BATGIRL poster art

 

Thanks to the success of the ABC TV series, Bat-Mania gripped America in 1966. However, what's interesting about this Batgirl art piece from Playboy - beyond the legendary Alberto Vargas not really giving her the support necessary for crime-fighting - is who it's of. It's not the best-ignored original Bette Kane, nor is it Barbara Gordon, who would only debut in the show and comics the following year. Instead it appears to be simply a gender-flipped Batman.

PATTI WAGGIN publicity photograph

 

Patti Waggin was one of the most popular burlesque dancers of the fifties, and was magnificently often billed as "The Co-ed with the Educated Torso". An athletic character, Patti was also a regular face at Californian bike gatherings, riding a Harley Davidson Little Indian.

ANGELYNE promotional photograph

Angelyne remains one of the most interesting curios of the eighties. Variously described in modern media as an early influencer or a model she was really neither. As a failing singer she fell in with the entrepreneur Hugo Maisnik,  who erected billboards all over LA bearing her bimbo form in various poses. Despite looking like oversized prostitute calling cards both the billboards and her pink Corvette gained her a degree of very local notoriety. Despite gaining an enthusiastic fan club and the billboards becoming a Hollywood landmark, Angelyne was totally unable to make any sort of serious career out of music or acting despite the publicity barrage.

Joan Bradshaw publicity photograph

Despite this almost iconic 1957 shoot with Earl Leaf, Texas-born model Joan Bradshaw never converted her impressive body into an equally impressive body of work. She racked up just ten largely uncredited bit parts in a six-year acting career before turning to the girly mags, and retired in 1963 after getting hitched to a very lucky film producer.

Promises! Promises! film poster

The speed at which Jayne Mansfield went from the heir to Marilyn Monroe to B-Movie wastrel was breakneck. Her willingness to push the sexual envelope spooked studio execs fearful of a backlash to her amorous self-promotion, and when the sixties rolled around the dizzy blonde suddenly fell out of fashion. Left unattended by major studios Jayne leaned into the trash, culminating in Promises, Promises. The sex comedy was the first time a major film was promoted overtly on the back of the main star getting them out. The gambit was a mixed success - the film did well at the box office but took away any chance of a serious acting career.

Bettie Page photograph

The legend clowning around in the Miami sure in a classic Bunny Yeager shot.