February 27, 2014

Bettie Page: The “SeX-Files”

Not cryptozoology, but a conspiracy of the FBI kind…

Several years ago the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) created a brand new website titled The Vault. It’s an excellent and valuable resource for anyone wanting to take a look at countless, formerly classified files that are now available via the terms of the Freedom of Information Act. Indeed, the FBI has done an excellent, praiseworthy job of releasing its dossiers on a wide and varied body of subjects and people.

Files online at The Vault (all of which can be easily and quickly downloaded in PDF format) include (out of literally hundreds and hundreds) those on Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Al Capone, Steve Jobs, ESP, UFOs, Adolf Hitler, Ernest Hemingway, Jack the Ripper, The Doors, and even Anna Nicole Smith!

Then there is the highly entertaining file on none other than Bettie Page. The FBI notes at The Vault that Bettie Page was: “…famous for her pin-up portraits and nude modeling. Although the FBI did not investigate Page, her name appeared in several FBI interstate transportation of obscene materials investigations, a San Francisco Field Office crime survey, and – in passing – a counterintelligence operation…”

Before we get to the matter of the file, however, a bit of background on the legendary Miss Page is in order. Born in Nashville, Tennessee in 1923 and christened Betty (rather than Bettie) Mae Page, she had a tough childhood, one which was dominated by the divorce of her parents.

On top of that there were five more kids in the family that Bettie spent much of her time looking after. Add to that a sexually abusive father (who ended up in the slammer), and then time spent in an orphanage and you’ll come to realize that Bettie had a tough start in life. She succeeded in bouncing back big-time, however.

Bettie was highly intelligent and, after graduating from school, intended to become a teacher. Fate, however, took her in a different direction. After pursuing a variety of jobs, dreams and ambitions, Bettie (in 1950) crossed paths with a police officer named Jerry Tibbs, who had a passion for pin-up photography. Bettie soon became an enthusiastic subject for Tibbs and his cameras.

By the early 1950s, hot shots of Bettie were appearing in such magazines as Eyeful and Wink. Bondage and sadomasochistic-themed images soon followed, as did an appearance in none other than Playboy. She also appeared in a number of movies, including Striporama and Teaserama (in the latter she is billed as Betty instead of Bettie).

Before the 1950s were over, however, Bettie was a born-again Christian, and someone who put her previous life (and very different life!) far behind her. Much of her time was thereafter spent working for Billy Graham.

There was also turmoil for Bettie: she was beset by mental illness in the late 1970s, something which led her to spend almost two years in hospital. Financially, things were not good and, for all intents and purposes, Bettie vanished into obscurity and oblivion. Eventually, however, matters turned around big time.

By the 1990s, Bettie developed a new following and hordes of new fans, and became the subject of numerous TV shows, interviews, books and media coverage. She was back; albeit not posing quite as she did at the height of her career in the 1950s!

Bettie died on December 11, 2008 in Los Angeles. Her grave can be found in the L.A.-based Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery. It’s also a cemetery that is home to other legendary sex symbols, including Marilyn Monroe and Farrah Fawcett.

And, with that all said, onto the matter of that FBI file…

Read the rest of the story here on the DFW Nites website.

Filed under Conspiracies, Evidence, Lair of the Beasts