Hello Everyone...

We just got a message from Claire, Gladys' daughter....

"Gladys took a bad fall last week.� We thought she had broken her hip but it was her leg.� She has been in a great deal of pain.� They did put in a rod and she can not put any pressure on it for at least six weeks.� We all know Gladys does not like to sit still.� She has never been a quitter, we expect her to be racing around with her walker before Labor Day.

If you can, please take the time to give her a call or send a little note.�
You may also post a comment and we'll make sure that she gets it."

Tandem Health Care of Pensacola
235 West Airport Blvd.
Room 405D - Gladys Wall
Pensacola, Fl. 32505
850-857-5309

Thank you in advance for your support!

-MCD

Thanks to all the fans that hung in there during the early years with the girls. You stayed true to us, not knowing how hard the girls worked to entertain all of you.

I promised myself to live clean and decent and act like a lady under circumstances much like a gypsy. Most girls were honest, and for the few who were not, the lies about their power and ability to be better than the rest - let me say - no one and i mean no one - could have gotten where they were - without one or more of the rest putting them there. Rest assured without the other lady wrestlers working with them - they could not stand through a three fall match and could not have drawn flies.

The film illustrates that there are many sides to every story. Like the business of wrestling, some people are always entertaining, even when telling 'true' life stories. Believe me when I say that I am a lady - and a lady would never get into bed with a punchy boxer- nutty as a fruitcake, and whose last address was a mental hospital.

I hope everyone enjoys the film. I really enjoyed making it in- and again I thank you.

-Ella

NEW YORK, NEW YORK! Here we come - The Ladies of "Lipstick & Dynamite"
(retired) Fightin'  Female Lady Wrestlers!!!

I'm Penny Banner, the one  called the " St. Louie Woman."  When I
entered this career, I'd never so much as heard of women wrestlers. I didn't
believe such a sport existed!

I was a governess to three children - just minding my business - when
a call  came  from the president of the National Wrestling Alliance. He had
heard from a friend that I had studied  judo and could do 200 situps . That
interested him, so he asked me if I was interested in becoming a lady
wrestler. I was very hesitant.

Some of my career highlights are:  

* 1964 - Winning the First AWA Womens World Championship

* In 1997 I was awared the Lifetime Achievement award from the CAC

*  2004 - Publishing my  autobiography  "Banner Days," which is dedicated to
all of the women I wrestled from 1954  thru 1977. (It can be purchased on
http://www.bannerdays.com)

* 2005 - Participating in Lipstick and Dynamite is the epitome of my career
and I thank Ruth Leitmann for her vision in taking the time to create it.
This documentary is for all pioneer women wrestlers to be remembered for
their strengths and struggles;

* 2005 - Scheduled for induction into the Professional Wrestlings Hall of
Fame this coming May 22nd in Amsterdam, N.Y. http://www.pwhf.org

Since January, I am recouperating from a total right knee replacement and
training hard for this year's National Senior Olympic games to be held this
June in Pittsburgh, Pa.

I still love competition but my sports today are much easier on my
bones:  swimming, the discus, shotput and hammer throws.

Whatta you mean "blue haired ladies" When people tell me I love your hair color: I ask them "which color do you like the best?: The auburn, the gray the black or the brown or the white? Yes, Sarasota was wonderful and Miami was really great. Daisy was a trip, but a sweetheart. I didn't choke her too hard did I?

I am ecstatic, after all these years of being a survivor no matter what, and growing up in a man's world, I am so thrilled to be in a movie.

It wasn't easy fighting my way to the top and this is the ultimate-- of spending the last segment of my life in a movie. I will yodel until I can't breathe and yodel until I make some folks sick, then I'll take care of them being an RN, MSN , I know CPR. and if they don't like my nursing care I'll kick their butts since I am a Pro Lady Wrestler. How do you like them apples????

In 1996, I was a medalist (2 Silver) in the Maryland Senior Olympics for sprinting. That means if I can't whip your butt, I can outrun you!!! I'll get you one way or the other.

I feel so proud to be in this film that I forgot to say that I was known as "The Female Rocco" of the mat, which was quite flattering simply because I did alot of aerial work, as did Antonio Rocco. The Professional Hall of Fame gave me a Special Induction to "The Best Female Wrestling Yodeler in November of 2003. Memorabilia is in Amsterdam, NY, PHWF

I was elected to the New England Country Music and Historical Society and Hall of Fame in Massachusetts 2003 with my memorabilia. Presented with a Lifetime Membership in "The International Ring 101, Boxing Club" in Maryland. A real honor for me. My thanks to everyone.

I love you all with God's Blessings,
-Ms. Ida, AKA The Yodeling Lady- Dynamite