Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Bettie Page: The 50's as Noir

























Ever since she was first introduced to me through the artwork of the late great Dave Stevens, I've had a small but definite love affair with Bettie Page


























Bettie pushes many buttons, sexy, but sweet, naughty yet innocent, a woman whose beauty is timeless, but who is still a symbol for a specific time and place.


























Bettie represents a version of the 1950's that for me anyway  is far more interesting then anything from Happy Days, or even to be honest, On The Road.


The 1950's that Bettie walked around in was a world of dark clubs, cool jazz, shady characters playing cards haloed by cigar smoke, made men out on the town with classy dames.

You know what I mean, the 1950's as Noir.

That's the world of Bettie Page.
















Here is a very silly little "tease" film from Bettie, shot by the late great Irving Klaw, Varietease.....













1 comment:

  1. One of the memories from my adolescence is sneaking into an adult bookstore. Browsing and trying to look 21, i chanced upon a black trade paperback sized book called "The Irving Klaw Collection"

    Paging through it i first met Betty and Irving's sister, probably the ugliest woman i have EVER seen.

    That book (which sold for the princely sum of $25) would probably be worth a fortune today.

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