Lipstick & Dynamite Preview

Originally Published: March 20, 2005

p>Ruth Leitman’s new documentary, Lipstick & Dynamite, Piss & Vinegar: The First Ladies of Wrestling, shines a spotlight on the strongest and most fascinating lady entertainers, such as Gladys “Killem” Gillem, who wrestled women, men, alligators bears. At age eighteen, 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 age sixteen, Penny Banner trained for survival. Still kicking butt at age 80, The Fabulous Moolah and The Great Mae Young live together with midget wrestler sidekick Diamond Lil, and continue to take bumps in the ring.

In Lipstick & Dynamite, each woman reflects on her own remarkable life with fond and bitter memories, reconciling a wild, flamboyant youth with the reality of aging. The film follows Moolah, Mae and the girls over the course of sixty years, both in and out of the ring. Many bumps and falls later, they discuss the money, the old days and what it’s like to be a lady in one of today’s favorite spectator sports.

To view photos from the film, get background information on all the wrestlers and much more, visit our preview page RIGHT HERE »