion,
was Moolah who bought herself a belt and paraded herself around with it.
)
Moolah, who shares a home with Mae Young and midget wrestler "Diamond
Lil", gets emotional when she talks about her ex husband Buddy Lee,
and how she caught him in her bed with her friend and protégé,
wrestler Rita Cortez. ( We also hear from Rita Cortez Lee who states that
the only title she ever held was Mrs. Buddy Lee, but that was enough for
her.)
Footage of Moolah losing her belt to Wendi Richter followed by her winning the belt back as Spider Lady. (Supposedly the original screw job finish by Vince McMahon as Wendi had no idea Moolah was under the mask nor did she know she was going to lose.) After the match, Richter would not let go of the belt but Moolah was declared champion. (On a side note, Wendi Richter left the WWF immediately after that match and, for the most part, left pro wrestling behind).
Mae Young states that she will wrestle a match on her 100th birthday as she shares stories from her past as one of women's wrestling greatest heel wrestlers.
Ella
Waldek talks about a match with her and Mae Young against Eva Lee and
Janet Boyer Wolfe. Wolfe was the "adopted" daughter of promoter
Billy Wolfe and he was priming her to be the next champion. Before the
match, Wolfe was complaining about her head hurting. Waldek pleaded with
her to see a doctor as she may have a concussion. Wolfe didn't listen
and stepped into the ring for her match. During the match, Janet Boyer
Wolfe collapsed and subsequently died. Even though her death was a freak
accident, police held Waldek, Lee, and Young while contemplating charging
them with attempted manslaughter. Eventually all charges were dropped
but by then, people were flocking to the arenas to see the women who killed
someone else in the ring.
Waldek, in a very moving moment, talks about how she broke down in tears during a moment of silence for Wolfe at a later show. Waldek also went on to talk about the inoperable cancer she has and how she refused to take chemo. "Why take something that makes you so sick when the cancer itself doesn't hurt?"
Ida May Martinez not only shares her yodeling talents with us but shares some of her career highlights. She also talks about Moolah's love of money and how she had several matches with Moolah during her career. Ida discusses openly her abusive marriage and her seemingly always being attracted to needy, alcoholic men.
Gladys
“Killem” Gillem, in my opinion, stole the show. Her completely
care free attitude was hilarious. To hear this woman talk about her never
winning a match and her alligator and bear wrestling was priceless. Gillem
graphically describes getting hit in the head and her eye "hanging
from its socket". She described how they put it back in and how,
since then, her mind "goes back and forth." "I f**ked Billy
Wolfe!" she proudly exclaims! (Which left the audience in stitches).
Gillem goes on to talk about her being a mother and grandmother as we
join her on a fishing outing. We also see footage of her appearance on
Bill Cosby’s "You Bet Your Life" where she states that
she's wrestled alligators, women, men, and bears but "never a millionaire"
as she eggs on Cosby.
Penny
Banner talks about the first time she met Johnnie Mae Young, in 1954.
"She had on men's shoes, men's pants, she was smoking a cigar. She
looked at me and said, 'What you looking at, F**kface!' You didn't do
things like that then!" Penny said. Banner went on to talk about
growing up in the projects and working as a waitress. After a customer
attempted to rape her, she learned judo and began weight training, as
a way for her to defend herself. As luck would have it, a male wrestler
noticed her and told promoter Sam Muchnik about this beautiful yet strong
woman. Prior to this, Penny didn't even know girls wrestling existed.
Banner goes on to talk about the numerous titles she held, including the first AWA Women's Championship and the Woman's World and Canadian Tag Team Championships. She openly talks about her abusive marriage to wrestler Johnny Weaver and the pride she has for her daughter, Wendi. After leaving wrestling, Penny went on to have a career in real estate as well as being a Senior Olympic medal winner (where she competes in shot put, discuss throw, and swimming).
As the movie comes to a close, we accompany Gladys Gillem to the reunion where she sits and talks with Moolah and Mae about her not having anything, as she spent her money before she even earned it and how Moolah was smart because she saved and invested. Mae talks about how you can't take it with you and as long as you have fun and enjoy life, that's all that matters. Gillem admits that she is enjoying life but Moolah tells her about the new caskets they now have, with a pocket, so you can take it with you when you die.
Lipstick & Dynamite is a must see movie for all wrestling and non wrestling fans alike. The stories shared by these women will appeal to everyone, fan or not. Leitman does a great job at letting these women tell their stories. These amazing women who simply wanted to survive poverty while working in a male dominated business (and having to overcome adversity, abuse, injuries and more) are inspirations to us all.
For more information on this movie check out LipstickandDynamiteTheMovie.com!
Following the movie, Ida May Martinez, Fabulous Moolah,
Mae Young, Penny Banner, Ella Waldek, Gladys Gillem, and director Ruth
Leitman signed autographs and held a Q and A for those who just attended
the movie. All the women looked great and seemed thrilled to be there.
(With the exception of Moolah. Who can blame her after her coming off
looking pretty bad is some points during the movie). Luminaries in attendance
included Evan Ginsberg, Mike Johnson, and, from the WWE, Victoria, Molly,
and Ivory (with a camera crew). 
Moolah, ever the team player, sang the praises of Trish Stratus and her
wrestling ability, when asked about her being champion. Penny Banner told
the fans how this was her first time in NYC (as NY barred women's wrestling
for many years). Ella and Mae, when asked, went into further detail on
the passing of Janet Boyer Wolfe and how it did lead to them drawing some
huge crowds due to fans wanting to see the "murderers". Gladys
was feisty and ready to take on anyone at the table or anyone in the audience.
At 8:15 all the women went in to see the movie (many seeing it for the first time). Frank and I enjoyed it so much, we saw it a second time. (Surprisingly, the second time was even better than the first.). The entire evening, from start to finish, was a blast. I can not reccommend this movie enough.
I promised Penny I wouldn't discuss what's in the cup!
Lipstick & Dynamite is currently playing at
Angelika Film Center,
18 W. Houston Street, Manhattan, NY.
(212) 995-2000
www.angelikafilmcenter.com
Lesser Kew Gardens Cinemas
81-05 Lefferts Blvd.
Kew Gardens, NY
(718) 441-9835
Lesser Malverne Cinema 4
350 Hempstead Avenue
Malverne, NY
(516) 599-6966
Roberts Wellmont Triplex
5 Seymour Street
Montclair, NJ
(973) 783-9500
Los Angeles
OPENS Friday April 8th, 2005
Laemmle Sunset 5
8000 Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA
(323) 848-3500
The ladies & director will appear at the Laemmle Sunset 5 opening
night, April 8th
Laemmle Playhouse 7
673 E. Colorado Blvd
Pasadena, CA
(626) 844-6500
Edwards University Towne Center 6
4245 Campus Drive
Irvine, CA
(949) 854-8818
Atlanta
OPENS Friday May 13th, 2005
Landmark Midtown Theater
931 Monroe Drive
Atlanta, GA 30308
The ladies & director will appear at the Landmark Midtown Theater
opening night
Coming to a theater near you! Additional screenings, festivals, and sneak
previews.
California
OPENS Friday, April 8th, 2005!
West Hollywood, CA
(see Premiere info, above)
Georgia
OPENS Friday, May 13th, 2005!
Atlanta, GA
(see Premiere info, above)
Illinois
Gene Siskel Film Center:
Conversations at the Edge Series
Thursday April 21
7:00pm
Chicago, IL
www.siskelfilmcenter.org
* director in attendance
Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Film Festival
Friday April 15
Saturday April 16
Philadelphia, PA
www.phillyfests.com
* director in attendance
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Film Festival
April 2 and 3
Madison, WI
www.wifilmfest.org
* director in attendance
