Gladys Gillem

Infobox Wrestler
name = Gladys Gillem
names = Gladys "Killem" Gillem


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birth_date = January 6 1921cite web|title=Women Wrestler Profiles: Gladys Gillem|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/g/gladys-gillem.html|accessdate=2008-05-05]
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resides = Pensacola, Florida
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debut = 1942
retired = 1962
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Gladys Wallcite web|url=http://www.georgiawrestlinghistory.com/whoswho/g/gladys_gillem/01.html|title=MATCH RECORDS, MENTIONS, OR APPEARANCES IN GEORGIA|publisher=Georgia Wrestling History|accessdate=2008-08-26] (born January 6 1921), also known as Gladys "Killem" Gillem or Gladys "Kill 'Em" Gillem, is a retired professional wrestler. She currently resides in Pensacola, Florida.

Professional wrestling career

Gladys Gillem was inspired to begin a career as a professional wrestling after seeing Mildred Burke wrestle.cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2004/04/26/437175.html|title=Documentary honors women of '50s|author=Oliver, Greg|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|accessdate=2008-08-26|date=April 27, 2004] She began at the age of nineteen in carnival shows. 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, including wrestling her for Burke's World Women's Championship. She acted in this capacity until her retirement in 1962. During her time with the promotion, she developed a sexual relationship with Wolfe.

Gladys Gillem gained additional notability when she was one of the focal interviewees for "", a documentary about the early days of women's wrestling in North America.cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2004/05/04/446816.html|title=Guts & endurance calling card of Lipstick & Dynamite|author=Renwick, Meredith|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|accessdate=2008-08-26|date=May 4, 2004]

Personal life

During one match, one of Gillem's eyes was knocked out of the socket. Also, she developed a cauliflower like sore on the back of her head due to taking bumps in the ring.

After leaving wrestling, Gladys became a lion tamer and also wrestled alligators. Gillem's grandson, Beaver, formed a rock band in Southern California in 1997. Appropriately called "Killem Gillem", the band hails from the South Bay, and features Mike Clark, of Suicidal Tendencies, as a guitarist.

In wrestling

*Finishing and signature moves
**Belly to back suplex [cite web|url=http://www.bodyslamming.com/other/gladysgillem.html|publisher=Bodyslamming.com|title=Other Superstars:Gladys Gillem|accessdate=2008-08-26]

Notes

External links

* [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/g/gladys-gillem.html Profile at Online World of Wrestling]