Sport: Queen of the Mat

There is nothing at all wrong with blonde Mildred Burke’s appearance (see cut) except a bud of cauliflower in her right ear and a bull neck. At a distance these are not so noticeable, but Mildred remains very much so. She is one of the dozen women who claim to be the female wrestling champion of the world.

Last week, her sinuous tights girdled with her sparkling championship belt, Mildred was in Mexico City’s vast Arena Coliseo putting a variety of clamps on a matronly woman named Elvira Snodgrass.

La Burke, who hails from Coffeyville, Kan., finally pinned La Snodgrass after 40 minutes with a hammer lock. From the raucous crowd of 12,000 came shrieks of “Esa es mi vieja!” Mildred has been a huge favorite with the Mexicans ever since her first Mexican tour in 1940.

Unmarried Mildred was born Mildred Bliss 28 years ago in Los Angeles. She is the black sheep of a family which includes two lady preachers for Aimee Semple McPherson. In nine years Mildred has wrestled 750 times (women only) and never lost. She won her belt and championship in 1936 by defeating all comers in a 30-week elimination contest. Her favorite hold she calls the “alligator.” This involves smashing her opponent’s back down on the floor and bending the legs back up over the torso. Mildred’s manager prefers to call it the “V for Victory” hold.