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Gladys Gillem

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Wrestler

The Resume

    (January 6, 1920-August 12, 2009)
    Born in Birmingham, Alabama
    Active 1942-62
    Specialized in playing the heavy to World Women's Champion Mildred Burke
    Featured in the documentary 'Lipstick and Dynamite, Piss and Vinegar: The First Ladies of Wrestling' (2005)

Why she might be annoying:

    She was expelled from Catholic school for putting minnows in the holy water.
    In addition to other women, she wrestled with bears and alligators.
    She admitted to sleeping with wrestling promoter Billy Wolfe to get better bookings.
    Mildred Burke complained that Gillem bit her.
    She was nicknamed 'Kill 'Em Gillem.'

Why she might not be annoying:

    Her father died when she was 19, leaving her in charge of caring for her invalid mother.
    Her husband, John Wall, died when a box fell on him while he was working as a Broadway stagehand.
    She won 27 prizes for cooking at the Alabama State Fair over the years.
    Karl Lauer of the Cauliflower Alley Club said she 'could whip 90% of the men.'
    Daughter Claire McCoy commented, 'We always knew mom was different because she did whatever she wanted.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 14 Votes: 64.29% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 60 Votes: 51.67% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 29 Votes: 55.17% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 141 Votes: 55.32% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 27 Votes: 48.15% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 137 Votes: 56.93% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 94 Votes: 54.26% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 56 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 33 Votes: 51.52% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 45 Votes: 53.33% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 22 Votes: 59.09% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 74 Votes: 52.70% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 90 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 32 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 27 Votes: 51.85% Annoying