Happy 82nd birthday to Mamie Van Doren!

One of Hollywood's original bad girls, Mamie never had the same studio success as her contemporaries (and friends, and rivals) Marilyn Monroe and Jane Mansfeld, but Mamie cleared out her own legendary niche as a pinup, and in films like "The Girl In The Black Stockings", "High School Confidential", "Untamed Youth" and (of course) "Sex Kittens Go To College".

At a time when men were supposed to be allowed to do whatever they wanted and women were not supposed to do anything, Mamie did whatever the hell she wanted. Married 5 times. Slept with who she wanted (including Clark Gable, Elvis, Steve McQueen and others), and DIDN'T sleep with people who could have possibly helped her career, like Howard Hughes.

It should also be said that Mamie volunteered for 2 tours to entertain the troops in Vietnam.

I've always been aware of Mamie, but a few years ago I heard Little Steven profile her on his Underground Garage radio show. I checked out her insanely entertaining website, full of pictures, stories and gossip (with entries like "Tom Jones? It's Not Unusual") and wrote her an email telling her how cool she is. She wrote me back that very night with a very sweet note and mailed me an autographed picture soon after.

Bad girls, man. Hearts of gold. Happy birthday, Mamie.