19.04.2010, 15:22
Mildred Burke
Women’s Champion
Oktober 1952
“Mildred Burke, world wrestling champion, can best be described as the Pin-Up girl who pins ‘emdown - at $50,000 a year. In 15 years of wrestling, Mildred, born in Coffeyville, Kansas, birthplace of Walter Johnson, the Big Train of major league baseball, has never been thrown although she admits rugged matches in 43 of the 48 states, as well as in Cuba, Mexico and Canada.
The 33-year-old, 5 foot, 2 inch blue-eyed pioneer of girls wrestling says: “That while I started out to become an interior decorator.” She preferred to decorate her opponents with tough holds: “This sport got into my blood early. I wrestled men and women during the Great Depression and my first match was in Bethany, Missouri, before 300 persons. Times have changed since then”, says Mildred. “Gust Karras, the promoter then, would be amazed to see the crowds I draw today - averaging from 5,000 in smaller cities to 10,000 in the Coliseum in Mexico to 15,000 in the Boston Garden and the Philadelphia Convention Hall. I guess I wrestled some 200 men, all comers, in my time. It was rugged work, but my challengers today are just as spirited and even more tricky. There are about 100 girl wrestlers today, but I would say there are about 16 who can be classed as top notch wrestlers.”
Manager Billy Wolfe says Mildred wrestlers in the average of from 3 to 5 nights a week, 8 months a year. “She rests the other four,” says Billy. “Mildred has two homes in Los Angeles, both showplaces,” he says with pride. “One is for her and the other for her mother.” While the world knows of Mildred’s skill, few know her personal backround. Her mother, Mrs. Bertha E. Bliss, lives next door to her in Los Angeles. She is 75 years of age. “I own my success to her,” says Mildred. “She is a clear, sound thinker. When I told her I was going to drop interior decorating for wrestling she advised: “If you do that, put your heart into it.’ --- I guess I did. I’ve been champion for 13 years, a title I earned in a Columbus, Ohio tournament sponsored by the Mid-West Wrestling Association. There were 15 girls entered. In the finals, I defeated Edna Bancroft to win a belt that weights 15 pounds and is 24 karat gold, containing 7 diamonds, 4 sapphires and 6 amethysts. I always wear it before a match,” says Mildred.
While not athletes, Mildred is also proud of her three sisters. “All are ordained ministers in the Four Square Gospel in California. They are Mrs. Edna Newell, Mrs. Flora Bingham and Mrs. Marie Butcher. I am a Baptist, myself. My brother, Louis, used to be organist for Aimee Semple McPherson. He was Norma Shearer’s secretary at one time, too. Today, he is an engineer,” commented Mildred, who has a 14-years-old son, Joseph, who attends John Muir, Junior High School in Los Angeles. Although she has never appeared in England, Australia or South Africa, Mildred says “she gets a ton of mail a year. I average at least 1,000 letters from girls who want to wrestle.”
The Pin-Up girl who pins ‘emdown has a waist of a musical comedy star and build of a female Atlas. “Frankly, I was 150 pounds when I started to wrestle. Today I average 130, net. Wrestling is great for woman. It keeps one agile and one’s mind alert. Of course, the earnings are interesting, too. That’s why I hear from so many girls each year. Those who make the grade become sound businesswomen, in property, in investments, in clothes and jewelry. I know several competitors who own businesses. Now, what secretary can make those claims?” says Mildred Burke."
Women’s Champion
Oktober 1952
“Mildred Burke, world wrestling champion, can best be described as the Pin-Up girl who pins ‘emdown - at $50,000 a year. In 15 years of wrestling, Mildred, born in Coffeyville, Kansas, birthplace of Walter Johnson, the Big Train of major league baseball, has never been thrown although she admits rugged matches in 43 of the 48 states, as well as in Cuba, Mexico and Canada.
The 33-year-old, 5 foot, 2 inch blue-eyed pioneer of girls wrestling says: “That while I started out to become an interior decorator.” She preferred to decorate her opponents with tough holds: “This sport got into my blood early. I wrestled men and women during the Great Depression and my first match was in Bethany, Missouri, before 300 persons. Times have changed since then”, says Mildred. “Gust Karras, the promoter then, would be amazed to see the crowds I draw today - averaging from 5,000 in smaller cities to 10,000 in the Coliseum in Mexico to 15,000 in the Boston Garden and the Philadelphia Convention Hall. I guess I wrestled some 200 men, all comers, in my time. It was rugged work, but my challengers today are just as spirited and even more tricky. There are about 100 girl wrestlers today, but I would say there are about 16 who can be classed as top notch wrestlers.”
Manager Billy Wolfe says Mildred wrestlers in the average of from 3 to 5 nights a week, 8 months a year. “She rests the other four,” says Billy. “Mildred has two homes in Los Angeles, both showplaces,” he says with pride. “One is for her and the other for her mother.” While the world knows of Mildred’s skill, few know her personal backround. Her mother, Mrs. Bertha E. Bliss, lives next door to her in Los Angeles. She is 75 years of age. “I own my success to her,” says Mildred. “She is a clear, sound thinker. When I told her I was going to drop interior decorating for wrestling she advised: “If you do that, put your heart into it.’ --- I guess I did. I’ve been champion for 13 years, a title I earned in a Columbus, Ohio tournament sponsored by the Mid-West Wrestling Association. There were 15 girls entered. In the finals, I defeated Edna Bancroft to win a belt that weights 15 pounds and is 24 karat gold, containing 7 diamonds, 4 sapphires and 6 amethysts. I always wear it before a match,” says Mildred.
While not athletes, Mildred is also proud of her three sisters. “All are ordained ministers in the Four Square Gospel in California. They are Mrs. Edna Newell, Mrs. Flora Bingham and Mrs. Marie Butcher. I am a Baptist, myself. My brother, Louis, used to be organist for Aimee Semple McPherson. He was Norma Shearer’s secretary at one time, too. Today, he is an engineer,” commented Mildred, who has a 14-years-old son, Joseph, who attends John Muir, Junior High School in Los Angeles. Although she has never appeared in England, Australia or South Africa, Mildred says “she gets a ton of mail a year. I average at least 1,000 letters from girls who want to wrestle.”
The Pin-Up girl who pins ‘emdown has a waist of a musical comedy star and build of a female Atlas. “Frankly, I was 150 pounds when I started to wrestle. Today I average 130, net. Wrestling is great for woman. It keeps one agile and one’s mind alert. Of course, the earnings are interesting, too. That’s why I hear from so many girls each year. Those who make the grade become sound businesswomen, in property, in investments, in clothes and jewelry. I know several competitors who own businesses. Now, what secretary can make those claims?” says Mildred Burke."