Jayne Makes
A "Big Splash"...Literally
In 1954 she employed
Jim Byron as her press agent. Jim, filled with outrageous
ideas, and Jayne willing to do anything, proved to be a
formidable match. In a ghost written biographical article
by Jayne she said, "I'd worry about becoming famous first,
then an actress."
Jayne and Byron
carefully devised a plan for Jayne to make an appearance
at Howard Hughes press junket for the Jane
Russell film Underwater. Miss Russell was not at
this event, and the press was certainly prowling for something
to shoot. Enter Jayne, in a skintight red lame one piece
suit (incorrectly depicted in The Jayne Mansfield Story
starring Loni Anderson), sunbathing by the pool fell into
the pool, breaking her suit strap (a carefully devised plan).
The blonde "came up bouncing" and the press scrambled for
the best angle. This "splash" showed up in Variety on January
12, 1955, and proved her to be "worth her weight in cheesecake".
This Underwater appearance also became a breakthrough for
her, as the blonde was deluged with phone calls within the
next couple of days.
A bidding war
broke out between Howard Hughes and and Hal Willis of Warner
Brothers. Jayne broke the war with a contract signed to
Warner's. It was a less than lucrative deal, however, she
made it, and she proved a very important lesson, publicity
does pay off.
Also because
of Jayne's big plunge, organizations all across the country
were falling off their chairs to bestow her with beauty
titles. Byron and Mansfield were more than happy to oblige
them, and used these awards as her stepping stone throughout
1955. Some of the titles Jayne held:
- Miss Negligee
- Miss Nylon Sweater
- Miss Freeway
- Miss Electric Switch
- Miss Geiger Counter
- Miss 100% Pure Maple Syrup
- Miss 4th of July
- Miss Fire Prevention
- Miss Tomato
This is only
a short portion of the list of her "titles".
Jayne's roles
at Warner's were not very good, and she was disappointed
with her association. Warner's saw her as a cheap, sexy
starlet with more chutzpah than taste or talent. She didn't
dissuade them of this notion, rather, she busied herself
with pin up photo sessions. She was loaned out to make Burglar,
and it was during that filming she learned that Warner's
dropped her contract.
Broadway
Bound ->
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