Bettie Page

Bettie Mae Page (born April 22, 1923), sometimes known as Betty Page, is an American model and pin-up girl, active mostly in the 1950s. Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Page's parents divorced when she was 10 years old, forcing her and her sister to live for a year at an orphanage. A strong student in high school, she reportedly missed earning the title of school valedictorian and a scholarship to Vanderbilt University by a quarter of a grade point, but graduated from Peabody College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1943. She married Billy Neal, who had attended high school with her, but who shortly afterwards left her for active duty in World War II, and whom she divorced in 1947.

The Bettie Page revival

The Playboy model Barbi Benton revived interest in Page as some considered the younger woman to be in her image. Then in 1978, Belier Press began to reprint some of the pictures from the private camera club sessions, which reintroduced Page to a new generation. Within a few years, Page became an icon of the 1950s, her renewed fame rivalling Marilyn Monroe's.

Related Topics:
Barbi Benton - 1950s - Marilyn Monroe

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In the early 1980s, Comic Book talent Dave Stevens based the love life of his hero Cliff Secord alias "The Rocketeer" on Page. A fanzine was started called The Betty Pages and recounted tales of the camera club days. When Bettie asked the fan club to stop, it did.

Related Topics:
1980s - Dave Stevens - The Rocketeer - Fanzine

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Dark Horse Comics published a comic based on her fictional adventures in the 1990s after Jim Silke did a large format comic featuring her likeness.

Related Topics:
Dark Horse Comics - 1990s - Jim Silke

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Many modern-day Bettie-inspired models such as Bernie Dexter, Dita Von Teese, and Nina Elizabeth Page (no relation) are revered for their classic beauty and resemblance to Bettie Page.

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A movie tentatively titled The Notorious Bettie Page is slated for release in 2006.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0404802/ It is based on the story of Bettie Page at least up until the Senate investigation, and stars Gretchen Mol as the adult Bettie.

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