Friday, December 12, 2008

"Gal" Friday (In Memorium)! Bettie Page


Sad news today that classic 1950's pin-up queen Bettie Page (who achieved even more genre immortality with her inclusion in Dave Stevens [also gone this very year] 1980's comic book, The Rocketeer) has passed away at the age of 85. So, Bettie trumps today's planned pick (but we will see her next week). Let's also take a moment to remember some other folks that we lost this year:

Hollywood lost many actors of note in 2008, including: Heath Ledger, Paul Newman, Charlton Heston, Roy Scheider, Barry Morse, Cyd Charisse, Richard Widmark, Suzanne Pleshette, Hazel Court & John Phillip Law.

Comedians that we'll miss include: Bernie Mac, George Carlin, Harvey Korman & Dick Martin, plus animators Bill Melendez (A Charlie Brown Christmas) and Ollie Johnston (one of Disney's famed "Nine Old Men", who worked on Snow White & Bambi), director Sydney Pollack, sci-fi author Arthur C. Clarke, country singer Jerry Reed, special effects whiz Stan Winston and Dungeons and Dragons co-creator Gary Gygax.

Last, but not least, this year the comic book industry lost Steve Gerber (Howard the Duck), the aforementioned Dave Stevens (The Rocketeer), Jim Mooney (Supergirl), Will Elder (Mad magazine), Creig Flessel (golden age Sandman & Shining Knight), Jack Kamen (EC Comics & Rulah Jungle Goddess for Fox Comics) and Michael Turner (Witchblade & Fathom).

They will all be sorely missed!

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