Shirley Mae Jones (born March 31, 1934) is an American actress and singer. In her six decades in show business, she has starred as wholesome characters in a number of musical films. In the 1950s and 1960s, Jones often displayed her dancer's physique in pin-up photography and swimsuit shoots, contrasting with the wholesome "girl next door" image she maintained in hit musicals.
In the mid-1950s, Jones was the face of the massive widescreen musical. Because these films often featured period costumes, her “leggy” appearances were often tied to specific dance numbers or character-specific wardrobe. The 1960s saw a shift in Jones’s image, particularly after her Oscar-winning turn in Elmer Gantry (1960), where she played a more provocative character.
Like many contract players of the time, Jones participated in studio-mandated “cheesecake” photography, often posing by pools in classic one-piece suits or high-waisted bikinis. Having started in musical theater, many of her most iconic photos involve her in dance leotards or shorter stage costumes that emphasized her posture and legs. By the late 1960s, she was often photographed in the popular “mini” silhouettes, marking a stark contrast to her 1950s debut.
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