Billie Dove

These Billie Dove paper dolls (found via a link at Slip of a Girl) are amazing.

For a bio on Billie, go here, but here are some interesting Facts, Rumors and Mysteries about Billie Dove:

Fact: Billie Holiday did name herself after the first name of her favorite movie star, Billie Dove.

Fact: Billie did have a romantic relationship with Howard Hughes. They met when he was starting to make a name for himself as a film producer -- she was the blonde on his arm at the opening of Hell's Angels. The Billie Dove-Howard Hughes romance was the talk of Hollywood because both Billie and Howard were still married to other people; she to Irwin Willat, and he, to Ella Rice.

Fact: Billie Dove was a pilot.

Rumor: It is rumored that Hughes paid Willat between $35,000 and $325,000 to have Willat agree to a divorce from Billie (Dove and Willat did divorce in 1929).

Fact: Hughes did buy-out Dove's contract from First National Studios and signs her to his own studio, Caddo Pictures (for $50,000 a movie). She stars in his films The Age of Love and Cock of the Air -- both are financial failures.

Mystery: Though the couple was considered on the verge of marrying, and rumors of engagement still exist, their relationship did end -- for reasons Billie never disclosed. Hughes often called her the one great love of his life and Billie always retained warm feelings for him.

Mystery: Though Billie and Hughes had a well-known relationship for over 3 years, and he professed to still love her, why was she cut out of the recent Hughes film, Aviator?