Pinup Legend Bettie Page Hospitalized in Critical Condition

Pinup posters and calenders are quite a popular decoration to have in the rooms of young boys. With sexy models posing in provocative, creative fashions, the pinup model industry will never be short of popularity. The woman who helped make pinup poses so popular - eventually - was Bettie Page, whose poses set a huge stir in the 50's and 60's. But today, Bettie Page may be barely able to move, as the modeling legend is reported to be in a critically ill condition.

The Associated Press reported that Bettie Page suffered a heart attack this week, after three weeks of being hospitalized for pneumonia. Page suffered the heart attack on Tuesday, with news breaking out of it on Friday.

Family friend Todd Mueller has claimed that Page is now in a coma. Agent Mark Roesler confirmed that Page is "critically ill."

Bettie Page earned millions of fans and enemies for her work in the 1950's. Page, a former secretary, became a pinup model notorious for poses that were not considered mainstream at the time. Recreations of bondage, S&M and fetish scenes were common for Page to work in, which shattered many barriers for the times.

Page first began her pinup portfolio in 1950, with help from amateur photographer and police officer Jerry Tibbs. Over the next several years, Page's provocative poses became more wide spread, leading to her biggest exposure yet as a Playboy centerfold in 1955.

Page was nude in many photos, though none of them featured explicit sex itself. But the scandalous poses were enough to attract attention from the Senate. In 1957, Page was asked to appear in front of a subcommittee on juvenile delinquency.

Though she ultimately was never called, many of her photos were deemed illegal. In that same year, Page quit modeling for good, but her photos were credited as having helped set the spark of the sexual revolution a decade later.

Page then shocked people even more with her conversion to Christianity. From that point on, Page was out of the public eye for decades, as a whole cult of Bettie Page followers emerged, wondering where she went.

Page finally emerged to tell her biography in 1996, though she did not allow any new pictures to be taken of her.

Last year, Page's years in modeling were recreated in a movie, The Notorious Bettie Page, starring Gretchen Mol as Page.

Currently, Page is being treated in Los Angeles, though no word has gotten out on what hospital she is in.

Sources

Associated Press- "Pinup Bettie Page hospitalized after heart attack" www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jZUqEZI68r9LHs45IyvnFNrflxowD94T242G0

NBC Los Angeles- "Famed Pinup Girl In Critical Condition" www.nbclosangeles.com/news/entertainment/FAMED-PINUP-GIRL-IN-CRITICAL-CONDITION.html

Wikipedia- "Bettie Page" en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bettie_Page