A vision of refinement and allure: Mamie Van Doren by Earl Leaf, Anno Domini 1956

Captured by the esteemed Earl Leaf circa 1956, the ever-captivating Mamie Van Doren leans most gracefully upon a counter, attired in a strapless top that accentuates the bountiful gifts bestowed upon her by Venus herself. Her platinum blonde tresses cascade in waves both soft and voluminous. In the foreground is an intricate and artistic mobile fashioned from various natural materials, including driftwood and stones. The background features a stylish and somewhat bohemian atmosphere. She is alluring and confident, completely encapsulating the essence of 1950s Hollywood glamour.

Copyright 2024, Arthur Newhook. @Sunking278 and @FloydEtcetera on X, and at the same handles on FACEBOOK. MASTODON - @ArthurNewhook@mastodon.world, BLUESKY - @arthurnewhook.bsky.social. DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED at https://tinyurl.com/ArthurNewhook.

Mamie Van Doren and Elinor Donahue in ‘Girls Town’, ‘an awful picture’ from 1959

Mamie Van Doren, publicity photo for 'Girls Town', MGM 1959.

‘Girls Town’ was an MGM attempt to capitalise on the teen ‘exploitation’ B-movie genre that was popular in the 1950s. The dramatic plot centres around a teenage misfit named Silver (Mamie Van Doren) trapped in a juvenile detention facility run by nuns, whilst trying to save her sister (played by Elinor Donahue) from being sold into the Tijuana slave trade by Mel Tormé’s character. Featuring appearances by The Platters and Paul Anka, starring as themselves, this quirky and not particularly good film ended up being a financial loss for MGM and was later lampooned in the 1990s on ‘Mystery Science Theater 3000’.

Elinor Donahue. Photo: Virgil Apger/Archive Photos/Getty Images

Elinor Donahue said of her part: ‘I would just as soon forget the whole thing. In the first five minutes of the picture it was established that I was a good girl, being pushed into being a bad girl. The rest of the picture I spent doing practically nothing but crying and saying, 'Help me, help me!' It was fun making it, but it was an awful picture’.

Copyright 2024, Arthur Newhook. @Sunking278 and @FloydEtcetera on X, and at the same handles on FACEBOOK. MASTODON - @ArthurNewhook@mastodon.world, BLUESKY - @arthurnewhook.bsky.social. DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED at https://tinyurl.com/ArthurNewhook.