The Amazon desciption:
"In the golden age of grappling, the ladies took a back seat to no one. Champion Mildred Burke worked the main event every night for nearly two decades. Throughout the 1940s, no one pushed the champ to the limit quite like Elvira Snodgrass. A redheaded firebrand from Varnado, Louisiana, Gutherine Fuller left the farm life behind for the glitz and glam of the squared circle. As Elvira Snodgrass, she catapulted to fame alongside Burke and the other queens of the ring. Elvira won the fans over with her “aw shucks” demeanor and scufflin’ style. Then she broke their hearts, transforming into rule-breaking heel who would do anything to win. Once lost to history because of her early death, the tale of Elvira Snodgrass is a rollicking ride through one of the most exciting eras in professional wrestling and the inspirational journey of a fiercely independent woman. From her surprise early title win as Betty Nichols to the tragic car accident that ended her career, you’ve got a ringside seat to rediscover one of the biggest and brashest stars of the 1940s. Just remember to stay in your seat and keep your hands to yourself. This is one lady you do not want to cross"
Betwen the blurb and the cover picture showing wrestling legend Mildred Burke getting tied by a cheerful looking redhead, I was immediately sold.
I have to admit that although I'd heard of Elvira Snodgrass - really, who is ever going to forget that name? - I didn't really know much about her and had always assumed she was one of many women who had a career in wrasslin' but never made it into the top ranks.
As this book makes it very clear, Elvira Snodgrass was kind of a big deal and may have been one of the biggest draws of the 1940s, male or female.
Gutherine Fuller grew up in a dirt poor part of Louisiana and left husband and family behind to find a better life as a lady wrestler. After several name changes Gutherine became Elvira Snodgrass a "scuffling" hillbilly grappler with a mean right hook and a tendency to beat up opponents and referees alike. Even when she glammed up in later years Elvira was still a one woman wrecking crew and all this made her the #2 woman wrestler in America, right behind Mildred Burke, and guaranteed to put bums in seats wherever she went. Elvira Snodgrass and Mildred Burke headlined all across the country which is something that seems astonishing these days, when it's only recently that the WWE have allowed their latest generation of women wrestlers into the headline slots.
So yes, this book does go some way to restoring the repuation of a woman that was a genuine pioneer but seems to have slipped through the cracks of wrestling history.
If I have one criticism of "The Ballad..." it's that the book does tend to lean heavily towards a listing of Elvira's travels and opponents and it would have been nice to get some more personal moments from the lady herself or her opponents. Still, from little snippets here or there, you do get a sense of what a bonafide tough nut this interesting lady was. My favourite spot in the entire book is when she's in her hotel, heading back to her room, the lift doors open and Elvira spots a fan who'd laid hands on her during that night's match. Dragging the man into the lft, she proceeds to have words with him, leaving the foolish fan shaken and alarmed without her ever laying a single finger on him.
Definitely a formidable woman and I think I'd have liked to meet her.
To sum up: maybe a bit dry but if you are interested in old-school wrestling, you might find this well worth a read. As a bonus you get a good selection of vintage photos you won't see anywhere outside a newspaper library
That's all folks
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