Yet another Jayne Mansfield at Disneyland photo has found its way into my collection. This one shows her with then husband, 1955 Mr. Universe Mickey Hargitay. The two married in 1958, so I am guessing this was from around that time. How did these two beautiful people meet?
Thanks to none other than Mae West! Hargitay used to perform with West in her live act, as one of the beefy bodybuilders that surrounded her. Jayne caught one of Mae’s shows at the Latin Quarter in New York and supposedly told her dinner companion, “I'll have a steak and that tall man on the left.”
At a 1956 press conference, Hargitay stated that West was not happy with the Hargitay/Mansfield romance and that she removed all of his speaking lines from the show as a result. Chuck Krauser, another bodybuilder in the show, punched Hargitay and gave him the black eye visible in the photo below from the Getty collection:
From the original caption:
Mae and Her "Muscle Man" at Court. Washington, D.C.: Mae West, Chuck Krauser (center) and Mickey "Mr. Universe" Hargitay (sporting a "shiner") are leaving U.S. District Court in Washington after Hargitay demanded prosecution of Krauser, a former pro wrestler, as an outgrowth of a brawl in Miss West's dressing room during a Press Conference. Krauser contends he socked "Mr. Universe" in self defense. Trial was set for June 28 and Krauser was released in $300 bond. Mae said that "Mr. Universe" is fired from her act.
It’s not surprising that Krauser came to West’s defense, as he worshipped the blonde-haired entertainer. He even changed his name to Paul Novak at her suggestion after this little scandal hit the tabloids. Although the two never married, they were partners until her death in 1980.
You might recognize one of Mickey and Jayne’s kids, actress Mariska Hargitay:
See more Jayne Mansfield photos at my main website.
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ReplyDeleteGreat pictures, Dave, and interesting info!
ReplyDeleteComing out of the courthouse, I wonder if that is Mae's mom(??) - standing to our left of Mae. She has a similar mouth and nose - and matching purse. My mom and I used to often buy our favorite things in "two's" and give the extra to each other. Purses included.
Hi Sue - I would have thought the same thing except I recently saw an interview with Mae and Dick Cavett and she stated that her mom died before she began making movies. Apparently she and her mom were extremely close.
ReplyDeleteDave, I think I just solved the mystery...that's Mae's sister. I did some searching - CLICK HERE!
ReplyDelete^ If you scroll all the way down to the bottom of that article I attached (past all the "sources" and ads), you'll see her picture. She was also an actress - I never knew that.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the detective work, Sue!
ReplyDeleteThe woman in the photo next to Mae West is no relation at all. Not mother nor sister. Beverly West looked nothing like the lady in the photo and was blonde. She was not seen in public with Mae West by the mid-50s. So the woman is either someone passing by or a fan.
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