Delores Marie Wells (October 17, 1937 – February 9, 2016) was an American model and actress. She was Playboy magazine's Playmate of the Month for its June 1960 issue and was one of the cover models in January 1961.
| Delores Wells | |
|---|---|
 Delores Wells in a publicity photo from 1963 | |
| Playboy centerfold appearance | |
| June 1960 | |
| Preceded by | Ginger Young |
| Succeeded by | Teddi Smith |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Delores Marie Wells October 17, 1937 Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | February 9, 2016 (aged 78) Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. |
| Height | 5 ft 2 in (157 cm) |
Early life
editWells was from Reading, Pennsylvania,[1] and grew up with interest in science fiction and becoming a movie star.[2]
Career
editAccording to The Playmate Book, Wells was paid $500 for her Playmate pictorial, along with $100 a month during her two-year exclusivity contract with Playboy.[3] She was Playmate of the Month for June 1960.[4] Wells was working as a dancer in the chorus of Chicago nightclub Chez Paree when she was scouted for Playboy.[5]
Wells had a short acting career in the 1960s, episodically appearing in small parts in B movies and television series.[6] She preferred comedic roles and aspired to be like Lucille Ball,[7] appearing in three of the 'beach party' movies.[8] More steadily she was a Playboy Bunny[9] at the Chicago Playboy Club, where she made $1000 a week.[3] After her career at Playboy, she worked as a makeup artist for Alice Cooper and in the business office of the Oakland Raiders.[6] She worked briefly as secretary to Linda Lovelace.[3]
Wells died in Phoenix, Arizona, at the age of 78.[6]
Filmography
edit- 87th Precinct - "My Friend, My Enemy" (1961) .... Clerk[2]
- The Bob Cummings Show - "Roamin' Holiday" (1961)
- Thriller - "'Til Death Do Us Part" (1962) .... Flo
- Beach Party (1963) .... Sue[10][11]
- Burke's Law - "Who Killed Alex Debbs?" (1963) .... Dream Girl[2]
- The Time Travelers (1964) .... Reena (Danny's love interest)[4]
- Bikini Beach (1964) .... Sniffles
- Muscle Beach Party (1964) .... Sniffles[12][2]
- Banning (1967) .... Girl at Pool
- A Guide for the Married Man (1967) .... Very Attractive Woman[3]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Appearances by starlet". Des Moines Tribune. 1963-08-30. p. 7. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
- ^ a b c d Scaglione, Cec (1964-03-28). "'Muscle Beach Party' features lucky lass". The Windsor Star. p. 17. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
- ^ a b c d Edgren, Gretchen (1996). The Playmate Book: Five Decades of Centerfolds. General Publishing Group. p. 73.
- ^ a b Goldweber, David Elroy (2015-12-01). Claws & Saucers: Science Fiction, Horror, and Fantasy Film 1902–1982: A Complete Guide. Lulu Press, Inc. ISBN 978-1-312-28803-4.
- ^ "A Dime More A Peep". Newsweek. May 23, 1960. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ a b c Gregg, Becca Y. (March 26, 2016). "Not Forgotten: Centerfold remembered as loving mother". Reading Eagle. Archived from the original on October 13, 2016.
- ^ Boxoffice (Jul–Sep 1963). Media History Digital Library. New York, Boxoffice. 1963.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ Stanfield, Peter (2018-07-13). Hoodlum Movies: Seriality and the Outlaw Biker Film Cycle, 1966–1972. Rutgers University Press. pp. 39–40. ISBN 978-0-8135-9905-2.
- ^ Kathryn Leigh Scott (1998). The Bunny years. Pomegranate Press. p. 57. ISBN 978-0-938817-43-7.
- ^ Motion Picture Exhibitor (Apr-Jun 1963). Media History Digital Library. Philadelphia, Jay Emanuel Publications, Inc. 1963. p. 19.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ "Oh! To be a fish". The Tampa Tribune. 1963-05-14. p. 32. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
- ^ "Clipped From The Daily Times". The Daily Times. 1964-04-22. p. 2. Retrieved 2022-06-14.