Glamour Girls of Sixties Hollywood

by Kimberly Lindbergs | November 4, 2007

Categories | News, Books, Actresses

Tom Lisanti’s latest book Glamour Girls of Sixties Hollywood has just been released and it’s definitely one of his best. Tom has written numerous books featuring sixties-era film starlets such as Drive-In Dream Girls, Film Fatales and Fantasy Femmes of 60’s Cinema, and his latest effort offers readers a fascinating look at many of Hollywood’s most beautiful and overlooked talents. These “decorative actresses” often began their careers as beauty queens, fashion models, showgirls and centerfolds, who ended up as eye-candy in countless genre films. They were often given thankless roles as strippers, beach bunnies, airline hostesses or sexy secretaries in movies that tended to focus on their earthy assets instead of their acting abilities, but occasionally some of these women were able to get more substantial roles that made use off all their talents.

Inside Glamour Girls of Sixties Hollywood you’ll find detailed profiles of 75 beautiful actresses from spy films, horror movies, popular television shows, as well as buxom starlets from many of Russ Meyer’s best films. Some of the actresses profiled in the book include Edy Williams, Lee Meredith, Melodie Johnson, Lisa Seagram, Dolly Read, Tura Sutana, Susan Denberg, Sharon Tate, Beverly Adams, Victoria Carroll, Thordis Brandt, Inga Neilson, Yvonne Craig and Ann Morell. Many of the insightful profiles also include interviews, which offer readers an insider’s look at what it was like to work as a “glamour girl” in films and television during the sixties. These interviews contain lots of juicy Hollywood gossip, which makes the book an entertaining as well as informative read.


Top: Edy Williams and Susan Denberg
Bottom: Sharon Tate and Beverly Adams

One of my favorite interviews in the book is with the lovely actress Thordis Brandt who appeared in films such as The Swinger (1966), Spinout (1966), Nevada Smith (1966), In Like Flint (1967), Funny Girl (1968), The Witchmaker (1969) and Myra Breckinridge (1970). Brandt talks about her romantic flings with Bruce Lee who she met on the set of The Green Hornet, and James Arness who she met on the set of Gunsmoke.

Glamour Girls of Sixties Hollywood is a real treasure trove of information about many talented and beautiful women that have often been forgotten, and it reads like a celebration of their worthwhile accomplishments. Tom Lisanti clearly loves his subjects and shares that passion with his readers. This hardcover book contains 242 pages, plus many stunning black and white photographs and an interesting introduction written by Tom.

You can currently order Glamour Girls of Sixties Hollywood from Amazon or you can order the book directly from the publisher McFarland. Last but not least, if you’d like to learn more about Tom Lisanti and his latest book please visit his terrific website Tom Lisanti’s Sixties Cinema.

Left: Thordis Brandt

Update: Read my interview with author Tom Lisanti!

11 Comments »

  1. Jonathan Lapper says; November 4, 2007 @ 6:37 pm

    Someone had a romantic fling with James Arness? What did Miss Kitty think? Now what would have been really surprising is if someone had a fling with Festus.

    I visited Tom’s site and thought it looked great. My favorite category name: Glamazons.

  2. Chris says; November 4, 2007 @ 8:23 pm

    What are some of your favorite Horror novels?

  3. Peter Nellhaus says; November 5, 2007 @ 8:25 am

    I checked out Lisanti’s site and am pleased to know that this new book included my favorite Playboy centerfold, China Lee.

  4. Keith says; November 5, 2007 @ 8:40 am

    This book sounds amazing. It definitely features a lot of very beautiful women of the 60’s. I would love to get a copy of this. I loved the pics you posted in the blog, especially the one of Thordis. All of these women are sexy goddesses in my book.

  5. Jeremy says; November 5, 2007 @ 10:06 am

    I have loved his other books, and this one looks right up my alley. Thanks for the heads up on it. I can’t keep up with all the great stuff coming out these days…

  6. cinebeats says; November 5, 2007 @ 6:30 pm

    Jonathan - It seems that Thordis Brandt and James Arness were an on again/off again item for about 8 years. According to Brandt, Arness seems rather old-fashioned and controlling, but I suppose a lot of men were back then. I’m glad you enjoyed Tom’s site!

    Chris - I really like older horror fiction from authors like Poe, Mary Shelley, Lovecraft, M.R. James, Algernon Blackwood, Edith Wharton, Shirley Jackson, Daphne Du Maurier, etc. but I also like some of Clive Barker, Peter Straub and Stephen King’s early work as well.

    Peter - China is profiled in the book, but she’s not interviewed. I didn’t know a thing about her so I found her write-up really interesting.

    Keith - I think you would really enjoy this book! There’s a great interviews in the book as well as some stories about the Rat Pack that you would really enjoy. I hope you can pick yourself up a copy soon.

    Jeremy - I know you’d really enjoy the book so I hope you can get yourself a copy soon! There’s been a lot of great books, DVDs and CDs released this year. It’s nearly impossible to keep up with everything.

  7. filomeno says; November 13, 2007 @ 12:15 pm

    Orquidea de Santis, una Orquidea llena de Glamour

  8. Edward Wilson says; September 7, 2010 @ 3:16 pm

    Edy Williams recall her first film in 70’s Beyond Dolls,Best in that film,then on to comedy “rented Lips” with co-star Robert Downey,Yipes his dad the director.She is always real cute,a Special “bonus” for us.GHope to see more EDY Williams Lawrence, Kentucky

  9. Edward Wilson says; September 7, 2010 @ 3:19 pm

    Edy Williams is a Good Artist,Actress!

  10. Fernando says; September 24, 2010 @ 5:19 pm

    Out of All these,poor darling Sharon,EDY WILLIAMS HAS BEEN THE BEST ALL AROUND PHOTOGENIC,SEEMS HER LOOKS OVERWHELM SUPERB ACTING TALENTS! SHE IS VERY VERSAYILE! ALWAYS A NEW LOOK! ON MY MAGAZINE COVER HERE ON THE WALL! FERNANDO CORTEZ

  11. Fernando says; September 24, 2010 @ 5:24 pm

    Edy WILLIAMS & DEAN MARTIN an ITEM ABOUT town,MISS OUR DINO! SHE WENT ON TO FAMOUS ACTOR BURGESS MEREDITH,THEY LIVED IN MALIBU! SHE WENT WITH HIM ALOT TO HIS GIANT BEACH HOUSE,HE AT HER HORSE RANCH,DOWN ST. FROM SEAN & MADONNA,GREAT TIMES!SHE HAD BIG ROMANCE WITH CARLO PONTI! F.


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  • Cinebeats chronicles one woman's love affair with '60s & '70s era cinema. Or as she likes to call it, cinema's Platinum Age! Blog design, updates and all original content is provided by Kimberly Lindbergs. She can be reached by email at:
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