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Virginia "Ding Dong" Bell - correct biograqphy
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ferei...@aol.com
Jul 4, 2014, 4:29:19 PM7/4/14
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Virginia "Ding Dong" Bell
(Scanty Panties" one-sheet image could not be added)
Virginia Bell is one of the most loved Burlesque dancers of all time, and continues to be fondly remembered nearly 50 years after her retirement from the Burlesque circuit.
Virginia was born Virginia Miriam Beck in Montrose, California August 14, 1934. Her parents were John Charles Beck and Freda Yugend (See "Family Tree " below). She graduated from High School in Los Angeles in 1949 and Junior College around 1951. She was briefly married to Charles Merle Bell , and later to Eli Jackson, a candy butcher in a burlesque house, who later produced her feature film "Bell, Bare and Beautiful", which was filmed in Tampa and Miami, Florida in 1961. They had three children: Pierre Joseph Jackson (Born c 1961), Tyrone Eli Jackson (Born c. 1962) and Todd George Jackson (Born c. 1964).
The Los Angeles Times reported, in an article on December 28, 1957, that Virginia Bell, who was performing at the Follies Burlesque theatre in Los Angeles, was being signed to a $1,000-a-week acting contract through the law office of attorney George B. T. Sturr, acting on behalf of William Rau, an Indian producer who headed Cleota Productions, had plans for an 18-month contract, and wanted to produce 2 feature films and a television series. As the Press was invited to the "signing", it was not known how much was publicity, and how much was ever paid to Virginia.
Her filmography includes "Scanty Panties" (1961); "Bell, Bare and Beautiful" (1963); "Lullaby of Bareland" (1964); "Gertie the Grapefruit Girl and Friends" (1969) and "Fraulein Doktor" (1969). Not all could be verified. She was also shown in numerous "loops" in vending arcades, and once performing her strip-tease, believed to have been filmed at the Roxy Theatre in Cleveland, Ohio. She also was featured in numerous magazine spreads.
Virginia "Ding Dong" Bell, also known as "48-22-34" became one of the highest paid Burlesque dancers in the Country, and made upwards of $1,500 a week on the Burlesque Circuit.
The one-sheet shown above was for "Scanty Panties", which was filmed in June 1961 at the Globe Burlesque theatre in Atlantic City, NJ. No known copies of the film exist today, although a 35mm print has been donated to the Library of Congress. The film was mainly a film of the Burlesque Show that Virginia was featured in at the Globe. It also featured comic Irving Benson (Who's still alive), comic Billy "Cheese and Crackers" Hagan (deceased), Murray Briscoe (deceased) Debra Dante (deceased), Debby Starr (unknown), Electrique (unknown), comic and straight man Maxie Furman and his wife Alma Maiben (both deceased). Merrick Valinote was the orchestra leader (He died in 1976). Jay Hornick (deceased) was the director. Jay was the publisher of "Cavalcade of Burlesque" magazine, published out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia.
The Troc burlesque theatre at 10th and Arch Streets in Philadelphia was, around that time, stage managed by Maxie Furman, who was also a straight man and occasional comic. The Troc was not air-conditioned, so it closed for the Summer months, with the "local" crew moving to the Globe in Atlantic City, for the summer. Several years after filming "Scanty Panties", the Globe closed, and was later torn down. The Troc had a labor dispute in the late 60's, when it's ownership wanted to downsize the orchestra by about 10 members. The Musician's local went on strike, and name dancers (Including Virginia Bell) refused to cross the picket lines. Furman, who was the stage manager, countered by hiring go-go dancers to strip, and gave them colorful "newspaper ad names" like "Melba, the Toast of the Town", "Lisa Carr" (She Gives 'till it Hurtz"), "Carlotta Tendant" ("You'll Want to Park Here All Night"), "Pearl Harbor" ("She'll sink your ship") [Furman did that one around the anniversary of Pearl Harbor], and his personal favorite "Miss Bermuda Schwartz". The strippers danced to recorded music. The Troc never regained it's former glory, and it was at the time that Burlesque shows had passed their heyday. It ceased Burlesque shows in April 1978, later became a porno house, and was later sold to an entrepreneur who changed it into a performing house for bands, and rock stars. It still exists today. Furman later went on to perform in the show "Sugar Babies", and the 1974 edition of "This Was Burlesque". He retired to Atlantic City, where he died on February 19, 1985.
Virginia retired from Burlesque in the early 1970's. She married Alexander White in Reno, Nevada July 12, 1987.. After his death on July 15, 2004, she became the companion of Arnold J. Popky. They were together for 5 years, until Virginia died on July 18, 2010. They had lived in Westlake Village (Ventura County), California.
Virginia Miriam White's death certificate confirms her birth and death dates, which were supplied by her son, Tyrone Jackson. Virginia died at home (2423 Kirsten Lee Drive, Westlake Village, California) at 7:30 AM on July 18, 2010. Cause of death was metastatic pancreatic cancer (several months). Her family physician was Dr. Edward Sam Hanzelik, who had been her doctor since 1994.
Virginia was buried July 19, 2010, in the oldest Jewish cemetery in Los Angeles County, Home of Peace Memorial Park, 4334 Whittier Boulevard, Los Angeles, California. . The Funeral Director was Chevra Kadisha Mortuary.
Virginia's "Family Tree":
Virginia "Ding Dong" Bell was born Virginia Marian Beck August 14, 1934.
She had 4 siblings: Freya Ethel Beck (Born July 5, 1931 - Married Donald K. Dailey (aka Daley) December 24, 1952 - Died June 5, 2011 in Peoria (Maricopa County), Arizona).
John Charles Beck (Born June 29, 1940).
Helen Lee Beck (Born October 17, 1943).
Julie Marie Beck (Born March 26, 1948).
Their parents were: {father} John Charles Beck, Sr. (Born August 14, 1894 - Died January 13, 1976 in Montrose [Los Angeles County], California. Buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale), Glendale [Los Angeles County] California in Plot: Affection, Lot 5469; Space 3). {mother} Freda Yugend (Born March 28, 1908 in St. Paul, Minnesota - Died June 12, 1986 in Montrose[Los Angeles County], California).
Virginia's Paternal Grandparents were: William and Carrie Beck (Both Born 1856). Maternal grandparents were: Samuel Yugend (1862 - 1939) and Minnie Kantor (1862 - 1953).
Virginia's father, John Charles Beck, had an interesting incident in his background: He was incarcerated in Leavenworth Federal Prison in Leavenworth, Kansas October 22, 1915. He registered for the World War 1 Draft, listing his date of birth as August 14, 1895 in Ackley, Iowa. He listed his "residence" as The Minnesota State Reformatory in St. Cloud, Minnsota. Registration was dated June 5th, 1917. That would have made him 23 years old at the time of Registration.
Still today, Virginia Bell is fondly remembered by fans all over the world.
Special thanks to Arnold J. Popky, Virginia's companion of her last 5 years, Don Dailey, her nephew (His mother was Virginia's sister, Freya) and Christina McKillup, for death and burial information.
(c) Frank Reighter 2014
(Scanty Panties" one-sheet image could not be added)
Virginia Bell is one of the most loved Burlesque dancers of all time, and continues to be fondly remembered nearly 50 years after her retirement from the Burlesque circuit.
Virginia was born Virginia Miriam Beck in Montrose, California August 14, 1934. Her parents were John Charles Beck and Freda Yugend (See "Family Tree " below). She graduated from High School in Los Angeles in 1949 and Junior College around 1951. She was briefly married to Charles Merle Bell , and later to Eli Jackson, a candy butcher in a burlesque house, who later produced her feature film "Bell, Bare and Beautiful", which was filmed in Tampa and Miami, Florida in 1961. They had three children: Pierre Joseph Jackson (Born c 1961), Tyrone Eli Jackson (Born c. 1962) and Todd George Jackson (Born c. 1964).
The Los Angeles Times reported, in an article on December 28, 1957, that Virginia Bell, who was performing at the Follies Burlesque theatre in Los Angeles, was being signed to a $1,000-a-week acting contract through the law office of attorney George B. T. Sturr, acting on behalf of William Rau, an Indian producer who headed Cleota Productions, had plans for an 18-month contract, and wanted to produce 2 feature films and a television series. As the Press was invited to the "signing", it was not known how much was publicity, and how much was ever paid to Virginia.
Her filmography includes "Scanty Panties" (1961); "Bell, Bare and Beautiful" (1963); "Lullaby of Bareland" (1964); "Gertie the Grapefruit Girl and Friends" (1969) and "Fraulein Doktor" (1969). Not all could be verified. She was also shown in numerous "loops" in vending arcades, and once performing her strip-tease, believed to have been filmed at the Roxy Theatre in Cleveland, Ohio. She also was featured in numerous magazine spreads.
Virginia "Ding Dong" Bell, also known as "48-22-34" became one of the highest paid Burlesque dancers in the Country, and made upwards of $1,500 a week on the Burlesque Circuit.
The one-sheet shown above was for "Scanty Panties", which was filmed in June 1961 at the Globe Burlesque theatre in Atlantic City, NJ. No known copies of the film exist today, although a 35mm print has been donated to the Library of Congress. The film was mainly a film of the Burlesque Show that Virginia was featured in at the Globe. It also featured comic Irving Benson (Who's still alive), comic Billy "Cheese and Crackers" Hagan (deceased), Murray Briscoe (deceased) Debra Dante (deceased), Debby Starr (unknown), Electrique (unknown), comic and straight man Maxie Furman and his wife Alma Maiben (both deceased). Merrick Valinote was the orchestra leader (He died in 1976). Jay Hornick (deceased) was the director. Jay was the publisher of "Cavalcade of Burlesque" magazine, published out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia.
The Troc burlesque theatre at 10th and Arch Streets in Philadelphia was, around that time, stage managed by Maxie Furman, who was also a straight man and occasional comic. The Troc was not air-conditioned, so it closed for the Summer months, with the "local" crew moving to the Globe in Atlantic City, for the summer. Several years after filming "Scanty Panties", the Globe closed, and was later torn down. The Troc had a labor dispute in the late 60's, when it's ownership wanted to downsize the orchestra by about 10 members. The Musician's local went on strike, and name dancers (Including Virginia Bell) refused to cross the picket lines. Furman, who was the stage manager, countered by hiring go-go dancers to strip, and gave them colorful "newspaper ad names" like "Melba, the Toast of the Town", "Lisa Carr" (She Gives 'till it Hurtz"), "Carlotta Tendant" ("You'll Want to Park Here All Night"), "Pearl Harbor" ("She'll sink your ship") [Furman did that one around the anniversary of Pearl Harbor], and his personal favorite "Miss Bermuda Schwartz". The strippers danced to recorded music. The Troc never regained it's former glory, and it was at the time that Burlesque shows had passed their heyday. It ceased Burlesque shows in April 1978, later became a porno house, and was later sold to an entrepreneur who changed it into a performing house for bands, and rock stars. It still exists today. Furman later went on to perform in the show "Sugar Babies", and the 1974 edition of "This Was Burlesque". He retired to Atlantic City, where he died on February 19, 1985.
Virginia retired from Burlesque in the early 1970's. She married Alexander White in Reno, Nevada July 12, 1987.. After his death on July 15, 2004, she became the companion of Arnold J. Popky. They were together for 5 years, until Virginia died on July 18, 2010. They had lived in Westlake Village (Ventura County), California.
Virginia Miriam White's death certificate confirms her birth and death dates, which were supplied by her son, Tyrone Jackson. Virginia died at home (2423 Kirsten Lee Drive, Westlake Village, California) at 7:30 AM on July 18, 2010. Cause of death was metastatic pancreatic cancer (several months). Her family physician was Dr. Edward Sam Hanzelik, who had been her doctor since 1994.
Virginia was buried July 19, 2010, in the oldest Jewish cemetery in Los Angeles County, Home of Peace Memorial Park, 4334 Whittier Boulevard, Los Angeles, California. . The Funeral Director was Chevra Kadisha Mortuary.
Virginia's "Family Tree":
Virginia "Ding Dong" Bell was born Virginia Marian Beck August 14, 1934.
She had 4 siblings: Freya Ethel Beck (Born July 5, 1931 - Married Donald K. Dailey (aka Daley) December 24, 1952 - Died June 5, 2011 in Peoria (Maricopa County), Arizona).
John Charles Beck (Born June 29, 1940).
Helen Lee Beck (Born October 17, 1943).
Julie Marie Beck (Born March 26, 1948).
Their parents were: {father} John Charles Beck, Sr. (Born August 14, 1894 - Died January 13, 1976 in Montrose [Los Angeles County], California. Buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale), Glendale [Los Angeles County] California in Plot: Affection, Lot 5469; Space 3). {mother} Freda Yugend (Born March 28, 1908 in St. Paul, Minnesota - Died June 12, 1986 in Montrose[Los Angeles County], California).
Virginia's Paternal Grandparents were: William and Carrie Beck (Both Born 1856). Maternal grandparents were: Samuel Yugend (1862 - 1939) and Minnie Kantor (1862 - 1953).
Virginia's father, John Charles Beck, had an interesting incident in his background: He was incarcerated in Leavenworth Federal Prison in Leavenworth, Kansas October 22, 1915. He registered for the World War 1 Draft, listing his date of birth as August 14, 1895 in Ackley, Iowa. He listed his "residence" as The Minnesota State Reformatory in St. Cloud, Minnsota. Registration was dated June 5th, 1917. That would have made him 23 years old at the time of Registration.
Still today, Virginia Bell is fondly remembered by fans all over the world.
Special thanks to Arnold J. Popky, Virginia's companion of her last 5 years, Don Dailey, her nephew (His mother was Virginia's sister, Freya) and Christina McKillup, for death and burial information.
(c) Frank Reighter 2014
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