First Ladies Documentary

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Aug 3, 2024, 6:01:10 PM8/3/24

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First ladies hold a unique place in American history. The collection of first ladies' gowns and artifacts remains one of the most popular exhibitions, visited by millions of annual visitors at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C..1 First ladies are the focus of documentaries, podcasts, books, and scholarly works that examine their lives and contributions to the presidency, the White House, and American history. While the role of first lady is well known, it has no legal definition; it is neither a government position laid out in the Constitution, nor is it an elected position. Commentators, scholars, and American society have typically defined the role by marriage, elevating the status of presidential spouse, rather than focusing on the duties performed by these women; hosting events, serving as a personal and political confidant to the president, supporting political and social causes, and serving as a symbolic model of American womanhood.2 However, throughout history many daughters, sisters, and friends of presidents also fulfilled these responsibilities at the White House, though they are not bestowed the title of first lady because they were not married to the president. Instead, these women are often called White House hostesses, and deserve similar recognition from scholars, researchers, and institutions.

White House hostesses stood in for presidents who were widowed, unmarried, or whose wives could not or did not wish to perform White House social duties. The following women are known White House hostesses, though there are likely others who fulfilled the role:

While Priscilla Cooper Tyler primarily made her mark as hostess through incredible social success, Rose Cleveland, who occupied the position of White House hostess from 1885 to 1886, contributed great intellect to the role. Like Priscilla, Rose was known in her own right prior to her time in the White House as a teacher, linguist, and scholar.

Today, first ladies are prominently recognized for their contributions, but the women who served as White House hostesses are often overlooked and underappreciated for their influence throughout American history. Martha Jefferson Randolph, Priscilla Cooper Tyler, and Rose Cleveland demonstrate that the title of first lady should not be solely defined by marital status to a president, but instead should reflect the critical, ceremonial roles fulfilled by a woman in the White House. These women further demonstrate that first ladies should be remembered for their skills, determination, character, and selfless service to their country.

Lipstick and Dynamite: The First Ladies of Wrestling (often referred to as Lipstick and Dynamite)[1][2] is a 2004 documentary film about the early days of women's professional wrestling in North America. It was directed by Ruth Leitman, who interviewed The Fabulous Moolah, Mae Young, Gladys "Kill 'Em" Gillem, Ida Mae Martinez, Ella Waldek and Penny Banner for the film. The film premiered in 2004 in Toronto and was screened at various film festivals across the United States. The film also had a limited release in theaters in 2005. Reviews for the film were mixed.

"They really need to see the real us, meaning us, the women. We've been stereotyped for a long time, as masculine, they think we're butches, this and that. That's not true. I think many of us have a lot of class, and we show it."

Penny Banner helped put the film together, as she had connections in both the Ladies International Wrestling Association and the Cauliflower Alley Club, which helped the director locate older stars to use in the filming.[3]

Kelly Hogan, an old friend of Leitman's, offered to provide music for the film and soundtrack, and recorded songs with the combo, The Corn Sisters, Carolyn Mark and Neko Case.[4] While recording, Case discovered that Ella Waldek was her great-aunt, which was previously unknown to her.[4][5] After providing music for the film, they began promoting it at all of their shows.[4]

The film had its world premiere in Toronto in April 2004 during the Hot Docs Film Festival, and it had its United States premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City in May 2004.[3] It had several other screenings, as well, including at the Atlanta Film Festival in June 2004 and the Chicago and Hamptons Film Festivals in October 2004.[6] In early 2005, the film played at the Sarasota and Miami Film Festivals.[6]

The film, distributed by Koch Lorber Films, had a limited theatrical release in the United States during the course of 2005.[7] In its first weekend, it made $4,046.[7] At the end of eleven weeks, it had appeared in three theaters and grossed $25,378.[7] The film was released on DVD in September 2005.

To help promote the film, The Fabulous Moolah and Mae Young were interviewed on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.[1] They also promoted the film on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.[6] Several magazines also advertised for the film, including Entertainment Weekly, Details, FHM, and O.[6]

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution gave the film a positive review, citing at as "a dynamite documentary" and rating it a B+.[1] Similarly, Karie Bible of IGN called the film a "fascinating look" and a "valentine to wrestling and to the women who introduced the sport across America".[8] Liz Braun of the Toronto Sun called the film "a glimpse of the wild and woolly pre-feminist world these capable women inhabited" and invites readers to "have a look."[9] The Los Angeles Times' Kenneth Turan commented that the "uneasy, unnerving air of the carny hangs over this film, and it gives off a pungent whiff of how rough, rowdy and raucous, how inescapably down and dirty, these women's world could be."[10]

Other reviews were mixed, with the film scoring a 62% at Rotten Tomatoes and an average rating of 6.4/10 from critics.[10] Roger Ebert praised Leitman for doing "an extraordinary job of assembling the survivors from the early days of a disreputable sport" and rated the film with two and a half stars out of four.[11]

Stephen Holden of The New York Times called the movie "more of a scrapbook than a coherent history".[12] The San Francisco Chronicle's Peter Hartlaub stated that the film "doesn't succeed in its attempt to make a feminist statement, with too many of the wrestlers sounding like male athletes who talk in excruciating detail about high school football seasons that everyone else forgot."[10] Echoing that statement, Russell Scott Smith of the New York Post stated, "Unfortunately, the filmmakers let the ladies prattle on too long about issues that would only matter to the most rabid wrestling aficionados."[10]

This is a groundbreaking book showing the evolutionary role of the first lady and its historic importance on the American presidency. The book shines a light on the influential women who broke barriers and made a mark on our country and, at times, our world, during their tenures in the White House.

Readers learn about the role of the first lady, from its origins under Martha Washington through its current iteration under Dr. Jill Biden. The book explores how first ladies have been uniquely positioned to influence American society, policy, diplomacy, and life in the White House. Profiles of first ladies bring their histories, achievements, and legacies to life.

Remember the First Ladies is a groundbreaking book showing the evolutionary role of first lady. It shines a light on the influential women who have broken barriers and made a mark on our country and, at times, the world during their tenures in the White House.

Diana B. Carlin is Professor Emerita of Communication at Saint Louis University and a retired professor of communication studies at the University of Kansas. She has taught courses on first ladies at three universities.

Anita B. McBride is Director of the First Ladies Initiative at American University, School of Public Affairs. Her experience includes service in three U.S. presidential administrations at the White House and Department of State and as chief of staff to First Lady Laura Bush.

Nancy Kegan Smith retired in 2012 as Director of the Presidential Materials Division of the National Archives and Records Administration. She is co-editor of Modern First Ladies: Their Documentary Legacy and lectures on first ladies and presidential records. The three authors write and lecture extensively on first ladies and are founding members of the First Ladies Association for Research and Education (FLARE).

As the wife of the nation's first president, Martha Washington truly defined the new role of First Lady of the United States. Hear how she and other First Ladies influenced American society, policy, diplomacy, and life, and how many of them broke barriers to make a mark on our country and, at times, the world.

Diana B. Carlin is professor emerita of communication at Saint Louis University and is the Vice President and founding member of the First Ladies Association for Research and Education (FLARE). She has taught courses on and written about first ladies for thirty years. Her recent publications include the first ever textbook on first ladies, U.S. First Ladies: Making History and Leaving Legacies with Anita B. McBride and Nancy Kegan Smith published in August 2023. She has authored book chapters on Martha Washington, Julia Grant, Lady Bird Johnson, Barbara Bush, Hillary Clinton, and Michelle Obama. Her research and writing also covers women in politics, presidential communication, and political debates.

Nancy Kegan Smith is the retired director of the Presidential Materials Division at the National Archives and Records Administration. She started her career in 1973 as an archivist at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library in Austin, Texas, and retired in 2012 as director of the Presidential Materials Division in Washington, D.C., the division at National Archives and Records Administration that advised the White House on presidential and first lady records and gift issues. She is President and founding member of the First Ladies Association for Research and Education (FLARE) and lectures and writes on first ladies including Lady Bird Johnson and Michelle Obama and presidential records. She co-edited Modern First Ladies: Their Documentary Legacy, and is co-author of the first college textbook on first ladies, U.S. First Ladies: Making History and Leaving Legacies, with Diana B. Carlin and Anita B. McBride.