Whether known by her real name of Robin Lisa Kelly, her ring name the Red Snapper (among others), or her stage name Ruby Tuesday, this lady has had a colorful life and career under all of her names. Now a hairstylist in Southern California, Ruby (as I’ll stick with here) is very open about her past, not that there’s any reason for her not to be. She’s got some stories to tell, along with some names to drop, and a jaw-dropping photo collection to document her escapades.
Ruby’s show biz career began when she was a teenager and got a gig as a regular dancer on American Bandstand, which lasted six years. Then came her stint as the “Red Snapper,” during the early-80s, when nightclub mud wrestling was in its heyday. She went on to wrestle under a couple of different ring names and later became an exotic dancer and adult magazine model.
This written interview is being published concurrently with the audio interview Ruby did tonight for Idol Features’ podcast channel, where, besides Ruby’s, you’ll find several other of our audio interviews. Stay tuned for many more, among which will probably be a Part 2 with Ruby, in the near future. Above photo of Ruby as the Red Snapper at the Hollywood Tropicana, circa 1984, is from her personal collection.
January 19th audio interview, in which you can hear Ruby give
more details on some of her replies written below.
RUBY: The Body Shop in Hollywood. We were both performers doing Burly Q.
CHRIS: Do you keep in touch with many of the ladies you performed with back in your heyday?
CHRIS: What were some of your favorite clubs that you performed at?
RUBY: Tropicana (Hollywood), Body Shop (Hollywood), Smokey Stovers (Orange County), Palomino (Las Vegas), Pussycat (Las Vegas).
CHRIS: Who were some of your favorite performers from the old days of burlesque?
RUBY: Gypsy Rose Lee. It’s WHY I chose to impersonate her.
CHRIS: You also appeared in some films and some direct-to-video stuff, didn’t you?
RUBY: I did “extra” work in a few films. Again, stuff in the 80’s. Stand By Your Man, The Starmaker, a few TV spots; Eye On LA, 2 on the Town, Peoples Court, Montel, Elimidate, and a few others.
CHRIS: What was it like to wrestle Andy Kaufman in 1981?
RUBY: YES!! I LOVED wrestling the men. Not only did they not cry, but every once in a while, I managed to cop a feel so to speak.
RUBY: Yes, I was called the “Red Snapper” due to my flame red hair and matching flame red pubic hair. There was also a movie where the guy asked “How will I know if it is her??” and the response was; “She will have a snapping red pussy.” I think the movie was Flesh Gordon.
CHRIS: You also did some “foxy boxing” as well?
RUBY: Yes, I also did Foxy Boxing.
CHRIS: How many bikinis are in your vast collection?
RUBY: Currently?? About 40, but I’ve been told my lingerie collection is insane. I easily have over 100 bras and over 200 panties/G-strings/garters/stockings. I LOVE Lingerie. If I had a choice between buying food or panties, panties would win!
CHRIS: You’re also a recent cosplayer. Have you attended any cosplay events?
RUBY: Haven’t been able to attend any events, but I do enjoy doing it for Youtube. I miss the stage. I miss performing so, Youtube is a good outlet.
CHRIS: Any plans to appear again on the stage or at any events where fans can meet you?
RUBY: I do Youtube so friends and fans can watch any current cosplay, burlesque, and/or stripping. I haven’t done the stage thing since 2002. Once the clubs started charging the performers to take their clothes off in a place that advertises “topless,” I decided I would not pay someone to get undressed. That’s just crazy. Youtube allows me to perform without paying some bar owner a “stage fee.”
CHRIS: I know you’ve had your share of “war wounds” throughout your career. Any that you’d care to mention?
CHRIS: Besides Billy Idol and the one I believe you can’t legally mention, would you care to drop any other famous names you dated?
RUBY: (Laughs) Dated or fucked?? Ummm, yes, actually there have been more than a few famous men I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying naked. A few of them I’m following on Twitter. Figure it out! (laughs).
CHRIS: It’s no secret, especially since news stories and your appearance on the Montel Williams Show regarding this are at your Youtube channel, that you were one of the first people in the US to be charged with cyber stalking. I won’t ask you to go into the details here, because I’ll post links to those videos along with this interview, so readers can get filled in on the details of the case, but one question: In an interview several years ago, you said you’d love that man until the day you die and that you hoped he would become a better person and quit lying. Are those still your feelings today?
RUBY: Tis true. I was the first and technically still the ONLY person to be arrested and jailed for so called “cyberstalking,” but luckily, I got a good lawyer AFTER I got out of jail who proved “legal malpractice.” It’s not against the law, then or now, to embarrass someone with the truth ….or demand an apology publicly. The website that had been shut down by the police illegally is online (The Politics Of Jim Day).
RUBY: You’re welcome! And to my fans; head over to Youtube to subscribe and if you want to send me an e-mail with any request, head over to my website. Oh, and shout out to Billy Idol! You will always be my favorite scar, and ….ummm, I’m still single if you ever want to “connect” again!
With fellow bikini wrestling icon Pamela Ward, circa 1986
(Dee Booher) at the Hollywood Tropicana, circa 1983.
During Ruby’s mid-80s stint in POWW (Powerful Women Of Wrestling). At left, with Dee Booher aka Queen Kong. At right, with Brandie Mae aka the California Doll and aka the Farmer’s Daughter. Ruby tells me; “I was known as the ‘Rockin’ Rebel’ in POWW which was a spinoff of GLOW (Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling). David McLane started it after the falling out he had with Matt Cimber. A lot of the same gals that were in GLOW were also in POWW. The difference being licensed by the Athletic Commission and performing in arenas.” You aficionados of ladies wrestling in the 80s will appreciate that info.
Recent photos of Ruby. At left, ringing in 2016 and at right, paying tribute to the man she pinned
twice, Andy Kaufman, on what would have been his 67th his birthday, January 17th.
Her Official Website
Ruby on Twitter
January 25th Update: Excerpts from the video Ruby recorded during our Skype interview.
About the author
Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Chris flirted with the music business there and in Nashville before joining the U.S. Army and serving in South Korea. He remained in Asia for several years afterwards, teaching English, traveling, and covering the regional entertainment scenes. Currently in a mindset between Seoul and San Francisco, besides Idol Features, you can also catch his writings in the print edition of the monthly magazine, Effective.
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