For todays episode of "Too Much Information" I present some background on Bettie Page and the origin of the poker chips.

(portions removed)

Begins working full-time as a pin-up model. Meets Irving Klaw in 1951, who photographs her in various states of bondage. Bettie begins to attain some renown as the "Queen of Bondage." At the time, most of these photo sessions were sold on a lucrative subscription basis. The customers often made specific requests as to the scenes and layouts. Bettie is said to have found many of these quite amusing.

...Appears as a performer in Strip-o-Rama, a burlesque film starring Lili St. Cyr, the famed Vegas showgirl, in 1953. Varietease (1954) and Teaserama (1955) soon follow. With Klaw producing, she makes at least 50 series of infamous 100 ft. short stag films. (Much of this work can be seen in the video Uncovered.)

Around this time, Howard Hughes contacted Klaw about meeting Bettie and bringing her under his aegis, but she declined the offer.

In 1954, she meets Bunny Yeager in Florida. Their sessions together generate some of the most famous Bettie Page photographs. Some of these were sent to Hugh Hefner, who made Bettie Playmate of the month for the January 1955 issue of Playboy. Amazingly, Bettie is 3 months short of 32 years of age at this point.

Irving Klaw is arrested for "conspiracy to distribute obscene material" though the US Mail in 1963. Bettie is called to testify in a private session. She is reported to have said the Klaw was absolutely innocent of any charge.

Around this time, a "pornographer" is said to have placed Bettie's head on another woman's body. Greatly disturbed by this, Bettie spends much of her savings buying up the photographs. Burned out on the modeling business, Bettie retires and leaves New York.

Marries Armond Walterson in 1958, live in Key West, Florida. The union doesn't work out. On 31 December 1959, Bettie has a religious experience and is "born again", dedicates herself to Christianity.

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http://www.bettiepage.com/about/index.php

Buy the poker chips for $74.99 on the web, not an auction. Below

http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/profile.php?sku=10-119