
After Macao, Jane was cast as a nightclub singer for a third time in The Las Vegas Story. This time, she would play opposite Victor Mature and be reunited with Vincent Price, her co-star in His Kind of Woman, and a friend offscreen.

Do you know what I’m doing in this photo? If you guessed Zooming in with TCM host Alicia Malone to discuss the Jane Russell book, you’d be correct! They’ll be celebrating Jane’s centennial the week of June 21, with The Outlaw, The Paleface, and His Kind of Woman airing on June 25th!

I am a sucker for Los Angeles architecture, so the chapter I most enjoyed writing was the one all about the fabulous Mid-Century Modern home in Sherman Oaks that she helped design with architect Kemper Nomland Jr. I am over the moon that Architectural Digest found Jane’s interest in design fascinating and has published an article all about it. Read it here and enjoy!
One of my family’s stay at home projects the past few months is the Little Miss Movies Podcast where my husband and I make our 10-year-old daughter watch movies and then discuss them with her. In honor of the Jane Russell book coming out, this week’s focuses on that most wonderful film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Take a listen on the podcast website or wherever you might consume your favorite audio shows.
This fabulous image of Jane with actor & artist Keye Luke on the set of Macao almost made it into the book, but was cut for lack of space. They’re standing in front of a mural Luke worked on.

Today I had the pleasure of hanging out with Jeff over at Larry Edmunds Bookshop and signing the piles of Jane Russell books that have arrived! It’s not too late to order a signed copy.
Just a reminder that I’ll be doing an in-person launch at Larry Edmunds on Saturday, June 19th from 4-6pm and will be doing a virtual event with them on Monday, June 21st. More details on that soon!
We are 10 days away from the release of Mean…Moody…Magnificent! Jane Russell and the Marketing of a Hollywood Legend! I didn’t think it would be possible, but we are going to have an old fashioned in-person book release!
Saturday, June 19, 4-6pm
Larry Edmunds Bookshop
6644 Hollywood Blvd,
Los Angeles, CA 90028
It’ll be super low key with some cool Jane Russell items from my collection on display and plenty of copies of the book which I will be on hand to sign. If you’re in the area, please stop by and say hi!

After His Kind of Woman, Jane was teamed with Robert Mitchum again in Macao. This was the first time she worked with designer Michael Woulfe whose gold mesh dress was so stunning, that Howard Hughes allowed it onscreen, even though it wasn’t low cut.

For the main artwork for His Kind of Woman, Howard Hughes turned to Mario Zamparelli who he employed often. Hughes loved it, but the art was deemed too provocative in England where Jane’s neckline was raise for the posters.
Back when my first book Ann Dvorak: Hollywood’s Forgotten Rebel came out, I wrote about how receiving the book in the mail reminded me of the Back to the Future when George McFly, who is a published author in the altered 1985, receives a box of his latest book. It may sound silly, but that was the part of the film that made a huge impression on me as a kid. From that moment on, I wanted to have my George McFly moment. I got to enjoy one in 2013 with Ann Dvorak, and this week, I got to have my George McFly moment with Jane when I received my box of Mean…Moody…Magnificent!
Just to see how much things have changed in 7+ years, here’s the kiddo and me the first time around.