Skip to content
the body house, dyann bridges, sensual massage, tantra

The Body House

Celebrating Vintage Sensuality

  • Lady of The House
    • WELCOME…
    • Old Hollywood Newsletter
    • Tales Of The Gripped
    • Interviews…
    • Private Phone Sessions
  • The Lounge
    • What is FBSM?
    • Sex & Sensuality
    • Sensual Living
    • Massage & Tantra
    • The Sexpert
      • SUSAN BRATTON
  • The Yard
    • SUBSTACK
    • Spotify
    • Odysee
    • Youtube
    • The Basement
      • Archive
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms of Use
      • CCPA – California Consumer Privacy Act
  • The Shop
    • P.O.D. Store
    • Relationship Report
    • Relaters Manual
    • Bettie Page Photo Pack
  • Toggle search form
back story on Betty Grables, iconic legs photo

The Back Story On Betty Grable’s Iconic Legs Photo *MAJOR UPDATE*

Posted on November 27, 2022March 14, 2024 By The Body House No Comments on The Back Story On Betty Grable’s Iconic Legs Photo *MAJOR UPDATE*

 

Before we go any further… I have to confess that this original blog post about Betty Grable’s Iconic Legs Photo is incorrect.


The below story is the most common reason why Betty struck such a cute pose that you’ll find on the internet and it’s completely FALSE.

Find the update on Substack here…

However, I have been set straight by Shannon Allen at Vanguard of Hollywood.

The FACT was Betty was not pregnant with anyone’s child during this photo shoot.

Why? The timeline was all wrong.

Shannon does excellent research on classic movie stars. Clearly, she has a passion for the Golden Age of Hollywood. The below information is entirely based on her research. It’s much more than I have time for. In fact, it’s some of the best historical information on the lives of these Old Hollywood movies stars that I’ve come across.

Discover more here or read more about Betty Grable’s photo shoot below direct from The Vanguard of Hollywood;

“No, She Wasn’t Pregnant. Stop Saying She Was Pregnant.

Now I’m about to debunk a rumor that has been told sooo many times over the years, most film fans believe it is fact.

Wikipedia, news articles covering the 1940s, and probably every old movie blog you come across will tell you that in the famous pin-up photo of Betty Grable that inspired this film-the photo shot from behind with Betty glancing playfully at the camera over her shoulder-Betty was pregnant with her daughter Victoria.

This is absolutely not true.

The famous pin-up of Betty Grable. The rumor that her unique pose was a way to disguise Betty’s baby bump is bogus. She was not pregnant!

It’s easy to see why the rumor is usually accepted as fact: it’s a unique pose that would effectively hide a baby bump.

 

And Betty herself certainly didn’t help set the record straight over the years.

 

When asked about how she and photographer Frank Powolny came up with the pose, she frequently joked that they were hiding her “flabby” tummy.

 

The Facts: Betty’s Pin-Up to Pregnancy Timeline

But simply following the timeline from when the photo was taken, up to the birth of Betty’s daughter Victoria, is enough to set the record straight:

  • Early 1943 (January or February, possibly early March): Frank Powolny takes the famous pin-up photo of Betty.

  • The photo becomes so popular, an estimated 3 million copies are sent co servicemen! (A 1993 estimate put world-wide distribution of the pin-up photo at over 10 million.)

  • It’s the most requested pin-up photo EVER. Betty becomes such a favorite with servicemen, the Nazi Party is inspired to remind everyone over the radio that, ”There is more to life than Pepsi-Cola and Betty Grable.”

  • March 1943: Betty begins filming Sweet Rosie O’Grady (1943), the film for which the pin-up photo session was taken. (Photographer Frank Powolny had been assigned to snap some photos of Betty for the costume department, and a few publicity photos, including the famous pin-up, were also taken during this session.)

  • Betty and Harry James, one of Hollywood’s favorite couples. July 4. 1943:

    Betty marries band leader Harry James, and almost immediately begins filming

    Pin-Up Girl(1944).

  • August 1943: Betty’s co-star in Pin -Up Girl (1944), Martha Raye, comically re-christened the film “Pregnant Girl” when Betty tells 20th Century Fox she is one month pregnant, (How great is that? ··)

  • Betty and Hermes Pan, who choreographed the dance numbers in Pin-Up Girl, perform the show stopping “Once Too Often” in the film. Betty’s actually pregnant during this scene, but no baby bump yet. It was one of the first scenes to be filmed.

  • January 1944: Filming of Pin-Up Girl ends. Betty is seven months pregnant. Side note: all of Berry’s dance sequences for the movie were shot first, before she started “showing.”

  • Drill Sergeant Betty leads a platoon of chorus girls in a march at the end of the film that seems to never end…not the best finale, but Betty is absolutely adorable.

  • That’s how Pin-Up Girl ended up with the military-drill-sergeant-Betty finale. This ‘interesting’ finish to the film was the only way Pan could hide Betty’s “condition,” give her a finale that was not too strenuous, and satisfy the patriotic theme of the film.

  • March 3, 1944: Daughter Victoria James is born.

  • Final side note: Betty, against the studio’s and her mother’s wishes, insisted on doing everything for Victoria herself – changing diapers, feeding, bathing, etc.- with no nurse or hired help. I LOVE that, go Betty!

So It’s Clear, Betty Grable Was NOT Pregnant during the making of this iconic photo shoot!”

Below is the original blog on Betty Grable’s Iconic Legs Photo and popular myth… 


famous legs, Betty Grable, Iconic Picture, old hollywood, vintage sensuality

Here’s the back story on Betty Grable’s Most Iconic Legs Photo —> In 1943, Grable worked with photographer Frank Powolny.

 

During the shoot, Grable took several shots in a tight, one-piece bathing suit.

One particular pose had Betty’s back to the camera as she playfully looked over her right shoulder.

 

The main reason for this pose was that she was several months pregnant with her first child and was starting to show.

 

 

When this picture was released as a poster it quickly became the most requested photo for G.I.s stationed overseas.     

iconic rita hayworth picture

 

Grable’s iconic legs photo sold millions of copies, eventually surpassing the popularity of Rita Hayworth’s famous 1941 photo.

 

Grable’s success as a pin-up girl furthered her career as a mainstream movie star.

 

As her star continued to ascend, Fox chief Darryl F. Zanuck expressed interest in broadening Grable’s range as an actress.

 

 

On multiple occasions, he tried to cast her in films that challenged her acting abilities, but Grable was reluctant. Betty felt insecure about her talent.

In fact, Grable was cautious throughout her career.

(Betty was featued in the BHC in Jan/2022 find it here…)

 

She often worried about starring opposite well-known leading men. She preferred to star in up-beat musicals, many of which followed the generic boy-meets-girl story.

Most of her movies were thin when it came to plot, but they were high on energy.

Despite their lack of substance, Grable’s movies were immensely popular.

Check out Betty Grable’s BHC Featured Page HERE…

Discover the BHC Featured Page for GENE TIERNEY Here…

Check out the BHC Featured Page for AVA GARDNER Here…

Discover the BHC Featured Page for LANA TURNER Here…

Find ALL of the Classic Movie Stars of 2021 Here…

SIGN UP for the Monthly NewsLetter – The Body House Chronicles – Celebrating vamps, varlets & vintage fiction https://bodhouschron.wordpress.com/

 


Contact Dyann with ANY Issue For a Fresh & Compassion Viewpoint at: thebodyhouse.biz@gmail.com

 

susan bratton, the hug that saves relationships, coaching for men, passionate lovemaking,

 

If you liked this article on Betty Grable’s iconic legs photo you might like these…….

What Exactly IS Tantra Massage Therapy?

What is Tantra Energy And Why Do You Need It?

This Tantra Yoga Position Should Be Done With Your LOVER

Tantra Fundamentals For Newbies

This Is What A Tantric Yoga Orgasm Looks Like…

What A (Sexual) Tantric Massage Looks Like…


Thank you for your interest in The Body House..

ALL Links – https://linktr.ee/bodyhouse1

Contact Dyann at: thebodyhouse.biz@gmail.com

 

Relationship SAVING HUG – Soulmate Embrace {FREE eBook}

Rejection Proof Move! {Turned Her On In Seconds}

30 Romance Tricks That Work Like Magic {FREE Ebook}

Relationship Magic – Free eBook

Revive Her Drive

 

Relaters Manual eBook For Men https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/888887

 

Sign up to get The Body House Chronicles aka The Old Hollywood Newsletter on Substack:

https://bodyhousechronicles.substack.com

Sex & Sensuality Tags:betty grable, classic movie stars, icon classic movie stars, iconic legs photo, intimacy in relationships, old hollywood, relate to women better, rita hayworth

Post navigation

Previous Post: What Is Tantra Energy And Why Is It Important To Understand?
Next Post: Learning To Share In A Relationship – It’s The Only Way To Keep Your Lady Around

Related Posts

communicating better, sensual life coaching, erotic audio, audio porn, mature female voiceover, custom audio, sexy MP3 Communicating Better For Better Relationships Sex & Sensuality
summer xxx pso niteflirt Interview With SUMMER ​XXX – Top PSO on Niteflirt (VIDEO) Sex & Sensuality
hugging technique for men Hugging Technique To Create Greater Polarity Between You And Your Lady Sex & Sensuality
sensual blog for men susan bratton sex advisor, relationship coach G + PG Rated Sex & Relating Advice For Men Sex & Sensuality
petty tyrants, sensual life coaching, erotic audio, audio porn, mature female voiceover, custom audio, sexy MP3 The Value Of PETTY TYRANTS – Ancient Wisdom For Modern Times {VIDEO} Massage & Tantra
consideration and concern Concern Or Consideration When Dealing With A Woman’s Emotions – Coaching Tip Sex & Sensuality

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The Hug That Saves Relationships…

sensual living, find soul mate, susan bratton, relationship advice for men, get a girlfriend

Shop The Body House

print on demand gifts, sensual gifts for men and women

30 Romance Tips That Work!

sensual life coaching, erotic audio, audio porn, mature female voiceover, custom audio, sexy MP3

Sensual Short Stories – $3

kamala farash, med student confidential, series of short stories, erotica, sensual stories

Bettie In The Buff

bettie page pictures, vintage bdsm life coaching for men, erotic audio, audio porn, mature female voiceover, custom audio, sexy MP3

What I’ve Learned About Men

relaters manual ebook for men dating and relating

Old Hollywood Newsletter (SUBSTACK)

body house chronicles, sensual content for men, old hollywood, golden age of hollywood

thebodyhouse.biz@gmail.com

June 2025
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30  
« May    

Copyright © 2025 The Body House.

Powered by PressBook Masonry Dark

Manage Cookie Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}