Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Joi to the World


Blonde bombshell Joi Lansing had a figure that could easily rival that of Jayne Mansfield's, a doll-like face which was just as gorgeous and photogenic as Marilyn Monroe's, and more than adequate acting ability. Mysteriously, though, she never starred in a major film of her own, and is best remembered for her cheesecake modeling and many television guest appearances in the 1950's and 1960's. Perhaps she was too "square" for the lecherous producers on the make in Hollywood - a devout Mormon, Lansing neither drank nor smoked. In the mid-1960's, Lansing began a singing career, lending her appealing, smoky voice to nightclub stages, at least one impossible-to-find record album, and, most infamously, a series of Scopitone videos.






Sadly, Joi Lansing was yet another casualty of the blondes-who-die-too-young syndrome: she passed away in 1972, at the young age of 43, after a battle with breast cancer - possibly the result of the silicone injections she had taken to enlarge her chest. (Foreshadowing Ava Gardner's illness and death, Lansing's former paramour, Frank Sinatra, footed the destitute beauty's medical and funeral bills.) Despite her seemingly small resume, Lansing is being rediscovered by a whole new generation, thanks to her Scopitone camp classics, as well as her appearances on such still-viewed series as The Beverly Hillbillies and Love That Bob/The Bob Cummings Show. Fifty years later, we're still trapped in her web of love!

JOI LANSING
April 6, 1929 - August 7, 1972

9 comments:

  1. I've never heard of her! What a body!

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  2. hubba!
    Left us too soon, sadly.

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  3. she was born on my bday! .. what a hottie!

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  4. Joi really was one of those people that you recognized back then, but didn't know her name. She had more talent than Carol Wayne, but Carol had an IQ that was off the charts.

    They all had in common - blonde hair and big bazooms and died way to young.

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  5. For a while after Les Paul and Mary Ford's 1964 divorce, Joi toured with Les and sang the Mary Ford parts although she didn't play guitar in the act as Mary did - I have never found a photo of the two of them during that period - I don't think the act lasted too long -
    Jon

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    Replies
    1. Hi...You're right about Joi and Les Paul. There's a lot more to the story. It's all in my book "Joi Lansing...a Body To Die For. A Love Story."
      If you have any questions about Joi and the book...please ask me. I'm on Facebook..."The Joi Lansing Appreciation Club."
      Thank you...
      Alexis Hunter

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  6. Hi TJB...
    Thanks so much for your article about Joi! Some of the info is publicity hype. I'd like to give you a more accurate account of Joi’s life and death. I was with Joi until her death in 72.
    You can contact me at msalexhunter@aol.com
    Thanks!
    Alexis Hunter

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