"They all talk, fight, and love just one way... dirty."

 That's a quote from the trailer to "Teenage Gang Debs" (1966).  Here's the rest of it:

"They're mean and vicious as the cement jungle they live in. Teenage Gang Debs, the go-go girls who go... too far.  Kick-happy, thrill-hungry, always reckless, and... willing.  From back room dinges, to back alley rumbles, anything goes... as long as it's violent.  They respect no law, but the code of the gang, and swear their allegiance... in blood.  Under-age, over-sexed-- girls who won't take "No" for an answer.  Teenage Gang Debs."

I am absolutely transfixed by the phenomenon of the Girl Gang of the 50's and 60's.  I can find almost no sociological data on how they actually lived, formed, or fought- however, there is plenty of stylish pulp to keep me occupied.  For instance, I immediately ran out and bought this book:

Here's the description from the back cover:


                                 "MEET THE DAGGER DEBS:

CARLA, scarred by knife wounds, clawing her way to gang leadership...  RENA, a two-fisted wildcat who hungered for love but fed on excitement...  MARIA, the mugger, conscious of what her lovely body could buy for her...  AMAZON, the fighter, a dangerous threat to both girls and boys...  TRUELOVE, pretty but violent and vicious...  POODIE, gentle on the outside but seething within.

THE SAVAGE STORY OF GIRLS WHO ARE PROFANE, AGGRESSIVE, ANTI-SOCIAL AND SEXUALLY PROMISCUOUS.  A GRIPPING, SHOCKING REPORT THAT WILL HOLD YOU IN PROFOUND FASCINATION AND UTTER DISBELIEF! "


I was inspired to go out and find this book and all comparable media I could, from reading about the original gangsta girls in San Francisco, which is helped run by Mme Katorga.  I contacted her about it, and she enthusiastically gave me her blessing to create my own NYC contingent.  Their hilarious fucking website can be found here:

Girl Gang Fridays


Kidnappings, gang rapes, prison-style beat downs, interrogations, female aliens intent on sterilizing all the men on Earth, sadistic nurses who terrorize their patients...  the possibilities are endless!  Maybe we could have an East Coast vs. West Coast rivalry,  a la Biggie Smalls and Tupac!  Sans the guns or the drugs.  Or the rap music.  I intend for us having plenty of ho's though, natch.

In most of the media I've found, girl gangs were the female contingent of some menacing all-male gang.  For instance, if a guy gang were called The Daggers, the girls would call themselves The Dagger Debs.  Of course, we would flip that around and have the boys be our auxiliary who get bossed around and help prepare for us for our tyrannical excursions.  So, not only will we find "unsuspecting" men to bully, we would have a permanent little cheerleading squad as well!  Phew!  I need a cold shower...

Here are some campy trailers I found, which impart the "spirit" the gang should have:


Teenage Gang Debs

Ed Wood's- The Violent Years

High School Hellcats


I really like this trailer, because it's a gang of women criminals who "graduate to big-time crime",

Girls On The Loose


and of course, I couldn't leave out the seminal classic,

Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!


Enjoy the videos!  I did.


xoxo,


Veronica Vicious