The Not-So-Silent Rita Hayworth Post

Sexy Rita Hayworth and Merv Griffin sang a duet in 1971 on Merv's show. While she sang for herself on the show (and Carol Burnett's), her movie songs were sung by Anita Ellis, Nan Wynn & Martha Mears.

The song was titled I'm Old Fashioned, and Rita was 53 years old.

Thirty years prior, Rita's career was launched with this photo by Life photographer Bob Landry. The photo never made the cover of the magazine. Amazing when you consider this pinup sold more than 5 million copies -- only Betty Grable sold more.

The photo itself is so popular that it has legends of its own:

"One story has it that the photo was taken in Hayworth's own bedroom, but another suggests that she knelt on a bed on the movie set. The sexy lace nightie was either made by the press agent's mother or came from Columbia Pictures' prop department. A flashbulb may or may not have failed -- sculpting the shadow on Hayworth's chest. One rumor has it that someone told Hayworth to take a deep breath before the famous shot, making the image even more provocative."

Click here for more on the iconic Life photo.

Many thanks to Sex-Kitten.net for hosting the audio file!