The Outlaw Billboard is Born

Year of Jane Russell: Day 39

Nearly a year after they were taken, the Hurrell color photos of Jane were finally converted into billboards when The Outlaw premiered at San Francisco’s Geary Theatre in February 1943, and played for a limited run. A 24-sheet with one of the Hurrell photos was displayed outside the theater and 6-sheets (which occasionally pop up for auction) were displayed around the city, much to the chagrin of more the conservative minded residents of the city. The image of Jane was doctored to lower her top, and Jane was not happy with the final result. By the looks of this photo, any controversy surrounding The Outlaw only helped in drawing the crowds in.