In the 1950s, Jayne Mansfield became a celebrity as a cartoonishly sensual alternative to Marilyn Monroe. But like her rival, her life and tragic death left many mysteries. We offer to review life in photos of the famous Jane Mansfield.

Jayne Mansfield, please

A.k.a. Vera Jayne Palmer, Jayne Mansfield was born on April 19th, 1933 in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, though by the time she was three her family had moved to Dallas. It shouldn't be surprising that Jayne developed a passion for music at such an early age considering that her father was a former lawyer who now plays music. Mansfield had learned the violin by the time she was seven years old. Mansfield started taking ballroom dance lessons when she was 12 years old, and soon after that, she started studying the piano and the viola.

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Visiting Hollywood

Jayne's mother, a retired teacher, took her to Hollywood when she became 13 years old. At the renowned Hollywood Brown Derby, where they went on a mother-daughter date, Mansfield even saw one of her favorite national radio personalities.

She knew she wanted to be a star after collecting his autograph, and she even told her mother that someday, people would beg for her autograph. Mansfield was headed for stardom, despite the fact that it took her a few more years to get there.

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Mr. Mansfield

Jayne first met Paul Mansfield at a gathering on Christmas Eve in 1949 when she was 16 years old. They were both well-liked pupils at Dallas' Highland Park High School. About six months before Jayne gave birth to their first child, Jayne Marie Mansfield, in May 1950, Jayne was 17 years old and Paul was 20.

Soon after, Jayne and her husband both enrolled in Southern Methodist University to pursue acting degrees, where they remained until 1951, when Jayne briefly relocated to Los Angeles to enroll in a UCLA summer semester.

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UCLA and the Miss California Pageant

Mansfield spent the summer away from her daughter and husband in Texas so she could attend the prestigious University of California, Los Angeles School of Theater, Cinema, and Television. Mansfield considered entering the Miss California pageant while she was a student there because she felt it would be fun.

She concealed her married status, and unsurprisingly, she prevailed in the local competition. But shortly long, she pulled out of the competition completely once Paul learned of it and had her resign.

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College of Texas

Jayne had returned to Austin, Texas in 1952 to live with her husband and their little child. She attended the University of Texas to study dramatics there. Mansfield sold books door-to-door, worked as a nude art model, and worked as a receptionist at a dance studio while she was a student to make ends meet.

She even became a member of the Curtain Club, a well-known college theater group that featured artists like Pat Hingle, Rip Torn, Harvey Schmidt, and Tom Jones.

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First Significant Appearance of Jayne

Jayne relocated from Georgia to Dallas once more in 1953. She started taking acting lessons from actor Baruch Lumet, who founded the Dallas School of Performing Arts and is the father of filmmaker Sidney Lumet.

She had her first prominent appearance at this time in a production of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman starring the actors of the Knox Street Theater under the direction of Lumet. Mansfield's performance in the program was so exceptional that Paramount Pictures wanted to see her in an audition.

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Warner Bros & Paramount Pictures

Jayne appeared in auditions for Warner Brothers and Paramount Pictures in April 1954. On her first audition, Mansfield was prepared by Lumet to act out a skit from Joan of Arc for casting director Milton Lewis, who criticized the actress for wasting her evident potential.

He asked Mansfield to return a week later to recreate the piano scene from The Seven Year Itch, but when she didn't succeed, the struggling actress decided that since she was naturally brunette, she would have to go blonde.

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Family Relocation to California

Paul had just completed his reserve duty when Mansfield went to the film studios for an audition. The decision to relocate the family to California was made at that point after he rapidly recognized that Jayne's enthusiasm for acting had not been deterred by becoming a mother.

Little Jayne Marie resided with her grandparents for a bit until Paul and Jayne relocated to Van Nuys, Los Angeles. They shared their little flat with a Great Dane, three cats, two chihuahuas, a poodle that had been colored pink, a bunny, and two more dogs that belonged to Jayne.

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Silver Blonde

Along with Marilyn Monroe, Betty Grable, and Mamie Van Doren, Mansfield was one of the first "blonde bombshells" when she had her hair bleached and dyed platinum blonde when she moved to Los Angeles. This stereotype was characterized by a curvy physique, light-colored hair, and a general lack of intelligence.

Although this caricature first appeared on the big screen in the 1950s, it has since been used repeatedly, leading some to call it a cult.

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Impressive Figure

Many people talked about Mansfield's naturally hourglass form. In fact, the public and media were so captivated that her body measurements would frequently appear in publications. Mansfield's bust is credited with playing a significant role in the development of brassieres in the 1950s.

Some assert that Mansfield and Marilyn Monroe were responsible for popularizing the bikini. Mansfield's physique was so amazing that it's still talked about now, even though 1960s ideals may have changed to appreciate the thin, waif-like characteristics made prominent by actress Audrey Hepburn and supermodel Twiggy.

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Playmate of the Month: Playboy

Playboy was an instant hit when it was first published in the 1950s by editor Hugh Hefner thanks to its early playmates, which included Mansfield, Marilyn Monroe, Bettie Page, and others. Mansfield was discovered by Hugh Hefner in February 1955, and he was named the Playboy Playmate of the Month.

Jayne made multiple appearances in the magazine with that name, and it was these images that catapulted her to fame. At that point, numerous offers started to come in.

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Couple Problems & Divorce

Jayne and Paul decided to dissolve their marriage after experiencing a number of marital difficulties, including Jayne's high ambitions and her infidelity. But, the process was arduous and drawn out. Jayne filed for divorce in February of 1955.

Paul filed for Jayne Marie's custody in August 1956, claiming that Jayne was unsuited to be a mother since she photographed nude males for Playboy Magazine. Paul and Jayne got divorced in 1958, but Jayne chose to keep "Mansfield" as her professional name.

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Beginning anew

Jayne Mansfield had never experienced anything like that before. She was determined to start over and give her daughter the best childhood possible despite no longer being with Paul. Paul, who had returned to

Dallas, Texas, was also attempting a fresh start. Their daughter, who lived with Jayne in Los Angeles, was clung to by Jayne. Being one of the most famous poster girls of the 1950s and 1960s would make it difficult to maintain some semblance of normalcy.

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Broadway

The Burglar, a crime thriller film noir directed by Paul Wendkos and based on a book by David Goodis, was the subject of Mansfield's work in 1955. Louis W. Kellman, who claimed to have discovered Mansfield, produced the film.

While filming, the blonde bombshell also agreed to play Rita Marlowe in George Axelrod's comedy Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? on Broadway in New York. Warner Brothers dropped Mansfield from the project just two weeks after it was revealed she would be a part of it.

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Living in the moment

It is well known that Jayne Mansfield's tenure with Warner Brothers was brief. The actress was, however, more than content to savor each and every moment she had at the huge studios.

She adored nothing more than strolling around the studio's grounds and even having picnics in their gardens, in addition to mingling with everyone employed by the organization. She can be seen unwinding with her chihuahua in this picture.

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Mickey, you're doing great

Mansfield was released from her contract with Warner Bros, although she continued to secure acting roles. Mansfield first met Mickey Hargitay in May 1956; he would soon become her second husband.

At the Latin Quarter nightclub in New York City, where he was appearing as a chorus boy in Mae West's act, the blonde-haired beauty recognized her hottie. Bodybuilder Hargitay took first place in the 1955 Mr. Universe contest. Mansfield naturally fell for Hargitay right away...

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New Beginning

In May 1956, the same month that Hargitay won Mansfield over, the actress also signed a six-year deal with 20th Century Fox. The actress was still bound by her Broadway contract at this point, and she performed the play Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? On stage through September of the same year.

Her first significant stage performance attracted both critical acclaim and widespread public acclaim. She won a Golden Globe and a Theater World Award for her performance.

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The first leading part in a movie

In 1956's The Girl Can't Help It, directed by Frank Tashlin, Mansfield played Jerri Jordan in her first leading role after her Broadway contract expired. When it was released, this movie became one of the biggest commercial and critical successes of the year.

Shortly after, Fox started marketing Mansfield as "Marilyn Monroe king-sized" in an effort to force Monroe to return to the studio and complete the remainder of her contract. Mansfield also received a television contract that year, playing the lead in NBC's TV movie The Bachelor.

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Popularity

It's no secret that Mansfield had one of Hollywood's biggest passions for fame. The actress effectively gave up all privacy to get as much exposure as she could, not to mention that her doors were always open to photographers.

Over 2,500 newspaper photos of Mansfield were made possible by Byron and his staff, who served as the actor's publicist up until the end of 1961. In addition, she was the subject of around 122,000 lines of newspaper writing between September 1956 and May 1957.

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40-Day trip

It only made natural that Mansfield would be chosen for the role of Rita Marlowe in Frank Tashlin's 1957 film adaptation of the Broadway play Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? since she had spent so much time as Rita Marlowe.

Fox promoted its new hero right away with a tour of North America and a 40-day, 16-country European tour. Mansfield met Queen Elizabeth II during the trip when he went to the movie's London premiere. The Queen was informed by Mansfield, "You are so beautiful," to which she responded, "So are you."

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British Television and The Wayward Bus

1957 was a hectic but productive year for Mansfield. She not only landed a serious role in the drama movie The Wayward Bus, which is based on John Steinbeck's 1947 book of the same name, but her performance also earned her another Golden Globe.

Jayne also made her debut at this time on British television, performing a Shakespearean reading while also playing the piano and the violin. The best was yet to come, though…

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The ideal couple

Jayne and Mickey got engaged once her 40-day tour was up. Mansfield's life couldn't have been better at this point. Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? Featured Mansfield in a small role as Hargitay's first acting role.

The duo quickly rose to prominence as one of the most well-liked publicity and performance combinations in the world. They performed on stage shows that they traveled extensively, garnering attention for their stunning antics. For instance, in one performance, Hargitay slung Mansfield around his waist and spun her in circles.

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The Touring Cast of The Bob Hope Show

One of Mansfield's nightclub shows was included in a special episode of NBC's The Perry Como Show in November 1957. She then appeared as a guest on a few episodes of the traveling cast of The Bob Hope Show.

With this undertaking, Mansfield traveled around the United States Pacific Command with Bob Hope for 13 days while performing as a comedian for the United Service Organizations. The actress additionally participated in a number of game shows, including What's My Line as a special mystery guest, The Match Game, and Down You Go as a regular team captain.

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Another pregnancy

Although Mansfield received another leading part in Kiss Them for Me (1957), the movie was a financial failure, making it effectively one of the studio's final attempts to promote the actress. Nevertheless, the production studio decided to give her the lead part in The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw the next year. This Western comedy would prove to be Mansfield's final mainstream box office hit.

She declined Columbia Pictures' invitation to appear in the love story Bell, Book, and Candle because she was expecting her first child with Mansfield and Hargitay, the couple's second child.

@Jayne Mansfield - Nylons (Kiss Them For Me 1957) One of My Blonde Hollywood Inspirations!/Diamond Diva Princess - Findom Icon/YouTube.com

A Second Marriage for Jayne

In January 1958, just a few days after her divorce from Paul Mansfield was finalized, Jayne wed Mickey at Rancho Palos Verdes, California's Wayfarers Chapel. The chapel's all-glass construction made it simple for members of the public and the media to observe the wedding.

In a bridal dress created by a 20th Century Fox costume designer, Mansfield looked magnificent. The stunningly pink, skintight dress was constructed of sequins and finished with a 30-yard pink tulle flounce.

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Orchestral Performance at the Academy Awards

Mansfield has a live orchestral performance for the 31st Academy Awards scheduled for 1958. Jerry Wald, the show's producer, ultimately decided to cancel the performance because he wanted to make sure the ceremony started on time. The program ultimately concluded 20 minutes early, leaving host Jerry Lewis scrambling to fill the remaining time.

In any case, Mansfield was slated to perform on the violin in a band that also featured Dick Powell on trumpet, Jack Benny on first violin, Robert Mitchum on woodwinds, Fred Astaire on drums, and Jerry Lewis conducting.

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Mickey & Jayne

In her Italian films, The Loves of Hercules and L'Amore Primitivo, as well as in Promises, Mickey played Mansfield's on-screen leading man. Promises!. Mickey played the principal role on stage in the majority of Jayne's nightclub productions, including The Tropicana Holiday, The House of Love, and others.

The two were well-known for making special appearances on programs like the Bob Hope Christmas Specials. Yet aside from their collaborative performances, you might find the following truth to be fairly fascinating.

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Holdings For Business

Mansfield and Hargitay spent their time managing a number of joint company holdings while they weren't performing together. These included Eastland Savings and Loan, Jayne Mansfield Productions, and the Hargitay Workout Equipment Company.

Together, Hargitay and Mansfield also co-wrote the autobiographical book Jayne Mansfield's Wild, Wild World, which featured glossy paper prints of 32 pages of the movie's black-and-white photos. And if that weren't enough, Jayne had been making a lot of TV appearances at this point.

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Greeting Zoltan

About this time, Jayne Mansfield and Mickey Hargitay gave birth to their second child. Zoltan Hargitay was born on August 1, 1960, and based just on this picture, it seemed like Jayne was doing a very good job of maintaining a contemporary family.

She managed to maintain a very solid relationship with Mickey while raising children with other fathers. But as the years went by, unexpected events kept happening to them, particularly for Zoltan.

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Making dough by rolling

Episodes of Burke's Law, Alfred Hitchcock Presents The Red Skelton Hour, Kraft Mystery Theater, and a 1962 episode of Follow the Sun are just a few of Jayne's significant television drama performances. This episode is seen as the beginning of a “new and dramatic Jayne Mansfield.”

Without a question, Mansfield's career had definitely taken off. She was then receiving $20,000 per episode for her television performances, which is $177,000 in 2019 dollars. If we're being completely honest, that's not bad at all.

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Families Name

As a result of the actress's extensive and fruitful media blitz, Jayne swiftly rose to prominence. Mansfield was recognized as the most photographed Hollywood star in the world by 1960 in addition to dominating press polls for most words published.

Therefore, it is only natural that negative press will follow good press. After all, nobody will agree with you! Whatever the case, Mansfield undoubtedly received her fair share of negative press, garnering headlines for various publicity gimmicks...

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Ineffective Wardrobe

Mansfield was known to regularly make the news for PR stunts in which she ws recognized for wearing defective dresses or apparel that would strategically yet abruptly burst at the seams. This was in addition to the ordinary press attention that all Hollywood stars receive.

How about the iconic, low-cut gown Mansfield wore to the luncheon held by Paramount Pictures at the upscale Beverly Hills Romanoff's restaurant to formally welcome Italian actress Sophia Loren to Hollywood? As Mansfield handled her own publicity without seeking competent counsel, things only became worse.

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Rapid Media Coverage

Mansfield purposely donned a too-small red bikini that was loaned to her by a friend when she appeared in Silver Springs, Florida to promote her upcoming movie Underwater! When she plunged into the pool, her top ended up coming off, grabbing the attention of the media.

Mansfield also consistently wore a dress that reached her waist around the same time that year, twice at movie parties and once at a nightclub.

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Major Setback

Jayne Mansfield was able to complete her contract with the studio 20th Century Fox before it expired in 1962, in contrast to her horrible experience with Warner Brothers. The studio finally decided not to renew the actress' contract, thus this was still unfavorable news for her.

Mansfield was rendered unemployed as a result, and she was in dire need of action to maintain things. She ultimately turned to new endeavors including guesting on game shows and various TV programs.

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New Season, New Image

By 1962, Jayne Mansfield had begun auditioning for roles in several TV programs, including The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. It should go without saying that the anthology series encompassed a range of dramas, thrillers, and mysteries.

Jayne played the lead in the Hangover episode. In the episode, a man needs to figure out what happened after forgetting what happened the day before, which has disastrous consequences.

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Perilous Business

Mansfield didn't take long to start committing even riskier pranks. She once attended a Mardi Gras party in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, without a top. Mansfield danced out of her polka-dot dress in June 1962 while out at a disco in Rome.

Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? was Mansfield's Broadway debut, and in just three years she went from unknown to the most divisive figure of the decade. At this point, Mansfield's actions were swiftly denounced by the international media.

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Frequently Publicized Events

As her marriage to Mickey started to fall apart, Jayne had already established herself as one of Hollywood's most popular and contentious stars. In 1962, Mansfield engaged in a widely reported relationship with Enrico Bomba, an Italian producer and production manager.

A year later, Mansfield engaged in yet another liaison with singer Nelson Sardelli, whom she claimed she intended to wed following the conclusion of her divorce from Mickey. Despite their 1963 divorce, Mansfield learned that Mickey and she were expecting their third child together.

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Pushing the Limits

The fact that Jayne Mansfield always pushed the envelope at practically every step of her career ought to become more and more obvious.

This was never more true than in 1963 when she acted in the film Promises! Promises! The action piqued the interest of many moviegoers, especially since Mansfield was virtually exposed in the film, a moment that changed Hollywood forever. The footage was outlawed everywhere at the time because censorship agencies deemed the information to be explicit.

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An additional pregnancy and divorce

Mansfield found out she was pregnant again after her divorce. She and Hargitay declared that they were still married since becoming an unwed mother would have jeopardized her profession.

Mansfield was selected over a number of other actresses around the same time to take the place of the recently murdered Marilyn Monroe in Kiss Me, Stupid, a 1964 romantic comedy that would also star Dean Martin, but she ultimately turned down the role due to her pregnancy. Actress Kim Novak ultimately accepted the role.

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Hargitay, Mariska

The youngest of Mansfield's three children with Mickey, Mariska Hargitay, was born in January 1964. Does the name have any familiarity? In any case, Mariska is a successful Hollywood actress, just like her mother. She is best recognized for her role as Captain Olivia Benson of the New York Police Department in the NBC show Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Since the beginning of the series in September 1999, Mariska has played a prominent role. It is currently the longest-running live-action series in the US. It's safe to say that Jayne would be quite proud of her daughter.

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A third attempt is lucky

Less than a year after Mariska was born, in August 1964, Mickey and Jayne's divorce was formally recognized. Although a court order designated Hargitay as the children's guardian, Mansfield remained to be their primary caregiver. Mansfield married Italian-born film director Matt Cimber a month later, in September 1964.

When he oversaw her performance in a theater version of Bus Stop with Hargitay, the two started dating. Cimber started managing Jayne's career and aided her through a string of more distasteful projects during the length of their marriage.

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Jayne Divorces...Again

In the wake of her substance misuse, outright affairs, and her admission to Cimber that she had only found happiness with her former lover, Nelson Sardelli, Mansfield's marriage to Cimber soon started to fall apart.

Mansfield and Cimber split up in July 1965, 10 months after their wedding, even though Mansfield's fifth child, their son, wasn't born until October of that year. Mansfield looked into a musical career in 1965, the same year the divorce was finalized.

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Variety programs

Mansfield was a gifted individual. She not only produced her own music but also played the violin and the piano on a number of variety shows, such as The Steve Allen Show, The Jack Benny Program, and The Jackie Gleason Show, which was the second-highest-rated program in the United States in the middle of the 1960s.

On The Ed Sullivan Show, Mansfield made one of her more memorable appearances on a variety show, playing violin with a six-piece backup band.

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The Hillbillys of Las Vegas

Cimber hired Mansfield in 1966 for the movie Single Room Furnished, which required the actress to play three different roles. Following the completion of that film, Mansfield was paired in the low-budget comedy The Las Vegas Hillbillys with Mamie Van Doren and Ferlin Husky.

Mansfield marketed her first country and western movie with a 29-day tour of significant American cities, joined by Husky, Don Bowman, and other country musicians. Mansfield did have one requirement, though, before filming started.

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Van Doren vs. Mansfield

Mansfield declared that she would not "share any screen time with the drive-answer in's to Marilyn Monroe" prior to beginning filming The Las Vegas Hillbillys. She was referring to Mamie Van Doren.

Despite the fact that Mansfield and Van Doren's characters did appear in the same scene, they were actually filmed separately and then combined in post-production. During this period of time, Mansfield's wardrobe focused on the shapeless trends of the '60s in order to cover her weight gain with the birth of her fifth child — Tony.

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Her final role

There is no denying that Mansfield's personal life and media stunts had an impact on her career. She experienced a few hiccups in her career, but there's no denying that she remained a very well-known personality throughout the 1960s.

Early in 1967, Mansfield shot a cameo in the movie Guide for the Married Man, which was directed by Gene Kelly and starred Inger Stevens, Walter Matthau, and Robert Morse. She had no idea that this would be her final role. Mansfield was even included in the opening credits as a technical adviser.

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28th of June 1967

It was 1967's summer. Miklós, Zoltán, and Mariska, together with Mansfield and Brody, traveled to Biloxi, Mississippi where she was scheduled to perform at a local nightclub. Mansfield made two different appearances at the Gus Stevens Supper Club on the evening of June 28.

She knew she had to leave as soon as she was done with these standing commitments in order to travel to New Orleans, Louisiana for television appearances that were scheduled for the next day.

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A Deadly Mishap

Once Mansfield finished his performance, it was time to leave. Sam Brody, Mansfield, the kids, and a nightclub driver named Ronald B. Harrison were traveling together in a 1966 Buick Electra. Harrison arrived at a dark section of the highway after a couple of hours on the highway as they were drawing near a device that was discharging a dense fog to spray mosquitoes.

At that point, the Electra rear-ended the trailer truck. Mansfield, Harrison, and Brody all passed away in a moment, but the children, who were dozing in the back seat, were only slightly hurt.

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Foreshadowing

Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield were frequently at odds with one another. It got to the point that Marilyn said she wished she could file a lawsuit against Jayne for "imitating" her in a nasty and demeaning manner.

Similar to Jayne, several love interests were aggressively sought after because of their relationship with Marilyn. But their destinies were more connected than simply petty grudges. Jayne expressed her concern when Marilyn tragically passed away by saying, "Maybe I'll be next." Maybe she was aware of something that the rest of the world wasn't...

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Truth versus Rumors

Regrettably, Jayne's worries came true when she went away five years after the untimely death of Marilyn Monroe. Quickly, speculations started to circulate regarding Jayne's accident's cause and the specifics of the tragedy.

The rumors and conspiracies were so pervasive that they were covered by the media. Unconfirmed reports and ideas of Jayne's accident are featured in both the 1996 film Crash and the 2017 documentary Mansfield 66/67.

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The Malice

The most generally accepted belief surrounding Jayne's death was that the actress had been cursed, which led to the accident. Anton LaVey and Jayne formerly had a romantic relationship.

She had a relationship with Sam Brody at the time of her death, though. The mishap involving Jayne and Sam would have been unintended on Anton's side if the rumors about him being envious and casting a hex on Sam were true.

@Jayne Mansfield with Sam Brody in Tralee in 1967 Banned By Church/Jayne Mansfield Diamonds to Dust/YouTube.com

Changing Things

Whatever the truth of the rumors and explanations, there is no doubt that Jayne's death was completely preventable. The truck the car was traveling under caused the collision, which resulted in the top of the car being torn off.

Steel bars are now needed to be installed on trucks, making it hard for automobiles to pass below them. Because Jayne's tragedy served as the impetus for this new law, these bars are known as Mansfield bars.

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One lost too soon

There is no doubt that Jayne, who was only 34 years old when she went away, left her mark on the globe. Mansfield continued to be one of the biggest Hollywood stars up to the middle of the 1980s. The Jayne Mansfield Story, featuring Loni Anderson in the title role and Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mickey Hargitay, was shown on CBS in 1980.

Mansfield's tale and some of her archival material were utilized in a television documentary in 1988. Her story was showcased by A&E in the 1999 television program Dangerous Curves.

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