Get to Know ’50s Blonde Bombshell Mamie Van Doren
Mamie Van Doren has been called many things — Miss Eight Ball, Miss Palm Springs, the Blond Bombshell, even one of “The Three M’s” (in conjunction with platinum-tressed stars Jayne Mansfield and Marilyn Monroe). But one thing no one would ever call Joan Lucille Olander, a.k.a. Mamie Van Doren, is uncomfortable in her own skin.
Mamie, who took her stage name from First Lady Mamie Eisenhower, has proved she is more than comfortable with her ample curves and rebellious style throughout her seven-decade career.
Everett Collection
Mamie started life humbly. Born to Warner and Lucille Olander in Rowena, SD, on Feb. 6, 1931, the actress/author/nightclub star noted that while her life has been “full of excitement” and that she has always done essentially whatever she wished, she also “came up the hard way” on a farm with no electricity or running water. Fate took a turn when Howard Hughes discovered her upon winning the Miss Palm Springs title at age 18. Hughes not only helped launch her film career with RKO Radio Pictures, but also dated her for five years. While those initial roles were minor and uncredited, Mamie’s first major outing came alongside Tony Curtis in the football flick The All-American, followed by a string of others, including Ain’t Misbehavin’, High School Confidential! and the rock ’n’ roll film Untamed Youth, which was initially condemned by the Catholic Legion of Decency (which only made it more popular). Later, when her movie career took a downturn, she appeared in live theater and developed a nightclub act in Las Vegas.
Life outside of film
For all her bad-girl film roles and wild-child ways, including photos in Playboy, outrageous quotes and a provocatively titled autobiography, Mamie gave generously of her talents. During the Vietnam War, she participated in USO shows and made hospital visits to amputee and burn wards. Her last film appearance was in 2002’s Slackers, where she made a cameo appearance. In 2007, she launched her own wine brand at age 76. Thrice divorced (a fourth marriage was annulled), with one son by her second husband, Ray Anthony, the 94-year-old currently lives in Newport Beach, CA, with her fifth husband, Thomas Dixon. Today, the couple maintains a website featuring memorabilia, Mamie’s “bedtime stories,” biographical information and the actress’ political views.
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“I came to Hollywood determined to follow in Jean Harlow’s footsteps, but I was determined not to die young,” Mamie Van Doren once said. “My hope was to endure. And endure I have.”
Hollywood Glamour
May 2020
Celebrate the most glamorous leading ladies from the Golden Age of Hollywood
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