1950's Classic Hollywood Blonde Bombshells

The Gallic "rival" of Marilyn Monroe or so it has been said. Martine, born Marie-Louise Mourer in Biarritz, France in 1922 began her career on stage in 1942 in France and finally breaking into films in the 40's doing mostly support roles. It was in 1950 that she gained international fame in the film "Caroline Cherie", a movie about the French Revolution and did manage a few films in the US co starring with actors like Jack Palance, Jeff Chandler, and Van Johnson.

Sadly, Martine's career as a sex symbol was cut short by the arrival of Brigitte Bardot into French cinema and her film career all but faded into oblivion. Her last film was in 1966 "Hell is Empty". Martine died at age 46 in 1967 while staying at hotel in Monaco.

Diana Mary Fluck who would come to be known as Diana Dors was born October 23, 1931 in Swindon England. At an early age she decided she wanted to be an actress and by age 16 she was starting to make her dreams of stardom come true. She had an uncredited part in an English film called "The Shop at Sly Corner", she then had a bit part in "Dancing With Crime". By 1948, she had 6 film credits to her name, it seemed that Diana was succeeding in her desire to become an actress.

With her career flourishing in England, Diana's dream to come to Hollywood was realized when she got a three picture deal with RKO Studios. But, her happiness was short lived and after completing two of the three films "The Unholy Wife" and "I Married A Girl", she was let go using the morals clause in the contract. Seems at a pool party attended by stars and photographers, someone pushed her, fully clothed, into the swimming pool. Her husband, Dennis Hamilton, thinking that he found the culprit responsible, a photographer, proceeded to beat the man until he was unconscious. It wasn't long after that Diana started divorce proceeding from Dennis who she married in 1951. Diana never divorced Dennis, instead she became his widow on January 31,1959 when he died from tertiary syphilis.

She next married Richard "Dickie" Dawson (remember him from "Hogan's Heroes" and as the host of the game show, "Family Feud") whom she had met on the Steve Allen Show. They married in New York and had two sons, Mark in 1960 and Gary in 1962. They began divorce proceeding in 1964 but weren't officially divorced until 1967. A third and final marriage on November 23, 1968 to Allen Lake produced a son, Jason.

In 1982 Diana was diagnosed with stomach cancer and died 2 years later, May 11, 1984; she was just 53 years old. On the 16th anniversary of their meeting, October 10, 1984, Allen committed suicide, which was a mere 5 months after Diana's death.

Born August 10, 1924 in Fort Worth Texas, Martha got her first role in a movie when she was 11 years old. It wasn't until after she finished her higher education that she decided to pursue a movie career. Her first movie was in 1946 in the film, "The Locket".

She would then go on to work on the big and small screen. Her best screen performance was in the film, "Some Came Running" in 1958 which earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress (she lost to Wendy Hiller). The bulk of her work was in the 1950's, but she did some work in the 1960's. Her last film was "The Day of The Wolves" in 1973.

In 1944 Adele landed a contract with Columbia Pictures. They dyed her brunette hair blond and her career as a "B" movie actress began. Her roles usually had her playing chorus girls or hardened floozies. In 1948 she would star in "Ladies of the Chorus" playing Marilyn Monroe's mother. What was interesting about this was that Adele was only nine years older than our up and coming Marilyn.

In the 1950's Adele made numerous appearances on TV and in feature films. Maybe you remember her as "Boots Marsden" in "Abbott and Costello Meet The Invisible Man" in 1951 or working with Betty Hutton in 1952's "Somebody Loves Me". She would make guest appearances on TV series of the 50's such as "My Favorite Husband" (Season Three, Episode Nine "The Painting") and on "I Married Joan" in 1954 to just name a few.

Adele lived a long life, dying at age 84 on November 22, 2002. She is buried in Oakwood Memorial Park in Chatsworth California. She is interred in the Pioneer Section.

Barbara Jean Bly, who would later change her name to Barbara Lang, was born March 2, 1928 in Hollywood California. Her mother was a silent movie dancer by the name of Esther Kaufman.

In her teens she tried her hand at modeling, singing in cocktail lounges, and even playing piano in nightclubs, but hated the work because of all the lewd come-ons by many of the male customers.

In 1953, Barbara was suddenly stricken with the inability to move her legs and facial muscles and was diagnosed as having contracted polio. Not knowing what else to do, she turned to God and made a recovery within months which she attributed to her faith. Even though she recovered miraculously from polio, the disease did leave a mark on her by making her tire easily something that would hamper her for the rest of her life.

In 1956, she would do a few episodes of "Death Valley Days" where she would meet Alan Wells whom she would later marry. As it turned out, Wells' divorce from actress Claudia Bennett was not officially finalized when he married Barbara, a fact that caused her to have their marriage annulled two years later.

Barbara would sign with MGM studios as a result of her work on "Death Valley Days", and in 1957 she had a bit part in a film called "Hot Summer Night". A second role in 1957, "House of Numbers" gave her a lead role playing Jack Palance's wife.

In 1957 she lost out on a co starring role in "Jailhouse Rock" opposite Elvis Presley, even though the role had been promised to her. But, she did manage, in 1958 to work in a film called "Party Girl" that co-starred Robert Taylor and Cyd Charisse.

When not working on movies, Barbara did TV guest appearances and stage work, but sadly in 1959 she attempted suicide by sleeping pills. She recovered from her ordeal, but her career didn't.

She married for a second time in 1967 to John George, but that marriage too, ended in divorce in 1972. Not much more was heard from Barbara in terms of a movie career and she died of pneumonia at the young age 54 in Los Angeles in 1982.

Born Joyce Rae Brown (some list her birth name as Joyce Wassmansdorff, but this is a mistake as that was her mother's second husband's name) in Salt Lake City, Utah on April 6, 1928. Her father's name was Jack Glenn Brown, who worked as a shoe salesman and her mother was Virginia Grace Shupp Brown, a housewife.

Joi was a pretty child and grew into a shapely young woman. In 1948 she got her first film roles in "The Counterfeiters", "Julie Misbehaves", and "Easter Parade". She continued to get bit parts in films, but seldom was credited with the roles. In 1951, her roles became a little bigger as she got to play "Susan Matthews" in "FBI Girl" and "Marilyn Turner" in "On The Riviera", a Danny Kaye film. In 1952 she did an uncredited appearance in the classic movie "Singing in The Rain" with Gene Kelly.

In 1955 she started working in TV with appearances in shows like, "Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok" and "I Love Lucy". In 1955 she got the part of Shirley Swanson in "The Bob Cummings Show" and amazed a lot of folks by showing that she could act. She did eventually get some substantial roles in films like, "The Brave One" and "So You Think The Grass Is Greener", both in 1956. Mostly, though, the 1950's saw her starring in many B movies.

In 1958 she guest starred on an episode of "The Adventures of Superman" playing Superman's wife. There was talk of making her role a reoccurring part, but George Reeves died and the series was canceled. In 1960, she got the role of Goldie in the TV series "Klondike" but most folks will probably remember her best as the wife of Lester Flatt in the TV series "The Beverly Hillbillies".

In 1965 she started entertaining in night clubs and she cut an album in 1965. It had a collection of songs on it written especially for her by composer Jimmy Haskel and Stella Stevens.

In 1967 she did a movie called "Hillbillies in a Haunted House" and one final film called "Bigfoot" in 1972.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer and died on August 7, 1972 at the age of 43. She is buried in the Pierce Brothers Santa Paula Cemetery in Santa Paula California. Her plot is Section N, Lot 444.

Born Vera Jayne Palmer in Bryn Mawr Pennsylvania, April 19, 1933. Her father died when she three years old, and his death impacted her greatly. Jayne's mother, Vera, supported the two of them on her teacher's salary and in 1939, her mother remarried to a man named Harry Peers a traveling sale engineer and the newly formed family moved to Texas.

In 1950, Jayne would marry Paul Mansfield and the couple moved to Austin Texas. She attended the University of Texas studying dramatics, with the hopes of becoming an actress. She would soon become pregnant and in November 8, 1950 she gave birth to a healthy baby girl she named Jayne Marie. Hoping that motherhood would put an end to Jayne acting ambitions which she carried with her since childhood when she was a fan of Shirley Temple Paul was disappointed that her desire was a strong as ever. In 1954 he agreed to move the family to Los Angeles so that she could try to get a career in acting started. She managed to get a few it parts in films at Warner Brothers films and in 1955 she was offered a role in the film, "The Burglar" and did fine in the dramatic role. Then the role of Rita Marlowe in the Broadway play "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter"', and it seemed that Jayne was on her way to stardom. Jayne and Paul would divorce in 1958. She would then marry Mickey Hargitay and they would divorce in 1964. A third marriage to Matt Cimber lasted from 1964-66.

In 1956 she starred in the film "The Girl Can't Help It" and signed a contract with 20th Century Fox and was given a role in "the Wayward Bus" opposite Joan Collins. The movie was a moderate success and some say it was Jayne's best work on film. In 1957, she agreed to do the film version of her hit play, "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter" and then against advice from agents she agreed to star in the film "Kiss Them For Me" opposite Cary Grant. She wasn't given top female billing in this film and her screen time is very limited and in fact she doesn't even get Cary Grant, he is instead interested in Suzy Parker's character.

In 1959 the roles for Jayne in Hollywood quickly disappeared but she kept busy in Europe doing a series of films, mostly all low budget and in 1960 Fox lent her out to do two independent films in England, "Too Hot To Handle" and "The Challenge". She also worked in "It Happened In Athens" where she received top billing, but her role was more of a supporting player.

In 1963 she tried to jump start her career by doing nude scenes in a film called "Promises, Promises" co starring Tommy Noonan, Mickey Hargitay and Marie McDonald . The movie was banned in a few cities and was a moderate success at the box office. Playboy magazine had a photographer on the set and she was photographed nude for an future issue of Playboy that helped to promote the movie.

Jayne did more low budget movies, and some stage work as well. She recorded several albums, one entitled Jayne Mansfield: Shakespeare, Tchaikovsky & Me where she read poetry. In 1965 she recorded two songs "As The Clouds Drift By" and "Suey and what makes them notable is the Jimi Hendrix played bass and lead guitar on them.

In 1964 she turned down the role of Ginger Grant in the TV series "Gilligan's Island". She gave the reason for turning it down as wanting to try to rid herself of the kind of stereotype that the character, Ginger Grant, represented.

Jayne continued to take roles on TV and in movies and did a cameo in the 1967 film, "A Guide For The Married Man" starring Walter Matthau and Robert Morse and her film time is with Terry Thomas and does an excellent job.

Jayne was doing a supper engagement at The Gus Stevens Supper Club in Biloxi Mississippi. After her last show, she and her lawyer/lover Sam Brody, driver Ronnie Harrison and Jayne's three children, Zolton, Miklos and Mariska set off on a over night road trip to take them to New Orleans where Jayne was to do a television interview. They never made it, instead, the car ran underneath a truck that was hidden in the fog and had been spraying for mosquitoes. Jayne, Brody and Harrison were killed and the three children escaped without injury as they had been sleeping in the back seat.

An persistent myth is that Jayne was decapitated in the accident. Photos released of the crash do indeed show what looks like a human head hanging from the windshield of the car, but that is just a wig that Jayne was wearing. There are some reports that Jayne was scalped in the accident, but most certainly she was not decapitated.

Jayne was taken back to PA and buried in Pen Argyl at the Fairview Cemetery on July 3, 1967. Many people in Hollywood thought the decision to do so was the wrong one, countering that she would have wanted to have been buried in Hollywood because she loved all the atmosphere of the place. Jayne is instead buried in a small quiet cemetery in a small town, but most importantly, beside her beloved father.

Mickey had a stone placed on her grave that is heart shaped and is inscribed with "We live to love you more each day." How true.

Marie's career started in the 1940's where she enjoyed success as one of that decades most popular pin up models.

Born July 6, 1923 in Kentucky as Cora Marie Frye her parents split when she was 6 years old. Her mother remarried and moved to Yonkers New York where she did well enough in school to be offered a scholarship to Columbia University to study journalism. But, Cora had other ideas, she was determined to try a career in show business. She began entering beauty contests and winning and this attention opened the door to Broadway. Her success there lead to Hollywood where she first got a job singing with Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra on his radio show. This lead to getting a contract with Universal Studios, but they didn't use her often, her roles being very small bit parts.

The press started to call her "the Body" because of her physical beauty and well proportioned body. In the 40's she managed to get a few roles in films like "Guest in the House" (1944)," Living in a Big Way" (1947) with Gene Kelly and "Tell It to the Judge" (1949). In the 1950's she managed to do roles on TV as well as the big screen, most notable in 1958 with Jerry Lewis in "The Geisha Boy". In 1963, she would star with another blond bombshell, Jayne Mansfield, in "Promises, Promises".

While Marie didn't set the movie industry on fire because of her acting ability, she certainly made for interesting press with her multiple marriages (seven times) and a fantastic story in 1957 about being kidnapped and assaulted by two men. She later admitted she made up the story for the publicity. A grand jury investigation into Marie's stunt went no where and charges were never filed against her. Sadly, Marie died of a drug over dose on Oct. 21, 1965, at the age of 42.

There isn't a lot of information available about Beverly, so I have tried to piece together something that sounds reasonable from what little I have found, so if the dates sound a little off here and there, I do apologize. She was born in New York City in 1927 or perhaps 28, depending on different sources. She started her career as a model in her teens. She began acting, first on Broadway in 1946, with the play closing soon after it opened. One of her first movie roles was as Felice Backett in "East Side, West Side". She then had some uncredited roles in films like "The Marrying Kind" and "No Holds Barred" both in 1952.

She began a May to December romance with MGM producer Voldemar Vetluguin after meeting him on the set of "East Side, West Side". He was 28 years her senior. They married in 1949 but separated in 1950 and finally divorcing in 1952. She would remarry in 1955 to playwright Russell Rouse, who was 19 years her senior and would remain married to him until his death in 1987.

During the 50's she made just a hand full of films, like "Wicked Woman" in 1953, "Crashout" and "Betrayed Women" both in 1955 and "Blonde Bait" and "Women Without Men" both in 1956. Her roles were usually always the tough dame, and she had, what many describe as a husky sultry voice.

Beverly died in 2007 after suffering a stroke.

If anyone can provide a mini bio of Beverly, it would be appreciated. I will gladly give you credit for your work.

Prior to becoming one of the most most watchable and entertaining actresses to ever hit the big screen, Jan was a Broadway star for 11 years.

It's a shame that she didn't become a bigger star, as she had the looks and talent to do so. She made a name for herself playing in film noir movies. One of her most memorable roles was in Billy Wilder's 1951 drama, "Ace in the Hole" (sometimes known as "The Big Carnival"). In 1954, she would be nominated for an Oscar in the best supporting actress category for her role in "The High and the Mightly".

She also had roles in films like, "Johnny Belinda", "The Human Jungle", "Caged" and many more. Jan worked on the big screen and then slowed down her pace enough to start taking roles on TV in the 60's on shows like "Burke's Law" and "Mannix". She continued to work into the 70's and 80's appearing on shows like, "Kung Fu", "Little House on the Prairie", "Three's Company" and more.

Jan would pass away March 26, 2004 at the age of 82.

Greta was born in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1933 and winning the Miss Denmark beauty pageant in 1951 inspired her to seek out her fame and fortune as an actress in Hollywood. She dyed her brunette hair blond and began to compete with other blond bombshells of the time, namely Marilyn and Jayne. She had an uncredited part in Marilyn's 1956 film, "Bus Stop" and went on to work in other films like "Accused of Murder", "Shadows", "Terror is a Man", "The Three Blondes in His Life", and even working with the Three Stooges in 3 of their shorts "Quizz Whiz", "Pies and Guys" and "Sappy Bullfighters".

Her last work in the movie business was in the 1967 film, "Cottonpickin' Chickenpickers".