Friday, December 12, 2008

Bettie Page R.I.P.



 

This is sad news today. Bettie Page, the famous/notorious 50's pin-up model has passed away.

 
Page was a ubiquitous sight during the 1950s, propelled to stardom when she posed for Playboy as Miss January 1955. Soon her image was gracing playing cards, record albums and bedroom posters across the country.

 

She stopped modeling in 1957, retreated from the public spotlight and turned to religion. She enjoyed a renaissance of sorts in the 1980s, as a new generation of fans became obsessed with her legacy.

 

Her agent, Mark Roesler, said Page was admitted to a Los Angeles-area hospital four weeks ago. She never regained consciousness after suffering a heart attack earlier this month.

 

Bettie Page was also a geek icon.  Her pin-up and bondage photos of the 50's and 60's have become defining images for both pulp and pop art as well as having a heavy influence on rockabilly and goth styles.  I can't even count the number of times I've seen her images for sale at comic con over the years.  And I don't believe there's a single self-defined geek either who hasn't, at some point in their life, admitted to finding Bettie Page hot.

 

The world is a sadder place without Bettie Page.  She was truly an original.  May she rest in peace.

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