Dagmar (born Virginia Ruth Egnor, 1921-2001) was a statuesque, busty, blonde actress, model and television personality who became the first major female star of early 1950s live television. With tight sweaters displaying her curvy 5' 8" figure (measuring 42"-23"-39"), her dim-bulb character was an immediate success with TV viewers and her appearances created a sensation, leading to much press coverage; her fan mail was said to have reached over 8,000 letters a month at the peak of her career. She hosted several shows, appeared in numerous magazine cover stories, performed in Las Vegas shows and summer stock theater, was a regular panelist on game shows, and appeared on several variety shows throughout her career. Dagmar died in West Virginia on October 9, 2001, at the age of 79 of undisclosed causes. Photograph caption dated April 9, 1955 reads, "Television's Dagmar is shown at Howard Manor in Palm Springs, where she's waging a battle of the bulge. She reports there are 22 less pounds for the desert sun to tan. She has found that picking and eating grapefruit is good for the figure."
Type
image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;33 x 25 cm. Photographic prints
Dagmar,--1921-2001 Howard Manor (Palm Springs, calif.) Television actors and actresses--United States Television personalities--United States Models (Persons)--United States Actresses--United States Hotels--California--Palm Springs Dieters--California--Palm Springs Swimming pools--California--Palm Springs Mountains--California, Southern San Jacinto Mountains (Calif.) Palm Springs (Calif.) Portait photographs Herald-Examiner Collection photographs
If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. See our terms of use for more tips.
Share your story
Has Calisphere helped you advance your research, complete a project, or find something meaningful? We'd love to hear about it; please send us a message.
