“I am learning all the time. The tombstone will be my diploma.” – Eartha Kitt
Hello Celebrators of Vintage Sensuality;
ORSON WELLES once called this month’s featured star — EARTHA KITT — “The most exciting woman in the world.“
By the end of this month’s newsletter you may very well think the same thing.
Thanks for being here and stay sensual.
Dyann Bridges; writer, voice actor and publisher.
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IN THE BEGINNING…
Eartha Mae Keith was born on January 17, 1927, on a cotton plantation near the small town of North, South Carolina, to an impoverished Black Cherokee mother, Annie Mae Keith, and a white father whose identity remains uncertain (rumored to be the son of the plantation owner).
Sadly, her mother was unable to care for her. So, little Eartha was sent away at about age eight to live with a relative in Harlem, New York City.
These early years were marked by extreme hardship, abuse, and racial rejection. She endured cruel taunts from both black and white communities and was often left to fend for herself.
Despite the poverty and instability, young Eartha displayed a fierce independence and natural talent, singing in church choirs and on street corners.
Her big break came at age sixteen when, after winning a scholarship audition, she joined the groundbreaking Katherine Dunham Dance Company.
Kitt toured with them, performing throughout the United States, Europe, and Latin America. This began her transformation into the multilingual, sophisticated performer she became.
BATMAN & CATWOMAN
Eartha Kitt joined the Batman television series in its third and final season (1967–1968).
She was the second actress to portray Catwoman, replacing Julie Newmar.
She appeared in five episodes, beginning with “The Funny Feline Felonies” (aired December 28, 1967).
Kitt’s Catwoman was distinctly different. Where Newmar’s version was playful and seductive, Kitt brought a sultry, dangerous, and unmistakably feline purr to the role, complete with her signature rolled “r’s” and a mischievous, almost predatory energy.
In fact, her distinctive growl of “Purr-fect!” remains one of the most iconic interpretations of Catwoman.
Just as Batman was ending, Kitt was invited to the White House (along with about 50 others) for a luncheon with Ladybird Johnson. Kitt made it known she was against our part in the Vietnam war.
This anti-war stance apparently made Lady Bird Johnson cry with its stinging criticism.
Within 24 hours, Kitt received a document from CIA essentially stating she could no longer work in the United States. This went on for 10 years.
She talks about it in the interview below. Originally aired on September 25, 2001…
“THE MOST EXCITING WOMAN IN THE WORLD…”
Orson Welles reportedly said that Kitt was “the most exciting woman in the world.”
This was during rehearsals for his stage production “Time Runs” — a one-act play written and performed by Orson Welles. It premiered in 1950 as part of a larger program titled “An Evening with Orson Welles” at the Théâtre des Mathurins in Paris.
The play is an adaptation of the Faust legend, featuring Welles in the role of Dr. John Faustus.
Picture of Welles and Kitt in ‘Time Runs‘
For context, Welles had spotted Kitt performing a solo act at the nightclub Le Carroll’s (a queer venue run by Marlene Dietrich‘s former lover, Frédé Baulé) earlier in 1950.
Impressed by her sultry, captivating style, Welles cast her in the lead role despite her limited acting experience. The troupe then toured Europe, including stops in West Germany (Frankfurt Zoo Theater, Hamburg, and Munich) in August 1950.
According to Kitt’s 1989 autobiography Confessions of a Sex Kitten, the quote came during a rehearsal when she asked about her character’s background —
Kitted asked, “What kind of woman is she?”
Welles snapped back, “‘Don’t ask stupid questions, you stupid child… I chose you to play this part because you are the most exciting woman in the world.’”
During this time, Kitt would often get invited to lunch with Welles and two of his friends — Micheál MacLiammóir and Hilton Edwards.
She later reflected that her quiet, observant demeanor around Welles’ intellectual circle only added to his view of her as enigmatic and alluring. Although she was genuinely fascinated with the conversation, but felt inhibited to say much during those luncheons.
Although Orson Welles had a tremendous reputation for flirting and coming on to all of his female stars, Kitt insists that although their collaboration was intense, it was also platonic.
She insists there was no romance and says definitively in a 2001 Vanity Fair interview.
In fact, Welles mentored her, introducing gourmet dining and reciting Shakespeare during late-night walks along the Champs-Élysées.
However, he grew jealous of her rave reviews—Stars and Stripes called her performance “haunting” and said she “quite literally steals the show”—and once bit her lip onstage during a kiss, drawing blood.
Additionally, Welle’s ‘most exciting woman’ quote became legendary.
It was written in Kitt’s obituaries, biographies, and media. For example on Wikipedia, the Smithsonian and BBC.
Kitt was smart and embraced it.
SANTA BABY… IT’S CHRISTMAS TIME!
HAVE A LISTEN TO THE ORIGINAL…
Eartha Kitt’s recording of “Santa Baby” (released November 1953 on RCA Victor) is one of the most enduring Christmas songs of all time.
A few key stats and milestones for her original version:
- Initial chart performance (1953–1954):
Peaked at #4 on the Billboard Most Played by Jockeys chart (the closest equivalent to the Hot 100 at the time). - Re-entry and perennial success:
The song has re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 almost every holiday season since tracking improved in the streaming era: - 2018: #38
- 2019: #19
- 2020: #20
- 2021: #13
- 2022: #10
- 2023: #8 (peak to date on the Hot 100)
- 2024–2025 season (as of late December 2024): currently sitting at #6
[List Continued Below…]
- Streaming numbers (Spotify, as of December 2025):
Over 650 million global streams (Kitt’s original is by far the most-streamed version). - Digital sales (U.S.):
Certified 2× Platinum by the RIAA (2 million units, including streams). - Global chart peaks (Kitt’s original):
- UK: #9 (2024 peak)
- Canada: #11
- Australia: #17
- Germany: #23
- Billboard Global 200: #12 (2024)
Despite dozens of covers (Madonna, Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, Michael Bublé, etc.), Eartha Kitt’s 1953 recording consistently outperforms all others COMBINED on streaming platforms like Spotify and YouTube every Christmas.
EARTHA KITT’S LOVE LIFE…
Earth Kitt (1927–2008) was married only once.
It was to real estate investor William O. McDonald from 1960 to 1965.
The interracial marriage ended in divorce and produced her only child, daughter Kitt McDonald — born in 1961.
Eartha Kitt raised her as a single mother while touring.
Pictures of Eartha Kitt with her husband and child…
Before her marriage, Kitt had a long-term romance with cosmetics magnate Charles Revson in the 1950s.
Later in her life, she had a passionate, decade-long relationship (1970s–1980s) with banker John Barry Ryan III.
She was also briefly engaged to Wells Fargo heir Arthur Loew Jr.
Throughout her life, Earth prioritized her career and motherhood over marriage, famously stating she never felt the need to remarry because she was already “married to the world.”
Eartha Kitt in an interview at 81 just months before she passed away.
Be first on the list to read about our upcoming featured star — Experience the spritely feminine beauty of SYLVIA SYDNEY — Join our Substack Newsletter.
SYLVIA SYDNEY – COMING TO THE OLD HOLLYWOOD NEWSLETTER IN JANUARY 2026
Contact: thebodyhouse.biz@gmail.com
Discover more classic beauties here:
DOROTHY MCGUIRE
FAY WRAY
RHONDA FLEMING
GALE ROBBINS
MERLE OBERON
POLA NEGRI
ANNE BAXTER
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