Born #OTD 1923: Rhonda Fleming, the ‘Queen of Technicolor', seen here in monochrome

Rhonda Fleming, a name synonymous with grace and talent, was born Marilyn Louis on this day in 1923 in Los Angeles. She is captured here in 1954 by the lens of Peter Basch. Renowned for her roles as Mary Carmichael in Alfred Hitchcock's ‘Spellbound’ (1945) and Meta Carson in the enigmatic ‘Out of the Past’ (1947), her artistry left an indelible mark. In her later years, she was known for her philanthropy, particularly in the fields of cancer research and women’s health.

Photo: Rhonda Fleming, a muse caught unguarded, is captured by Peter Basch's discerning eye. Seated upon the ground, her form turned in gentle retreat, a playful smile illuminates her visage. Draped in gossamer fabric that veils her shoulders and whispers of curves, she exudes an air of effortless allure. Her hair is a cascade of curls that frames her face like a halo. The backdrop, adorned with grand palm fronds, evokes a serene and exotic paradise.

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.

Jane Greer: RKO’s ‘woman with the Mona Lisa smile’

The model, actress, and fair beauty Jane Greer is laid bare before our eyes in LIFE magazine, 8 June 1942. It was this very photoshoot that compelled Howard Hughes—a man of immeasurable wealth and influence, and one with a keen eye for talent—to take the young aspirant under his wing and bring her to Hollywood stardom. Their business relationship endured roughly a decade but was not without its share of tribulations. Arguably, her best-known role was in 1947’s 'Out of the Past', starring opposite Robert Mitchum and Kirk Douglas.

She was born Bettejane Greer in Washington D.C. on 9 September 1924 but legally changed her name to Jane Greer in 1945, proclaiming to the press: 'Mine is a sissy name. It's too bo-peepish, ingenueish, for the type of role I've been playing. It's like Mary Lou or Mary Ann.' For a very brief time (separating after just three months), she was the wife of saxophonist and bandleader Rudy Vallee. Her talents were recognised in 1960 when a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was bestowed upon her. She continued to work in television into the 1980s.

Photo: Verily, Jane Greer is smoking in this relaxed and alluring pose. Seated against a dark backdrop, a playful smile dances upon her lips. She is draped in a dark sheet that covers her torso. In her dexter hand, a slender cigarette rests, with a wisp of smoke curling upwards like the very tendrils of desire. Her other hand, a vision of creamy flesh, finds a gentle resting place upon her breast. Her hair is a cascade of soft waves, amplifying her natural beauty.

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.