To read the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame bio from Moolah's induction,
click here.
To visit WWE's Fabulous Moolah tribute,
click here.
Please read SLAM! Wrestling's obituary for Fabulous Moolah
here
News & gossip website TMZ.com reported the death of Fabulous
Moolah
here
The theatrical trailer to the movie
"Lipstick & Dynamite"
featuring Fabulous Moolah.
Moolah, Angelo Savoldi, Bruce Hart,
Bob Leonard, Stu Hart, Johnnie Mae Young
Cauliflower Alley Club 2002
(Photo Courtesy of Bob Leonard)
July 1964. The world-renowned Calgary
Stampede, where Stu Hart presented two Stampede Wrestling cards in the big
arena, The Corral. Three days on the road between the Calgary events, l-o-n-g
drives across the Canadian prairies. My car, The Fabulous Moolah riding shotgun,
and Dorothy Carter and lady midgets Darling Dagmar and Baby Cheryl splitting the
back seat.
Lots of laughs and plenty of road stories helped the miles go by, as they always
do. But the overnight 475-mile Regina to Calgary drive had us all bone-weary by
about 3:00 a.m. We’d had a couple of beer, and Dagmar felt a rather urgent need
for a restroom. We were many miles from the nearest open café or service
station, so we did the usual: a roadside stop. Out hopped Dagmar, dressed in a
red and white sailor suit. After a minute or so, Moolah gave me a nudge and
said, “put it in drive, and just let it creep.” You can imagine it from
there....Dagmar screeching at us as she ran behind the car, just out of reach,
and the rest of us breaking up at the sight. And if that wasn’t enough hilarity,
we laughed even louder – and Moolah said, “keep going”-- as a semi came up
behind us, pulled out to pass, and rapidly slowed when he saw a blonde female
midget sailor chasing a huge car down the road. Yes, of course we stopped to
haul a thoroughly winded Dagmar into the car, but we couldn’t stop the laughter
for many miles.
Dagmar got her revenge, though. I pointed to Moolah as the instigator, she laid
the blame on me, we both lambasted the back seat crew for suggesting the idea.
Dagmar took it all in, but said little. But she apparently decided where to pin
the blame a half-hour later.....without warning, she dumped a part-bottle of
beer down my neck as we cruised down that long highway! Stickiest trip I ever
made!
Thanks for the memories, Lillian, and for all you’ve given to our business over
so many, many years.
---Bob Leonard
I am so sorry to hear that Moolah has passed
away. She has been such a credit to the wrestling business and a friend for so
long. When we booked her or any of her girls on the card they always helped the
house, and gave 110% in their matches. Moolah was a member and attended our Gulf
Coast Wrestler's Reunions here in Mobile. She will be missed. There will never
be another "Fabulous Moolah." Moolah,From all of us here, our prayers are
with you and your loved ones. "Rest In Peace"
---Bob Kelly
The PWHF
lost a great supporter and I lost a great friend Rest in peace, Moolah.
---Tony Vellano PWHF
President
I never knew Moolah personally, but did
meet her several times. The one occasion that stands out the most was at an LIWA
event she put on in Randolph, MA. It was a weekend-long affair with a show
Friday night, an awards banquet on Saturday and Sunday Brunch. It was also a
weekend loaded with mishaps worthy of a Marx Brothers movie, but, through it
all, she kept her composure and sense of humor. At one point, Mae Young was
heard to ask, "How long to you have to be in wrestling to be considered a
veteran?"
---Bishop Jason Sanderson
I remember the first time I met Moolah, was her
first time to the CAC in Studio City. Not sure of the year, but she asked me to
come to Vegas and do the TV show for her first LIWA group. Over the next 8 years
or so, we became good friends, and my wife, Babs, got to really like her also. A
side of Lillian that very few ever got to see was her deep feelings for friends,
when I had a heart attack in 1993, she was on the phone daily with Babs and then
with me. She told Babs "I do not know how your finances are, but if you need
$5000.00, I can let you have it" She quickly followed that with, "Please don't
let anyone know I offered; it will blow my reputation." To this day, Babs and I
have kept this to ourselves. Notice the word HAVE, not LOAN. Fortunately we
never needed that kind of help, but the offer was most appreciated.
---Karl Lauer
I never had the opportunity to meet Moolah,
so I can't share any personal stories. What I can share though, is the
first time I saw Moolah wrestle. I had, of course, read about her in the
magazines and knew of her kayfabe reputation as a cowardly champion who would do
anything to keep her belt (much like other heel champions of that era).
She made an appearance at Spruce Creek High School in Daytona Beach, FL against one of the babyface
girls from her stable. Wow! What a heat machine! Moolah knew
every trick in the book. She kept the crowd of probably 1,500 to 2,000
people on their feet, booing, hissing and otherwise letting her know they
disapproved of her tactics. I regret not having the opportunity to meet
her. To the family and friends of Lillian Ellison, I wish you peace.
Please know that she was loved and respected.
