There are times that I wish I could draw, and this is one of them. If I could, I would draw a little heavenly scenario that shows Bettie Page posing for a portrait-painting Dave Stevens, captioned “Together at last.”
Hëll of a story, those two.
PAD
There are times that I wish I could draw, and this is one of them. If I could, I would draw a little heavenly scenario that shows Bettie Page posing for a portrait-painting Dave Stevens, captioned “Together at last.”
Hëll of a story, those two.
PAD
• 
I know there was a recent movie about her with Gretchen Moll.
I think the story of Dave and her would be a better movie.
Fare thee well, sweet dame.
Do you have Jim Silke’s number…?
I second edhopper’s suggestion. It’s great that, thanks to Dave, she was able to make some money at a time when she really needed it and, importantly, discover just how loved she was by so many. The real tragedy in the lives of so many poular culture icons is how they died thinking that they were failures when, just a few years later, their influence exploded into the public consciousness. How great would it have been for Bela Lugosi, Ed Wood, Wally Wood, Mario Bava and a whole host of great comics and film professionals had just been able to hang on a little longer, for that time when far far lesser talents are adored at conventions and have books and documentaries devoted to them?
Even some of those who did live long enough to get an inkling of how loved they were (Jack Kirby comes to mind) didn’t get to see the full appreciation of their talents, the kind that comes out usually after they die. With Ms. Page I think a lot of her fans assumed she had died so when she turned up alive it was as though they were given a second chance to tell her how much she meant.
And kudos once again to the late Dave Stevens, class act all the way.
Personally, when I think of Bettie Page I think of the amazing paintings done of her by brilliant cheesecake artist Olivia De Berardinis (shameless plug: http://www.eolivia.com has most of these pics). Not only was Bettie Page beautiful, but she seemed playful and made sexuality seem fun. She will be missed.
When Dave Stevens died I wondered, (on this board or possibly Tony Isabella’s), if Bettie Page had made any official statement regarding his passing. He was almost single-handedly responsible for her resurgence and made sure she was compensated for use of her likeness. I never read that she made any statements about Stevens. Anybody know?
Anyway, she was a beautiful woman who will be remembered long after the gynecological models of today.
I don’t know that I have much to add beyond what’s already been said … but agreed. What a story.
Amen to that. I discovered Bettie thanks to Stevens, and will love her until I die. She had a unique, brilliant face that turned anything she was in into an expression of joy for life. And Dave Stevens captured that the way only a great artist can.
I have to mention too the great italian artist Roberto Baldazzini paying Bettie homage in his early 80s comics (can’t say if that came . He is presently known for his hardcore albums but back then he was into noir and I remember at least one long story about the Bettie Page mistery dissapearance(this was long before she resurfaced).
When Dave died, I remember reading somewhere that he’d commented to a friend that he’d fantasized about Bettie for years, and now he was driving her to cash her Social Security checks…
When I heard late last week that she’d had a heart attack, I feared for the worst. This morning, I read that she’d been on life support since then. I think the machines were all that kept her going.
I dug out my Betty t-shirt an hour ago.
Miles
I don’t draw much anymore but if there was a good shot of Stevens at his drawing board I could Photoshop up a halfway decent version.
Was expecting news like this but sure didn’t want to hear it.
-Chris
“When Dave died, I remember reading somewhere that he’d commented to a friend that he’d fantasized about Bettie for years, and now he was driving her to cash her Social Security checks…”
I don’t know if this is was the original source, but Mark Evanier has reiterated that story with Page’s death.
Very sad news. Quite a life lived though.
Bettie & Dave… I’d pay for a ticket to see it.
Funny-on my Facebook page I wrote how Dave was giving Bettie the grand tour of her new digs about now.
I think it was Mark I heard it from. When Dave died, he did a very eloquent posting about it.
I’ll have to read his article abour Bettie.
Miles
I learned of Bettie page in my twenties and have rad several books about her. I am sad that she died, she was an icon. Rest in peace Bettie
I learned of Bettie page in my twenties and have read several books about her. I am sad that she died, she was an icon. Rest in peace Bettie
While a number of the on-line accounts (outside of the comics-related media) that i’ve encountered mention that her recent rediscovery was due to the works of various artists, not one mentioned Dave Stevens.
If I could, I would draw a little heavenly scenario that shows Bettie Page posing for a portrait-painting Dave Stevens
And Michelangelo, Da Vinci, etc. waiting their turn.
She will be missed.
Peter, you know many, MANY talented artists who know many other talented artists. I’m sure you can convince more than one to do a commission for you. Adam Hughes would be a natural of course. Cheers!
Peter, you know many, MANY talented artists who know many other talented artists. I’m sure you can convince more than one to do a commission for you. Adam Hughes would be a natural of course. Cheers!
NY Times mentions Dave. LA Times mentions The Rocketeer, but not Dave.
And the AP article doesn’t mention him at all. Neither does Reuters.
Mikes