|
At the height of her career in 1957, Bettie Page mysteriously disappeared from public view. Bettie Page disappeared for decades, not allowing herself to be photographed at all, then she re-emerged as a cult hero in the 80s and 90s.
In 1976, Eros Publishing Co. published A Nostalgic Look at Bettie Page, these were a mixture of old photos from the 1950s. Belier Press published four volumes,1978 - 1980, of Betty Page -- Private Peeks reprinting some of the pictures from the private camera club sessions, some explicit and bondage photos, which reintroduced Page to a new, but small cult following. In 1983, London Enterprises released In Praise of Bettie Page - A Nostalgic Collector's Item, reprinted camera club photos and an old cat fight.In the early 1980s, comic book talent Dave Stevens based the female love interest of his hero Cliff Secord, alias "The Rocketeer", on Page. In 1987, Greg Theakston started a fanzine called The Betty Pages and recounted tales of her life, in particular, the camera club days. For the next seven years the magazine sparked a world-wide interest in Page. Women dyed their hair and cut it into bangs in an attempt to emulate the Dark Angel. The media caught wind of the cult and numerous articles were written about her, more often than not with the help of Theakston. Since almost all of her photos were in the public domain, dozens of people launched related products and cashed-in on the craze. Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous did a piece on her, as did Entertainment Tonight. Bettie, who was living in a group home in Los Angeles was astounded when she saw the E.T. piece, having no idea that she had suddenly become famous again. Betty Pages' editor, Greg Theakston contacted her and did an extensive interview with the diva in The Betty Pages Annuals V.2. Having nothing more to say on the topic, Theakston discontinued the publication. Shortly after, Page signed with a Chicago-based agent James Swanson. Three years later, she told Theakston that she'd never seen an accounting for monies collected, nor any royalties. Page eventually fired him and signed with Curtis Management Group, a company which also represented the James Dean and Marilyn Monroe estates, and began collecting payments which ensured her financial security. This was a Godsend considering she was almost penniless. Dark Horse Comics published a comic based on her fictional adventures in the 1990s after Jim Silke did a large format comic featuring her likeness. Eros Comics also published several Bettie Page titles, the most popular being the tongue-in-cheek Tor Love Bettie which suggested a romance between Page and wrestler-turned-Ed Wood film actor, Tor Johnson. In Spain, humor magazine "El Jueves" runs a weekly comic, "Clara de noche", the main character of which is directly inspired by Page. Many modern-day Bettie-inspired models such as Bernie Dexter, Dita Von Teese, and Nina Elizabeth Page (no relation) are revered for their classic beauty and resemblance to Bettie Page. Actress Musetta Vander was deliberately made up to resemble Page playing the whip-wielding "Lash" in the science fiction film "Oblivion" and its sequel. Alexis Payne and many other fetish film stars continue to copy Page's trademark severe bangs, dominatrix outfits and attitude displayed in the Irving Klaw photos. A biographical movie, The Notorious Bettie Page, was released in 2005, and showed in theaters in 2006. It is based on the story of Bettie Page from the mid-1930s through the mid-1950s, and stars Gretchen Mol as the adult Bettie. Many of Page's short films have been reissued to DVD , as have her appearances in films such as Teaserama. Recent made-for-DVD documentaries about her include Bettie Page Uncovered and Bettie Page: The Girl in the Leopard Print Bikini. |
