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TwitterMy memories of pinup queen Bettie Page, dead at 85
Bettie Page is dead.
She died yesterday at age 85 of a heart attack at an L.A. hospital.
Who the heck is Bettie Page, you ask?
Only the most famous pinup queen of all time.
She's the saucy brunette who got her start posing for amateur camera clubs in lingerie, bathing suits, eventually buck naked. Then she moved into the more lucrative S&M scene and was photographed wielding whips and chains, wearing fetish fashions, corsets, garters and stiletto boots.
And this was in the '50s!
After her brief modeling career was destroyed by a national scandal and federal investigation into pinup porn, Bettie virtually disappeared from the public eye.
But her wholesome sexy image –- a brunet with short bangs and girl-next-door smile –- became iconic.
Hugh Hefner, who knew Bettie when she was young and when she resurfaced, told AP yesterday: "I think that she was a remarkable lady, an iconic figure in pop culture who influenced sexuality, taste in fashion, someone who had a tremendous impact on our society. She was a very dear person."
Many people wonder how Bettie Page was found after being lost for so many years.
Here's the scoop, untold until now. In the early '90s, after writing a cover story (June 5, 1991) for USA Today on the missing pinup, I happened to be having dinner in Washington, D.C., with Robin Leach ("Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous").
The subject of Page came up and I suggested that he have his TV show's office try to locate the missing pinup, who by now had become cult famous. Intrigued, Leach, who knew nothing about Bettie, asked dozens of questions about her. I answered as best I could and gave him all the material I had unearthed about her.
It didn't take Leach's crack team of reporters long (like weeks) before they'd found some of her relatives and eventually, Bettie herself, who wasn't really hiding, just quietly living in a trailer park in California, completely unaware of her cult status and all the money being made off her image. Leach ended up doing a show about her.
Click here for Robin Leach's memories of Bettie Page!
Thanks to one of her biggest fans, Dave Stevens ("Rocketeer") and several other friends, Bettie was able to get some of the money due her.
I was lucky enough to meet Bettie in person in Los Angeles on two occasions while the book "Bettie Page: The Life of a Pin-Up Legend" was being written about her, by authors Karen Essex ("Kleopatra," "Stealing Athena," "Leonardo's Swans") and James Swanson ("Manhunt").
Read Karen Essex's memories of Bettie Page!
The first time I met her was when she and Dave stopped by my house for a few minutes. She had wanted to meet my poodle, Mina.
She was a bit rounder, a bit fuller around the middle, and her long hair with bangs was now completely gray She looked like someone's grandmother. But she still had that wide smile, twinkly eyes and her very thick Southern accent.
And no, I didn't take her photo. Somehow, it just seemed like it would be a bit crass and intrusive. Plus, she really didn't want anyone to see her.
She preferred that people remember her the way she looked when she was young. But I do have a large B&W photo of her (the shot used for the cover of the book, at left) that she autographed for me.
The next and last time we met was at the book publisher's home in Santa Monica for a dinner in her honor.
You may wonder what one serves a pinup legend? Why, her favorite dish, of course.
Spare ribs.
RIP, Bettie.
Photos: courtesy of "Bettie Page: The Life of a Pin-Up Legend."
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Elizabeth- thanks for the memories. I was happy we found Bettie, reunited her with her lost family, helped get the royalties due her. I was up at the Playboy Mansion when Hef invited Bettie and me there. It was good to see her out and about. My artist friend Olivia and I often reminisced about Bettie's amazing life. There's even a store here in Vegas at the Planet Hollywood resort devoted to Bettie's fashions . You can tread my little tribute memory of Bettie on my blog at www.vegasdeluxe.com. Very best wishes- and drop me an email to say Hi- rl
In 1996 - I was honored to have had the opportunity... to be the perhaps the only TV reporter - other than the above mentioned Robin Leach - to ever be granted a lengthy "In-Depth" interview by Bettie Page about her life.
It was for an NBC morning magazine show called "Real Life".
Some of you may know of Bettie Page.. some may not.
On the surface - she was a 50's pin-up icon who's image is admired and revered to this day. She was the epitome of naughty and nice in her photos.... and the inspiration for a major motion picture on her life titled, "The Notorious Bettie Page".
But there was nothing remotely "notorious" about Bettie. She was truly a sweet southern gal - who genuinely saw nothing salacious about her modeling career... though her photos and Bettie were undeniably sexy.
Eventually Bettie found God.. and moved to a different stage in her life. Troubles followed and financial hard times. She shunned the former limelight... until, she briefly re-emerged - and I was fortunate enough to meet her for an NBC TV show I worked for at the time.
To my utter surprise... a random gamble on my part... and a simple phone call resulted in my meeting the reclusive Bettie Page.
It was one of the most memorable interviews and cherished moments of my entire TV career as a journalist. Bettie gave me her trust... after living in quiet seclusion for decades... and limited access in years since. Bettie Page was truly the embodiment of the saying "Beautiful on the outside... Beautiful on the inside". Her photos are a wonderful legacy.
God bless you Bettie... and Thank you.
Tim Estiloz
Video link to my interview with Bettie on You Tube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0Ynlp7sxZs&feature=channel_page
Look at the heels on those shoes! You'd think they were Jimmy Choos.!
You are SO lucky... I'd have given anything to meet the most beautiful woman of all time... that she was such a down to earth person is testament to her innr beauty as well. Marilyn may have been a 'candle in the wind' but Bettie Page was a Bonfire in a Hurricane!
What's so terrible to me is that I finally found Bettie Page. You might ask what do I mean? Well, you see, my nephew was in from out of town and has an thing for rat-mobiles, the old 50 model types, I was reluctant to go but last minute we decided to meet up at the New Orleans. As I was walking around admiring the car show I had felt more relaxed and at home, like a perfect fit, if you know what I mean. I became very aware of an era of style, cloths, hairstyle, music, cars etc.. that seem to be lost in me somehow. I decided to track down more information on where it all stemmed from. For the guys it was the "Happy Days" cars, brew, 501's and slick back hair with a twist of original rat-pack or rockabilly. For the girls it was Bettie Page. I understood because the hairstyles, make-up, and dress seem to spell something that in todays fast pace life-style seems to be missing - romance. I had heard the name Bettie Page in discussion circles many a times in the past and thought to myself, "Oh it's just some Marilyn Monroe want-to-be". But, realizing I might of missed out on something special, after the car show, I decided to look up this notorious Bettie Page and find out more about her. Then I decided I would do my next photo and video in Bettie Page style, hair, cloths and make-up. The more I find out about her the more I respected her for her independence and forward thinking. Sadly, That is how I ran into the article about her passing away this week. I feel like a very special individual slipped through the holes of society. But like most great artistic influences of the past it seems as if they become more valued after they are gone then while they are here.