Bettie Page is Ill

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Ex-Pinup Bettie Page 'Critically Ill' In Hospital


Above: Bettie by Greg Theakston.

Sending her and her loved ones thoughts of comfort.

Although Bettie was not a performer on the burlesque circuit, I find it a bit annoying when people get overly emphatic about how she wasn't in burlesque and shouldn't be considered when burlesque is discussed; clearly she's had such a huge influence on the culture and style of the tiki, fetish, and rockabilly cultures that have embraced and nurtured burlesque, she's far from irrelevant to the subject.

Bettie doing an adorable dance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIT_hj8e3GI

My friend Greg Theakston, who I met through Torchy Taboo when she was working on Tease!, produced a magazine called The Betty Pages which was hugely influential on the underground upswell of Bettie Page fans.

I can't scan that for you here, but you can hear an interview with Bettie in this youtube clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0Ynlp7sxZs

I'd love to hear from people about any influence Bettie may have had on them, or get links to any great images, videos, or stories.

Posted by Jo Weldon, Headmistress of The New York School of Burlesque, for burlesquedaily.blogspot.com.

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