lornagrl: December 2008

I was sorry to hear about the death of Bettie Page last week.

I have always felt a connection to her because there have been some similarities between her life and mine. For one thing she was born in Nashville, TN (I lived in Nashville from 1983-1991). She lived in Florida for awhile (I lived in Florida from 1991 - 1997) and she was discovered in Coney Island, just a few subway stops from where I'm living now.

Also, both of us made a living by modeling that was a little controversial.

Years ago I rented the film The Notorious Bettie Page on Netflix. According to the film, all the bondage photos would have been lost forever had it not been for Irving Klaw's sister Paula who salvaged them.

So here is the biggest connection: Paula Klaw was my first landlady (sort of) in NYC.

Back in late 1996 I had a friend who had been living in NY for a few years and decided for personal reasons to go back to Orlando. Things had begun to unravel for me a bit in Florida, a full time acting job did not turn out to be what I had hoped, I was breaking up with my boyfriend, and I was going to lose the cheap apartment I had. I decided now would be a good time to make the move to NY. I was going to take over my friend's apartment in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. Not ideal because of the location (long commute) but it least it got me to New York.

I was a little nervous about this arrangement at first because I wasn't sure how the landlady would feel about a new tenant taking over an apartment in her house. My plan was to get settled for the first two weeks and then introduce myself. My friend assured me that she probably wouldn't mind as long as the rent was paid on time. I was told "She has some health problems so she doesn't want to deal with finding a new tenant".

I only met Paula Klaw once. I was in the rented car taking my friend and my new roommate (the apartment came with a roommate) to the grocery store. Paula was walking slowly down the sidewalk and my friend rolled the window down and introduced me. Paula smiled and said "nice to meet you" and then proudly added "I'm going to go exercise."

Shortly after, my friend took the rented car back to Florida, and I was left with the new roommate. I soon realized from the new roommate that they were behind on the rent. I don't remember the details but I remember thinking that I would iron it all out eventually. I just got a new job, and things were looking good for me.

Two weeks later I left the apartment one cold morning to pick up an issue of BackStage. When I came home about twenty minutes later, I noticed police cars, firetrucks, and an ambulance outside. My roommate seemed oblivious to the commotion (I think he lacked maturity) I asked him if he knew what was going on and he didn't have a clue. I pointed out that something very serious must have happened or there wouldn't be a battalion of red and blue outside. My roommate then told me that about five minutes after I left, he heard a "thump" and then rapid footsteps." I slapped my hand to my forehead. How could he be so clueless?

My roommate stepped outside to take the garbage out and Paula's boyfriend turned and collapsed in my roommates arms in tears. "She's gone. She's gone."

At this time I had no clue who Bettie Page was, or of course who Paula Klaw (by that time she was Paula Kramer) was either. That's another story... and sort of a long one, I will try to keep it brief.

Fast forward to a week later. Her kids wanted to sell the house and wanted me out as soon as possible. The rent was behind and my roommate had just left for a Broadway tour. I had arranged to stay with my friend Liza in Manhattan until I could find another share, hopefully in a more commutable area (It was taking me an hour and half to get to work every day.) I had arranged for a car service to pick me up and move a lot of my things to the city and had planned on coming the next day to pick up my television, and VCR. When I came back the next day to pick these items up and return the keys the TV and VCR were gone.

My first thought was that I was burglarized. But then I noticed that the refrigerator had been defrosted. Figuring that burglars don't de-frost refrigerators I concluded that it must have been one of her kids. I called the police, who came by to take the report on the burglary. I told them what I thought had happened; that the kids of the deceased landlady had felt money was owed and therefore were justified in taking my things. However this was not money "I" had owed and I felt they didn't have the right to take my television. The police felt the same way.

I was pretty calm. I waited for Paula's boyfriend to come home. When he did I knocked on his door, played very innocent and said "Um, there was a burglary, my television was stolen. The police want to talk to you."

This worked like a charm. The boyfriend immediately picked up the phone, called the kid in question and said "We have a problem here, the television you took was not their TV but someone else's." He gave the phone to me so I could talk to the kid. The kid did not want to give the television back. He kept grilling me about who I was, and was I full of shit etc. I just told him. "Look the police want to talk to you. You can deal with them or you can deal with me. "

About an hour later I was at this store in the village getting back my television and VCR. I have to say that in spite of the circumstances the guy was pretty nice. He even apologized and I said "no harm done as long as I get my television back."

I still didn't know who Bettie Page was or the connection with Paula Klaw.

Fast forward to two years later. I'm in my studio apartment watching my television. The very same television that was taken two years before. I am watching the E True Hollywood story about Bettie Page and in the middle of the show I see the kid, ... and I said right out loud ... that's the guy who stole my television!

..but I didn't fully grasp who Paula Klaw was until I saw the film The Notorious Bettie Page. In that film, Paula Klaw is portrayed by Lili Taylor. I have to say I'm really disappointed that I didn't get to know her better. I think what she did was amazing. She recognized that these photos were historical in spite of the controversy. These photos represented the sexual climate of the day. She took a big risk in keeping those photos but she did it anyway. As a photographer, I have a lot of respect for this.

photo credit: CMG Worldwide

Haven't posted in a few weeks. I know it sounds redundant but I have been very, very busy. I traveled to Canada on business a few weeks back, then turned right around and flew to Nashville for Thanksgiving. I haven't had any time to just sit and relax for weeks. Also, I work on a computer all day and sometimes when I get home the last thing I want to do is go online.

I did finish that scarf long before Thanksgiving. Unfortunately I did not have enough yarn so It was a lot smaller than I wanted it to be. So small in fact that I gave it to my three year old nephew. It may be a little big for him this year but he should be able to wear it next year.

I decided I needed another knitting project, one with a bit of a pattern that would keep me engaged but not so complicated I would get over-whelmed and give up. I walked into a yarn shop in the slope (the name escapes me now) and saw a scarf on display and immediately bought the pattern and the yarn. It involves the trinity stitch. The first few rows are a challenge because my stitches are very tight which makes purling three stitches together quite difficult. I got a good start on it though...

Doesn't it look pretty?

But a few nights ago tragedy struck. I had put the work down for a few days and messed up one of the rows. In my attempt to redo the work I dropped a stitch and the work could not be salvaged. I had to un-ravel and start again. I was devastated. This photo was taken a few weeks ago. I had gotten a lot further along..

I started over this weekend. I knew that if I didn't pick it up again I would never get it done. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.