Meet the Real Babe Ruthless
Whip It inspirations putting on the Ritz
By Richard Whittaker, 5:35PM, Tue. Oct. 6, 2009
As fits a film about Austin's other favorite sport, there's been a lot of derby love for Whip It. Tonight there's an opportunity to meet the real Babe Ruthless at the Alamo Ritz, and Wednesday night the TXRD Lonestar Rollergirls will be ready for their close up.
Yup, there's a real skater who shares her name with Ellen Page's character from Drew Barrymore's directorial debut: Babe Ruthless of the Texas Rollergirls will be introducing tonight's 7.25pm screening at the Alamo Ritz.
For anyone wondering, yup, Austin's Babe got there first. Skaters are very protective of their Roller Derby names (even to the point of legal fighting, as in the case of Austin's own Crackerjack vs. Frito Lay). There is even an official register, so no two skaters end up with the same name. Having Juno borrow her name for the movie may well come up in tonight's Q&A.
That's only one of a bunch of skater appearances in support of Roller Derby on the big screen: Representing banked-track style, the Lonestar skaters will be in attendance for the Oct. 7 Weird Wednesday screening of old school derby classic Unholy Rollers.
Tickets for tonight's screening of Whip It and Wednesday's Unholy Rollers screening are available online at the Alamo Ritz website.
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Alamo Ritz, Hustlers, Babe Ruthless, Whip It
