Gladys Gillem Wall[3] (January 6, 1920 – August 12, 2009), also known as Gladys "Killem" Gillem or Gladys "Kill 'Em" Gillem,[2] was an American professional wrestler.
Gillem was inspired to begin a career as a professional wrestling after seeing Mildred Burke wrestle.[4] She was trained in Tennessee with Wilma Gordon,[1] and she began wrestling in carnival shows.[5] Besides wrestling men and women, Gillem wrestled bears and alligators as part of her act. Gillem eventually found work touring with promoter Billy Wolfe's, the husband of Mildred Burke, troop of women wrestlers in 1942. She was often an opponent of Burke's,[4] wrestling her for the World Women's Championship.[3] She acted in this capacity until her retirement in 1962.[2] During her time with the promotion, she developed a sexual relationship with Wolfe.[2]
During one professional wrestling match, one of Gillem's eyes was knocked out of the socket.[2] Also, she developed a cauliflower like sore on the back of her head due to taking bumps in the ring.[2] Gillem, however, gained additional notability when she was one of the focal interviewees for Lipstick and Dynamite, Piss and Vinegar: The First Ladies of Wrestling, a documentary about the early days of women's wrestling in North America.[2]
Personal lifeedit
She was born in Birmingham, Alabama to Fred and Clara Gillem. In high school, Gillem won the Alabama State softball championship with her team. After her father died when she was 19, Gillem took care of her mother, who was an invalid.[1] After leaving wrestling, she rode horses and worked as a trapeze artist.[1] Gillem then became a lion tamer and wrestled alligators.[2][5]
She met her husband John Wall while working for the Bailey Brothers' circus.[1] The couple had three children together: Kathleen Ann, John, and Claire Fredrica. Her husband was killed while working as a Broadway stagehand in New York when a 500-pound box fell on his head. After his death, Gillem ran her mother's boarding house. In 1973, she began running the Birmingham motel in Pensacola.[1]
^ abcdefgOliver, Greg (August 13, 2009). "Wrestlers, lions, alligators: The incredible life of "Killem" Gillem". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved August 14, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^ abcdefghiRenwick, Meredith (May 4, 2004). "Guts & endurance calling card of Lipstick & Dynamite". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved August 26, 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^ ab. Georgia Wrestling History. Archived from the original on October 25, 2007. Retrieved August 26, 2008.
^ abOliver, Greg (April 27, 2004). "Documentary honors women of '50s". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on January 1, 2013. Retrieved August 26, 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^ abEllison, Lillian (2003). The Fabulous Moolah: First Goddess of the Squared Circle. ReaganBooks. p. 202. ISBN978-0-06-001258-8.
January 01, 1970
gladys, gillem, wall, january, 1920, august, 2009, also, known, gladys, killem, gillem, gladys, kill, gillem, american, professional, wrestler, gillem, 1942birth, name, wallbornjanuary, 1920birmingham, alabama, diedaugust, 2009, 2009, aged, pensacola, florida,. Gladys Gillem Wall 3 January 6 1920 August 12 2009 also known as Gladys Killem Gillem or Gladys Kill Em Gillem 2 was an American professional wrestler Gladys GillemGillem in 1942Birth nameGladys Gillem WallBornJanuary 6 1920Birmingham Alabama U S DiedAugust 12 2009 2009 08 12 aged 89 Pensacola Florida U S Professional wrestling careerRing name s Gladys GillemTrained byWilma Gordon 1 Debut1942 2 Retired1962 2 Contents 1 Professional wrestling career 2 Personal life 3 Death 4 ReferencesProfessional wrestling career editGillem was inspired to begin a career as a professional wrestling after seeing Mildred Burke wrestle 4 She was trained in Tennessee with Wilma Gordon 1 and she began wrestling in carnival shows 5 Besides wrestling men and women Gillem wrestled bears and alligators as part of her act Gillem eventually found work touring with promoter Billy Wolfe s the husband of Mildred Burke troop of women wrestlers in 1942 She was often an opponent of Burke s 4 wrestling her for the World Women s Championship 3 She acted in this capacity until her retirement in 1962 2 During her time with the promotion she developed a sexual relationship with Wolfe 2 During one professional wrestling match one of Gillem s eyes was knocked out of the socket 2 Also she developed a cauliflower like sore on the back of her head due to taking bumps in the ring 2 Gillem however gained additional notability when she was one of the focal interviewees for Lipstick and Dynamite Piss and Vinegar The First Ladies of Wrestling a documentary about the early days of women s wrestling in North America 2 Personal life editShe was born in Birmingham Alabama to Fred and Clara Gillem In high school Gillem won the Alabama State softball championship with her team After her father died when she was 19 Gillem took care of her mother who was an invalid 1 After leaving wrestling she rode horses and worked as a trapeze artist 1 Gillem then became a lion tamer and wrestled alligators 2 5 She met her husband John Wall while working for the Bailey Brothers circus 1 The couple had three children together Kathleen Ann John and Claire Fredrica Her husband was killed while working as a Broadway stagehand in New York when a 500 pound box fell on his head After his death Gillem ran her mother s boarding house In 1973 she began running the Birmingham motel in Pensacola 1 Death editGillem underwent heart bypass surgery in 2003 On August 12 2009 she died of Alzheimer s disease at her home in Pensacola Florida 1 References edit a b c d e f g Oliver Greg August 13 2009 Wrestlers lions alligators The incredible life of Killem Gillem Slam Sports Canadian Online Explorer Archived from the original on January 15 2013 Retrieved August 14 2009 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint unfit URL link a b c d e f g h i Renwick Meredith May 4 2004 Guts amp endurance calling card of Lipstick amp Dynamite SLAM Wrestling Archived from the original on January 15 2013 Retrieved August 26 2008 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint unfit URL link a b MATCH RECORDS MENTIONS OR APPEARANCES IN GEORGIA Georgia Wrestling History Archived from the original on October 25 2007 Retrieved August 26 2008 a b Oliver Greg April 27 2004 Documentary honors women of 50s SLAM Wrestling Archived from the original on January 1 2013 Retrieved August 26 2008 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint unfit URL link a b Ellison Lillian 2003 The Fabulous Moolah First Goddess of the Squared Circle ReaganBooks p 202 ISBN 978 0 06 001258 8 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gladys Gillem amp oldid 1219142301, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
