Mamie Van Doren

Mamie Van Doren (born February 6, 1931) is an American actress and sex symbol.

Motion pictures

On January 20, 1953, she signed a contract with Universal. The studio had big plans for her, hoping she would bring the success that 20th Century Fox had with Marilyn Monroe, the reigning sex symbol of the era. It has been said that because the day she was signed was also the day President Eisenhower was inaugurated, the studio decided to give her the name Mamie for Ike's wife, Mamie Eisenhower, and Van Doren because it sounds Dutch.

Related Topics:
January 20 - 1953 - Contract - Studio - 20th Century Fox - Marilyn Monroe - President - Eisenhower - Inaugurated - Mamie Eisenhower - Dutch

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Her first movie for Universal was Forbidden (1953), playing a singer. She then made All American (1953), playing Susie Ward, a girl from the other side of the tracks who is the man-trap at a campus beer joint. In Yankee Pasha (1954) starring Tony Curtis and Rhonda Fleming, she played a slave girl, Lilith.

Related Topics:
Forbidden - 1953 - Singer - All American - Yankee Pasha - 1954 - Tony Curtis - Rhonda Fleming

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Van Doren starred as the "bad girl" archetype in several teenage cult movies of the 1950s. She also appeared in some of the first movies to feature Rock & Roll music. She became identified with this rebellious style, and made some Rock records.

Related Topics:
Cult - 1950s - Rock & Roll - Records

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

While she and the other blonde bombshells did not attain the same level of superstar status as Monroe, Van Doren did become one of the leading sex symbols of the day. Marilyn, Mamie and Jayne Mansfield were known as the "Three M's," and Van Doren achieved legendary status as being the sole survivor (although she was currently referred to as "the poor man's Mansfield").

Related Topics:
Superstar - Jayne Mansfield

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

But while Monroe did Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Mansfield had a big success with Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?, a part that was originally written for Van Doren, who turned it down, Universal stuck Van Doren with Francis the Talking Mule in Francis Joins the WACS.

Related Topics:
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes - Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? - Francis the Talking Mule - Francis Joins the WACS

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~