Richard Foster (7)

Still more interesting women. Bettie Page was a pin-up model of the 1950s, once the subject of a Congressional investigation for posing for pictures in fetish attire. She dropped out of sight around 1957 or so (although her pictures continued to circulate), until graphic novelist Dave Stevens included her as a character in The Rocketeer. She was finally tracked down in 1992, and Stevens and a few others who had profited from her image sent her checks.

The Real Betty Page is not an authorized show more Bettie biography, and she said it was “full of lies”. However, it does seem to be pretty well researched, and with verifiable information. Although she could have the look, Ms. Page was definitely not “the girl next door” in leather underwear. When her modeling career ended, she became a fundamentalist Baptist and repeatedly tried to do missionary work in Africa (she was rejected for being divorced) and briefly taught school (5th grade) in Florida. She eventually ended up in California; when she stabbed one landlady for being an agent of Satan, and after attacking another landlady ended up committed to a mental hospital in California until 1992.

Her photo residuals eventually allowed her to live in reasonably comfort, and she even gave some interviews (although insisting that her image be electronically blanked out on TV). This lead to some accusations she was an imposter; however, there were enough relatives to identify her. Given her less-than-orthodox career, as surprising number of people were extremely protective of her – for example, actor Robert Culp, who had once been her drama teacher, refused to be interviewed about her, even though he hadn’t seen her in 45 years.

Author Richard Foster confines his story to a straight narrative; it must have been pretty tempting to speculate on the psychiatric aspects of going from a BDSM model to a religious fundamentalist to a committed mental patient. I think that’s probably the most valuable aspect of a book like this; it allows readers to speculate themselves. I can’t go there myself. Some photos of Bettie’s modeling days – nothing you couldn’t see on a music video nowadays, but you might not want to read it at work.

The Real Bettie Page was written in 1997; Bettie Page died in 2008 at the age of 85. show less

In the 1950's Bettie Mae Page was the most photographed pin-up model in the world. She did fetish / bondage pictures for Irving Klaw, which led to a Senate investigation into charges of obscenity. Bettie also did beach pictures in Florida with photographer Bunny Yeager. Bettie always wanted to be an actress, but never was able to do anything more than bit parts. In the late 50's she left the world of modeling for good and became a born-again Christian. She thought she had found her place in show more the world with the church, but she was undone by mental illness. After a number of violent incidents, Bettie was put into a psychiatric hospital for nearly ten years. Upon her release, she learned that she had become a cultural phenomena with scores of cult-like followers and admirers.

Although this book wasn't authorized by Bettie Page, it seems to tell the definitive story of her life without glossing over any of the unpleasantness. I have great admiration for Bettie, and I can personally relate to her struggles with mental illness. I love her so much that I even got a tattoo of her on my upper right arm. She is and will always be the ultimate Queen of the Pin-ups. show less