Year of Jane Russell: Day 58

In August of 1942, students at San Diego State College successfully appealed to publicist Russell Birdwell’s sense of showmanship by launching a campaign to have Jane travel south to attend their annual Blue Book Ball. Here’s Jane on campus with some of the students.

Year of Jane Russell: Day 57

Since the weekend is finally upon us, here’s an unguarded image of Jane having some fun for the cameras in 1941. I don’t know for sure, but this looks like it might be in the Fern Dell section of Griffith Park, one of the many joys of my beloved Los Angeles. Happy Friday!

Year of Jane Russell: Day 55

Here’s one last image of Jane taken by André de Dienes which is another personal favorite.

Year of Jane Russell: Day 54

André de Dienes favored outdoor photography and often took advantage of Southern California’s beaches for sessions, which is where he worked with Jane.

Year of Jane Russell: Day 53

Here’s the next in the set of André de Dienes contact prints of Jane that I purchased last year. It’s one of my favorites.

Year of Jane Russell: Day 52

Some favorite Jane Russell photos in my personal collection are four contact prints taken by photographer André de Dienes in the early 1940s. De Dienes is best known for his photos of Marilyn Monroe, who he photographed on multiple occasions from the mid-1940s to early 1950s. Personally, I think his images of Marilyn are some of the best taken of her, which was why I jumped on the Jane photos, even though they were a little pricey.

I ended up not using any in the book, but did use them for a promotional bookmark, which you can get if you pre-order Mean…Moody…Magnificent over at Larry Edmunds Bookshop! 

Year of Jane Russell: Day 50

What’s the point of photographing Jane Russell at the Beverly Hills Hotel pool of you don’t show her climbing out of it, bone dry and with perfect hair and make-up?

Year of Jane Russell: Day 49

Here’s another pic of Jane posing at the Beverly Hills Hotel. This sandy area was paved over at some point.