Forgotten Names, Unforgettable Faces - Part 2
Navigate
In his continuing series of retrospective biographies, Jason Croft looks into three more lovely women who helped shape the face of pinup.
We continue again this month with our exploration of some of the forgotten queens of the classic pin-up era. This time we feature three more gals — all three of them beautiful blondes. All of them embodied that shift in cheesecake photography from dark urban studios to bright coastal beach setting. And, as you will find out, all three of these women had major careers after they left the world of pin-ups.
Bunny Yeager
Bunny Yeager is probably known for her work behind the camera than in front of it. She was responsible for some of the most famous shots of Bettie Page ever snapped—including Bettie’s famous jungle girl photos and her Christmas Playboy centerfold from 1955.
Because she was a model herself she had a better sense in how to pose other women in ways that seemed natural. This tended to put her models at ease. Yeager could relate to her models and her models could relate to her. Also, because Yeager was a female pin-up photographer in a professional that was dominated by men, her models didn’t have to be afraid of some leering dirty old man behind the lens. Yeager was able to catch a freshness and a playfulness that some of her male counterparts would miss. In Yeager’s own pin-up shots, you can see this same sort of playfulness, but it is a playfulness that covers a deep well of powerful sexuality. Yeager, after a time out of the limelight, has returned to the pin-up community.
She had a site up at bunnyyeager.com, but it is currently down.
Eve Meyer
Like Bunny Yeager, Eve Meyer’s most enduring contributions come after her career as a model. As wife of legendary cheesecake photographer and breast-obsessed filmmaker Russ Meyer, Eve was there to help Russ perfect his unique style of photography. Eve not only possessed a sophisticated beauty, but she was very versatile in her look. If Russ needed he to be a playful sun worshiper lying in the sand, she could be that. If he need her to look dangerous next to a California bungalow, she could do that as well. She transformed herself to be a perfect to match to whatever the setting and style dictated.
When the couple turned to movies in the late 1950’s, Eve was there to help make sure the business ends of things got taken care of. In fact, in one of Russ’ early nudie cutie films "Eve and the Handyman", Eve takes on the title role, playing the elusive and sultry prize for the ever-searching handyman. Even after the couple divorced, Eve was there to help Russ’ film career—most notably she helped produce Russ’ biggest film "Faster Pussycat, Kill! Kill!" Without her, Russ Meyer would not be the cult figure he is today.
Betty Brosmer
Talk about the All-American girl next door! This bright-eyed blonde is know for her stunning looks as well as for having one of the smallest waists of any cheesecake cutie. During her heyday as a model, she measured 38-18(!)-35. All that on a 5’5" 112 pound frame.
She was perfect for the bosom-obsessed 1950’s pin-up crowd, but not only that — she was perfect for hourglass-obsessed mainstream audience. Known for her almost exclusive work with glamour photographer Keith Bernard, Brosmer became one of the most popular models and cover girls in the world of classic men’s magazines. Along with Bettie Page, Brosmer was one of the mainstays when it came to glamour photography. With all her pin-up sessions, she made it a point to never to do anything nude or semi-nude, much to the chagrin of Playboy magazine and every red-blooded American male.
Around 1959, she met her future husband Joe Weider, a man who had a name for himself as a fitness publications owner. In the decades that followed, Brosmer became very involved in doing just about everything, from the writing to the editing, for his publications. She became a role model for any women who wanted to stay healthy and look great over 40.
**Author’s note: There is a great book called “Va Va Voom!” by Steve Sullivan (Rhino) that goes into greater and better detail about each of the lovely ladies featured here. Go buy it. It’s a great read.
Jason Croft is webmaster of Java’s Bachelor Pad, a website that celebrates the heritage of the classic American bachelor. More pictures of the three featured women can also be found on his Yahoo! Club, Java’s Bachelor Pad After Dark.
You must be at least Silver Member to post comments.
Most Recent Comments - 0 comments total